How They’re Doing
D.C. United is coming off a 2022 season where they “won” the wooden spoon for worst record in the league.
In Wayne Rooney’s first full season as head coach, things are turning around, and D.C. currently sits in a playoff spot in the eastern conference with four wins in 11 matches. In 2022, D.C. only managed seven wins in 34 matches.
A 1-0 win in the previous round of the U.S. Open Cup against Richmond Kickers got them into the Round of 32, where they’ll now face off against Atlantic Cup rivals New York Red Bulls.
Head-to-Head History
This will be the fourth all-time meeting between New York and D.C. in Open Cup history and the second consecutive season the two clubs have met in the cup competition.
New York has played D.C. more than they have any other club in its history.
Since the two clubs first match against each other in 1996, there have been 103 total matches between the Atlantic rivals across all competitions.
Player to Watch- Forward Christian Benteke
It isn’t known yet what roster D.C. United will field for their cup matchup against New York, but Christian Benteke has been a revelation for the D.C. attack so far this season.
He has played every minute of their 11 MLS league matches in 2023 and already has five goals to his name.
In their 2022 season, only two players on the D.C. roster eclipsed that goal tally number in 34 league matches.
If Rooney plays a strong squad and Benteke does get the start, he will be a handful for the New York backline that must play without captain Sean Nealis.
