A fair bit has happened since last we met to discuss D.C. United’s next game. Bill Hamid is back, for one thing. And there’s a new face at left back in Vytautas Andriuškevičius (thankfully, you can shorten that to Vytas). And, somehow, the playoffs still aren’t completely off the table for the Black-and-Red. Oh, and it might rain and metro is in one hell of a sorry state. Phew. Let’s predict what’s gonna happen tomorrow against Orlando City. Donald Wine II We’re back home at Audi Field, and I think the team realizes this is a must and should win if they want to get back into the playoff race. The team struggles on a night that starts with a lightning delay (because Jason hasn’t been in enough weather delays this season), but they punch through in the 35th minute with a Yamil Asad goal. Wayne Rooney makes it two in the second half and while one gets let in (own goal), it’s a 2-1 victory for the Black-and-Red. Adam Taylor D.C. United get things started early with Paul Arriola and Lucho Acosta forcing a mistake by Lions defenders in possession and setting up Wayne Rooney’s opener. Los Capitalinos double the advantage midway through the first half as Yamil Asad adds to his team-leading season tally. Orlando pulls one back just before the break, Dom Dwyer punishing an unforced error at the back, because that’s who United are this year. The Black-and-Red come out flying after halftime, finally regaining the insurance goal around the hour mark through another goal from Rooney. The game fizzles from there, and United finally get a W against Orlando this year, 3-1. Ryan Keefer I figure Asad gets a goal and Rooney gets two, one off a FK in this one. Frankly Orlando is just not a good team at this point and they’ll be missing Yoshi Yotun and possibly Sacha Kljestan. Maybe they start Josue Colman and Uri Rosell to help mitigate this, but the backline for them remains problematic. 3-2 D.C. because D.C.’s defense is also bad. Ben Bromley D.C. United are settling in for a long homestand, and Orlando City will be the first victim of that comfort. With a new coach trying to put his mark on things, the Lions won’t have enough to stop United and the good guys will take a 2-1 victory, even if Bill Hamid doesn’t start this one. Jason Anderson Two teams that can attack and can’t defend make for some fun times, right? Are we allowed to have fun? This time, yes we are. Orlando will be without their two best midfielders, and that’s where United will seize control of this game. Expect a fast start to this one, with Wayne Rooney opening the scoring early on an assist from Lucho Acosta inside of 15 minutes. Orlando will threaten sporadically through Dom Dwyer, but most of the traffic will be at the other end, where Paul Arriola will give D.C. an important second goal just before halftime (Rooney gets the assist on this one). Orlando will get one back through Chris Mueller because of a defensive slip-up, but Yamil Asad will restore the two-goal lead very quickly on a similar Orlando defensive debacle. That goal will take the wind out of Orlando’s sails. 3-1 United. (please no delay please no delay please no delay) BlasianSays The last seven Orlando games have featured 32 combined goals, which is more than four goals per game. The only times Orlando conceded fewer than three goals over that stretch were home matches: a 2-1 win over Toronto, and a 2-0 loss to NYCFC. Unfortunately for them, this game is at Audi Field. Asad, Rooney, and Stieber score for D.C., and Dom Dwyer makes it interesting with his second of two goals coming after the 85th minute, but United holds on for a 3-2 win. Leanne Elston Bring on the goals. We’re getting some for sure, and the good news is DCU will get more than Orlando. Rooney, Asad, and Acosta all get on the board for the home side, and although the visitors make things a bit nervy by bagging two of their own, it ends 3-2 for the good guys. It’ll be a fun one, folks. What’s your prediction for tomorrow’s game? Share it in the comments, and take a stop by the silly poll first.<doc-sep>Welcome to your match thread for a Sunday night match-up between Orlando City and D.C. United at Audi Field. It’s the second of two scheduled MLS matches between the clubs this season and the third overall. The Lions will face United with their third coach in as many meetings between the two Eastern Conference sides this season, as James O’Connor gets his first look at D.C. after Jason Kreis and Bobby Murphy led Orlando into battle in the first two installments. History The Lions are 4-3-1 against D.C. in the all-time league series since the club joined MLS and 4-3-2 in all competitions. Orlando is 1-2-0 on the road against United but this will be the first ever meeting at Audi Field. The two teams met on opening day and the Lions posted a dramatic late 1-1 draw on Stefano Pinho’s 