2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 15
D.C. United vs. Atlanta United
Audi Field – Washington, D.C.
October 3 – 7:00 PM ET
STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; on DAZN in Canada
LOCAL TV: FOX Sports Southeast, WJLA 24/7 News
Two Eastern Conference foes badly in need of three points to get out of their current malaise and, attempt to climb above the playoff line, meet at Audi Field Saturday night when D.C. United host Atlanta United.
D.C. United's (2W-7L-5D) are rooted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference following a 2-0 home loss to the New England Revolution, while Atlanta United (4W-8L-2D) lost to the Chicago Fire 2-0 at Soldier Field.
It's only a small sample size, but D.C. are unbeaten at home against Atlanta United with a 4W-0L-OD record and an 8-2 goal advantage. That included the 2019 season-opening 2-0 victory on goals by Paul Arriola and Luciano Acosta.
D.C. United
It's now five matches without a win for D.C. United following a 2-0 loss to the Revs at Audi Field Sunday night. Just when it looked like United would at least share the points, Gustavo Bou and Adam Buksa scored in the final four minutes to send United to their second straight loss and third in the last four games. Yordy Reyna looked lively in his debut and Homegrown teenagers Griffin Yow and Moses Nyeman in the XI were a few of positives.
Reportedly, coach Ben Olsen is on a "scalding hot seat," according to Steven Goff of the Washington Post.
“There's no playbook for dealing with the emotional toll of a season like this,” Olsen told reporters on Thursday. "Not only the season and the results are traditionally emotional, but then yet you still have the backdrop of the world that we're in right now outside of the game. So I do the best I can with making sure they understand that there's 27 points left and we're four points out of a playoff spot ... the mentality of the group is one that we get back to work and we keep chipping away until things turn for the better. So I don't feel like it's a locker room ready to turn on each other or point fingers.”
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Paul Arriola (M) - ACL injury
- OUT: Edison Flores (M) - facial injury
- OUT: Ulises Segura (M) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Felipe (M) - ACL injury
- OUT: Mohammed Abu (M) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Kevin Paredes (M) - undisclosed injury
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: Frederic Brillant (D), Russell Canouse (D)
- International duty: None
Atlanta United
Atlanta failed to build off the momentum of a midweek win over FC Dallas and suffered a 2-0 defeat at Chicago Sunday night. The Five Stripes are winless on the road since opening the season with a victory over expansion side Nashville SC on Feb. 29.
"I don't see that it should be an issue," Atlanta interim coach Stephen Glass said of the same-day travel. "Other teams have come to us and given us problems. To me, it's the teams that cope [the best] with any struggle going on right now that are going to come out on top this year...I think that when you lose goals as early as we have in first halves away from home, you give yourself an uphill battle. It's pretty straightforward."
New Designated Player Marcelino Moreno has arrived in Atlanta and could be ready to make his debut for the Five Stripes against the New York Red Bulls on Oct. 10, interim head coach Stephen Glass said Thursday.
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Josef Martinez (F) - ACL injury
- OUT: Cubo Torres (F) - knee sprain
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
Series Matchup at D.C. United
- D.C. United: 4 wins, 8 goals
- Atlanta: 0 wins, 2 goals
- 0 draws
Officials
- Referee: Joseph Dickerson
- Assistant Referees: Corey Parker, Matthew Nelson
- 4th Official: Matthew Franz
- VAR: Jorge Gonzalez
