D.C. United travel to Saputo Stadium to take on the Montreal Impact in an important Eastern Conference matchup on August 31.
After battling the Impact to a 0-0 draw at Audi Field back in April, Ben Olsen will look to bring the fight to Canada in the second fixture between the sides in 2019.
Last season, the Black-and-Red faced Montreal and D.C. United came out on top in what proved to be the turning point in their quest for MLS playoff qualification.
On September 29, 2018, D.C. United hosted the Impact at Audi Field in the stadium's inaugural season for the first time in club history. The Black-and-Red dominated the match as Luciano Acosta scored the opener with Wayne Rooney and Paul Arriola each bagging a brace to give United a convincing 5-0 victory in front of an electric Audi Field. Acosta started it all in the 17th minute after finishing a quick one-two combination with Yamil Asad. Rooney added to the lead just after the start of the second half before providing the assist for Arriola’s first goal of the match. Rooney gave Acosta a clever, no-look pass and Acosta was able to play the ball across the face of the goal as Arriola crashed the net. In the 78th minute, Arriola got his second goal by chipping Montreal goalkeeper, Evan Bush. Less than five minutes later in the 81st minute, Rooney scored from 40 yards out to finish the game off for United.
Prior to the opening of Audi Field on July 14, 2018, D.C. United sat in last place of the Eastern Conference. The opening of the new stadium seemed to revitalize both the players and supporters as they slowly climbed up the Eastern Conference standings. The pivotal match against Montreal proved to be the victory the Black-and-Red needed in order to make one final push for the playoffs. Going into the match against the Impact, D.C. United sat in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, just barely clinging on to a playoff spot. In eighth place, the New England Revolution were closing in on United as they were tied on points with 35. The match against Montreal was a critical point in their season as they finished the year on a five-game unbeaten streak with a record of 4-0-1 during that span.
Similar to last season, D.C. United are on the fringe of making the playoffs in a tight Eastern Conference. The Black-and-Red are currently in fifth place but they are only two points ahead of Toronto FC in eighth place. This match could once again be the catalyst the Black-and-Red need as they look to remain in contention for another playoff berth this year.
