D.C. United vs. New York City FC staff and reader predictions

Say hello to D.C. United’s first road trip of the season! The Black-and-Red have headed up to Yankee Stadium to take on NYCFC, an opponent they haven’t had much luck against in the past.

But this team is coming off a strong season opener against the reigning MLS champs, so hey, luck could turn, right? At least we don’t have David Villa to worry about anymore.

Let’s predict how things will go down at that tiny lil “soccer field” up in the Bronx.

Donald Wine II

Game 2. The Black-and-Red head to the Cracker Jack box to take on the Pigeons. Even with a field that you need a magnifying glass to play on, I think United puts on another show. Luciano Acosta grabs one, Wayne Rooney gets his first, Titi Rodriguez also gets his first, and the defense pitches another shutout. Bill Hamid records a couple terrific saves to preserve the 3-0 clean sheet, and we leave the Bronx with the rest of the league on notice that it’s gonna take a lot more than Sean Johnson to take us down.

Adam Taylor

The postage stamp at Yankee Stadium hasn’t been kind to D.C. United through the years, but with the Black-and-Red’s continued resurgence and the Pigeons in something of a...let’s call it a transitional period in their history...I think three points are there for the taking. Los Capitalinos strike early, with Wayne Rooney setting up Luciano Acosta—only for Lucho to lay the ball off for Lucas Rodriguez to tap home past a helpless Sean Johnson. The once (and future?) PSG target drops another dime just before halftime, this time to Rooney. The second half produces a couple quality chances and at least one or two top-shelf saves from Bill Hamid and Johnson, but no more scoring. It’s a comfortable W, 2-0 good guys for the second week running.

BlasianSays

I’m not particularly optimistic about this one. New York’s only team came from ahead to draw Orlando, but that was on the road. I expect them to have a little better handle on things in the...cozy confines of some baseball stadium. After tallying an assist in his first MLS match, Alexandru Mitrita will get his first goal this time, sending NYC into the locker room with a 1-0 lead. In the second half, D.C. will strike through Luciano Acosta to equalize. New York will mount a late threat with tremendous pressure, but United will survive, and run out of town with a hard-earned point.

Jason Anderson

To Adam’s point, United’s record in the Bronx is brutal: 0W-1D-3L, and NYCFC has scored 11 goals in those 4 games. However, I’d offer that this is both the best DCU team since NYCFC entered MLS, and also the weakest version of NYCFC (mostly thanks to Domè Torrent, but also owing something to the departures of David Villa and Yangel Herrera). As such, and possibly also due to some early-season optimism, I am predicting the first Black-and-Red win at Yankee Stadium. A first half high on intensity but low on chances will wrap up 0-0, but the home side will strike with a fluky, deflected Maxi Moralez goal shortly after the game resumes. United gets level within five minutes on a Wayne Rooney strike from the top of the box, and after failing to put away 2-3 chances, Lucas Rodriguez bundles home a 75th minute goal amid chaos in the box. From there, Ben Olsen makes defensive subs, we see a 541, and despite being under heavy pressure, United walks off with a 2-1 victory.

Ryan Keefer

I feel like this is a barometer for how well D.C. is telling themselves to pump the brakes. NYCFC was a little on the counterattack side of things last week against a very much in progress Orlando City team, and it remains to be seen if they retain that on the baseball field in the Bronx or not. I think Lucho gets a goal near the end of the first half, but Moralez gets a post-80th minute equalizer for a 1-1 draw and disappointment abounds.

Leanne Elston

I think this is a United team that could very much beat this NYCFC team—but I have a feeling we’re going to see some early season road jitters. Maybe I’m just still not accustomed to DCU playing well, consistently? Anyway, I’m predicting a 1-1 draw in the end, with Lucho scoring in the first half before NYCFC spoil things in the second.

Do you think D.C. United can bag three points today? Share your prediction in the comments!