Two of the original MLS franchises face-off as D.C. United (9-7-9, 36 points) host LA Galaxy (12-10-1, 37 points) on August 11 at Audi Field. D.C. United and LA Galaxy are among the most successful clubs in league history as they have won a combined nine MLS Cups.
In their last match, the Black-and-Red suffered a 5-1 defeat to the first-place Philadelphia Union. The Union got off to a fast start, scoring in the third minute after United gave the ball away in their own half and Alejandro Bedoya finished into the bottom corner. D.C. United were dealt a major blow as Junior Moreno was sent off for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity in the 40th minute of the game. Philadelphia capitalized on their advantage just before halftime when Marco Fabian found himself open in the box to put his team ahead 2-0. In the second half, Union forward Kacper Przybylko finished a counter-attack in the 52nd minute to add to their lead. United would pull one back just two minutes later after Steven Birnbaum saw his header from a corner saved only for it to fall to the feet of Frederic Brillant who tapped in his first goal of the season. Marco Fabian scored his second goal of the game in the 70th minute, while substitute Fabrice-Jean Picault scored in stoppage time to finish the game off.
Just before the transfer deadline, D.C. United acquired three new players with loads of experience playing in MLS. Midfielders Felipe Martins and Emmanuel Boateng were acquired from the Vancouver Whitecaps and LA Galaxy respectively, while forward Ola Kamara returns to MLS after a short stint with Shenzhen FC in China. The trio should make an immediate impact for the Black-and-Red. Captain Wayne Rooney leads United this season with 11 goals and seven assists. Bill Hamid has continued to have a strong season since returning from Denmark as he leads all goalkeepers in MLS with 100 saves, while also recording the second most clean sheets in the league with nine. The Black-and-Red will be without three of their central midfielders as Russell Canouse and Chris Durkin are battling injuries while Junior Moreno is serving a suspension from the red card he received against Philadelphia.
LA Galaxy have been dealing with a dip in form lately as they were dismantled by reigning MLS champions Atlanta United in their last match. The Galaxy were without their star player Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the match as he was suspended for yellow card accumulation. Atlanta opened the scoring in the 23rd minute after Galaxy defender Dave Romney fired a cross into his own net. In the 37th minute, Atlanta were given another gift as another Galaxy defender, this time Giancarlo Gonzalez, scored an own goal. After halftime, Atlanta continued to create the majority of the chances and eventually got another breakthrough in the 70th minute. Emerson Hyndman was brought down in the box, winning Atlanta a penalty which Josef Martinez converted to give his team a 3-0 victory.
The Galaxy have dropped to fifth place in the Western Conference following a string of poor performances after All-Star weekend. Zlatan Ibrahimovic continues to dominate in MLS as he is currently third in the league in terms of goals with 16. Uruguayan defender Diego Polenta leads the Galaxy with four assists so far this season, while Ibrahimovic and Chris Pontius have chipped in with three each. Goalkeeper David Bingham has recorded seven shutouts this season and he is second in the league with 98 saves, trailing only D.C. United’s Bill Hamid.
Tune in to watch Wayne Rooney face his former Manchester United teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the Galaxy travel to the district to play at Audi Field for the first time in club history. The match will be broadcasted on FS1 at 7:30 PM ET.