93rd-minute goal. Orlando went down to 10 men 41 minutes into the match when PC was sent off. The teams met in U.S. Open Cup action on June 20 at the Maryland SoccerPlex and again drew 1-1, but the Lions advanced to the quarterfinals thanks to a 4-2 penalty shootout win. Luciano Acosta put the hosts ahead but Justin Meram equalized on a rainy night and that was it for the scoring until the shootout. Orlando swept the two league meetings in 2017, starting with a 2-0 win over United at Orlando City Stadium on May 31. Cyle Larin and Giles Barnes provided the offense to help the Lions snap what was then a six-game winless skid. City also snapped an eight-game skid (0-6-2) when the teams met again on Sept. 9, when the Lions had two men sent off but still won, 2-1. Larin and Barnes did the damage again, so United fans will not mind seeing that neither player is on the 2018 OCSC roster. Kofi Opare gave his team a lifeline in the 89th minute but D.C. couldn’t find an equalizer. The teams split two lopsided games in 2016, with each team winning at home. United grabbed a 4-1 win at RFK Stadium and the Lions avenged that loss with a 4-2 win to close their tenure at Camping World Stadium. The Black & Red won the first meeting back on April 3, 2015, with Luis Silva scoring on a 91st-minute free kick, breaking Orlando hearts, 1-0. On May 13 of that inaugural season, Orlando led 1-0 on Larin’s goal, but D.C. scored twice to win, 2-1. Orlando finally got on the board in the series on June 14 that year with Kaká scoring off the rebound of his own missed penalty to provide the Lions’ 1-0 winning margin. Match Overview D.C. will look a bit different this time around. Former England, Everton, and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has joined D.C. and brought a bit of swagger to the side. Playing atop one of the league’s most talented attacking midfields — which includes Yamil Asad, U.S. international Paul Arriola, and Luciano Acosta, Rooney will provide finishing up top for D.C. and he’s already opened his United account. The Lions will be tasked with stopping the powerful attacking force with a back line held together with spit and duct tape. Jonathan Spector (hamstring) and Lamine Sané (knee) remain out with injuries and PC has been playing left back the last few matches for O’Connor’s squad. Orlando City has conceded seven times in the last two matches. Things don’t look much better up top for Orlando. Dom Dwyer should be good to go, but Sacha Kljestan (ankle) didn’t train all week after being chopped down from behind by Brandon Bye in the 3-3 draw vs. New England last Saturday. In addition, Yoshimar Yotún will miss this match and the next after being sent off in stoppage time of that same game. The midfield could be a trio of Josué Colmán between Mohamed El-Munir (left) and Chris Mueller (right), but I wouldn’t rule out a more defensive-minded option in the lineup in the form of Tony Rocha, Will Johnson, or even Dillon Powers. After all, O’Connor was not happy about all the goals conceded the last few weeks. I would expect some kind of fluid 4-2-3-1 system, which is what we’ve mainly been seeing from the Lions the last several games. Even if it’s announced as such, it might play more like a 4-3-2-1 at times depending on who is in the attacking midfield and how O’Connor tactically approaches the game. Orlando City will have to lock down the midfield and keep D.C.’s attackers from finding Rooney. The defense will need to keep Rooney well marked and watch for give-and-go play between the veteran striker and United’s talented midfielders. In addition to the aforementioned to Spector, Sané, and Kljestan, Uri Rosell (hamstring) has been day-to-day, but he returned to training this week and should be available for selection. Meanwhile, the MLS site lists Taylor Kemp (labrum) and Nick DeLeon (knee) as out. Mandatory Match #Content Official Lineups Orlando City (4-2-3-1) Goalkeeper: Joe Bendik. Defenders: Mohamed El-Munir, Amro Tarek, Shane O’Neill, Scott Sutter. Defensive Midfielders: Uri Rosell, Will Johnson. Attacking Midfielders: Tony Rocha, Cristian Higuita, Chris Mueller. Forward: Dom Dwyer. Bench: Earl Edwards, Jr., PC, Chris Schuler, Dillon Powers, Pierre Da Silva, Josué Colmán, Stefano Pinho. DC United (4-1-4-1) Goalkeeper: David Ousted; Defenders: Joseph Mora, Steve Birnbaum, Kofi Opare, Oniel Fisher. Defensive Midfielder: Russell Canouse. Attacking Midfielders: Yamil Asad. Luciano Acosta, Paul Arriola, Zoltan Stieber. Forward: Wayne Rooney. Bench: Bill Hamid, Vytautas Andriuskevicius, Frederic Brillant, Junior Moreno, Ulises Segura, Darren Mattocks, Chris Durkin How to Watch Match Time: 8 p.m. (ET). Venue: Audi Field — Washington, D.C. TV: FOX Sports 1. Streaming: FOX Sports GO. Radio: FM 96.9 The Game (English), La Nueva 990 (Spanish). Twitter: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow along at @TheManeLand, as well as Orlando City's official Twitter feed (@OrlandoCitySC). Match Thread Rules This is your live thread for posting comments on the match. So use our comments section below to talk about the game in real time with other supporters. If you’re new, welcome to our happy home! While you’re here, please observe a few basic rules:<doc-sep>A hell of an effort went to waste by Orlando City at Audi Field in a 3-2 loss to D.C. United. Down a man for more than 40 minutes, the Lions saw Luciano Acosta complete a controversial hat trick at the death, providing D.C.’s game-winner in the 96th minute. Orlando City (7-15-2, 23 points) had Cristian Higuita sent off after video review in the 55th minute, Acosta’s second goal was initially called offside and then awarded after another video review on a close play, and a final video review of Acosta, who appeared to be offside when Wayne Rooney delivered a cross from midfield, was not overturned, as the calls all went the way of United (5-9-6, 21 points) whether they were clear and obvious errors or not. The really frustrating part is that the winning goal for D.C. came seconds after an opportunity for Orlando to steal an improbable win. United goalkeeper David Ousted came up for a corner kick with about a minute to play. The Lions cleared the ball way out and Will Johnson busted his lungs to try to reach the ball just ahead of Rooney. Rather than try a low-percentage left-footed effort from midfield, he tried to spray a pass across the field for Stefano Pinho, who had a much more open look, but Rooney blocked the pass, got up first, and made the game winning assist. It was maybe the toughest of all the 2018 losses to swallow, but it was yet another loss in a growing season of them. Orlando City lost its ninth consecutive road match in league play and the current winless streak is five games (0-4-1). James O’Connor had no Sacha Kljestan (ankle) or Yoshimar Yotún (suspension) available, so he decided to free all of his defensive midfielders with this formation: An often dull and plodding first half was just what Orlando City was going for, as the majority of play took place between the two penalty areas. Orlando dropped into a five-man back line on defense and took on a bunker mentality. Moving forward, the attack, such as it was, looked like a 4-3-2-1 or a 4-2-3-1, depending on how many Lions got forward. But in that final third, things often broke down, as they often do. The passing quality of Kljestan and Yotún was definitely missed, and, as you’d expect from a plethora of defensive midfielders, very few runs were made into the area. It was a back-and-forth opening period. The Lions got the first look at goal in the game’s opening minute, with Higuita smashing a shot that stung Ousted’s palms. D.C. countered six minutes in with a shot over the bar by Yamil Asad. Tony Rocha tried to go straight at goal on a set piece but his shot wasn’t close in the eighth minute and Zoltan Stieber fired well wide for D.C. in the 11th minute. Stieber again missed the target in the 22nd minute off a Higuita turnover in the defensive half. After a few crosses from Chris Mueller were either deflected away or were off target, Mueller had a go himself in the 28th minute and his blast forced a good save from Ousted at the near post. The hosts thought they went ahead in the 44th minute on a Rooney header but the pass to Rooney came from an offside Asad. The flag came up but the referee went over himself to check the replay and correctly ruled no goal. That was only momentary, however. With just seconds remaining in the three minutes of first-half stoppage time, Mohamed El-Munir got cute near the sideline rather than blast the ball down the field. It was costly. On the throw-in, the ball found Acosta, who worked a give-and-go with Rooney, continuing his run into the box and beating Amro Tarek and El-Munir. Rooney’s return pass found him but he still had a lot to do from a tough angle. Joe Bendik left Acosta too much room at the near post and the United midfielder blasted the first of his three goals inside that post to put D.C. ahead 1-0 at the death of the first half. Shots in the first half were even at 6-6, with Orlando holding a 3-1 advantage in shots on frame. United held a slight possession advantage, with 51%, and Orlando connected on 88% of its passes to D.C.’s 85%. Stieber nearly doubled the lead in the 47th minute but his left-footed effort found the post instead of the net. The Lions equalized in the 50th minute out of nowhere. Uri Rosell made a good play to push the ball into a wide area, then ran it down and tried to cross for Dom Dwyer. Ousted stuck out a leg to block the cross and it deflected into his own net to make it 1-1. The game changed in the 54th minute, when Orlando City came forward and Higuita crossed the ball over everyone and out of play. Behind the play, Asad was on the ground and after referee José Carlos Rivero spoke with Video Assistant Referee Jorge Gonzalez, he went over to take a look at the replay. He decided that Higuita intentionally swung an elbow at Asad and sent the Colombian off. Whether Higuita was trying to elbow Asad or trying to get inside of him into the counter doesn’t matter now — he’ll miss the Atlanta United match along with Yotún. Oniel Fisher fired over the bar off a corner kick in the 61st minute as D.C. began to dominate possession with the manpower advantage. Three minutes later, the ball was served to the back post where Acosta scored his second goal. Only he didn’t. The flag was up for offside and no goal was given. Again Rivero spoke with Gonzalez and went to look at the video. He awarded the goal on what looked to be a very close play. Personally, I think it was onside, but it doesn’t matter what I think. What matters is whether a clear and obvious error was made. Rivero decided it was and United led, 2-1.<doc-sep>You thought that the draw against the New England Revolution hurt? Strap in. The two matches have quite a bit in common. Orlando City came back twice, a Lion received a red card, and I was disappointed at the end of the match. Given all of that, let’s check out what we “learned” from another loss. Video Review Continues to Plague Orlando There are those who will tell you that Orlando has as many calls go for them as against them (trust me, they’re tweeting at me). I disagree, and I think that this game was a microcosm of Orlando City and video review in MLS. Yes, it correctly confirmed that the Wayne Rooney header in the 44th minute shouldn’t count due to Yamil Asad being offside. But it decided that Higuita maliciously elbowed Yamil Asad in the head and the referee issued a red card. Did Higuita’s elbow hit Asad? Yes. Was it malicious and intentional? I’m not sure, but it certainly wasn’t “clear and obvious,” and thus should have been a yellow in my opinion. Video review also decided that Luciano Acosta was not offside, despite that being the call on the field on his second goal. A red card and overturning an offside call that results in a goal are major game-changing decisions, and the majority didn’t go Orlando City’s way. Road Woes Continue Nine consecutive road losses. Nine. I feel like Ed Rooney from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. “Nine times.” It’s almost comical at this point, the ways that Orlando City has pulled defeat from the jaws of victory (or at least from not-defeat). Will Johnson is going to get plenty of heat for supposedly giving the ball up to Wayne Rooney that led to the goal, but let’s give the man credit for getting to the ball and trying to play it across to Stefano Pinho who could have scored a go-ahead goal. It didn’t happen that way, but it’s obvious that’s what Johnson was thinking. I’m not sure what else to say about another road loss. Winning on the road when you have all your players is tough. Winning or getting a draw when a man down? Well, it’s definitely not easier. Could Pinho have been a more inviting target, receiving a pass on Johnson’s first touch? Perhaps, if the Brazilian wasn’t intentionally tripped by Luciano Acosta. This is 100% a foul from Acosta! In my opinion regardless of how awesome the goal was it should not be given. This foul clearly influenced what happened on the field. Am I right or wrong here? @MLS pic.twitter.com/AqfosmName — IAN PAUL JOY (@JOYPAULIAN) August 13, 2018 El-Munir Struggled Mohamed El-Munir only had to kick the ball up the field and the first half would have ended 0-0. He did not. Instead, he decided that he would “make a move” to get around his man, and take the ball up the pitch. It didn’t work, he was dispossessed and D.C. scored its first goal at the death of first-half stoppage time. That wasn’t the only time he had trouble, as Oniel Fisher continually had his way with El-Munir most of the match. Playoffs? Orlando City would have to go on an unprecedented run of wins to make it above the line now. This brings up many questions since we were told that the front office felt that the playoffs were certainly obtainable with the players that were on the roster. We all sat amazed as the transfer window closed with Orlando City seemingly doing very little, except bringing in Shane O’Neill (which started before the window opened), and trading away Justin Meram (which, if we look back, also kind of started before the window opened). The club is reportedly trying to bring in Carlos Ascues but it may be too little too late. Odds are the Lions miss the playoffs, and if so, is James O’Connor’s job safe? What about the people who made the decisions in the front office? Should their jobs be