United returns to MLS play today against Toronto FC (4 p.m. ET) after two weeks without a League match. The team's previous League match saw D.C. fall to Houston 4-3 on August 1. Both United and Toronto FC are coming off matches against Spanish power Real Madrid, as D.C. fell 3-0 last Sunday while TFC lost 5-1 the prior Friday.
Today's game is massive, as United is in third place (28 points) in the Eastern Conference, just a point ahead of Toronto in fourth (27 points).
United will be without Ben Olsen (yellow card accumulation suspension) and Chris Pontius (quadriceps strain), but may very well have available two newly acquired defenders in Julius James and David Habarugira.
If you're in the DC area, you can watch today's game on Comcast SportsNet or listen live on WFED 1500 AM (English) or WACA 1540 AM (Spanish). Nationally, the game can be seen in Spanish on Telefutura.
Ahead of the match, here's what you should be reading and watching:
- United's Acquisitions Put Back Line on Front Burner - by Steven Goff (Washington Post)
- United faces bumpy road - by John Haydon (Washington Times)
- Needing a getaway from D.C.'s road woes as playoffs approach - by Craig Stouffer (Washington Examiner)
- United working hard to right road woes - by Charlie Boehm (dcunited.com)
- High-scoring DC to test TFC - by Lance Hornby (Toronto Sun)
- TFC shake-up back line - by Paul Attfield (The Globe and Mail)
- Video: Chris Pontius previews TFC (dcunited.com)
- Video: Rodney Wallace previews TFC (dcunited.com)
What are your thoughts on today's match? What Benny and Chris out, who would you like to see in the starting eleven?
