Nashville SC vs. DC United | 2020 MLS Match Preview

Nashville looks to bounce back vs. D.C.

NSH-DC Week 13

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 13
Nashville SC vs. D.C. United
Nissan Stadium – Nashville
September 23 â€“ 8:30 PM ET


STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US


LOCAL TV: WJLA 24/7 News , MyTV30


After a four-match unbeaten streak was snapped on the weekend, Nashville SC are hoping to bounce back against a D.C. United side coming off a dramatic draw against Toronto FC in the first-ever meeting between the teams Wednesday night at Nissan Stadium. 


Nashville SC (3W-5L-3D) are coming off a 2-0 defeat to first-place Columbus Crew SC, while D.C. United (2W-5L-5D) scored more than one goal for the first time since a 2-2 draw at the MLS is Back Tournament against Toronto FC. 


Nashville SC


The expansion side had large stretches where they dominated possession, but ended on the road side of a 2-0 defeat to Supporters Shield-leading Crew SC Saturday at MAPFRE Stadium.


"I honestly thought that our game plan, our attitude, the way we possessed the ball, I've seen the stats. We've come to this place, which is a tough, tough arena, I think it ended up being 57 or 58 percent possession. I think we've made 200 more passes than them throughout the game, we had 15 efforts at goal," Nashville coach Gary Smith said after the match. "I think the only thing I would be critical of the players about are two-fold. The first one is, out of those 15 shots we only hit the target twice and of course the mistake that was made for the first goal. Up until that point, I honestly felt we were in a terrific spot."

Nashville SC vs. DC United | 2020 MLS Match Preview - Project Starting XI
  • Updated team roster
  • Injury Report:
    • OUT: Jimmy Medranda (D) - hip injury
    • OUT: Ken Tribbett (D) - calf injury
    • OUT: Abu Danladi (F) - undisclosed injury
    • OUT: David Accam (M) - undisclosed injury
  • Suspended: Daniel Lovitz (D)
  • Suspended after next caution: None
  • International duty: None


D.C. United


For the second time this season, D.C. United rallied late to earn a 2-2 draw with Toronto FC with 17-year-old Griffin Yow providing the late-game dramatics with a stoppage-time equalizer after Ayo Akinola put Toronto FC ahead on the hour mark. 


"Grif has really grown this year," Ben Olsen said after the game. "Last year he was fairly stagnant as a player and this year I think he's really committed himself to being a pro and he's got a lot of really interesting qualities. But one of his best qualities as a player is he just seems to be one of those players that gets real chances and smells chances. Twenty yards in, he can manufacture things. So tonight you get him kinda smelling where the ball is coming and he did a great job seeing the play out."

Nashville SC vs. DC United | 2020 MLS Match Preview - Project Starting XI
  • Updated team roster
  • Injury Report:
    • OUT: Paul Arriola (M) - ACL injury
    • OUT: Edison Flores (M) - facial injury
    • OUT: Ulises Segura (M) - undisclosed injury
    • OUT: Felipe (M) - ACL injury
    • OUT: Mohammed Abu (M) - undisclosed injury
    • QUESTIONABLE: Steven Birnbaum (D) - undisclosed injury
    • QUESTIONABLE: Russell Canouse (D) - hamstring injury
  • Suspended: None
  • Suspended after next caution: None
  • International duty: None


Series Matchup at Nashville SC


  • This is the first all-time meeting between Nashville SC and D.C. United


Officials


  • Referee: Tori Penso
  • Assistant Referees: Logan Brown, Jeremy Hanson
  • 4th Official: Robert Sibiga
  • VAR: Alan Kelly