TFC looks to snap five-game losing streak in visit to steamy DC United

Kickoff for Toronto FC's visit to D.C. United on Saturday has been pushed back 2 1/2 hours to 6:30 p.m. ET due to expected high temperatures and humidity.

But both teams have already been feeling the heat with Toronto (3-7-2) having lost five straight and D.C. (4-6-1) looking to find its feet after firing coach Hernan Losada six games into the season with just six points to show for it.

The forecast for Saturday at Audi Field calls for 36 Celsius, feeling like 38 degrees, at the original kickoff time, with the mercury dipping slightly to 34 degrees at 6 p.m. and 33 degrees at 7 p.m.

"We're really pleased the time got pushed back," said Toronto president Bill Manning. "We would have preferred it to be even a little bit later, but 6:30 is certainly better than 4 o'clock."

Toronto has lost to New York City FC, FC Cincinnati (twice), Vancouver and Orlando after going unbeaten for four games (3-0-1). The recent 1-0 losses to Vancouver and Orlando came on goals in the 90th and 92nd minute, respectively.

Toronto has recorded three losing streaks of five or more games in the last 12 months after doing so just twice in the club’s first 14 seasons. The slide is the fourth-longest in the club’s MLS history.

The good news is a win could vault Toronto up the congested Eastern Conference standings. D.C. United goes into weekend play in eighth place in the East, five places and two points ahead of Toronto.

D.C. is coming off a 2-0 midweek loss to NYCFC and is winless in three (0-2-1) in all competitions, a run that has seen it outscored 7-2 and shut out by both New York teams. It has lost six of its last nine matches (2-6-1) including a 2-1 defeat at BMO Field on March 19.

D.C. is 2-2-1 in league play since Losada was fired, with