Orlando City (1-3-2, 5 points) at D.C. United (2-1-4, 10 points)
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
TV: Apple TV - MLS Season Pass (Subscription Required)
Radio: 96.9 The Game, (English), Mega 97.1 (Spanish)
Everything you need to know for the Lions' away trip to the nation's capital in "The Road Ahead" driven by Audi:
Milestones
- If Robin Jansson starts against D.C. United, he will become the first Orlando City player to reach 15,000 minutes played for the club in all competitions in the 59th minute of the match. It would also mark Jansson’s club-record 170th appearance for Orlando.
- Wilder Cartagena’s next appearance will be his 50th for Orlando City in all competitions. Dagur Dan Thórhallsson is two appearances away from 50 in purple.
- Facundo Torres’ next goal will tie him with Nani for second in club history at 31.
Stats & Storylines
- After a grueling stretch of matches to begin the 2024 season, Orlando City enjoyed its annual bye this past weekend. As MLS features an odd number of teams, at least one club is off each matchday, and it was Orlando’s turn during Matchday 8. The Lions’ next weekend without a match is June 8-9, during a FIFA international window.
- Orlando City went 4-1-0 in matches played after at least two weeks’ rest last season, including a 2-1 win at Minnesota United after their scheduled bye week in March. The Lions are 6-3-1 all-time under Oscar Pareja with at least two weeks off, playing fewer of those matches in previous seasons due to COVID-19 pandemic-forced fixture congestion.
- Coming out of the bye, the Lions will hope that their results start to match up with their underlying performances. Orlando City is the only Eastern Conference team outside of the playoff places with a positive expected goal differential, and the club ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference in expected goals per game.
- For the first of five times this season, Orlando enters a stretch with back-to-back MLS away matches. The Lions were the best road team in MLS in 2023, going 9-4-4 away from the City Beautiful. This year, Orlando has just one win in four away from home, that victory coming against Cavalry FC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on February 21.
Series History
All-time vs. D.C. United - 6-9-3, -5 GD (2-5-2, -5 GD away)
MLS only vs. D.C. United - 6-9-2, -5 GD (2-5-1, -5 GD away)
- 2015 - L 0-1 (H), L 2-1 (A), W 1-0 (H)
- 2016 - L 4-1 (A), W 4-2 (H)
- 2017 - W 2-0 (H), W 1-2 (A)
- 2018 - D 1-1 (H), D 1-1 (2-4) (A/USOC), L 3-2 (A)
- 2019 - L 1-2 (H), L 1-0 (A)
- 2021 - W 0-1 (A), W 2-1 (H)
- 2022 - L 3-5 (H), L 2-1 (A)
- 2023 - D 1-1 (A), L 1-3 (H)
Meet the opponent: D.C. United
- Oscar Pareja has strong records against most opponents as Orlando City head coach, but the Lions have struggled in recent years against D.C. United. Pareja is 2-5-1 against the Black and Red as Orlando manager, including a 3-1 home loss in the two teams’ last meeting on April 22, 2023. That defeat was Orlando’s last at home for the entire 2023 regular season.
- Orlando’s last win against D.C. came in thrilling fashion in October 2021, with Daryl Dike scoring a 97th-minute winner on the final play of the match. Robin Jansson scored one of his five career goals in that game.
- D.C. has been a pleasant surprise under new head coach Troy Lesesne, losing just once in their first seven matches. Lesesne’s Black and Red play an intense pressing style which has created a ton of looks at goal – they lead the Eastern Conference in both expected goals and xG differential.
- Former Premier League striker Christian Benteke has been dynamite in front of goal for D.C., scoring five times already this season in just five matches played. Benteke scored 14 times last season for D.C. United.
- The Black and Red were active in the trade market this offseason, and their new players have been paying dividends. Fullback Aaron Herrera, acquired from Montréal in a deal that sent former Lion Ruan back the other way, has a team-high three assists in six matches played. Jared Stroud and Lucas Bartlett, both picked up in the Chris Durkin deal with St. Louis CITY, have both started every game for D.C., with Stroud notching a goal and two assists. Defender Christopher McVey has played every minute since joining from Inter Miami for allocation money and an international slot.
