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After a breathless 3-3 draw against New England Revolution last weekend, Orlando City SC visit Audi Field for the very first time as they take on D.C. United, now buoyed by Wayne Rooney’s arrival.
Ben Olsen’s D.C. United currently sit bottom of the Eastern Conference on 18 points but boast four games in hand on Orlando City SC who sit five points above the Black and Red.
A must win fixture, every Orlando City SC game is must win right now with just 10 more fixtures remaining after this Sunday evening assignment in the District of Columbia.
Currently sitting beneath the red line by six points following last weekend’s draw with the Revs, Orlando City SC can still qualify for the 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs but desperately need to clean up their defensive act.
As Orlando City UK contributor Andrew Sharp discussed on Monday, the Lions are currently on pace to end on 80 MLS goals conceded and that would trump the previous MLS record of 70 set by Minnesota United last season.
With Orlando City SC scoring 10 goals over our last five Major League Soccer fixtures, scoring hasn’t been a problem but keeping goals out certainly has been!
Injuries have their taken their toll on the Orlando City SC defence this term and with James O’Connor selecting the Lions’ tenth different centre back combination of the season against Revs, defensive chemistry and cohesion has been found wanting.
As for D.C. United, the Black and Red can now call the shiny new 20,000 capacity Audi Field their home. Finally in new digs after their long spell at RFK Stadium, Ben Olsen’s side have adjusted to their new found surroundings well.
Winning two of their first three games at Audi Field, D.C. United have a backlog of 11 more games to play at their new stadium after Saturday so getting three points here is simply a must for Orlando City SC.
2015/18 head-to-head stats
Orlando City SC have happy memories from the last time they played D.C. United as recently as June.
Facing Ben Olsen’s side in the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16, this particular fixture went the full distance at Maryland SoccerPlex.
With the score tied at 1-1 after extra-time, Josué Colmán converted the crucial spot kick to eliminate the Black and Red 2-4 in the penalty shootout.
Orlando City SC are also slightly edging D.C. United in this particular Major League Soccer game series.
With FOUR victories to D.C. United’s THREE, the only draw was played out in the very first game of this season when a last gasp Stéfano Pinho equaliser denied the Black and Red all three points at Orlando City Stadium.
Orlando City SC 1 D.C. United 1 – Highlights – March 3, 2018 (Credit: Orlando City SC)
D.C. United form
As discussed at the outset, D.C. United have started life well in their new Audi Field digs.
Aside from a gutting 0-1 defeat to arch-rivals New York Red Bulls back on July 25, D.C. United have taken maximum points from their two other games at Audi Field.
Defeating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 and Colorado Rapids 2-1, Wayne Rooney scored his very first goal in D.C. colours in the latter fixture.
Wayne Rooney scores his first goal in MLS – Highlights – July 28, 2018 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Given Audi Field was only ready in July, D.C. United dangerously have 11 more games to play at Audi Field after this fixture with Orlando City SC.
Considering eight of these games come back-to-back, Orlando City SC really need to win here and hope D.C. United don’t surge up the Eastern Conference standings with the games in hand they have yet to play.
Orlando City SC form
An improvement is needed, simple as that.
You don’t need us to tell you just how poor Orlando City SC‘s defensive record has been this season.
It’s really time for the boys to dig deep and provide Earl Edwards Jr. much better defensive protection but that won’t be easy with Wayne Rooney, Darren Mattocks, Paul Arriola and Yamil Asad all very capable of scoring on their day.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores hat-trick against Orlando City SC – Highlights – July 29, 2018 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Despite our defensive record being dismal, we have at least been scoring more freely of late.
Main man Dom Dwyer has found his shooting boots in recent weeks, registering goals against Toronto FC, LA Galaxy and New England Revolution.
We will need Dom to be at his lethal best in the remaining fixtures this season to stand any chance of reaching the 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs.