D.C. United vs. Toronto FC staff and reader predictions

Ah, yes, a Wednesday game. Did I almost forget this was happening? Me? (Yes.)

It is happening, though. After losing the Battle of the Washingtons over the weekend, D.C. United are heading up to Canada to face 2017 MLS champions Toronto FC. So before you settle in for all World Cup all the time, let’s watch the Black-and-Red...probably lose.

Yeah, sorry, we’re mostly seeing zero points from this one.

Donald Wine II

This is going to be a struggle of a game with players who wished they were on World Cup break playing. I know that we’re supposed to be optimistic about these things, but I see a 2-1 defeat, with Darren Mattocks adding to his goal tally.

Ryan Keefer

Unless Sebastian Giovinco and/or Victor Vazquez find themselves sick or something, Chris Durkin (who Ben Olsen said would start) is going to have problems all night with them. TFC, on an extra day with minimal travel 2-0, and we’ll continue wondering why resources couldn’t have been better used to keep a point in Seattle.

Jason Anderson

Good news: I think United can score a couple of goals on this TFC team. They’ve gotten some defenders back healthy, but we’re still talking about a team fielding their 5th or 6th best option at center back. The bad news is that TFC has Sebastian Giovinco, and United has shown no ability to avoid the lapses that players like him punish. So, buckle up. Toronto takes a lead through Giovinco, but Mattocks levels the score soon thereafter. D.C. will endure a bunch of pressure going into halftime, but will strike early in the second half with Paul Arriola glancing home a cross from Zoltan Stieber. Sadly, the Reds repeat United’s trick by leveling immediately via Jonathan Osorio, and then Giovinco grabs a late winner with some sort of sorcery. 3-2 TFC.

Adam Taylor

Over? Did you say “over”? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

But, yeah, United probably ain’t winning this one. I’ll shade optimistic—call it Stanley Cup afterglow if you need to—and call it a 2-2 draw. Goals by Yamil Asad and Ian Harkes, helpers from Luciano Acosta and Stieber. Giovinco with a brace, because Giovinco.

BlasianSays

I expect DCU to welcome me home by losing 2-0 to Toronto, via a Giovinco brace. I don’t really have any justification other than “why wouldn’t they?” and “duh.” IS IT JULY YET?

Leanne Elston

Remember when Toronto were terrible and we all pitied them? I think about that a lot. Anyway, they’re not terrible anymore and haven’t been for a while. This is to say that I fully expect this game to be a wash. But I still think this team is capable of scoring goals and will tonight, so I’m predicting DCU get on the scoreboard with one goal, but ultimately fall to the home side 3-1.

What do you see happening tonight? Share your prediction in the comments, but make sure to stop for the silly poll first.