D.C. United versus Orlando City SC staff and reader predictions

D.C. United have their second matchup against Orlando City SC tonight, and they hope to build on their earlier 1-0 victory. We are very confident about this game, but out confidence didn't help us last week. Let us know what you think will happen in the comments!

blazindw

Kaka, Brek Shea and the Purple Lions make their first appearance to RFK Stadium. United puts its 17-game home unbeaten streak on the line. Last time, a depleted DCU side held off Orlando until Luis Silva sent a sizzling free kick into the net for the game winner in stoppage time. This time, it's a bit easier for a much healthier DCU team, as Rolfe and Pontius both hit goals and Farfan adds a 3rd. Kaka puts one in the net, but Orlando heads home without any points. 3-1 Black-and-Red, and the streak continues.

blasiansays

Spurred on by terrible efforts from D.C. United's social media team, Orlando City scores an early goal. D.C. United answers before the end of the first half, and then scores again in the second to win 2-1. DCU social media posts an image on Twitter of Minnie Mouse kissing Donald Duck before deleting it.

Ryan Keefer

OCSC will be missing Amobi Okugo to already go with Kevin Molino and Pedro Ribeiro, and if there's another player whose last name ends in O, I'd presume he's hurt as well. An additional quirk, they've played only two games on grass this year so far, with their only goal on a crappy miscommunication in Houston. I imagine they'll get one here, but I also think that if Chris Pontius can get even closer to the form he seeks, he and Luis Silva will get theirs in a 2-1 DC win. Hope this means I'm not breaking a streak of jinxing.

Adam Taylor

Last time these teams met - on the Citrus Bowl carpet - Bill Hamid had to provide a performance of the year sort of game to keep United in it until Luis Silva could make his epic return from injury via stoppage time free kick game winner. No such heroics needed at either end of the field this time around, as a slightly rotated DC side handle the newly fauxmoted Lions with first half goals from Chrises Rolfe and Pontius seal the deal early. 2-0 United.

Leanne Elston

United are winning this game. Orlando will score, but DC will win. These are my predictions. 3-1, good guy goals from Pontius, Rolfe, and heck, let's say Boswell.

ChestRockwell

Orlando isn't an outright bad team by any stretch of the imagination, but with Amobi Okugo out and United having both wide midfielders cut inside, I think they have a matchup problem here. Luis Silva does the Lions in again, scoring the second and assisting the first (let's go with a Bobby Boswell set piece header). Orlando will pus hard at some point, but their attacks will run out of steam against United's organized block of eight. Eventually, tired legs will see them go quietly into the night; I don't expect Bill Hamid to have to be a hero Wednesday. 2-0 DCU.

Ben Bromley

This is definitely a game United should win, at home against an expansion team, if they want to prove that they are the best team in the East. Give me a 2-0 victory for United, with goals coming from Michael Farfan and Nick DeLeon, to spread the love around.