Orlando City SC vs. D.C. United: Preview, time, and how to watch
D.C. United faces off against Orlando City SC tonight at Inter&Co Stadium. Sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, the Black-and-Red look to snap their long winless streak against the 10th-place Lions.
D.C. is in a drought, having not won a match since May. If the Black-and-Red hope to make it into playoff contention, they must start racking up points. Now.
A paper-thin roster has stifled the Black-and-Red, making it difficult recently to dress a full 18. While the club has attempted to fill holes in the thin roster with a few new signings, such as Austrian defender David Schnegg from SK Sturm Graz and free agent forward Dominique Badji, major transfers have been ruled out for the summer window. Neither Schnegg nor Badji will be available until they receive their International Transfer Certificates (ITC).
Orlando comes into the matchup with D.C. on the heels of a win in Toronto, looking to advance in the Eastern Conference into a playoff spot. Martín Ojeda contributed to the Lions win, finding the equalizer and contributing to the game-winner. Now, the Lions will look to capitalize on their win with a home victory over D.C. United.
It will be up to the Black-and-Red to fight for every opportunity tonight and claim points on the road.
Hear everything head coach Troy Lesesne had to say at the pre-game press conference here.
Let us know your thoughts about tonight’s match in the comments below.
Key Player: Christian Benteke
Veteran striker Benteke returns from suspension to play against Orlando tonight. His presence has been sincerely missed on the pitch. D.C. head coach Troy Lesesne said that Benteke’s return would “give us a lift.” Despite the Black-and-Red’s record this 2024 season, Benteke is still in contention for the Golden Boot. We hope he adds a few more to his tally tonight.
Watch Out For: Martín Ojeda and Duncan McGuire
Key to Orlando’s midweek victory over Toronto, Martín Ojeda is one to watch tonight. The wingback has been key to the Lion’s success recently and, along with Duncan McGuire, will certainly give D.C. United’s defense a challenge. For his part, McGuire is a dangerous goalscorer who is within a few goals of club legend Kaká’s all-time scoring record.
Challenges: The Black and Red continue to be hampered by a thin roster, and each new absence disproportionately impacts them.
Previously: While Orlando won over D.C. United at Audi Field in April, the Black-and-Red have the advantage in all meetings. In 19 total regular season matches, D.C. United is 9-3-7 against Orlando City.
Orlando City SC Availability:
Out: Mikey Halliday (knee), Mason Stajduhar (lower leg)
Questionable: Tahir Reid-Brown (thigh)
D.C. United Availability:
Out: Conner Antley (knee), Steven Birnbaum (hip), Russell Canouse (not due to injury), Kristian Fletcher (ankle), Jackson Hopkins (back)
Disciplinary: Cristian Dájome (DC) – Suspended: Yellow Card Accumulation
Questionable: None
Location: Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
Kickoff time: 7:30 pm ET
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
Available streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Really hoping the team can break this winless streak, but these three-game weeks in the summer heat with this short bench are tough.
Oddly, the oppressive heat in Orlando at kickoff looks to be no worse than here; perhaps marginally better. So, yay?
I do agree.opposite heat never affects both teams
Thanks, Sarah. Always good to have a thread win or lose.
This^^^^
Just got my tickets (my dad and brother are going with me) for USA vs Scotland on Friday at Buzzard Point. It’ll be the first time this year I make it out to Buzzard Point and it’s not for a DCU game.
If you are in club section, would love to meet you and your awesome dad
Not in the club section unfortunately.
Well, I am blowing off work early (like noon); perhaps area establishments around 3ish? I enjoy the The Great Comentariat.
Please advise
Starting XI: Benteke, KDP, Pirani, Rodriguez, Peltola, Santos, McVey, Bartlett, Tubbs, Herrera, Miller
Bench: Akinmboni, Bono, Garay, Murrell, Sargis, and Stroud
Herrera is down…not good
DCU saved by the offside flag.
Orlando attacking down our left alot early.
