Defender Bobby Boswell (groin) returned home to rest up for this Saturday’s home game against Los Angeles.

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And although he accompanied the squad to Florida, Jose Guillermo Ortiz will not be in uniform after MLS’s disciplinary committee suspended him one game Monday for simulation/embellishment — a euphemism for taking a dive to receive a favorable call — at a pivotal moment during the 1-0 victory in Vancouver.

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Early in the second half, as Ortiz accelerated inside the penalty area, Kendall Waston reached out and made brief contact with the forward’s midsection. Ortiz crashed to the artificial turf. Referee Sorin Stoica awarded a penalty kick, which Lamar Neagle converted, helping United (4-6-2) end a three-game losing streak.

The disciplinary committee ruled that Ortiz exaggerated the contact and, because the actions had made a “material impact” on the match, a one-game suspension and fine of an undisclosed amount were necessary. A week earlier, the committee fined Ortiz for theatrics against Chicago, though he escaped suspension because the act did not impact the game.

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Ortiz is a part-time starter, so even without the ban, he probably would not have started in Orlando. Patrick Mullins, the first-choice striker, is likely to return to the lineup.

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Reflecting on the Ortiz incident and suspension, United Coach Ben Olsen said: “It’s a tricky one. He does get fouled a little bit. Does he make a meal out of it? Maybe a touch. It’s not something we encourage.”

Perhaps uncomfortable with the topic, Olsen added, “It is what it is, and I’ll leave it at that.”

The Ortiz play wasn’t the only controversial sequence. In the waning moments, Stoica awarded a penalty kick to the Whitecaps after Bill Hamid’s arms crashed into Brek Shea’s head an instant after Shea beat the goalkeeper to a free kick. Cristian Techera’s ensuing attempt hit the right post, the last of four Vancouver shots off the goal frame.

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“They botched the whole thing,” Olsen said of the match officials. He cited an extended stoppage of play as Stoica conferred with an assistant referee and said the crew watched a replay on the stadium’s video screen. “Maybe a little payback for Ortiz. Of course, I’m biased.”

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In the end, the late call did not prevent United from extending its away unbeaten streak to three — a 2-0-1 run that has coincided with a three-game losing skid with no goals at home. The Vancouver trip began a stretch of seven away matches in a nine-game span.

“It was good to get away from the negativity back home,” Olsen said. “When you lose a few at home, there’s a negative feeling in the building and all around you. In that sense, these road games can help us.”

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The ability to make amends on the road for shortcomings at RFK Stadium has bolstered the club ahead of the game against Orlando (6-5-2), which is winless in six straight (0-4-2) but sports a 5-1-1 record at home.

“From a belief and effort standpoint, it was a good night” in Vancouver, Olsen said. “We’re still looking for more quality in everything we do. It needs to get better. Sometimes you have to find ways to win. Saturday was one of those days.”

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D.C. United at Orlando City

Where: Orlando City Stadium.

When: Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

TV: NewsChannel 8.

Records: United 4-6-2, 14 points; City 6-5-2, 20 points.

D.C. probable starters: GK Bill Hamid; Ds Chris Korb, Steve Birnbaum, Kofi Opare, Taylor Kemp; MFs Lloyd Sam, Jared Jeffrey, Luciano Acosta, Ian Harkes, Lamar Neagle; F Patrick Mullins.