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[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


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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%
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami94321914515
2New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls8431117415
3Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia7340149513
4Columbus Crew8341107313
5FC CincinnatiCincinnati833287112
6Atlanta UnitedAtlanta7322127511
7Charlotte FCCharlotte FC832398111
8DC United82421212010
9CF MontrealMontreal73131014-410
10Toronto8314812-410
11Chicago Fire82331114-39
12New York City FCNY City822479-28
13Orlando City7223813-58
14Nashville SCNashville7142813-57
15New England RevolutionNew England7115513-84

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy84311712515
2Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver7412159613
3Houston DynamoHouston741297213
4Real Salt LakeSalt Lake8332118312
5Colorado RapidsColorado83321312112
6Los Angeles FCLos Angeles83231312111
7St Louis City82511211111
8Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd7322109111
9Sporting Kansas CityKansas82421413110
10Portland TimbersPortland8233161609
11Austin FCAustin82331113-29
12Seattle SoundersSeattle71339726
13Dallas7124610-45
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes81071020-103


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