DC United vs. San Jose Earthquakes | 2017 MLS Match Preview

Charles Boehm

D.C. United vs. San Jose Earthquakes
2017 MLS Regular Season
RFK Stadium – Washington, D.C.
Saturday, September 23 – 7 pm ET
WATCH: MLS LIVE

The San Jose Earthquakes are climbing up towards a playoff spot, while D.C. United are counting down their last days at their distinguished RFK Stadium home as the two sides meet for the 19th and final time on East Capitol Street.

Saturday marks United's second-to-last home game of the 2017 season and thus their penultimate runout at RFK, with their new venue, Audi Field, set to open next summer. While it's been a disappointing campaign for the Black-and-Red, who remain stuck in last place in the East despite a brief August upturn, coach Ben Olsen and his charges hope to close out the year on a high note by playing the spoiler role against the Quakes and other postseason-chasing opponents.

The Earthquakes have had a topsy-turvy season themselves, yet enter the home stretch in possession of fifth place in the West and with real optimism of finishing above the playoff line. Last week's 1-0 home win over Houston was a massive result in that pursuit, but the Quakes' biggest issue remains their road form.

They've won only three times away from Avaya Stadium this season and with the Dynamo, FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake close behind, Chris Leitch & Co. can ill afford to drop points on this visit to the East's stragglers.

D.C. United

Suspended: None
International Duty: None
Injury Report: OUT – M Rob Vincent (left meniscus), M Patrick Nyarko (concussion), D Taylor Kemp (hip)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, left to right)
Bill Hamid – Nick DeLeon, Kofi Opare, Steve Birnbaum, Chris Korb – Russell Canouse, Marcelo Sarvas – Zoltan Stieber, Luciano Acosta, Paul Arriola – Patrick Mullins

Notes: United have notched three own goals on offense and conceded three on defense this season; five of those OGs (three conceded, two received) have come in their last eight matches ... After a three-game win streak in August renewed talk of a late run to the postseason, two straight losses have sent D.C. back on a downward trajectory ... The Black-and-Red are five points adrift at the foot of the Eastern Conference standings on 28 points from 29 games, and are in a race with Colorado (26 points from 28 games) to avoid the proverbial "wooden spoon" as last-place finisher in the overall MLS standings.

San Jose Earthquakes

Suspended: None
International Duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D Harold Cummings (leg surgery), D Marvell Wynne (heart abnormality), D Fatai Alashe (quad injury); QUESTIONABLE: GK David Bingham (back)

Projected Starting XI
(4-4-2, left to right)
Andrew Tarbell — Kofi Sarkodie, Florian Jungwirth, Andres Imperiale, Shea Salinas — Vako, Florian Jungwirth, Jackson Yueill, Danny Hoesen — Chris Wondolowski, Marco Ureña

Notes: One of several Jekyl-and-Hyde teams in MLS, the Quakes are 8-1-5 at home but only 3-11-1 on the road ... San Jose are 1-6-0 in their last seven away games, conceding 23 goals and scoring five during that stretch ... Striker Danny Hoesen's game-winning goal vs. the Dynamo last week broke a nine-game scoreless skid for the Dutchman.

All-Time Series

Overall: Earthquakes 17 wins (3 shootout), 57 goals … United 13 wins (0 shootout), 59 goals … Ties 7
At D.C.: United 9 wins (0 shootout), 33 goals ... Earthquakes 9 wins (2 shootout), 27 goals ... Ties 0