Washington, D.C. (Sports Network) - Saturday's Major League Soccer clash between FC Dallas and D.C. United on Saturday at RFK Stadium will be a battle of clubs heading in opposite directions.
United is coming off its fourth consecutive loss to stretch its winless run to seven games, and Dallas is coming off a 3-1 win that stretched its unbeaten run to nine games.
United (3-13-3) is in the midst of one of the worst seasons in franchise history. The team recently fired head coach Curt Onalfo, with last weekend's 1-0 loss at New England being the first for interim coach Ben Olsen. The 1-0 shutout loss was United's club-record 13th shutout of the season, a club record.
If the team doesn't find a way to score goals over its final 11 games, it will easily pass Toronto FC's MLS record of 15 shutouts in a single season, set in 2007.
"This week we've incorporated some situational stuff where we're doing a lot more finishing," Olsen told mlssoccer.com on Wednesday. "Just getting guys as many looks as possible at the goal helps. But at the end of the day, let's face it, it's still about who is going to step up and be that guy for us. You challenge the guys to be the guy to stop this drought. Who's it going to be?"
Dallas hopes it found its guy last weekend in its win vs. Philadelphia.
Striker Jeff Cunningham scored two goals to return to the score sheet fort he first time since May 8 after leading MLS in scoring last season. Cunningham scored all but on of those goals in the second half of the season last year, so the club is hoping it can get similar production out of the veteran down the stretch.
The Hoops (7-2-9) will probably be counting on rookie Zach Lloyd to start on defense with defenders Kyle Davies and Ugo Ihemelu out with injuries. Also, midfielder Dax McCarty is questionable with an injury.
United will be midfielder Brandon Barklage and defender Rodney Wallace while midfielder Clyde Simms is questionable and defenders Dejan Jakovic and Juan Manuel Pena are probable.