D.C. United will be looking to take the next step today as they head west to face fellow strugglers FC Cincinnati. Since the end of the Ben Olsen era, United has made some small progress, arguably outplaying their last two opponents, but ultimately the results (a loss and a home draw) were what you’d expect from a team at the bottom of the table.
Cincinnati, though, did one better, springing a 2-1 upset on Wednesday in the Hell is Real Derby, and they’re only four points from a playoff spot. Nonetheless, facing a side that has only scored 10 goals all season — these are the two lowest-scoring teams in MLS — the Black-and-Red will be hoping their recent move towards being a more attack-minded team is the recipe to escape what is now a nine-game winless rut.