FC Dallas will look to build on an impressive upset victory when they host D.C. United, who are trying to avoid a third consecutive road defeat, on Tuesday.
Despite missing leading scorer Jesus Ferreira to international duty and winger Paul Arriola to injury, Dallas (8-7-5, 29 points) pulled off an impressive 2-0 home win over defending MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield champions Los Angeles FC on Saturday.
Bernard Kamungo scored his second goal of the season in just his first start, and Sam Junqua added insurance in the 90th minute for Dallas.
Attacking midfielder Sebastian Lletget made his first start in nearly a month after recovering from an injury to help Dallas win after it was shut out in consecutive defeats. Lletget helped Dallas move on from a tough 3-0 defeat at rival Austin FC a week ago.
“I am very happy,” Lletget said. “We fought hard and needed this win, especially after the result against Austin. We had players missing and others injured and it was not easy, as we know the LAFC is a very strong team but we managed to get that win.”
D.C. United (7-9-5, 26 points) will be trying to move on from the latest in a handful of games manager Wayne Rooney says have been doomed by poor starts.
Randall Leal scored twice before halftime in D.C.’s 2-0 loss at second-place Nashville SC on Saturday.
“Three or four times this season, it’s happened where we’ve come out and we’ve lost the game in the first 45 minutes,” Rooney said. “Yeah, the goals — mistakes and sloppy goals to give away — but we didn’t deserve anything from the game based on the first 45 minutes.”
It was the first time in eight games D.C. United were held scoreless. They might find goals a challenge Tuesday, as well, after leading scorer Christian Benteke picked up a yellow card that will lead to a card-accumulation suspension.
Taxi Fountas is most likely to start in place of Benteke at the top of D.C. United’s forward line after he came on at halftime on Saturday.
–Field Level Media
