DC United vs Vancouver Whitecaps Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

DC United will be hoping to build on their decent 2-2 draw away at LA Galaxy last time out with victory over Western Conference side Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday. The hosts remain cut adrift at the foot of the Eastern Conference table and even a win this weekend would fail to lift them out of last place, but could close the gap on Toronto to just two points. Vancouver Whitecaps could move up one place this weekend, despite being just three points behind fourth and fifth place. The visitors goal difference is keeping them from any realistic hopes of climbing two places this weekend, but to even move up one place they must win and Real Salt Lake must lose.

Vancouver Whitecaps played host to DC United back in May 2017, where despite dominating the game for the most part the home side ended up on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline. The first half failed to produce any goals, though Vancouver created some good goal scoring opportunities and controlled the forty-five minutes. The second half started in a similar vein, but a rare DC United attack lead to a penalty decision in their favour and Neagle scored what turned out to be the winning goal shortly after the hour mark. The hosts pushed and pushed for an equaliser and deep into stoppage time they were awarded their own spot kick and a great chance to pick up a share of the spoils. However, Uruguay’s Techera fluffed his lines under pressure and missed the penalty, leading to huge celebrations amongst the away fans.

Heading into Sunday’s latest encounter between the two clubs it’s the visitors from Canada that claim the title of form favourites thanks to a run of three wins, one draw, and two defeats from their last six matches. DC United have only managed one win from their last six matches, and that arrived in the US Open Cup against North Carolina. The hosts have lost three of their last six and drawn two, with plenty of goals going in at both ends in the process. We’re expecting to see more goals on Sunday and believe both teams will score as DC United’s last six games and four of Vancouver’s last six have witnessed both teams score. Over 2.5 goals have been scored in four of DC’s last six matches and five of Vancouver’s, so there is plenty of reason to expect more of the same on Sunday.

Both clubs top scorers in the league this season have eight goals to their name, Jamaica’s Mattocks for the hosts and former Middlesbrough man Kamara for the visitors. Asad has chipped in with an impressive seven MLS goals for DC United this season, while Techera has scored six for Vancouver and both teams can boast a few genuine goal scoring threats.

We’re confident that both teams will get on the scoreboard on Sunday and that over 2.5 goals scored in the process as neither have kept any clean sheets in their last six attempts, but both have been scoring on a regular basis. In terms of a final score, we’re backing the visitors from Canada to pitch a narrow 2-1 win against their struggling hosts.

DC United’s Predicted Lineup: Ousted, Brillant, Robinson, Birnbaum, Durkin, Stieber, Fisher, Acosta, Harkes, Mattocks, Asad.

Vancouver Whitecaps’ Predicted Lineup: Rowe, Juárez, Henry, Aja, Nerwinski, de Jong, Mutch, Martins, Davies, Kamara, Reyna.