D.C. United host New York City FC in a Mother’s Day matchup confident following a strong April in which the Black-and-Red went 2-1-2. After a decisive home victory against New England followed by a valuable road point last week against the Chicago Fire, United are coming into the match with a confident mindset.
After a disappointing stretch of form, New York City FC (2-3-4) finally managed to grab their first home win Saturday against Vancouver, and arrive in D.C. in hopes of building on their last performance. Patrick Vieira’s team showed resilience against the Whitecaps last weekend, notching a 3-2 comeback win behind a first-half David Villa brace and a 73rd-minute tally from substitute Steven Mendoza.
NYCFC boast a plethora of game-changers in their ranks. Captain Villa has been Mr. Reliable for City again this season, leading the team with six goals, and while the midfield is full of talent that includes World Cup winner Pirlo, the team will likely start to find a more consistent flow once Vieira settles on a regular starting lineup. Defense also remains a concern, as the club has managed just one shutout in eight games.
Look for United to take advantage in the center of the field, where the highly-mobile and athletic pairing of Marcelo (who will likely return to the lineup after a one-match suspension) and Nick DeLeon will try to unsettle the more static NYC midfield, which is still a work in progress as Vieira continues to explore options to partner with Pirlo. The dynamic fluidity between Marcelo and DeLeon, growing smoother every week as the two learn each other’s tendencies, will be crucial as they bring wide players like Lamar Neagle, Patrick Nyarko and fullbacks Sean Franklin and Taylor Kemp into the attack. United’s offensive urgency could prove a handful for NYC’s back line, which has seen a number of incarnations already this season, as the club continues to search for defensive consistency.
The Black-and-Red are looking strong defensively, having posted shutouts in two of their last four games. Captain Bobby Boswell--who was named to the MLS Team of the Week after an impressive display against the Revolution with a team-high 13 clearances--anchors the center of defense alongside U.S. National Team member Steve Birnbaum, while goalkeeper Travis Worra has been solid since making his first start for the Black-and-Red on March 12, boasting three shutouts in eight games.
United are 1-1 against NYCFC; they lost 3-1 in their first trip to Yankee Stadium in August before bagging a come-from-behind 2-1 home win in October when Álvaro Saborío scored in the 92nd minute to secure three points at a rainy RFK Stadium.
