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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


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Game History

How you voted: DC United vs Orlando City

DC United
28.6%
Draw
16.7%
Orlando City
54.8%
42
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami1163226161021
2FC CincinnatiCincinnati10532129318
3New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls104511410417
4Toronto105141113-216
5Columbus Crew10361129315
6New York City FCNY City104241110114
7Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia83411511413
8DC United103431415-113
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta9333139412
10CF MontrealMontreal93331216-412
11Charlotte FCCharlotte FC103251013-311
12Chicago Fire102441118-710
13Orlando City92341117-69
14Nashville SCNashville91531017-78
15New England RevolutionNew England9117618-124

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Salt LakeSalt Lake10532179818
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy105322117418
3Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver95221810817
4Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd95221510517
5Los Angeles FCLos Angeles104331816215
6Colorado RapidsColorado104331615115
7Austin FCAustin104331413115
8Houston DynamoHouston9414910-113
9St Louis City92611514112
10Sporting Kansas CityKansas102531818011
11Portland TimbersPortland102442021-110
12Dallas9225912-38
13Seattle SoundersSeattle91351011-16
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes101181425-114


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