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

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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.

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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.

Team News

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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

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.

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