After Wednesday’s narrow loss to the New York Red Bulls, D.C. United seek to regain their winning form at home and continue their seven-year undefeated streak against the Colorado Rapids as they play host to the Western Conference side at Audi Field at 8 PM on Saturday night.
The Black-and-Red are looking to rebound from a difficult defeat against their Atlantic Cup rivals in which opportunities were denied by both video review and the Red Bull defense in United's pursuit to match New York’s early goal.
Colorado enter Saturday’s game looking to secure a win for the first time in their last five opportunities. The Rapids will be hoping that momentum carries over from their previous match as 85th-minute substitute Dillon Serna notched an equalizer in the 88th minute to salvage a 2-2 draw with Real Salt Lake in the Rocky Mountain Cup.
Colorado may also have a debut in store for Saturday. The Rapids’ newly-acquired midfielder, Kellyn Acosta, may make his first apperance with Colorado after being traded from FC Dallas for the Rapids' leading goalscorer Dominique Badji and an international roster spot on July 25. Acosta, a 23-year-old U.S. Men’s National Team prospect, has scored nine goals and recorded 12 assists in his MLS career.
Washington D.C. soccer fans, however, will be fixated on the man in goal for Colorado. World-renowned goalkeeper Tim Howard has not played an MLS game in the nation’s capital since his days with the MetroStars (now New York Red Bulls) in the early stages of the Atlantic Cup rivalry between 2001-2003. In his third MLS season since returning stateside, Howard has started 19 of the Rapids’ 20 games and saved 68 percent of shots he’s faced.
Tim Howard's first match in the District since 2003 is heightened by the recent arrival of Wayne Rooney, a fellow Premier League legend and former teammate and foe overseas. Across all competitions, both Premier League and international, the Rooney versus Howard head-to-head series is knotted at 6-6-3. The last meeting between the international stars came in a Premier League match in October of 2015 when Rooney’s third-career goal against Howard helped Manchester United defeat Everton 3-0. Rooney and Howard’s paths cross once again in the southwest quadrant of D.C. as the former counterparts and teammates meet for the first time in MLS.
When Rooney joined D.C. United, he became an added weapon to a dangerous collection of playmakers and scorers. Alongside the likes of Luciano Acosta, Paul Arriola, Yamil Asad, Darren Mattocks, and Zoltán Stieber, Rooney and the Black-and-Red attack pose a formidable threat against opposing back lines. The offense will look to get back on track this weekend after being shut out on Wednesday for just the second time this season—United are tied for the fewest scoreless matches among MLS teams in 2018.
The D.C. United defense also hope to put together a complete effort against a Colorado side with the second-fewest goals in MLS on Saturday. As they strive to eliminate defensive breakdowns, the Black-and-Red seek to secure their second shutout of the season and the first in Audi Field’s history. In their last matchup against Colorado, United's back five held strong against the Rapids' push for an equalizer at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in August of 2017, shutting down the home side's attack en route to stealing a 1-0 win on the road.
Despite the early goal on Wednesday, defenders Steven Birnbaum (nine clearances, eight duels won, six aerials won), and Oniel Fisher (four tackles, five clearances, five duels won) both logged strong performances against the Red Bulls and will look to build off their form on Saturday. Inconsistencies in the back line continue to challenge United, though, and finding a way to put together a complete, cohesive performance on defense will be instrumental to sustained home-field advantage success at the club's new stadium.
Join the Black-and-Red this Saturday as United continue working to turn Audi Field into their home fortress.
