DC United vs. New York Red Bulls | 2018 MLS Match Preview

D.C. United vs. New York Red Bulls
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 29
Audi Field — Washington D.C.
Sept. 16 — 1 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN, TSN2

Having already clinched another Atlantic Cup title, the New York Red Bulls seek a clean sweep of the season series against D.C. United when the longtime rivals meet for the final time this regular season at Audi Field Sunday afternoon.

This is the third meeting this season, with the Red Bulls claiming matching 1-0 wins — first at Audi Field on July 25 and again a month later at Red Bull Arena.

New York has lost just one game against D.C. United since the start of 2015 season (8W-4D). United’s lone win in that time did come at home.

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D.C. United

D.C. United (9-11-7) rallied to defeat Minnesota United, 2-1, Wednesday night at Audi Field to move within two points of the playoff line in the Eastern Conference.

After Angelo Rodriguez put the Loons in front two minutes into the second half, Ulises Seguraand Darren Mattocks struck four minutes apart as United have now claimed seven points from their last three games.

“It just seemed like we were lethargic. I don’t think it was a mentality issue, I just think there’s been a lot of games on these guys,” Ben Olsen said. “I give them a lot of credit on a day where, to a man, we’re a little bit off the pace and not as sharp as we want to be and still missing some guys, to still be able to get three points is something that is very impressive and I’m proud of the group for that.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: M - Chris Durkin, M - Paul Arriola, M - Russell Canouse
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: D - Taylor Kemp (labrum surgery), D - Nick DeLeon (knee injury), GK - David Ousted (elbow surgery), D - Chris Odoi-Atsem (fatigue); QUESTIONABLE: M - Yamil Asad (ankle injury); PROBABLE: F - Dane Kelly (ankle injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Bill Hamid — Oniel Fisher, Kofi Opare, Steve Birnbaum, Joseph Mora — Russell Canouse, Chris Durkin — Paul Arriola, Luciano Acosta, Ulises Segura — Wayne Rooney

• Notes: Both Wayne Rooney (three goals, five assists) and Luciano Acosta (six goals, two assists) have eight goals+assists since Aug. 1. Only one player has more in that time. … D.C. United is now 7W-2L-1D at home this season. They had six home wins in league play in 2017.

New York Red Bulls

New York (17-7-4) return to action following a needed break that came on the heels of a grueling stretch of five games in 15 days.

It wasn’t all rest and relaxation, though, with several players getting international call-ups, including Tyler Adams, Tim Parker and Aaron Long to the USMNT. Adams scored the lone goal — his first for the US — in a 1-0 win over Mexico in Nashville Wednesday.

“I think the fact that we have eight guys with their national teams that in itself helps because they come back with confidence, sharpness, they miss us a little bit when they come back, they show why they went there, I think that’s a good thing,” Chris Armas said. “The guys here, we’ve had some really good days of training so we’ve had a good balance of training and resting and recovering and taking advantage of a rare break in this final stretch.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: F - Bradley Wright-Phillips
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: M - Florian Valot (torn left ACL), D - Kyle Duncan (torn right ACL), M - Vincent Bezecourt (right MCL surgery), D - Tommy Redding (shoulder surgery), M - Ben Mines (broken left clavicle surgery)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Luis Robles — Michael Murillo, Aaron Long, Tim Parker, Kemar Lawrence — Tyler Adams, Sean Davis — Marc Rzatkowski, Kaku, Danny Royer — Bradley Wright-Phillips

• Notes: The Red Bulls are looking to avoid losing back-to-back league games for the first time since a three-game losing streak in May 2017 (50 regular season games played since). … Luis Robles has kept eight clean sheets in league play against D.C. United, tied for the third most any keeper has had against one opponent since the start of 2010.

All-Time Series

• Overall: D.C. Untied 34 wins, 132 goals … New York Red Bulls 29 wins, 112 goals … 13 draws
• At D.C.: D.C. United 21 wins, 77 goals … New York Red Bulls 12 wins, 58 goals … 6 draws
• Last meeting at D.C.: D.C. United 0, New York Red Bulls 1 (July 25, 2018)

Officials

Referee: Alan Kelly
Assistant Referees: Jeremy Hanson, Logan Brown
4th Official: Rubiel Vazquez
VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Sporting Kansas City | 2018 MLS Match Preview

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Sporting Kansas City
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 29
Avaya Stadium — San Jose
Sept. 15 — 10:30 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

Sporting Kansas City can move into first place in the Western Conference when they take on a San Jose Earthquakes side that has won just once since May.

Sporting rebounded from a loss to Seattle Sounders FC by beating Orlando City SC, 1-0, last Saturday, while the Quakes lost to the Vancouver Whitecaps for the second time in a week.

This is the second meeting this season with Sporting winning 3-2 at Children’s Mercy Park with Graham Zusi and Felipe Gutierrez opening up a 3-1 lead after Vako cancelled out Ilie Sanchez’searly goal. Chris Wondolowski struck in stoppage time for the visitors.

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San Jose Earthquakes

San Jose (4-15-8) couldn’t build off a second win of the season over FC Dallas, falling to the Whitecaps, 2-1, at BC Place on Sept. 1.

Vako scored the lone goal in stoppage time, but it came after Alphonso Davies and Nicolas Mezquida scored back-to-back goals for the Caps.

