MX23RW : Wednesday, May 22 09:47:43| >> :600:446078:446078:
[monks data]
DC United
Major League Soccer
Jul 31, 2022 at 10pm UK
RFK Stadium
Orlando City

DC United
2 - 1
Orlando City

Durkin (90+1'), Fountas (90+5')
Djeffal (8')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Urso (9')
Moutinho (69'), Michel (88')

Preview: DC United vs. Orlando City - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Major League Soccer clash between DC United and Orlando City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Fresh off the back of booking their place in the US Open Cup final, Orlando City take a trip to the Audi Field to square off against DC United on Sunday.

The Black-and-Red head into the weekend on a five-game winless run across all competitions and will be looking to end this dry spell.


Match preview

DC United forward Edison Flores (10), defender Brendan Hines-Ike (4), and forward Adrien Perez (16) celebrate forward Ola Kamara (9) after a goal against FC Cincinnati in the second half at TQL Stadium on March 5, 2022© Reuters

DC United were left empty handed once again as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against CF Montreal when the sides squared off at the Audi Field last Sunday.

Thirty-year-old forward Romell Quioto turned in a superb first-half performance as he struck twice inside the opening 35 minutes to put the visitors ahead before Jackson Hopkins pulled one back in the 56th minute.

DC United have now lost each of their last three games across all competitions, including a 6-2 thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich when both sides met in a friendly fixture on July 21

Wayne Rooney's side are also on a run of four consecutive games without a win in the MLS and have picked up just four points from the last 24 available in the league since July 25.

The Black-and-Reds have now picked up five wins, three draws and lost 12 of their 20 games so far to collect 18 points and sit rock-bottom in the Eastern Conference standings, four points off 13th-placed Toronto FC.

Orlando City forward Ercan Kara (9) celebrates with Orlando City forward Alexandre Pato (7) after an assists goal in the second half against the Chicago Fire at Orlando City Stadium on April 9, 2022© Reuters

Elsewhere, Orlando City cruised through to the US Open Cup final last time out when they steamrolled New York Red Bulls 5-1 in a thrilling semi-final showdown at the Exploria Stadium.

After falling behind to Lewis Morgan's opener, the Lions upped the ante and hit five straight goals, courtesy of Mauricio Pereyra, Facundo Torres, Benji Michel and a brace from Uruguayan midfielder Cesar Araujo.

Prior to that, Oscar Pareja's men were on a four-game winless run, picking up two draws and suffering a 3-1 defeat against Arsenal in the Florida Cup on July 21, before falling to a 1-0 loss against Philadelphia Union three days later.

They now turn their sights to the MLS, where they are currently on a run of one win from their last six outings, losing three games and picking up five points from the last 18 available.

With 30 points from 22 games, Orlando City are currently fifth in the Eastern Conference standings, level on points with sixth-placed Columbus Crew, who have a game in hand.

DC United Major League Soccer form:
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • L

DC United form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • L
  • L

Orlando City Major League Soccer form:
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • D
  • L

Orlando City form (all competitions):
  • W
  • D
  • D
  • L
  • L
  • W


Team News

DC United forward Michael Estrada (7) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Charlotte FC in the first half at Audi Field on February 26, 2022© Reuters

DC United will be without the defensive duo of Brad Smith and Jacob Greene, who have been sidelined through knee and thigh injuries respectively.

Thirty-one-year-old goalkeeper Bill Hamid had missed the last eight games through injury, while Hayden Sargis remains out of contention through a muscle problem.

Adrien Perez has been out of action since picking up a severe foot injury back in March and the American forward will play no part in this weekend's encounter.

Meanwhile, Orlando City will be without goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar, who has been out of action since coming off injured in May's game against Inter Miami.

Off the back of a dominant cup display, Pareja could name an unchanged starting XI this weekend, meaning that we could see a back four of Ruan, Antonio Carlos, Robin Jansson and Joao Moutinho, with a midfield pairing of Pereyra and Araujo.

Torres and Michel both got on the scoresheet against the Red Bulls last time out and they should spearhead the attack once again, alongside Junior Urso and veteran forward Alexandre Pato.

DC United possible starting lineup:
Romo; Durkin, Birnbaum, Pines, Samake; Skundrich, Djeffal; Hopkins, Fountas, Ku-DiPietro; Berry

Orlando City possible starting lineup:
Gallese; Ruan, Carlos, Jansson, Moutinho; Pereyra, Araujo; Urso, Pato, Torres; Michel


SM words green background

We say: DC United 1-2 Orlando City

Buoyed by their superb cup performance, Orlando City will head into the weekend with renewed confidence. They take on a struggling DC United side who are currently rooted to the bottom of the conference table and we predict they will do just enough to leave with all three points.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data


ID:491183:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect11307:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!



Game History

How you voted: DC United vs Orlando City

DC United
28.6%
Draw
16.7%
Orlando City
54.8%
42
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United's Phil Jones applauds fans after the match on January 3, 2022
Read Next:
Phil Jones 'could leave Manchester United for DC United'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami1594236201631
2FC CincinnatiCincinnati149321911830
3New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls146532521423
4New York City FCNY City147251816223
5Toronto147162120122
6Columbus Crew135621913621
7Charlotte FCCharlotte FC146351413121
8Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia134542521417
9DC United144552024-417
10Orlando City134451520-516
11Nashville SCNashville133641720-315
12Atlanta UnitedAtlanta133461716113
13CF MontrealMontreal133371731-1412
14Chicago Fire142481326-1310
15New England RevolutionNew England12219925-167

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Salt LakeSalt Lake1484227141328
2Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd127322114724
3Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy145722521422
4Austin FCAustin146441917222
5Los Angeles FCLos Angeles136342419521
6Colorado RapidsColorado146352423121
7Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver135441915419
8Houston DynamoHouston135351213-118
9St Louis City133731920-116
10Seattle SoundersSeattle143561617-114
11Portland TimbersPortland143472629-313
12Dallas123361317-412
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas132562124-311
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes1431102233-1110


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!