No room for error as D.C. United, Nashville SC chase playoff spots

D.C. United and Nashville SC have no room for error down the final stretch of the MLS regular season.

With both clubs outside playoff position in the Eastern Conference and in search of a much-needed victory, D.C. visits Nashville on Wednesday night.

D.C. United (8-13-10, 34 points) are three points out of a playoff spot in the East and have two teams ahead of them in the standings that are also currently out of the postseason mix. D.C. is 0-1-2 after winning four of its previous five -- a successful stretch that began with a 2-1 victory over Nashville (8-14-9, 33 points) on July 13.

"We're still in the race," D.C. star Christian Benteke said.

Surprisingly, Benteke did not score any of his league-leading 21 goals against Nashville back in July, but he did assist on one of Cristian Dajome's two scores. Benteke has scored seven times in his past seven MLS matches, tallying both goals in Saturday's 2-2 draw with the Columbus Crew.

"His leadership, his commitment to playing the style of play -- he sets the line for us very often," D.C. coach Troy Lesesne said of Benteke.

Nashville sits just behind D.C. in the East standings and realizes the daunting challenge ahead of it in the final three matches of the regular season as it tries to reach the playoffs for a fifth consecutive year. Mired in a 2-9-1 stretch, Nashville SC look to rebound from Saturday's 1-0 loss to the lowly New England Revolution.

"We're not too naive to know that we have to get three points, probably, in all three of these games," star Nashville defender Walker Zimmerman said.

Once a house of horrors for opponents, Nashville's home pitch has not been kind to the hosts, who are amid a 1-3-1 stretch there. However, Sam Surridge has three of his team-leading 11 goals this season in Nashville's past two home contests.

Former MVP Hany Mukhtar has gone four consecutive home matches without a goal but recorded an assist in each of the past two. Mukhtar has just six goals this season after scoring at least 15 in each of the past three campaigns.

--Field Level Media