Afrigather 
Troy Lesesne admitted D.C. United’s journey to Philadelphia Union may have big playoff implications, however performed down the importance of a win.
D.C. are stage on factors with Philadelphia however sit one place under them within the Jap Convention in tenth resulting from their inferior aim distinction.
Lesesne’s group are at present unbeaten in three, having come from behind to attract 1-1 with New York Metropolis FC final outing after back-to-back wins.
A win on Sunday would transfer D.C. above their opponents, however Lesesne just isn’t resting their end-of-season hopes on one match.
“This can be a massive match, there’s no manner round that,” Lesesne stated.
“Whatever the end result, there are nonetheless going to be 4 matches after this weekend that will likely be equally as essential.
“Clearly, we will place ourselves in an effective way if we will choose up three factors, however it’s not on this mindset of a ‘must-win’ by placing the load of the world on this end result.
“We have to recognise the significance, however not go excessive by placing an excessive amount of significance on it with 5 left to play.”
Eyes set on Sunday pic.twitter.com/gtKf9HWsPm
— D.C. United (@dcunited) September 20, 2024
In the meantime, Philadelphia bounced again from defeat to Inter Miami by thrashing NYCFC 5-1 in midweek.
Head coach Jim Curtin was buoyed by that end result and is eager to maintain that momentum going on the weekend.
“I feel we’ve had a playoff mindset and a playoff mentality as a result of we’ve put ourselves in a state of affairs the place we’ve needed to,” Curtin stated.
“We have now to search out methods to take factors in laborious video games. The win [against NYCFC] means nothing if we don’t go house and handle enterprise there in our subsequent two massive video games.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Philadelphia Union – Tai Baribo
Tai Baribo had each a aim and an help in Philadelphia’s win on Wednesday.
It was Baribo’s first help as a member of the Union to go together with his 15 profession targets for the membership in all competitions.
D.C. United – Christian Benteke
Christian Benteke scored in D.C. United’s final away match, a 2-1 win at Chicago Fireplace, his tenth street aim of the common season.
The one D.C. participant to attain extra targets on the street in a single common season was Roy Lassiter (11) in 1999.
In my very own lane, by myself frequency. pic.twitter.com/UY0yABiCyQ
— Christian Benteke (@chrisbenteke) September 16, 2024
MATCH PREDICTION: PHILADELPHIA UNION WIN
The Union have gained 12 of their final 16 common season matches in opposition to D.C. United (D3 L1) courting again to Might 2017. Philadelphia outscored D.C. 46-14 over these 16 matches.
Nevertheless, Philadelphia have misplaced seven of their final 12 common season house matches (W2 D3) after shedding simply six of their earlier 78 such video games at Subaru Park courting again to March 2019 (W53 D19).
In the meantime, D.C. have collected 13 factors from their final six common season matches (W4 D1 L1) after incomes simply 11 factors from their earlier 17 league matches (W2 D5). That is the primary time they’ve collected 13 factors in a span of six common season matches since August-September 2021.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Philadelphia Union – 57.1%
Draw – 22.2%
D.C. United – 20.7%
