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Amber Searls

D.C. United forward <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/theodore-ku-dipietro/" target="_blank">Ted Ku-DiPietro</a> is expected to miss his second consecutive match with an adductor injury, leaving the MLS club without three starters, in addition to long-term absences, for Saturday’s visit to New York City FC.

Right back Aaron Herrera and midfielder Mateusz Klich will serve one-game suspensions for accumulating five yellow cards apiece.

Coach Troy Lesesne said Thursday that Ku-DiPietro “probably” won’t be available, but with the 22-year-old Oakton native working on the side while the team practiced, the outlook seems bleak.

Earlier this spring, Ku-DiPietro (one goal in five starts) missed two games with a knee ailment. United has been seeking a second reliable scorer to complement <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/christian-benteke/" target=_blank>Christian Benteke</a>, who, with six goals in six games, is the only player to score more than once during United’s 2-2-4 start.

Ku-DiPietro is “a big player for us and he feels that responsibility and wants that responsibility,” Lesesne said. “Hopefully we get him fit really soon so he can continue to make the impact that he’s made early in the season.”

Last weekend, 18-year-old <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/03/09/kristian-fletcher-dc-united-swansea-city-loan/" target=_blank>Kristian Fletcher</a> replaced Ku-DiPietro and logged 45 minutes in the 3-2 defeat to Orlando City before yielding to Gabriel Pirani.

Klich (eight appearances) and Herrera (seven) have played every minute they have been available. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/02/02/dc-united-acquires-matti-peltola/" target=_blank>Matti Peltola</a> is expected to rejoin the lineup in Klich’s spot, partnering with 19-year-old Jackson Hopkins. Pedro Santos, who typically plays on the left side, is a candidate to replace Herrera on the right.

Center back Steven Birnbaum (knee), midfielder <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/03/28/dc-united-russell-canouse-health/" target=_blank>Russell Canouse</a> (illness), goalkeeper Tyler Miller (shoulder) and rookie defender <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/12/21/dc-united-trade-garrison-tubbs/" target=_blank>Garrison Tubbs</a> (hamstring) have yet to play this season.

Birnbaum, the team captain and longest-serving player, has returned to training and is “probably a couple of weeks away from being fully integrated,” Lesesne said.

United was in a roster jam at St. Louis last month — two starters and two subs were away on international duty and Santos served a red-card suspension — but <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/03/23/dc-united-st-louis-city/" target=_blank>earned a 2-2 draw</a>.

United has led in six matches, including four of the past five, but has won just twice.

“This was a topic this week — clearly it needed to be,” Lesesne said. “How do we make sure we don’t change our behavior when we do go up in a match? We want to remain aggressive, but we also have to recognize you’re going to potentially be in situations where you have [won the ball] and we’d love to go forward fast. But you can’t do that throughout the course of 90 minutes every single time.”

On Saturday, United was committed to scoring the go-ahead goal when it conceded <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/04/13/dc-united-orlando-city/" target=_blank>Duncan McGuire’s winner</a> in stoppage time on a breakaway from the midfield circle. A breakaway from that distance is rare, and for it to happen late in a match is almost unheard of.

“The reason we’ve been able to take leads is because we’ve trained at so many different things that we’re performing at a high level,” Lesesne said. “The things maybe we haven’t trained at as often, that’s my responsibility. We’re not performing in game management.”

With D.C. United — and most other MLS teams — not participating in the <a href="https://www.ussoccer.com/us-open-cup" target=_blank>U.S. Open Cup</a> this year, <a href="https://www.loudoununitedfc.com/" target=_blank>Loudoun United</a> is carrying local honors. On Wednesday, D.C.’s former second-division affiliate advanced to the round of 32 with a 5-4 shootout victory following a 0-0 away draw with the third-tier Richmond Kickers.

Loudoun will visit second-flight Orange County SC on May 7 in Irvine, Calif.

Inducted into the Virginia DC Soccer Hall of Fame, 2013

Three-time APSE finalist

Society of Professional Journalists' Dateline Awards, first place, 2023

American University, BA in print journalism, 1988

Steven Goff has covered soccer for The Washington Post since the early 1990s. His beats include D.C. United, MLS and the U.S. national teams. He has been on assignment at every men's World Cup since 1994, plus six Women's World Cups for 14 overall.

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