After conceding a late penalty and drawing 1-1 with New York City FC, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC will look to bounce back with all three points at D.C. United.
Unbeaten in four games so far, the Lions have drawn three of these fixtures and will desperately crave a first road victory of the season at Audi Field.
Ultimately, Orlando City SC‘s performance levels against NYCFC were high, especially given the early kick-off and sweltering conditions.
Had it not been for João Moutinho carelessly conceding Valentín Castellanos’ penalty, we may well have stolen all three points.
It seems the only thing preventing Orlando City SC‘s season from true lift off right now is a lethal centre forward up top.
Sure, Nani is seemingly creating his own “Goal of the Season” competition with three stunning goals in four games.
However, Oscar Pareja‘s side have paid for not completely putting teams away when they’re on top.
Undoubtedly missing Daryl Dike‘s clinical goalscoring, as well as Alexandre Pato who’s still currently sidelined, we’re too reliant on Nani right now.
A huge positive is the fact Orlando City SC have looked defensively solid so far this season, despite Robin Jansson‘s absence.
With Gianluca Busio and Valentín Castellanos’ goals being completely preventable from a Lions standpoint, we could and should’ve had four shutouts so far.
But just two points off Eastern Conference pace-setters CF Montréal after the midweek Gameweek 5 action, Oscar Pareja won’t be pushing the panic button – far from it.
As for our next opponents D.C. United, the Black and Red are playing under the new leadership of Hernán Losada.
After their opening day victory against NYCFC (2-1), D.C. United lost their next three consecutive MLS fixtures on the road.
Nevertheless, they maintained their unbeaten start at home with a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over Chicago Fire on Thursday night.
With no game for Orlando City SC in midweek, the Lions will be the fresher team in the District of Columbia.
D.C. United vs Orlando City SC – 2015/19 head-to-head stats
Last year, there was no regular season or #MLSisBack Tournament meeting between these sides with the last head-to-head taking place in 2019.
In June of that year, Ben Olsen’s Black and Red took all three points with a 1-0 victory at Audi Field.
We hate to bring it up but yes, this was the game in which Wayne Rooney scored that goal beyond Brian Rowe from his own half.
Now Derby County head coach, Rooney made a habit of terrorising Orlando City SC during his time in Major League Soccer.
A season earlier, Wayne Rooney’s last ditch tackle on Will Johnson, and subsequent cross field pass to Luciano Acosta for a 96th minute game winner (3-2) would’ve taken some beating.
But Rooney somehow managed to eclipse that feat with this incredible solo effort.
D.C. United 1 Orlando City SC 0 – Highlights – June 26, 2019 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Eleven fixtures into this Eastern Conference game series, D.C. United are edging Orlando City SC with SIX victories to the Lions’ FOUR.
When these sides meet, there is usually one winner with only one draw played out to date.
That tie came back in the very first game of the 2018 MLS season as a Stéfano Pinho stoppage time equaliser saved Orlando City SC‘s blushes on opening day (1-1).
Now the Ben Olsen era has passed, Orlando City SC will look to halt D.C. United’s recent habit of defeating the Lions by the odd goal.
Indeed, in the last THREE consecutive MLS meetings, D.C. United have defeated Orlando City SC by a one-goal margin.
Besides the aforementioned results, the Black and Red earned a 1-2 victory at Exploria Stadium back in March 2019.
Orlando City SC were facing a mountain to climb as early as the 30th minute with D.C. United racing into a 0-2 lead courtesy of Steve Birnbaum header and a curling free-kick from a seemingly impossible angle by Wayne Rooney.
With controversy surrounding the awarding of Rooney’s free-kick, Orlando City SC rallied and produced a much-improved second-half performance however.
Dom Dwyer‘s 63rd minute goal preceded an impressive onslaught with Chris Mueller hitting Bill Hamid’s post with a stoppage time header.
Unfortunately, we just couldn’t find the leveller late on.
Orlando City SC 1 D.C. United 2 – Highlights – March 31, 2019 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
D.C. United form
For the most part, Audi Field has been a tough venue for visiting teams since its 2018 opening.
With steep terraces, the stadium’s compact nature and vociferous support has proved challenging.
Combining Chad Ashton’s interim spell and Hernán Losada’s tenure, D.C. United have won THREE of their last FOUR fixtures in the District of Columbia.
Not only that but these THREE victories were all by a one-goal margin too.
D.C.’s two 2021 victories are all the more impressive considering Losada has experienced an injury crisis early on in his MLS career.
Orlando City SC form
Where would be without our inspirational captain Nani?
The 34-year-old has started the 2021 Major League Soccer season so impressively, there’s some calls for him to make Portugal’s UEFA Euro 2020 squad right now.
Not only scoring once in each of City’s last THREE MLS fixtures, all three goals have been spectacular too.
After Nani‘s nonchalant back-heeled finish at Sporting Kansas City, he followed up with two long-range blasts against FC Cincinnati (3-0) and New York City FC (1-1).
Currently in the final year of his three-year contract, no Orlando City SC supporter would begrudge Nani a contract extension right now.
Orlando City SC 1 New York City FC 1 – Highlights – May 8, 2021 (Credit: New York City FC)
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Don’t forget, D.C. United vs Orlando City SC will be shown LIVE on FreeSports in the early hours of Monday morning at 01:05 (GMT).
GOOD NEWS 🚨 | @dcunited 🆚 @OrlandoCitySC is LIVE on @FreeSports_TV in the early hours of next Monday morning. 👏🏽😄⚽
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— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) May 10, 2021