DC United vs Nashville SC

With DC United’s Major League Soccer playoff chances slipping away from them, they host Nashville SC at Audi Field for a must-win clash.

DC United could be at risk of missing out on a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference unless they can turn their fortunes around soon after a 5-0 demolition at the hands of Orlando City nailed them to the bottom of the standings. Worryingly for the home fans, Troy Lesesne’s men return home in search of their first MLS win since squeezing past Atlanta United 3-2 at the start of May. The Eagles have since gone winless in 11 consecutive league matches (D3, L8), and it’s a miracle they only sit four points adrift of 9th-placed Toronto FC. Indeed, DC United’s dismal 12-point tally at home is only better than Philadelphia Union’s seven, casting further doubt on their hopes to return to winning ways.

On the other hand, Nashville’s decline continued last weekend as a disastrous 4-1 defeat at Portland Timbers condemned them to a third successive MLS loss. Only two points clear of 10th-placed Atlanta, the visitors can’t afford another slip-up, yet back-to-back away league defeats paint a bleak picture. Nashville’s track record in this fixture can inspire confidence among the traveling faithful, with the Coyotes racking up four wins and two draws in six historic MLS encounters against DC United. With three of those four victories yielding multi-goal margins, there’s a chance for an emphatic scoreline. But Nashville would probably settle for a narrow win, just as they have in both MLS triumphs since the start of June (W2, D1, L4).