MLS Match 3: Orlando City (1-0-1) at D.C. United (1-1-0)
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Audi Field, Washington D.C.
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (subscription required)
Radio: Real Radio 104.1 FM (English), Acción 97.9 FM (Spanish)
Here are five storylines to watch on Saturday when Orlando City hits the road to meet D.C. United at Audi Field:
Off the board
The 13th minute of Tuesday’s Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League fixture saw Orlando City set a Club-record for minutes without conceding to start a campaign, surpassing the previous mark set a year ago at 192.
Holding Tigres UANL scoreless on the evening, the Lions enter Saturday’s fixture against D.C. having yet to concede this calendar year, with six different defenders occupying the backline in that stretch.
No stopping El Pulpo
Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese continued his impressive start to the campaign in Monterrey on Tuesday night, posting eight saves to hold Tigres UANL scoreless in front of their home crowd, one shy of his single-game career high in purple.
“El Pulpo” has occupied the sticks for each of the Lions’ three clean sheets to start the year, extending his own Club-record now with 24 in all competitions.
A first in purple
Midfielder Felipe Martins recorded his Orlando City debut on Tuesday night, entering the match in the 85th minute of play.
Felipe, signed by the Lions as a free agent this past offseason, last featured in MLS for Austin FC a year ago and has enjoyed time at CF Montréal, the New York Red Bulls and the Vancouver Whitecaps, along with over two seasons with the Black and Red from 2019-21 in the nation’s capital. While at D.C., Martins appeared 43 times, scoring one goal.
Familiar face, new place
Orlando City and D.C. United engaged in a trade this past offseason, seeing the Lions acquire the No. 2 overall selection in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft in exchange for former City defender Ruan. With that selection, City opted to select midfielder Shak Mohammed out of Duke University, totaling 37 appearances with 35 starts, scoring 13 goals and adding nine assists in two years in Durham.
Having joined the Lions ahead of the 2019 campaign, Ruan departed Orlando having appeared 118 times for City across all competitions, scoring four goals and providing 15 assists in that time.
Tight turnaround
Saturday will serve as the third fixture in eight days for Orlando City, following an MLS match against FC Cincinnati the previous Saturday and a meeting with Tigres UANL in the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League on Tuesday.
Following the weekend matchup, the road for the Lions doesn’t get any easier, as they are set to face Tigres once more in the second leg of the Round of 16 on Wednesday, March 15 at Exploria Stadium, ahead of a meeting with Charlotte FC in downtown Orlando three days later.