Damn…well how many more are we giving up?
So how bad is this slaughter going to be?
We’re getting burned repeatedly on the left…
Already getting a sub ready.
I’m surprised there are no Oles from the crowd…
Murrell for Herrera.
It’s astounding how bad this team is. The defense is being shredded and Tyler Miller is terrible. Mystified that he continues to start.
I know this team is terrible and no coach could win with it, but at what point does the front office ask questions there? How does any coach survive a last-place season?
I am Darth Garber. Report to compliance session.
At what point do we get new owners who actually give a crap?
Why am I even watching this when Miami is playing Cincinnati?
How is that not a PK? Murrell was wiped out.
What the hell is the call there? Why does Gallese get to start out — a drop ball I guess? Are they calling a foul on Murrell for being wiped out by two Orlando players?
It’s a drop ball coming off a cooling/hydration break.
Oh look here comes Orlando again. The blood and chum are in the water and they know it…and there’s the 3rd.
Can DCU just forefit the rest of the season? Week in and week out it’s more and more of this it feels like.
Orange wedges and participation trophies
Offsides stops the 4th.
Bartlett sees a straight red for Dogso. Can we just forefit at half?
8 mins of stoppage? This game is over and has been over.
Trivia question: What is the worst game ever played by any MLS team?
Most of the ones played by DCU since May?
I actually have a new idea. Embrace the basement.
I lived in several basement apartments. They worked. No floods, warm in the winter, cool in the summer, social parties that felt deliciously Neanderthal.
We should embrace the basement. Some basements are cellars and business-wise make for great bars (ones that do NOT have AppleTv+ to protect our psychies).
Our basement can be durable, free of ridiculous distractions like results. A basement that demands that DC United changes its motto to:
Languid
No floods? Not to be overly morose but people have drowned in basement apartments.
My basements were never relegated…..
This game is over put in Sargis, Garay, and Akinmboni.
A red card. Great move. Yes. This will energize the “fighting ten”
Brilliant
I think Orlando will ask Darth Garber for an untimed hydration break to kill clock.
Darth Garber will insist that the fluid will be pink.
DC United is EPIC
Apparently VAR reviewing Benteke challenge. Sargis for Tubbs.
We’re gonna be under siege the rest of the game.
There’s the 4th…how many more?
Fwiw, Cincinnati is beating Miami 6-1, so we’re not the worst on the night! Yet, at least
Missing Ben yet?
There’s a 5th.
Wait we’ve managed 5 shots according to the league site’s stats for tne match…
6 mins of stoppage in this execution?
Winless in 11…I wonder if we’ll win any other games this season at all…
Are we at 2013 dumpster fire levels yet?
No. But this game was a dumpster fire.
A cruel and insensitive remark. Dumpsters are people too.
You have been reported for reeducation.
Not quite. I think we’ll have a bounce back after Leagues Cup. Nowhere near enough to salvage the playoffs but we should be able to look respectable at least with the talent we’ve got on the roster (assuming Herrera isn’t seriously injured ofc)
This week was always going to be tough even before Benteke got his red card. We looked the better team against NYRB until a super soft second yellow on Dajome which really killed the next two since Santos can’t hold up for three games in a week at this point in his career. Even then, we probably could have gotten a result tonight if Klich had been healthy.
Lesesne really needs to drop the 3-4-2-1 though. It’s been abysmal defensively and you can’t run a three-back system without more consistent pairings on the backline. There’s just so much movement needed that needs to be instinctual but we had a different starting backline in each of the three games this week.
A cunning plan. Now we only need to find four defenders.
Good news, bad news. We are 4 points ahead of 2013, but there is no Open Cup to ease the pain. Quakes might prevent us from getting the Spoon, which also feels like a loss.
Dismal match but my evening was redeemed by watching Spirit v Bay FC. 3-0 Spirit. More of Commentariat should pay attention to Spirit. Great DP coverage and they do something DC United doesn’t— WIN!
What’s winning again?