Both the New England Revolution and D.C. United will be looking to jumpstart their offenses when they meet on Tuesday night at Audi Field in Washington D.C.
Both squads come in off 0-0 draws in their return to MLS regular season play. New England (1-1-4, seven points) managed just one shot on target in its home match with the Philadelphia Union on Thursday.
On Friday, Bill Hamid garnered his 69th career shutout in MLS play for D.C. United (1-2-3, six points) in the team's scoreless draw at FC Cincinnati.
The Revolution were playing their first game since star midfielder Carles Gil, who had 10 goals and 14 assists in 2019, underwent left Achilles surgery on Aug. 4 that will sideline him for up to five months.
"Defensively on the night we were good," New England coach Bruce Arena said. "I think in the attack we, at times, were dangerous, but we broke down in some of our decision making and we had some technical flaws. There's no reason to believe that we can't get a goal in a game like that."
New England has scored just four goals in its first six games.
D.C. United hasn't been much better, managing just six goals in six games and 19 shots on target over that span.
D.C. United switched from a 4-2-3-1 formation to a 3-5-2 attack at FC Cincinnati and are hoping for improved production from midfielder Julian Gressel who has managed just one assist in 465 minutes so far this season. Gressel, acquired from Atlanta United in the offseason, had six goals and 12 assists last season for The Five Stripes.
"I thought it was a good game from Julian," D.C. United coach Ben Olsen told mlssoccer.com. "He always is an extremely hard-working player. ... His set-piece ability tonight was really good. He gave us a bunch of chances on set pieces and put it up there for the three big fellas and we were unlucky not to get something there. But I thought he probably had his best overall game (for us) to date."
The longtime rivals, who will be playing for the 77th time, met last month in the MLS is Back tournament and played to a 1-1 tie, the third consecutive draw between the two teams.
--Field Level Media