“I think mentally and physically we all needed a few days off and we got that so coming back in training on Monday we were all sharp and looking forward to this game Saturday,” Jimmy Ockford said. “We can expect a good soccer team, working the ball around really well, they’ve got good players all around. It’s going to be a tough one.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: D - Kevin Partida (right ACL reconstruction surgery and partial meniscectomy); QUESTIONABLE: D - Harold Cummings (thigh injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-4-2, right to left)
GK: Andrew Tarbell — Nick Lima, Guram Kashia, Florian Jungwirth, Shea Salinas — Magnus Eriksson, Anibal Godoy, Luis Felipe Fernandes, Chris Wondolowski — Danny Hoesen, Vako

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting (14-7-6) moved within a point of first-place FC Dallas by defeating Orlando City SC, 1-0, Saturday at Children’s Mercy Park.

Gutierrez scored the lone goal, his first since the end of March, in the 53rd minute and Tim Melia twice denied former teammate Dom Dwyer to make sure the lead held up.

“We view this as any other match, it’s a big game for us, San Jose is a good team, they have some very strong aspects to their game we have to be really concerned with,” Peter Vermes said. “That’s an important aspect — if you want to get a result, you have to make sure you understand and respect your opponent’s strengths and that’s what we have to do against San Jose.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: D - Jimmy Medranda (knee surgery); F - Kharlton Belmar (knee sprain), M - Cristian Lobato (quad injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Tim Melia — Graham Zusi, Ike Opara, Matt Besler, Seth Sinovic — Roger Espinoza, Ilie Sanchez, Felipe Gutierrez — Johnny Russell, Daniel Salloi, Yohan Croizet

All-Time Series

• Overall: San Jose Earthquakes 24 wins, 69 goals … Sporting Kansas City 25 wins, 68 goals … 8 draws
• At San Jose: Earthquakes 16 wins, 38 goals … Sporting KC 5 wins, 21 goals … 7 draws
• Last meeting at San Jose: San Jose Earthquakes 0, Sporting Kansas City 0 (June 17, 2017)

Officials

Referee: Dave Gantar
Assistant Referees: Adam Garner, Corey Parker
4th Official: Ismail Elfath
VAR: Alex Chilowicz

LAFC vs. New England Revolution | 2018 MLS Match Preview

LAFC vs. New England Revolution
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 29
Banc of California Stadium — Los Angeles
Sept. 15 — 10:30 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

LAFC are seeking a fourth win in the last five games without defeat and an eighth home victory when they host a New England Revolution side that is seeking a second consecutive road victory.

LAFC are back from the international break after a 4-2 win at Toronto FC, while the Revs handed New York City FC their first home loss of the season, winning 1-0 at Yankee Stadium last Wednesday.

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Los Angeles Football Club

LAFC (13-7-7) kept pace with FC Dallas and Sporting Kansas City by beating Toronto FC, 4-2, at BMO Field on Sept. 1.

Carlos Vela scored the lone goal of the first half and Diego Rossi and Lee Nguyen struck two minutes apart early in the second half to extend the lead to 3-0. Jozy Altidore struck for a late brace to pull TFC to within a goal, but Vela’s second goal of the match put the game away.

“Great win, maybe not our best night of football, but very good mentality, too advantage of some opportunities, I thought we adjusted when they threw more numbers late,” Bob Bradley said. “I would have liked to have done it with a clean sheet, but still proud of the guys.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: M - Eduard Atuesta, D - Walker Zimmerman
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: GK - Quillan Roberts (right fibular fracture), M - Mark-Anthony Kaye (fractured ankle), F - Adama Diomande (left adductor strain), D - Danilo Silva (right hamstring irritation)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Tyler Miller — Steven Beitashour, Dejan Jakovic, Walker Zimmerman, Jordan Harvey — Andre Horta, Eduard Atuesta, Lee Nguyen — Carlos Vela, Marco Urena, Diego Rossi

New England Revolution

An unbeaten streak was snapped at nine games when New England (8-10-9) stunned NYCFC, 1-0, at Yankee Stadium last Wednesday.

After hitting the post in the first half, Brian Wright scored the game’s lone goal in the 70th minute, tapping in the rebound of Cristian Penilla’s saved shot. It was the Revs' second road win of the season.

“It’s fantastic that Brian scored, it’s great that Isaac [Angking] got on the field, but would be even better if we beat LAFC on Saturday,” Brad Friedel said. “That game’s in the past, we’ll learn from what we didn’t do right, we’ll also take on board what we did do right and we’ll move on to the next one, but the next game’s always the most important.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: M - Kelyn Rowe, D - Antonio Delamea
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: D - Chris Tierney (torn right ACL)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Brad Knighton — Andrew Farrell, Jalil Anibaba, Michael Mancienne, Brandon Bye — Kelyn Rowe, Wilfried Zahibo, Scott Caldwell — Diego Fagundez, Brian Wright, Cristian Penilla

All-Time Series

• This is the first all-time meeting between Los Angeles Football Club and the New England Revolution

Officials

Referee: Mark Geiger
Assistant Referees: Mike Rottersman, Apolinar Mariscal
4th Official: Kevin Stott
VAR: Victor Rivas