D.C. United vs. Montreal Impact staff and reader predictions

We’re just going to move right along here from Saturday’s Game That Must Not Be Named.

Tonight D.C. United are at home again for a quick redemption against the Montreal Impact. And it should be a redemption—because that last 90 minutes the Black-and-Red played was atrocious and anything less than three points in follow-up will be unacceptable.

Do I sound harsh? I think I’m still salty about the two hours of traffic I sat in to even get to Audi Field over the weekend, having missed the entire first half.

Never mind that none of us made at all correct predictions last time—here’s what we’re predicting now.

Donald Wine II

After getting the doors blown off on national TV, the Black-and-Red are without their captain after a red card in the second half. Still, I think they get back on track. It will be a struggle, but a 77th minute goal by Luciano Acosta will be the difference in a 1-0 victory.

Ryan Keefer

D.C. United had regen on Sunday and practice on Monday, which would presumably have been a look at the film from the thrashing Saturday afternoon provided. Fortunately, Montreal came away from a scoreless draw against New York City FC knowing they would be without the services of Maxi Urruti who had a second half red card. And for a team who looked drab without Nacho Piatti (and fresh off giving up seven goals to Sporting Kansas City), the chances for anything other than a point have to be long. Even with a D.C. team minus Wayne Rooney, Lucas Rodriguez will get a goal and Zoltan Stieber opens his 2019 account, offsetting a goal from Saphir Taider golazo for a 2-1 win and a temporarily righted, not completely sorted, ship.

Adam Taylor

I’m a little shook after Saturday. Everything was worse than we’ve come to expect from this vintage of D.C. United. Even without the suspended Rooney on Tuesday (Tuesday?!) I think the Black-and-Red will look better against Montreal, especially the back six, who were mostly...you know what, I don’t want to talk about it. With the visitors missing Maxi Urruti and Nacho Piatti, I think Hamid & the defense get back on the clean sheet train, and los Capitalinos throw the Zs up as Zoltan Stieber capitalizes on a rare 2019 appearance. 1-0 good guys.

Jason Anderson

It seems fair to expect United to come out desperate to prove that Saturday’s disappointing offering was only a blip. However, without Wayne Rooney, the job is quite a bit tougher, especially against a team that sits deep like Montreal. I think we’re in for a drab first half before Luciano Acosta really gets going. In the second half, Lucho might not completely take the game over, but he will prove that he’s a match-winner nonetheless. Acosta scores a solo goal before the hour mark, and then after a goal from Taider, Acosta breaks down the defense on the dribble before finding Titi Rodriguez for a late winner. Montreal melts down from there, with Victor Cabrera picking up a red card in stoppage time, making closing this game out a little less stressful. 2-1 DCU.

Leanne Elston

You know what, I think DCU keep a clean sheet in this one, if only to prove that they can. As we all know, the LAFC game was horrendous. As we also all know, this team is capable of so much more. Even without Rooney, I think our home side pull through with a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Acosta and Russell Canouse.

What do you think will happen in tonight’s game? Let us know in the comments!