Match Preview: D.C. United @ Nashville SC - Oct. 2, 2024

Story of the Match

D.C. United has arrived in Tennesse ready to dance toe-to-toe with Nashville SC on Wednesday Night. Playing the first of two games scheduled for this week, the Black-and-Red's 2024 campaign is counting down quick with just three games left in the regular season.

Heading into the match on 34 points and in 12th place in the Eastern Conference, Troy Lesesne’s squad will need to pull off a string of winning performances to have any real hope of making the post-season. After an inconsistent regular season, filled with both positive and negative stretches, a foundation has been laid for years to come under the first-year regime of Troy Lesesne and Ally Mackay.

The brightest story of the year for D.C. United continues to be the Golden Boot hunt by star striker, Christian Benteke. After another brace last weekend, the Belgian kept pace with his lead of three goals over the next closest player in the league, Denis Bouanga from LAFC.

If he were to complete the feat, Benteke would become the third D.C. United player to earn top-scoring honors in MLS history, joining legends such as Luciano Emilio (2007) and Dwayne De Rosario (2011).

Sitting just below D.C. United in the Conference table, Nashville SC has sputtered off to a slow start under new manager BJ Callaghan. Formerly an assistant for the US Men’s National Team, Callaghan took over Nashville just ahead of Leagues Cup in July. Since returning to MLS regular season games, the team has posted a record of 1-4-1 (W-L-T).

D.C. United is coming off a positive performance against one of the league’s best, the Columbus Crew. If D.C. United can unlock the defense like they did over the weekend, and shut things down on the other end, it could be a recipe for another D.C. United victory.

By the Numbers

• D.C. United is looking for their 2nd all-time regular season win against Nashville SC. The Black-and-Red have a 1-4-2 record against Nashville SC in regular season matchups.

• Forward Christian Benteke leads Major League Soccer with 21 goals this season; Benteke also has six on the year.

• The Black-and-Red are ranked 4th in MLS with 5.4 accurate crosses per match this season; Nashville SC are ranked 8th with 4.7.

• Midfielder Mateusz Klich leads the Black-and-Red in successful crosses this season with 58; Klich also leads the team with 119 corner kicks this season.

• D.C. United is ranked 14th in MLS in shots on target per match with 4.8; Nashville is ranked 28th in the league with 3.4 shots on target per match.