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Toronto FC-D.C. United Preview

D.C. United has established a club-record unbeaten streak at home.

Extending it may not prove to be a challenge since Toronto FC is missing two of its best players.

United seeks to remain unbeaten at RFK Stadium for the 21st straight match Saturday night and prevent Toronto from recording its first three-game win streak in three years.

D.C. (8-3-4) won 3-1 over Chicago on Wednesday, improving to 16-0-4 in its last 20 home matches across all competitions. It overturned a halftime deficit as second-half substitute Fabian Espindola assisted on two of United's three goals over the final 29 minutes.

Espindola had missed the last six games with a knee injury.

"Fortunately, we had Fabi in the bag," coach Ben Olsen said. "He came in and completely changed our whole mentality. He brought quality and energy, and that's contagious."

Toronto FC (5-5-1) seeks its first three-game win streak since July 11-18, 2012. It will come to town without Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley.

Altidore, tied for the team lead with five goals, is out with a hamstring injury. Bradley is away with the United States national team.

Toronto fell 2-1 at Real Salt Lake on March 29 in the only match Bradley missed.

"If everybody does their part, we'll be OK," coach Greg Vanney said. "Obviously then we just have to step up just a little bit more and maybe make up for a few of those moments in the game that Michael does, that really only Michael does, and we have to make sure we cover those moments appropriately."

Jay Chapman is expected to replace Bradley in his first career start.

More of the attacking burden shifts to Italian star forward Sebastian Giovinco, who has a goal and three assists in his last three matches. Giovinco picked up two assists in last Saturday's 3-1 home win over San Jose, taking his season total to six.

Toronto is 2-5-3 all-time at D.C.

United defender Chris Korb and midfielder Chris Pontius are day to day with injuries.

Jairo Arrieta scored twice Wednesday, giving him five goals in 13 games to match his total from 23 last year with Columbus. Arrieta has never scored in seven games against Toronto.

D.C. can cap a perfect three-game homestand with a third win in eight days. The club wants to end its streak of falling behind at six straight matches.

"We have gotten away with it the last two games, and again you're not always going to get away with it," Olsen said.

Olsen did not indicate whether Espindola is ready to start yet. Goalkeeper Bill Hamid figures to be back after he was rested in favor of Andrew Dykstra against the Fire.

"Bill has had a few knocks that he's been playing through for a while, and it got to a point where we thought it was best to give him a rest and get him ready for the weekend," Olsen said.

TFC starting goalkeeper Joe Bendik has recovered from a foot injury, though Chris Konopka may still get his sixth straight start.

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