Hovering near the playoff cut-line, improved teams D.C. United and CF Montreal meet Saturday night in the nation’s capital in their final MLS match before the World Cup pause.
Reaching the postseason would be a significant feat for D.C. United. While Montreal has qualified three times in the last nine years, D.C. United has the longest current playoff drought in MLS, coming up short in six straight seasons.
After opening the season with six losses in its first seven games and firing coach Marco Donadel, Montreal (4-8-1, 13 points) has rebounded with three wins and a draw in its last six MLS matches (3-2-1) under interim coach Philippe Eullaffroy.
Keying the turnaround has been a shift from a 4-2-3-1 formation to a 4-3-3 with a holding midfielder. It has helped Montreal improve at both ends of the field.
In its first seven matches, Montreal was outscored 19-8. After the coaching change, it has a 10-8 edge on the scoreboard.
“They know how to score goals. They are better than they were last season, a little bit similar to our team,” D.C. coach Rene Weiler said. “It will be a tight game and I hope that we defend it well – the forward players for them.”
Those threats for Montreal are Prince Owusu (six goals, four assists) and Wikelman Carmona (four goals, two assists).
The schedule also has been favorable for Montreal as it has played six of its last seven at home, including a frustrating 2-0 loss Saturday to the Chicago Fire in which it had edges in possession (55.9%), shots (16-13) and corners (16-3).
D.C. United (4-5-5, 17 points) has lost just once in its last seven (2-1-4) but struggled in two matches last week.
At home last Saturday, D.C. was on the verge of losing its second straight before Joao Peglow scored with a sensational right-footed blast from outside of the box in the 90th minute in a 1-1 draw against St. Louis City.
Tai Baribo (seven goals) and Louis Munteanu (four) lead the D.C. attack.
“Overall, I’m pretty satisfied with the way we have been improving so far,” D.C. United coach Rene Weiler said. “Now, we are trying to make sure we can close some tight games in our favor.”
–Field Level Media