safe? There Were Silver Linings I don’t want to be all doom and gloom, so let’s call out some positives. Before he was sent off, Cristian Higuita looked to be creative and dangerous in an unfamiliar role. He didn’t start in his usual position, but as an attacking midfielder rather than a defensive midfielder. Uri Rosell also had a heck of a game. He provided the assist on Dom Dwyer’s goal, and it was his strike that created the own goal to give Orlando its first score. Additionally, he did pretty well defensively. Finally, the team never gave up. I know that the mistake at the end cost the Lions the game, but they were still in it well into stoppage time while playing a man down, and initially a goal down. It was heart wrenching, but only because they showed heart. There are the five takeaways from my perspective. Agree? Disagree? Came over from Twitter to continue a conversation? Put it in the comments.<doc-sep>
Orlando City’s first trip to D.C. United’s new home at Audi Field saw two squads fighting to catch up with the rest of the Eastern Conference. It also saw a fairly eyebrow-raising starting XI from the Lions, considering suspensions and injuries. So how did the individual players fare tonight in the 3-2 loss against United? Starters GK, Joe Bendik, 5 — Long ball distribution just does not work when your target forward is a good foot or more shorter than the average center back. Not sure his position was correct on the first or third, and he may have been shielded until fairly late on the second goal. He may have been able to come off his line and grab the cross on the final goal. Never seemed comfortable, always leaving his line late, so late in fact he was in no man’s land on the game-winning goal. D, Mohamed El-Munir, 5 — Excellent run up the left in the 12th minute, went to cross to a streaking Dom but was pushed off the ball, and the ref turned a blind eye. The physicality of play the ref was allowing may have gotten under his skin, because for the remainder of the first half saw him flustered a bit. He got a bit too fancy near the sideline late in the first half to allow D.C. a throw and United ended up scoring the first goal at the death of stoppage time as a result. This continued in the second half, with mixed moments of brilliance and then moments of poor judgement. I am sure it did not help that the club played with 10 men for some time. D, Amro Tarek, 5.5 — Amro was solid, fluid, and didn’t make too many mistakes, even after a taking a ball in what appeared to be the jumbly bits. He was a bit slow at times, as when he was beaten on the first goal, but his reactions were generally good. He did pick up a yellow, for a very “professional” foul, which was the absolute right thing to do. All in all, a fair night for Amro. D, Shane O’Neill, 6 — Found himself defending Wayne Rooney multiple times, and did a great job standing him up, letting the rest of the defense get back and find shape. Another decent performance, as much as you can say for a back line working for a decent portion of the game on their heels down a man. D, Scott Sutter, 5.5 — worked the right side well, and played the connection game with both Johnson and Rosell very well. Fired a shot just wide of goal in the second half off a short corner. MF, Oriol Rosell, 7 (MOTM) — Probably his best performance to date as a Lion. Great job standing up Rooney in the 22nd minute. Had numerous switch balls across the field from the right side to spring El-Mo on the left, as well as give-and-go plays across the midfield. He had the biggest impact both defensively and offensively tonight, notching an assist and one could argue that the goal should have been his, and not an own goal. MF, Will Johnson, 6 — Despite what I am sure will be a week of blaming Will for what happened in the last 30 seconds of that match, Johnson played a really good game. He was all over the pitch as usual, running box to box, including having the third highest number of successful tackles, four, for the match. What happened in the waning seconds was unfortunate, but certainly not on him, considering the effort he put into the match for the previous 95 minutes, and 40 of it while a man down. MF, Tony Rocha, 5.5 — Had a decent effort in the ninth minute on a free kick just outside the box, but sent the ball high. After starting the match as a player whose number seemed to be called often, he somewhat disappeared from the limelight until being subbed out early in the second due to the Higuita red card. MF, Cristian Higuita, 5.5 — He came flying out of the gate, testing goal in the first minute, with a squirrely ball that David Ousted couldn’t just handle. Although he was listed in the formation as the central attacking midfielder, he found himself on the right half of the pitch a lot, and certainly played box to box as needed.