Two sides seeking a late push for a playoff berth in the MLS Eastern Conference will clash when Nashville SC host DC United at Geodis Park on Thursday.
The hosts will aim to extend their 100 percent home record in this fixture, while the visitors will hope to avoid consecutive away defeats.
Match preview
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Eight consecutive defeats in the MLS between late June to mid-September threatened to entirely crush Nashville's hopes of a place in the playoffs, but Brian Joseph Callaghan's men kept their aspirations alive by claiming seven points in their next three matches.
However, the Boys in Gold could not sustain this momentum, losing 1-0 against New England Revolution on Sunday, conceding the only goal of the game with four minutes remaining in regular time.
Nashville are on 33 points, just four points shy of playoff contention in the Eastern Conference, the same number of points separating the next six teams just outside the final automatic playoff spot.
Thursday's fixture will be the last home game for Callaghan's side in the regular season, and they must make it count, as the other two will be on the road where they have won just one of the last eight games.
The Boys in Gold will be hoping to extend their perfect home record in the fixture, having won the previous three with a combined 8-2 scoreline.
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Meanwhile, D.C. United's winless streak in the MLS extended to three matches with a 2-2 draw at home to Columbus Crew on Saturday.
Christian Benteke netted a brace, scoring either side of Columbus's two goals to help the Black-and-Red secure a point, which lifted their tally to 34 points in the Eastern Conference table, three points adrift of playoff contention.
Troy Lesesne's men will be contesting their next two matches on the road where they won three straight matches before suffering a 4-0 defeat to Philadelphia Union in their most recent away game.
The last time D.C. United failed to win in four or more matches between mid-May and early July when they endured an 11-match winless run, but they risk experiencing a similar poor run at a crucial time if they fail to win on Thursday.
Team News
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Canadian defender Lukas MacNaughton is ruled out for the season for Nashville SC due to an ankle injury, while Tyler Boyd continues to grapple with a knee problem.
Sam Surridge, who has netted 11 goals in 25 MLS appearances for the hosts this year, will be the player to watch when they take to the pitch on Thursday.
DC United will also be missing several key players as Matai Akinmboni (ankle), Conner Antley (knee), and Jackson Hopkins (ankle) remain sidelined.
Austrian defender David Schnegg has missed the last five games with a leg injury and is unavailable for selection for the visitors.
Benteke is currently leading the MLS scorers chart with 21 goals, and he will be hoping to add to this tally when he takes to the pitch on Thursday.
Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Willis; Gaines, Zimmerman, Bauer, Lovitz, Washington; Yazbek, Anunga, Mukhtar; Perez, Surridge
DC United possible starting lineup:
Bono; Tubbs, Mcvey, Peltola; Santos, Klich, Ku-DiPietro, Rodriguez; Pirani, Stroud, Benteke
We say: Nashville SC 2-1 DC United
Nashville and DC United find themselves in identical predicaments, both sides desperately seeking a late playoff berth and enduring a recent drought of victories.
Nevertheless, given the hosts' historical dominance in this fixture on home turf, we are inclined to predict a win for them on Thursday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
