Nashville SC v D.C. United: Lesesne hails visitors´ relentlessness

Troy Lesesne believes D.C. United’s ruthlessness could be what gets them over the line as they battle for an MLS Cup playoff spot, ahead of Wednesday’s huge clash with Nashville SC.

D.C. sit 12th in the Eastern Conference standings with three games to play, one point and one place above Nashville and just three adrift of the final wild-card spot.

After watching his team fight back to earn a 2-2 draw against the MLS Cup holders, the Columbus Crew, last time out, Lesesne said their spirit could take them far.

“This group does not stop, that’s a value we have throughout the club at the moment,” Lesense said.

“I think that value of being relentless, that mindset that we’re always going to keep going, that’s what is going to carry us down to the wire with these three matches that are left.

“It’s human nature when things are difficult to go into survival mode, or to make excuses or blame others. As a manager, you have to combat that.

“I just give our players and staff a tremendous amount of credit for not succumbing to that.”

Nashville, meanwhile, found form at the right time under new boss B.J. Callaghan, taking seven points from three games before going down 1-0 to the New England Revolution on Saturday.

Callaghan remained upbeat as he looked ahead to Wednesday’s match, saying: “The approach of the week is the same as usual.

“It’s a good opportunity for us, we have plenty of positives that we can build on.

“D.C. have a really clear style of play, a clear way of doing things, and they’re a team where we’re going to have to be really sharp to get the result we want.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nashville SC – Sam Surridge

Surridge leads all Nashville players for goals in MLS this term, netting 11 times in the competition – five more than his closest team-mate Hany Mukhtar (six). He has also scored three goals in their last two home games.

D.C. United – Christian Benteke

Benteke’s two goals on Saturday took him to 21 for the season, the second-most by a D.C. United player in a single MLS campaign (after Raul Diaz Arce – 23 in 1996).

It was Benteke’s eighth multi-goal game since the start of last season, only Denis Bouanga (10) has more in that time.

Benteke has been named to the @MLS Team of the Matchday bench! pic.twitter.com/dNcAnhDBpu

— D.C. United (@dcunited) September 30, 2024

MATCH PREDICTION – NASHVILLE SC WIN

D.C. claimed their first-ever victory over Nashville when the sides last met on July 13, winning 2-1 on home soil.

Nashville have, however, won all three of their home games against D.C. by an aggregate score of 8-2.

D.C. were thrashed 4-0 by the Philadelphia Union in their last road game on September 22, halting a four-match unbeaten run on their travels. With Nashville taking seven points from their last four games, another defeat could await them here.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Nashville SC – 47.9%

D.C. United – 26.1%

Draw – 26%