In the final regular-season home game of Audi Field’s inaugural season, United has a chance to clinch a playoff berth in front of their passionate supporters. Three points against New York City FC would solidify the Black-and-Red’s spot in the postseason, with only seeding left to be decided.
If United’s steady climb to above the playoff line culminates with clinching a spot on Sunday, it will be in large part thanks to the home field advantage that the Black-and-Red have enjoyed at Audi Field, where they have achieved the best home record in MLS.
NYCFC enter Sunday’s match with the third most points in the Eastern Conference. Having already clinched their spot in the playoffs, their mission is to stave off teams below them to hold onto the third seed and receive a coveted home game in the Knockout Round.
The NYCFC attack is most often conducted by Maxi Moralez. The dynamic midfielder leads the league in chances created with 105 on the season and has registered 15 assists in 2018, which ranks third in MLS.
Moralez style of play is reflective of his number 10 counterpart, Luciano Acosta, with the creativity and IQ he employs on the pitch. Like Acosta, Moralez is also capable of finishing off chances himself, as he’s scored eight goals on the year.
David Villa is the feared forward for NYCFC and United will look to limit his opportunities to get shots towards the net. In the previous meeting this season, Villa scored on a free kick in the 86th minute. The free kick past the goalkeeper Bill Hamid’s diving attempt leveled the score at 1-1, and the two teams settled for one point each.
A free kick also yielded United’s lone goal in that September match at Yankee Stadium. Wayne Rooney sent his long free kick opportunity into the box where center back Steven Birnbaum flicked a header over goalkeeper Sean Johnson for the 58th-minute goal.
Rooney comes into Sunday’s match fresh off of a dazzling goal on a direct free kick in United’s 1-0 win over Toronto FC on Wednesday night. The impressive strike came in the 18th minute after Michael Bradley committed a foul on Zoltán Stieber well outside the 18-foot box.
With the ball in the back of the net, Rooney’s goal-scoring total was elevated to 10 on the season. Since his MLS debut on July 14, the renowned Englishman has 10 goals and seven assists. Of those 10 goals, three have led to much-needed victories for D.C. United in the club’s rapid rise to the cusp of a playoff berth.
Hamid’s recent form in goal for the Black-and-Red has helped lead the team to narrow 1-0 victories. With two consecutive shutouts, the homegrown goalkeeper will by vying for his third straight clean sheet behind the D.C. United defense.
Join D.C. United at Audi Field at 3 p.m. Sunday as they look to extend their league-leading eight game point streak and finish their home slate by clinching a playoff spot. The game will also be broadcasted on WJLA 24/7 News and CW Richmond.
