NYCFC hit the road as the Boys In Blue visit Audi Field to take on D.C. United.
The defending MLS champions are coming off of an unbeaten homestand, which saw them win four and draw one, outscoring their opponents 16-4.
DC United sacked manager Hernan Losada after just five games and appointed assistant Chris Ashton as the new boss and the Red and Black have seen an upturn in fortunes, going 2-1-2 in his five games in charge.
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Team news
DC United
The Black and Red will be without defender Chris Odoi-Atsem, midfielder Andy Najar, midfielder Moses Nyeman and forward Adrien Perez.
Chris Durkin is suspended after picking up a red card against Inter Miami over the weekend.
Anton Tinnerholm continues to rehab the Achilles injury he suffered last year while Malte Amundsen is questionable after suffering a muscle injury two weeks ago against San Jose.
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Predicted lineups
DC United: Hamid; Pines, Birnbaum, Hines-Ike; Smith, Canouse, Djeffal, Gressel; Fountas, Estrada, Flores
NYCFC: Johnson; Gloster, Martins, Callens, Acevedo; Moralez, Parks; Magno, Rodríguez, Andrade; Castellanos
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Ones to watch
Taxiarchis Fountas (DC United)
He is co-leader on DC with Ola Kamara as each have scored five goals and despite the rest of the side not doing much in attack, this is the most potent duo NYCFC have faced in a while.
Maxi Moralez (NYCFC)
He played (for him) an unusual role last time out against Columbus, operating as the number six, a deep-lying playmaker. As a testament to his experience, talent and versatility, he played the role to perfection, adding another layer to the Boys In Blue's offense.
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Previous meeting
Last October, NYCFC ran riot over D.C. United, thrashing the Black and Red 6-0 at Yankee Stadium.
Less than a minute into the match, Amundsen ran onto a through ball by Santiago Rodriguez and rolled a one-touch cross between the legs of defender Steven Birnbaum to Thiago, who flicked it past Bill Hamid.
Castellanos scored goals about four minutes apart to make it 3-0 just 11 minutes into the contest.
Maxi Moralez scored just before halftime, Alexandre Callens headed home the Boys In Blue's fifth in the 51st minute and Jesus Medina rolled a one-touch shot from the edge of the area into the net to make it 6-0 in the 74th.
The match will be streamed nationally on ESPN+. In the Washington D.C. area, NBC Sports Washington will have English-language coverage. Telexitos has Spanish-language coverage while the club website will carry the action.
There will be no live television coverage in New York City, but the YES Network app and radio coverage through the NYCFC website will provide coverage.
Kickoff is set for 7:30pm Eastern time.