:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/4511563/129993065.jpg)
D.C. United kick off the 2012 season at RFK Stadium against the reigning regular season Eastern Conference Champions, Sporting Kansas City. Sporting KC made it to the Eastern Conference Finals last fall, losing to Houston 2-0. United finished 7th in the Eastern Conference and missed the playoffs entirely.
United finished with 39 points last season (9-13-12), and hope new additions Hamdi Salihi, Nick DeLeon, Robbie Russell, Emiliano Dudar can improve their squad. United also re-signed the 2011 MLS MVP Dwayne De Rosario to a contract extension and have a talented young core in midfielders Chris Pontius, Perry Kitchen and Andy Najar; as well as goalkeeper Bill Hamid.
Sporting KC finished with 51 points (13-9-12) and added a familiar face to United fans, midfielder Bobby Convey. Convey got his start in professional soccer with United in 2000 and was the youngest player to sign in MLS at the time. Convey joins a talented Sporting attack that scored the second-most goals in the regular season in 2011.
United lost both matches to Sporting KC last year by a 1-0 scoreline. Tonight's match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. and can be seen on Comcast SportsNet Plus. Check here for channel information.