The Opposition: New York City FC
After winning their season opener against Atlanta United last weekend, this week D.C. United will travel to Yankee Stadium for their first road match of the season. They will be going toe-to-toe with New York City FC, a team that has consistently been one of the strongest sides in the Eastern Conference since they joined the league in 2015. Here is everything you need to know about our latest opponents.
New York City FC (NYCFC) traveled to Orlando for their first match of the season. While they had a comfortable 2-0 lead against a struggling Orlando side at the end of the first half, the Lions came roaring back to earn a 2-2 draw.
Players to Watch
David Villa was a star for NYCFC during their first few years in the league, but he left the Big Apple during the 2018/2019 offseason. The current squad is young and looking for their new superstar. Ebenezer Ofori scored the first goal of the season for NYCFC last week in Orlando, and Alexander Ring came in with the second. D.C. United will also have to keep an eye on Alexandru Mitrita, a Designated Player that the Blues are very excited about.
Luciano Acosta, Wayne Rooney, and Paul Arriola will also be looking at how they can breakdown the NYCFC defense. The team looked vulnerable last week, allowing two second-half goals from Orlando City. Their backline is likely to feature players such as Alexander Callens, Maxime Chanot, Ben Sweat, and Anton Tinnerholm.
Head-to-Head
D.C. United has never won on the road against NYCFC. The Black-and-Red faced this team twice last year, earning a 1-1 draw at Yankee Stadium and a 3-1 victory at Audi Field. This week, they will be looking to continue their strong start to the season and earn that first win in the Bronx.
