After earning a road win against the Colorado Rapids, D.C. United will return to Audi Field on Sunday, April 21st in search of another three points. The Black-and-Red currently hold the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference, and they will look keep it that way as they face off against New York City FC. Here is everything you need to know about our next opponent.
Recent Matches
New York City FC is currently hovering near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. They are the only team in the Eastern Conference without a win, earning one loss and five draws in their first six matches. Their most recent match was a 3-3 draw against Minnesota United at the opening of the new Allianz Stadium in St. Paul. It was a Sean Johnson own goal that gave the Loons a 3-2 lead in the 32nd minute, and the lone goal of the second half from Ismael Tajouri-Shradi equalized for NYC.
Players to Watch
NYCFC has a scoring problem. They lost their main striker, David Villa, in the offseason and they haven’t been able to replace his skill. The team has scored only seven goals in six matches, with three of those goals coming in one match against Minnesota. Tajouri-Shradi and Alexander Ring are currently leading the team with two goals each, but Tajouri-Shradi has only started two games and scored both of his goals against Minnesota.
NYCFC has five draws thanks to a solid defense. Despite the tough record, Sean Johnson already has two shutouts this year. The defense didn’t do too well against Minnesota, allowing two goals from the opposition and scoring an own goal in the 32nd minute. But the Black-and-Red know first hand that NYCFC can shut you out on any given day.
Head-to-Head
This will be D.C. United’s second match against NYCFC this season. In Week Two, NYCFC hosted the Black-and-Red at Yankee Stadium for what turned into a goalkeeper battle. NYCFC took 21 shots, forcing Bill Hamid to make six saves. In the end, the game finished in a scoreless draw.
In 2018, these two sides faced each other twice. The first game ended in a 1-1 draw at Yankee Stadium. The second game-- NYCFC’s first at Audi Field-- ended in a 3-1 victory for the Black-and-Red and was critical to D.C. United’s playoff run. That match featured two goals from Wayne Rooney and one from Luciano Acosta.
Tickets are still available for Sunday's match against NYCFC! If you would like to go to the game be sure to download the D.C. United app through your IOS or Android app store before purchasing tickets.
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