WASHINGTON — FC Cincinnati picked up three desperately needed points Wednesday night, but the Orange and Blue won't have to wait long for another opportunity against the same opponent. Cincinnati travels to Audi Field on Saturday to face D.C. United for the second time in four days, looking to strengthen its hold on an Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Wednesday's 2-1 victory at TQL Stadium moved Cincinnati (10-11-9, 39 points) into eighth place in the conference standings with four matches remaining. D.C. United (7-11-12, 33 points) sits in 13th place, still fighting to keep its own postseason hopes alive.

The unusual scheduling comes after the teams' originally scheduled September 5 match was postponed because of heavy rain and unsafe field conditions. That contest was played Wednesday, setting up a rare home-and-home series in which the teams face each other twice in four days.

Cincinnati made the most of the first meeting, taking an early lead when David Doudera scored his first goal for the club in the 14th minute. D.C. United answered through Kimito Nono in the 38th minute, but Teenage Hadebe restored Cincinnati's advantage in the 55th minute, finishing an Evander free kick for his first goal with the Orange and Blue.

The victory was particularly important after Cincinnati's disappointing 2-0 loss to Columbus in last Sunday's Hell is Real Derby. That defeat had increased the pressure on a team that has struggled with consistency throughout the season, particularly on defense.

Despite Wednesday's win, Cincinnati still has plenty to improve. D.C. United controlled 51.4 percent of possession, earned nine corner kicks, and put pressure on the Cincinnati defense throughout the match. Nick Hagglund also had to make a diving goal-line clearance in the first half to prevent D.C. from taking an early lead.

Hagglund's appearance was also a milestone. The veteran defender played his 180th match for FC Cincinnati, becoming the club's all-time leader in appearances.

Defensive concerns have been a recurring problem for the Orange and Blue. Cincinnati has allowed 71 goals in 30 league matches, an average of 2.37 per contest. That is a troubling number for a team trying to make a postseason run, and it leaves little room for mistakes when the offense struggles.

The good news is that Cincinnati has plenty of attacking talent. Kévin Denkey leads the club with 17 league goals, while Evander has added 13 goals and 14 assists. Denkey is also just one league goal away from matching the club's single-season scoring record of 18.

With those two leading the attack, Cincinnati has the ability to score against almost anyone. The challenge has been getting enough defensive stops to turn those goals into victories.

Saturday also presents a difficult road test. Cincinnati has won just twice in 15 away matches this season, posting a 2-7-6 record. D.C. United, meanwhile, has been more competitive at Audi Field, where it has a 5-5-5 record and has lost just once in its last five home matches.

D.C.'s biggest attacking threat is Tai Baribo, who leads the team with 16 goals this season. The former Philadelphia Union forward has the ability to create problems inside the penalty area, and Cincinnati will need to keep him from finding space behind the defense.

There is also the question of fatigue. Both clubs played Wednesday and will have limited recovery time, making lineup decisions and substitutions especially important. Cincinnati coach Pat Noonan will have to balance keeping his team fresh with the need to secure another three points.

The Orange and Blue have four matches remaining, with road trips to D.C. and Inter Miami followed by home contests against Philadelphia and Nashville. With the playoff race still unsettled, Cincinnati cannot afford to waste opportunities against teams below it in the standings.

Wednesday's victory was an important step, but Cincinnati has struggled to build momentum throughout the season. Winning a second consecutive match would give the Orange and Blue some breathing room in the standings and much-needed confidence heading into the final stretch.

Match Information

Prediction

Cincinnati has the more dangerous attack, but its defensive problems and poor road record make this a difficult matchup. D.C. United created enough opportunities Wednesday to believe it can get a result at home, and playing the same opponent twice in four days rarely produces an identical performance. Expect both teams to find the net, with Cincinnati getting a late goal to walk away with three critical points.

FC Cincinnati 3, D.C. United 2