Two clubs in the Eastern Conference of MLS will do battle today in a league match between D.C. United and the Houston Dynamo. The first-division clash scheduled for 7 p.m. ET will be held at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. and can be live streamed here.
After being snubbed from the U.S. men's national team's 30-man provisional roster, D.C. United forward Eddie Johnson responded the only way he could last Saturday. Ascending to the heavens, Johnson headed home a Fabian Espindola cross in the 84th minute, allowing United to salvage a point at home. Head coach Ben Olsen shared his elation following the match (h/t to Pablo Maurer on MLS's official website). "It's good for him to score a goal," Olsen said.
"Again, he's in so many good spots. We've let him down a lot with lack of service, lack of quality of service," he added.
"He knows what to do in the six yard box when a ball is delivered properly. We just need to continue getting him that type of service and he'll keep getting on the board."
Just don't expect Johnson to receive that service at RFK Stadium tonight. A reckless challenge on Montreal Impact goalkeeper Troy Perkins has forced the MLS Disciplinary Committee to hand down a one-game suspension, which he'll serve tonight.
Will D.C. United be able to obtain a positive result without their target man? Tell us @SportsWN
Tactical Preview
Player to Watch: With Johnson serving a one-game suspension, expect striker Connor Doyle to take his place as the target man in Ben Olsen's 4-4-2 formation. In order to provide the same hold-up play as Johnson, the 22-year-old must improve on his aerial game. Doyle enters today's match successfully winning just 32 percent of his duels in the air.
D.C. United's Projected Lineup (4-4-2): Hamid; Cristian, Parke, Boswell, Korb; DeLeon, Kitchen, Neal, Rolfe; Espindola, Doyle
Houston Dynamo's Projected Lineup (4-4-2): Hall; Ashe, Horst, Taylor, Creavalle; Driver, Clark, Garcia, Cascio; Bruin, Barnes
Standings
|
Rnk |
Team |
MP |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
+/- |
Pts |
|||
|
1 |
New England Revolution |
11 |
6 |
2 |
3 |
19 |
13 |
6 |
20 |
|||
|
2 |
Sporting Kansas City |
11 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
16 |
10 |
6 |
17 |
|||
|
3 |
Houston Dynamo |
12 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
16 |
19 |
-3 |
17 |
|||
|
4 |
DC United |
10 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
14 |
12 |
2 |
15 |
|||
|
5 |
New York Red Bulls |
12 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
18 |
19 |
-1 |
14 |
|||
|
6 |
Columbus Crew |
11 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
13 |
14 |
-1 |
13 |
|||
|
7 |
Chicago Fire |
10 |
2 |
6 |
2 |
19 |
19 |
0 |
12 |
|||
|
8 |
Toronto FC |
8 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
9 |
9 |
0 |
12 |
|||
|
9 |
Philadelphia Union |
13 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
15 |
20 |
-5 |
11 |
|||
|
10 |
Impact Montreal |
10 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
8 |
18 |
-10 |
7 |
|
Rnk |
Team |
MP |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
+/- |
Pts |
|||
|
1 |
Seattle Sounders |
12 |
8 |
1 |
3 |
23 |
19 |
4 |
25 |
|||
|
2 |
Real Salt Lake |
11 |
6 |
5 |
0 |
23 |
13 |
10 |
23 |
|||
|
3 |
FC Dallas |
12 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
21 |
20 |
1 |
17 |
|||
|
4 |
Vancouver Whitecaps |
10 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
16 |
12 |
4 |
16 |
|||
|
5 |
Colorado Rapids |
11 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
12 |
14 |
-2 |
15 |
|||
|
6 |
Portland Timbers |
11 |
1 |
7 |
3 |
16 |
19 |
-3 |
10 |
|||
|
7 |
Chivas USA |
11 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
13 |
20 |
-7 |
10 |
|||
|
8 |
San Jose Earthquakes |
10 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
10 |
12 |
-2 |
10 |
|||
|
9 |
LA Galaxy |
8 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
8 |
7 |
1 |
9 |
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