It's been 25 days since D.C. United kicked a ball in earnest in MLS play, but on Wednesday night, they will set off on the second half of their season by hosting Orlando City at Audi Field. It is the first time that Orlando will visit Buzzard Point since Luciano Acosta's last-gasp hat trick on a wild play from Wayne Rooney last August, a result that helped turn around United's season. 

Kickoff is set for 8 PM ET and will be streamed on FloFC for viewers in the DMV area. 

While it has been more than three weeks since United's last MLS game, a 1-1 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes, United were involved in two U.S. Open Cup games. The Black-and-Red won the first in Southwest D.C., beating the Philadelphia Union 2-1 in extra time, with Rooney converting the winning penalty in the 120th minute. 

Last Wednesday, Rooney gave United a first-half lead over New York City FC, but the Pigeons fought back to take the lead going into the break and held on to knock out United before the quarterfinal stage. 

"You never want to lose and get out of a tournament," head coach Ben Olsen said this week in an interview with FloFC. "But if you can put that part aside, I think it filled the void nicely. Two competitive games against two of the better teams in the league for us to continue to find out about ourselves."

However, Olsen's side seemed to continue to be in the sort of funk that they ended the first half of the season in. The draw on June 1 against the 'Quakes was United's fifth game in a row without a win in league play. During D.C.'s time off, they fell to third in the Eastern Conference, with Atlanta United, the New York Red Bulls, and NYCFC all capable of jumping the Black-and-Red with favorable results in their games in hand. 

With just eight home games left this season, United will need to find a way to reverse their form at Audi Field, which has seen them drop points in more games (five) than times they have won (four) at the second year stadium. And the Lions, who currently sit in ninth place in the East, might be the team that United can beat to get their season on track for the second year in a row.

Due to international absences though, United will be without two of their standout performers, with Paul Arriola away with the USA at the Gold Cup and Junior Moreno playing in the Copa America with Venezuela. Neither will be available for the weekend, either, when Toronto FC comes to town for the second meeting this year.

Back in March, United won for the first time at the newly-named Exploria Stadium, 2-1. Steven Birnbaum headed in a goal early on, and Rooney scored a ridiculous free kick from the sideline to give the visitors a two-goal lead in the first half. In the second half, United had to hold on for dear life as the Lions poured forward, but Dom Dwyer's strike wasn't enough to mount a comeback.

Since their last game MLS game, United have been bolstered by the return of several injured players. Joseph Mora played in both Open Cup games, his first action since breaking his jaw in the first game against Orlando. Russell Canouse played the final 20 minutes against NYCFC, after suffering an ankle injury against San Jose. And rookie center back Donovan Pines is back, after a layoff with a knee injury. 

Predicted Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Bill Hamid, Joseph Mora, Steven Birnbaum, Frederic Brillant, Leonardo Jara, Russell Canouse, Chris Durkin, Lucas Rodriguez, Luciano Acosta, Ulises Segura, Wayne Rooney