With a positive result on Friday night against Sporting Kansas City, D.C. United punches its ticket to the Eastern Conference Playoffs (Friday, October 3 - BUY TICKETS). The Black-and-Red, having already beaten Sporting twice this year, know the visitors will be desperate and determined to avoid a sweep at RFK Stadium.
“I think this will be the toughest game of the three we’ve had against them this year,” said D.C. United midfielder Davy Arnaud. “They go on the road and they look to push the game, they don’t sit back. They’re going to want to win the game.”
Last time Sporting visited D.C., Fabián Espíndola showed his magic, catching Kansas City goalkeeper Eric Kronberg off his line and finishing in jaw-dropping form for the only score in a 1-0 win. When Kansas City hosted United, the visitors routed the home side 3-0, with Espíndola burying the first goal again before Chris Rolfe and Perry Kitchen each added their own tallies, all in a span of eight minutes in the first half.
On Friday, Kitchen will have to sit due to yellow card accumulation, but his partner in the midfield is confident in his team’s depth.
“We have several guys more than capable,” said Arnaud. “There’s competition on this team to play. Whoever steps into that spot is going to do the job.”
With the postseason within reach, United’s mentality and game plan hasn’t altered. Taking care of points at home remains of the utmost importance.
“Our focus is the same regardless if we’re in the playoffs already, a point away, or clinched, whatever, it doesn’t matter,” Arnaud said. “Our focus and our approach have to be the same. There’s one result we want at home, and that’s three points.”
Come watch United clinch its playoff spot! Buy your tickets now.
