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A New Era in D.C.: United Visit Galaxy After Firing Head Coach
It is a clash of two of Major League Soccer’s most decorated franchises, but they meet on Friday night in Carson, California under a cloud of disappointment and desperation. The big news surrounds the visitors, as D.C. United will play their first match under a new manager after the club made a mid-season coaching change. They will face a LA Galaxy team that, despite being the defending MLS champions, finds itself in last place in the Western Conference, trying to climb out of a historically deep hole. This is a match defined not by a battle for the top of the table, but by a desperate fight to salvage a season.
The End of the Lesesne Era
For D.C. United, the breaking point came this week. After a frustrating 5-2 loss to Nashville SC that eliminated them from the U.S. Open Cup, the organization decided a change was necessary, firing head coach Troy Lesesne on Thursday. The move came with the team languishing in 12th place in the Eastern Conference and in the midst of a five-season playoff drought. D.C. United has been one of the worst defensive teams in the league this season, with a goal differential of minus-22 that is tied for the worst in all of MLS.
“Results have not been acceptable,” D.C. United chief soccer officer Ally Mackay said bluntly in a press conference on Friday. “For us, it’s really taking inventory of what we’re doing.” Academy director Kevin Flanagan will take over as the interim coach for Friday’s match, with reports suggesting that Rene Weiler, the current sporting director for Swiss club Servette FC, is the leading candidate to take the job permanently. The hope is that the change will provide a “new manager bounce” and an immediate emotional lift for a team that desperately needs one. The impact of a mid-season coaching change is a fascinating subject, often explored in our expert betting guide.
The Reigning Champs in Last Place
While D.C. is dealing with front-office turmoil, the LA Galaxy are dealing with the fallout from one of the most stunning collapses in league history. After winning the MLS Cup in 2024, their title defense has been a complete catastrophe. They began the season with the longest winless streak to start a season in MLS history, going 16 games without a victory (0-12-4). The free-fall has left them at the bottom of the Western Conference table, a shocking position for such a talented roster.
However, there have been glimmers of hope recently. The Galaxy have finally started to show signs of life, earning points in four of their last five matches. Their most recent outing was their best performance of the season, a convincing 3-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on the Fourth of July. The question for the Galaxy is whether that performance was a true turning point or just a brief respite in a difficult season.
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Stars Seeking Form
The outcome of Friday’s match may very well depend on which team’s star attacker can find their top form. For D.C. United, they will rely on the powerful presence of Christian Benteke. The Belgian striker was the MLS leader with 23 goals last season, but an ankle injury forced him to miss six matches this year, and he is still working his way back to his clinical best. He has six goals in 14 appearances this season, and D.C. needs him to become that dominant force once again if they hope to make a late playoff push.
The Galaxy have their own star forward who is looking to get back on track. Joseph Paintsil was a crucial piece of their championship run last year, with 10 goals and 10 assists. This season, however, he has struggled to find the back of the net. That changed in their last match, as Paintsil scored twice in the 3-0 victory. His coach, Greg Vanney, is hopeful that it was a slump-busting performance. “Once you find your rhythm, and you get the confidence and you get that flow, you hope things start to drop for you,” Vanney said. “I feel like with Joe, I feel like (that) was a good night, and we’ll see if we can start to build some momentum with him.”
The Matchup and What to Expect
This game pits two of the league’s biggest underachievers against one another. The scores and odds will likely reflect a tight contest between two teams desperate for a win. D.C. United has the emotional element of playing for a new coach, while the Galaxy have the home-field advantage and a bit more recent positive form. In their most recent meeting last season, D.C. United recorded a dominant 3-0 victory. To see who our experts are backing in this clash of struggling giants, check out our daily soccer picks.
