Last Time at Audi Field
City will make its first trip to Audi Field of the calendar year on Sunday, its last visit to the nation’s capital taking place on May 16 of last year, resulting in a 1-0 shutout victory for the visitors. Mauricio Pereyra netted the eventual game-winner in that match in the seventh minute of play, with goalkeeper Pedro Gallese having to register just one save to maintain the clean sheet on the road.
At the Midweek
The Lions enter the weekend off a historic victory on Wednesday night over the New York Red Bulls in the Semifinal of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a 5-1 route of the visitors from Harrison. With the win, City punched its first ticket to the U.S. Open Cup Final in Club history, earning the right to host as well, set to take on USL Championship side Sacramento Republic FC on Wednesday, Sept. 7 in an 8 p.m. ET kickoff at Exploria Stadium.
The Breakthrough
Five goals scored by the Lions on Wednesday night served as a season-high for the side, with four different Orlando City players tallying a finish on the evening. Midfielder César Araújo netted his first goals for the Club in the match in what also served as his first finishes throughout the entirety of his professional career, with Mauricio Pereyra, Facundo Torres and Benji Michel all adding a tally of their own in route to the Lions’ 5-1 victory.
Facing the Black and Red
City have taken two of the last three matches against Sunday’s opposition, with D.C. United taking the most recent matchup with a 5-3 victory this past Fourth of July. Five current members of the side have found the back of the net against the Black and Red throughout their respective Club careers, with Mauricio Pereyra, Facundo Torres, Alexandre Pato, Ercan Kara and Robin Jansson all notching a finish for City against D.C.
El Maestro
Mauricio Pereyra is on the verge of Club history yet again, his next regular-season assist set to make him the first player in Orlando City history to post double-digit assist seasons in MLS and two assists away from setting the new single-season record for helpers in an MLS season. Pereyra’s 2021 campaign currently holds the record with three others (Kaká 2016, Yoshimar Yotún 2018, Nani 2019) at 10.
Milestone Tracker
- Pedro Gallese’s next clean sheet will set a new Orlando City career high as his eighth clean sheet of the season.
- Ercan Kara is three regular-season goals away from reaching double digits for the season.
- Antonio Carlos’ next appearance will be his 70th for Orlando City.
