Match Preview: D.C. United @ Toronto FC August 31, 2024

Story of the Match

After conceding four goals in last weekend’s 4-3 loss to FC Dallas at Audi Field, D.C. United has fallen into a four-way tie for last place in the Eastern Conference.

With MLS playoffs fast approaching, the likes of D.C. United, Nashville SC, Chicago Fire, and New England Revolution will be looking to crawl out of the basement and cling to their playoff hopes in match week 30.

To reach the playoffs, the Black-and-Red will need to knock this weekend’s opponent, Toronto FC, out of eighth place with a crucial three-point swing. When the two sides met in D.C. earlier this season, a late game resurgence saw the game end 2-2 with goals from Mateusz Klich and Ted Ku-DiPietro. However, D.C. United will need to turn things around on defense to keep Toronto from gaining more ground. The team will be eager to get a win to keep their hopes of securing a 2024 playoff berth.

Meanwhile, Toronto has seen an up and down season under first year coach Jon Herdman. While their defense hasn’t impressed, their offense is even more worrisome, having only scored 35 goals total this season. In the last five games, they’ve only put the ball in the back of the net four times. The Canadian team also hasn’t found a prolific goal-scorer. Through 27 matches played, Federico Bernardeschi leads the team with eight goals.

Head coach Troy Lesesne’s squad are staring down their last eight matches of the season, and with little time to climb the standings, they will look to make a late season run up the standings. Midfielder Jared Stroud will look to add to his team-high nine assists after picking up a goal last match. If the team can return to their early-season defensive form and find Christian Benteke on the other end of the pitch, they have a good chance of coming away with three crucial points on the road.

By the Numbers

• D.C. United is looking for its 18th all-time regular season win against Toronto FC.

• Forward Christian Benteke leads Major League Soccer with 17 goals in 22 matches this season. The veteran forward leads the Black-and-Red with 19 goals across all competitions.

• The Black-and-Red are ranked 4th in MLS with 11.3 successful tackles per match this season; Toronto FC are ranked 18th with 9.6 per match.
• Goalkeeper Alex Bono will be facing his former team (drafted by Toronto FC in 2015 MLS Draft); Bono has 59 saves in 21 MLS matches this season.
• D.C. United is 8th in MLS with 41.9 expected goals this season ; Toronto FC ranks 25th with 32.0 expected goals.

Watch Jared Stroud's third goal of the MLS season: