Orlando City (3-2-2, 11 points) vs. D.C. United (2-4-2, 8 points)
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Exploria Stadium, Orlando
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (subscription required)
Radio: 96.9 The Game (English), Acción 97.9 FM (Spanish)
After getting back into the win column last weekend in Minnesota, Orlando City returns home Saturday to Exploria Stadium for its second meeting of the season with D.C. United.
Here's a look at The Road Ahead presented by Audi:
Milestone watch
- With an appearance against D.C. United on Saturday, Robin Jansson will pass Chris Mueller for the club’s all-time appearances record in the MLS era (all competitions) at 127. Jansson is already the club’s all-time minutes leader and is five games away from matching Mueller for most MLS appearances with the Lions.
- Pedro Gallese will match Joe Bendik for the most appearances by an Orlando City goalkeeper (92) if he starts this weekend. Gallese won his 40th game for the Lions this past Saturday in Minnesota. He holds the club records for goalkeeper wins and clean sheets.
- Antonio Carlos started and played 90 minutes on Saturday for the first time since last year’s playoff game in Montréal. The Brazilian’s next start will be his 75th in all competitions for Orlando City.
Stats and storylines
- Orlando City picked up its first-ever win at Allianz Field on Saturday, coming from behind to beat Minnesota United 2-1. The Lions are 2-0-1 on the road in MLS play this season, giving them the league’s best points per game in away matches at 2.33. Orlando is the only Eastern Conference team without an away loss and one of only two league-wide, alongside reigning MLS Cup champions LAFC.
- Duncan McGuire scored again on Saturday, heading home the winner in the 88th minute. McGuire has 2 G/1 A in 195 MLS minutes and has not missed the target with a single one of his six shots in league games.
- Orlando City has consecutive home matches over the next two weeks, the second of four times the Lions play back-to-back MLS games at Exploria Stadium. They’ll next get the chance on July 1 and 4, and again on September 24 and 30.
- Last week, we noted César Araújo’s dominant underlying numbers, particularly when it comes to interrupting, passing, and drawing fouls. The Uruguayan midfielder was at it again on Saturday, drawing six fouls and completing 88% of his team-high 66 passes while winning a game-high 11 recoveries. Araújo is tied for second in MLS with 20 fouls suffered.
Series history
All-time vs. D.C. United - 6-8-3, -3 GD (4-3-1, +2 GD home)
MLS only vs. D.C. United - 6-8-2, -3 GD (4-3-1, +2 GD home)
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)
Meet the opponent: D.C. United
- For the first time this season, City will play the same team twice in MLS action, facing D.C. United in a rematch of their 1-1 draw at Audi Field on March 15. Duncan McGuire scored his first professional goal in that game, but his tally was canceled out by a late equalizer from D.C. midfielder Chris Durkin.
- Orlando City was stunned last July 4 by D.C. United in the two sides’ last match at Exploria Stadium. D.C. forward Taxi Fountas scored a hat trick, including a brace inside ten minutes, and a late Facundo Torres-powered rally wasn’t enough to get the Lions a result as they fell 5-3 to the Black and Red.
- The Lions did top D.C. at home in 2021, with Daryl Dike scoring a dramatic winner at the death to lift Orlando to a 2-1 victory.
- Wayne Rooney will be returning to Exploria Stadium for the first time since his only match in downtown Orlando, a 2-1 D.C. United victory in which he scored a spectacular yet controversial free kick after a deeply questionable foul called against Orlando’s Dom Dwyer. Rooney is 4-0-1 against Orlando City between his time as a player and as a head coach, with his first blemish coming in last month’s draw.
