D.C. United boss Troy Lesesne believes youngster Jacob Murrell can propel his team back into the playoffs after the disappointment of missing out last year. 

Murrell was the hero in their last MLS encounter, scoring a stunning overhead kick in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time to earn a 2-2 draw with the Chicago Fire. 

The 20-year-old has started the season with a goal and an assist in his two MLS appearances, after starting just six games in the league last campaign. 

And Lesesne believes that Murrell has all the right ingredients to help complement his side's attack, spearheaded by last year's top scorer, Christian Benteke. 

"I try to be really honest with [the players] and don't expect them to agree with it many times," Lesesne said.

"In Jacob's case, you could say he probably disagrees deep down. And that's a good thing, you know? I mean, that's the competitor in him.

"He's the type of person that is fully committed to helping us change the momentum and get D.C. United going in the right direction. 

"He made that really clear to the team. That's part of his intent for 2025. And when he puts that intent out there, now you're seeing him back it up with action."

Sporting Kansas City, meanwhile, are one of only three sides in the Western Conference yet to register a victory from their opening two games of the new campaign. 

Following their 1-0 loss in their season-opener to Austin FC, Peter Vermes' side opened their home campaign with a 2-1 defeat to a rejuvenated San Jose Earthquakes. 

"When we had to make our changes, I think we lost a little bit of rhythm," Vermes, the longest-tenured coach in MLS, said when asked about the gruelling schedule.

"I wouldn't say we didn't have another gear. I just think that it was hard to break them down, and we're just early in the season."

In the game, Vermes was forced into making three changes midway through their defeat to San Jose, with Jake Davis coming on to impress at right-back. 

Davis has played at right-back for each of the club's first four games this season, but it's not where Vermes prefers to play him, with midfield another position he is strong in. 

In 12 games as a midfielder, Davis recorded a goal and four assists. In the 13 games across all competitions in 2024 that Sporting won last season, the 23-year-old played in the centre of the pitch in five of those victories. 

"I think if you just play a conservative game, you don't get the reward for the risk. He's a guy that takes it upon himself to turn a 40/60 ball into a 100% tackle that he wins," Vermes said. 

"Those are the kinds of risks that you want and can take in that part of the field. I think he feels a lot more comfortable there."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

D.C. United – Jacob Murrell

Murrell's equalising goal in the 96th minute last time out was the seventh result-changing goal D.C. United has scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time or later since the start of the 2020 season, more than any other MLS team in that time.

Despite only coming on in the 61st minute, the American registered two shots, a total only bettered by Benteke (eight), and he will be keen to make a similar impact from the start.

Kansas City – Dejan Joveljic

Joveljic scored from the penalty spot in his first MLS start for Kansas since his blockbuster move from the LA Galaxy during the offseason.

Dating back to last campaign's playoffs with the Galaxy, he has scored seven goals in his last six MLS starts, including scoring in each of the last four (regular season & playoffs).

MATCH PREDICTION: D.C. UNITED WIN

D.C. are unbeaten in six straight home matches against Kansas City (W2 D4), though this will be the first meeting between the sides in D.C. since May 2019. Sporting's last away win over United was a 1-0 victory in March 2012.

They have, however, won only one of their last 13 regular-season home matches, dating back to the beginning of May 2024 (D6 L6). Every other team that played in MLS last campaign has at least three home wins in regular-season play in that time.

Sporting, meanwhile, have lost nine straight matches in all competitions, the longest outright losing streak in club history (excluding breakaway shoot-out losses). Only four teams in MLS history have lost 10 consecutive games in all competitions, most recently Toronto FC in 2023.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

D.C. United – 47.3%

Draw – 26.2%

Kansas City – 26.5%