Orlando City (1-2-1) vs D.C United (1-0-3)
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m
Where: Inter & Co Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
Radio: AM 810 Fox Sports Radio, (English), Mega 97.1 (Spanish)
Here are five storylines to watch on Saturday as the Lions return home to take on D.C United:
Stars Rising Up
Orlando City SC continues to receive high levels of attacking production from its Designated Players so far in the 2025 campaign. Forwards Marco Pašalić and Luis Muriel, and midfielder Martín Ojeda lead Major League Soccer in combined Designated Player goal contributions, with Ojeda (2 G/1 A) and Muriel (1 G/2 A) both contributing to three each and new arrival Pašalić (3 G/1 A) contributing to four to date. The Lions’ Designated Players have at least two goal contributions in each of Orlando’s four matches this year, adding three more in last week’s 2-2 draw with the New York Red Bulls – goals for Ojeda and Pašalić and an assist for Muriel.
Still Flying High
Through the first four games of the 2025 Major League Soccer season, Orlando City sits tied at second in the league with nine goals scored, trailing only the Philadelphia Union. Orlando City currently also ranks fifth in non-penalty expected goals and second in shots through the first four matchdays. Going back to the halfway point of the 2024 season, Orlando City has scored 51 goals in its past 21 MLS regular season games, a rate of more than 2.43 per contest. The Lions have notched three goals or more in 10 of those 21 games and hold a 12-6-3 record in that span, a 1.86 point-per-game pace.
Capitalizing vs. D.C.
The Lions will match up against D.C. United this weekend out of the nation’s capital. Orlando City welcomes the Black-and-Red to Inter&Co Stadium after a successful series in the 2024 regular season, winning a come-from-behind 3-2 thriller at Audi Field in April before demolishing the Black and Red 5-0 at Inter&Co Stadium in July. The Lions improved to 4-3-1 against D.C. under Oscar Pareja, earning their third season-sweep over the Washington-based side and first since 2021. Out of eight players that scored against D.C. United in 2024, seven remain on the Lions’ current roster – Dagur Dan Thórhallsson, David Brekalo, Duncan McGuire, Martín Ojeda, Robin Jansson, Iván Angulo, and Ramiro Enrique.
Draft it Up
Last Saturday’s matchup saw two important appearances for Orlando City for two different reasons. No. 27 overall selection in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft Joran Gerbet made his first professional start against the Red Bulls, going the full 90 in the match. Gerbet, the 2024 ACC Midfielder of the Year at Clemson, was the 14th Orlando City draft pick to start an MLS regular season match for the Club. Additionally, 2023 MLS SuperDraft selection and standout forward Duncan McGuire made his return to match action for the Lions as a second-half substitute, marking his first appearance of 2025 since undergoing surgery for a labral and rotator cuff repair in his right shoulder in December of last year.
Going International
The Lions will be without a few names when they take on D.C. United this weekend as the world enters the current FIFA international window. Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese has been selected to represent Peru and will captain the South American side in their FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia and Venezuela. Defender David Brekalo is set to represent his native Slovenia in UEFA Nations League action against Slovakia in a home-and-home series. At the youth international levels, midfielder Colin Guske and Orlando City B forward Justin Ellis have both been called-up to the U.S. U-18 Men’s National Team for camp and select matches in Spain this window.
Milestone Tracker:
- Martín Ojeda (24) is one helper away from tying Facundo Torres (25) for third-most assists across all competitions in Club history.
- Duncan McGuire (26) sits fourth on Orlando City’s all-time scoring list and is five goals away from tying former captain Nanii (31) across all competitions for third.
- César Araújo’s next appearance will be his 125th all-time across all competitions for the Lions.
