Two weeks after picking up their first win of the season, D.C. United look to sustain their momentum against their I-95 rivals on Saturday. After defeating the Columbus Crew 1-0 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in their prior match, United now head to Talen Energy Stadium to take on the Philadelphia Union.
Saturday’s game between the Eastern Conference foes will be the first of two meetings in the 2018 regular season. Last year, the Union won two out of three matchups.
In last year’s win against Philadelphia, the Black-and-Red scored two first-half goals, including one from a Luciano Acosta penalty kick, and held on for a 2-1 victory behind seven saves from goalkeeper Bill Hamid.
While looking to halt their two-game skid against the Union, United will also seek their first win at Talen Energy Stadium since 2014 behind head coach Ben Olsen. Olsen, a Pennsylvania native himself, is the all-time leader in career wins against Philadelphia. Despite losing their last two games to the Union, Olsen and the Black-and-Red can tie the all-time series between the sides at 9-9-4 with a win in Saturday’s match.
Through six matches of the 2018 season, United and the Union have identical records with the Black-and-Red holding a slight edge in goal differential. The Union come into Saturday on a two-match losing streak with losses to Orlando City SC and FC Dallas—Philadelphia did not record a goal in either loss. During their five match winless streak, the Union were held to just one goal, resulting in an 0-3-2 record during that span. The Black-and-Red back line will be working to create continued offensive frustrations for the Union as they meet this weekend. The win over Columbus was also United's first clean sheet of the year, and the visitors will hope to make it back-to-back shutouts come Saturday.
United will lean on their leading scorers, Acosta, Yamil Asad and Darren Mattocks, to ignite the offense at Talen Energy Stadium. If Acosta—one of the facilitators for Ulises Segura’s goal against the Crew—or Asad find the back of the net against Philadelphia, the goal would mark the tenth of their young careers. Both Argentinians have scored a goal against the Union in prior matchups.
D.C. will also be looking to end a frustrating stretch of four consecutive scoreless matches in road games against Philadelphia. United’s trio of scorers will need to lead that charge against the 2016 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Andre Blake, who has four career shutouts against United.
As for United’s third of the field, Olsen has two viable options for a starter in net for the Black-and-Red. David Ousted, who leads United with 13 saves in five matches this season, has never lost to the Union in his career, carrying a 2-0-2 record. Steve Clark, the goalkeeper who protected a 1-0 lead for 89 minutes against the Crew with five saves, could also receive his second starting nod of the season. His birthday performance against Columbus was good enough to earn the 32-year-old a spot on the MLS Team of the Week for Week 7.
Whichever goalie gets the start for United will be tasked with stopping the shot of Philadelphia’s recently acquired forward, David Accam. Accam will be looking for his first goal with his new club after recording 33 goals in three years with the Chicago Fire. The forward has three career goals in six games against United, and creates arguably the most dangerous threat for the Union on the attack.
After playing their last Home Away from Home match, United now embark on an eight game road trip, starting in Philadelphia. While their new venue, Audi Field, is receiving its finishing touches, the Black-and-Red will try to earn their first road victory of the season against the Union before traveling west for a clash with Real Salt Lake.
