Orlando City (2-3-3, 9 points) vs Toronto FC (4-4-1, 13 points)
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: INTER&Co Stadium, Orlando, FL
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (subscription required)
Radio: Real Radio 104.1 FM, (English), Mega 97.1 (Spanish)
Here are five storylines to watch on Saturday, when Orlando City SC return home to host Toronto FC:
Never Out of the Fight
For the second match in a row the Lions have come back to earn points with goals in second-half stoppage time after Duncan McGuire scored the game-winner against D.C. United and Iván Angulo struck to equalize in the second minute of second-half stoppage time this last match. With those two tallies, as well as Noah Eile’s own goal in the New York Red Bulls match on March 30, the Lions have taken five points from losing positions in the 89th minute or later in their last three matches.
Angulo on the Board
With his equalizer in the second minute of second-half stoppage time, forward Iván Angulo officially opened his account for the year, scoring his first goal of the Lions’ 2024 campaign. The tally served as the Colombian winger’s seventh all-time for Orlando City across all competitions, providing an additional 14 assists through 65 total appearances for the Lions since arriving in the City Beautiful in July of 2022.
Climbing The Ranks
Both forwards Duncan McGuire and Facundo Torres will be looking to climb the ranks even further on Orlando City’s all-time scoring chart in Club history this weekend. Torres’ next goal will be his 32nd all-time for the Lions and take him past former captain Nani for sole possession of second, while McGuire’s next will be his 20th all-time for Orlando which would give him sole possession of eighth on the scoring chart past former Lions Daryl Dike and Benji Michel. McGuire’s next goal would also give him sole possession of third amongst players selected in the MLS SuperDraft by the Lions, trailing only Chris Mueller (22) and Cyle Larin (44).
Dominating Protagonism
With the overall series between the two sides standing at 8-8-3 entering the weekend, Orlando City has been the dominant side since Head Coach Oscar Pareja’s arrival in 2020, holding a 6-0-1 record against the Reds in that time and winning four consecutive matches against Toronto and posting an aggregate score of 11-0 in those four matchups. Since Pareja’s arrival in the City Beautiful, the Reds’ only goals scored in Orlando came during their temporary residency at INTER&Co Stadium during the 2021 season.
Last Time Against Toronto
The Lions and Toronto FC last met on Decision Day 2023 at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario. The match came off the back of a two-week international break, with the Lions already locked into the second overall seed in the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs and Toronto already eliminated from contention. City forward Duncan McGuire grabbed himself a brace in the match, entering as a second-half substitute, burying assists from defender Kyle Smith and goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar who also kept the clean sheet on the night.
Milestone Tracker:
- Facundo Torres' next goal will be his 32nd across all competitions, giving him sole possession of second all-time in Orlando City history.
- Duncan McGuire’s next goal will be his 20th for Orlando City, taking him past former Lions Daryl Dike and Benji Michel for sole possession of eighth all-time in Club history
- Pedro Gallese’s next win will be his 50th in MLS regular-season action and his 60th overall
