2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 7
D.C. United vs. New England Revolution
Audi Field – Washington D.C.
August 25 – 7:00 PM ET
STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada
LOCAL TV: NBC Sports Boston
For the 77th time in the regular season, longtime foes D.C. United and the New England Revolution square off Tuesday at Audi Field after both teams earned a point from a scoreless draw in their restart of the regular season.
This is also the second meeting this season, with the sides sharing the points during the group stage of the MLS is Back Tournament. That game will be remembered for a second straight supersub performance by Federico Higuain, who leveled four minutes after entry by capitalizing on Antonio Delamea's poor giveaway.
The teams have played to three consecutive regular season draws, with D.C. United the last team to claim all three points, a 2-0 victory at the newly-christened Audi Field in 2018. Whether it's RFK Stadium or Audi Field, D.C. have dominated at home in the series history with 24 wins in 38 all-time meetings.
D.C. United
Goals, and as such, leads are tough to come by for D.C. United this season with the Black-and-Red playing FC Cincinnati to a 0-0 draw at Nippert Stadium Friday. It was the third draw of the season for D.C. United, which extended its winless streak to four games.
Ben Olsen is trying to get his offense going, scrapping his usual 4-2-3-1 formation with a 3-5-2 look against Cincy in part, to get Julian Gressel to assist-providing positions out wide. D.C.'s big offseason acquisition has one assist in six contests since his move from Atlanta, where he had 35 in three seasons. Gressel did set up D.C.'s best chance at a goal Friday, but that came off a set-piece service that Donovan Pines clanged off the bar.
"I thought it was a good game from Julian," Olsen said after the game. "He always is an extremely hard-working player. I think one of the issues today was, and it wasn't necessarily his fault — we didn't get enough service from him out of the run of play. His set-piece ability tonight was really good, he gave us a bunch of chances on set pieces and put it up for the three big fellas and we were unlucky not to get something there. But I thought he probably had his best overall game [for us] to date."
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Paul Arriola (M) - knee injury
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
New England Revolution
Difficulties scoring isn't exclusive to D.C. United. The Revs are also trying to find a way to be more dangerous in the attacking third without playmaker Carles Gil, who had surgery on his left Achilles on Aug. 4 and will be sidelined for up to five months.
In a 0-0 draw against the Philadelphia Union Thursday at Gillette Stadium, newly-signed midfielder Matt Polster debuted, playing alongside Kelyn Rowe, but Gustavo Bou was again tasked with the unfamiliar role of playmaker behind lone striker Adam Buksa.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced on Monday that Bruce Arena will be suspended an additional two games and fined $15,000 for for unacceptable conduct and use of inappropriate language following a post-match red card in the Revs' MLS is Back Round of 16 loss to the Philadelphia Union.
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Luis Caicedo (M) - right knee injury
- OUT: Carles Gil (M) - left Achilles injury
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
Series Matchup at D.C. United
- D.C.: 24 wins, 71 goals
- Revolution: 9 wins, 46 goals
- 5 draws
Officials
- Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr
- Assistant Referees: Brian Dunn, Matthew Nelson
- 4th Official: Matt Franz
- VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero
