Thursday at 8 p.m., PPL Park, Chester
TV: ESPN2
Coaches: D.C. United, Ben Olsen (25-31-18); Union, John Hackworth (5-6-4)
Records: D.C. United, 13-10-5, 44 points; Union, 7-13-6, 27 points
United on the road: 3-9-1
Union at home: 5-6-2
Previous meetings: The Union won a 2-1 decision in extra time in the U.S. Open Cup on June 5. In two MLS games, United won, 1-0, at PPL Park on June 16 and the teams played to a 1-1 draw at RFK Stadium on Aug. 19.
Most recent MLS games: On Saturday, United beat visiting New England, 2-1. The Union played to a 1-1 draw Saturday at Toronto.
About D.C. United: Entering Wednesday, United held the fifth and final Eastern Conference spot. D.C. will be without all-star midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, who is out with a left knee sprain. . . . Leading scorer Chris Pontius scored his 11th goal in Saturday's win. Pontius had the lone goal in United's earlier win over the Union. . . . United keeper Bill Hamid entered Wednesday with the fourth-best goals-against average (1.16) in Major League Soccer.
About the Union: All-star midfielder Michael Farfan will miss the game because of a yellow card accumulation. . . . Defender Sheanon Williams scored the equalizer last week in Toronto, his first goal of the season. . . . The Union are 0-1-4 in their last five games. They are still mathematically alive for the postseason, but they are a long shot.
- Marc Narducci
