FC Dallas vs Orlando City Predictions

Both Dallas and Orlando City played out goalless draws in their last MLS games, and now the pair go head to head on Sunday with the hosts sitting top of the Western Conference and the visitors at the opposite end of the Eastern Conference. Dallas have picked up over twice as many points as Orlando City this season, having played one more game in the league, and the bookmakers are backing the hosts to extend that points gap this weekend.

Dallas had 54% of the overall possession away at Portland Timbers last weekend, but only managed two shots on target to the hosts four. Neither team were able to break down the others defence and score a winning goal and Dallas will have been disappointed with their wastefulness in front of goal, but happy to see Sporting KC fail to take advantage as they also ended up drawing.

Former Aston Villa and West Brom defender Liam Ridgewell was sent-off in the fourth minute of stoppage time in the second half, and even though their were a further four minutes played before the referee blew his final whistle, Dallas were unable to take advantage.

Surprisingly Dallas still don’t have a single player into double figures in league goals this season, with Belgian winger Lamah still leading the way in front of goal with eight in the MLS so far. The former Swansea City wide man enjoyed fruitful first half to the season, but his last ten appearances for Dallas have seen the Belgian score just twice.

Even Orlando City’s Dwyer has hit double figures despite his sides dreadful performance in the MLS this season, and those twelve goals could earn the striker a move to one of the MLS’ top half clubs next season. Dwyer has scored four times in his last eight appearances for Orlando, but couldn’t find a way passed Willis in the Houston Dynamo goal last time out.

Orlando City played host to Houston Dynamo two weeks ago, where despite shading the possession stats, having more shots on target, and more corners during the ninety minutes, saw the game end goalless. While Orlando City can’t finish in the play-off places this season they are still in with a chance of catching and overtaking nearest rivals Chicago Fire who have six more points on the board this season, but have played an extra two games.

The visitors have nothing to fear as relegation is of course not a possibility in the MLS as things stand, but they can play for their pride, play with freedom, and play for their fans in the remainder of their games and perhaps avoid the embarrassment of finishing rock bottom of the Eastern Conference.

Having said that, we’re still confident that Dallas will win to nil this weekend and that the final score will read 2-0 to the hosts. Dallas have kept a clean sheet against Orlando City in their last three meetings. The hosts have won two of their last four matches and kept two clean sheets during that period. Orlando City are without a win in their last ten MLS games and have failed to score in their last three matches.