New York City FC v D.C. United: Weiler praises visitors´ ´good mentality´ ahead of East Coast clash

Rene Weiler hailed D.C. United’s “good mentality” after a series of improved performances ahead of their East Coast clash against New York City FC on Sunday.

Weiler’s side came from two goals down to seal a 3-2 win over Orlando City at Audi Field last weekend, placing them 10th in the MLS Eastern Conference on 12 points, level with NYCFC and a host of other clubs.

The win over Orlando followed a dramatic 4-4 draw against the New York Red Bulls, when Tai Baribo netted a hat-trick to salvage a point after D.C. found themselves down 3-1.

With the victory, the Eagles snapped a five-match winless run in MLS play, and Weiler believes the difference came down to the players’ mentality.

“What I saw [against Orlando] and even in the last game in New York is that we have a good mentality now, something is growing, something is emerging for us,” Weiler said.

“I’m happy for the team because it’s building confidence for us. It’s important that you have some good results, that you win sometimes.

“Even when it was a little bit lucky at the end, it was well deserved because everybody was pushing forward. I felt that the guys, they wanted to go out there and get a good result and yeah, I’m happy for the team.

“The fitness level is good too. It was tough the last two weeks with those four games. Every three days there’s a game. But now we have time, and we have to recover well and then now we attack all together for the last five games.”

NYCFC, meanwhile, suffered a 1-0 loss to CF Montreal in their last outing, with Tayvon Gray being shown a straight red card in the second half.

Despite the loss, the hosts are still within the top eight on goal difference, owing in large part to their strong performances in the final third, having scored 19 goals from 10 matches.

Loading for matchday. pic.twitter.com/wtZpRcQkQ1

— D.C. United (@dcunited) April 30, 2026

PLAYERS TO WATCH

NYCFC – Nicolas Fernandez

Fernandez has scored eight goals in NYCFC’s 10 MLS matches in 2026.

That is the most goals scored by an NYCFC player through the club’s first 10 games of a regular season.

D.C. United – Louis Munteanu

Munteanu got on the scoresheet in D.C. United’s 3-2 win over Orlando last time out.

The forward led D.C. United with five shots (three on target and two from inside the box), with three final-third entries at an individual xG of 0.37.

MATCH PREDICTION – NYCFC WIN

D.C. United are unbeaten in their last three matches against NYCFC (W1 D2), including a 2-1 road victory in their most recent meeting last August, but it’s the Pigeons who come into the match as favourites.

The Eagles have never won consecutive games against NYCFC, while the Pigeons are looking for their first win against D.C. in the league since April 2024.

Pascal Jansen’s side have scored 16 goals at Yankee Stadium this season – tied with Nashville SC for second-most in MLS prior to this weekend’s fixtures (Vancouver Whitecaps were first with 21).

But they have also shipped 11 goals at home this season, with only Toronto FC (13) and D.C. United (12) having conceded more on home soil.

Weiler’s side, meanwhile, have only recently flipped a poor run of form in front of the net.

After scoring four goals in their first eight matches this season, they have tallied seven goals in their last two games. Prior to that, the Eagles had not scored that many goals over a two-match span since doing so in September 2021.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

NYCFC – 64.1%

Draw – 19.1%

D.C. United – 16.8%