Orlando City SC (4-4-2, 14 points) at Columbus Crew 2 (4-4-2, 14 points)
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (subscription required)
Radio: 96.9 The Game (English), Acción 97.9 FM (Spanish)
Taking Out the Crew
The Lions won both matchups against the Columbus Crew last year earning a 2-0 win in the journey to Lower.com Field and finishing off the job with a 2-1 win at Exploria Stadium on Decision Day.
The Lions were backed by goals from Rodrigo Schlegel and Ercan Kara in the away victory back in April of last year. In the return fixture on Decision Day, City sparked a second-half comeback getting goals from former Lions midfielder Júnior Urso and a penalty-kick goal from Designated Player Facundo Torres.
The victory clinched a spot in the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs, serving as the third consecutive year the Lions have played in the postseason.
Extending the Streak
City defender Robin Jansson earned the start and wore the captain’s armband in the Club’s last match against Charlotte FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
With the start, Jansson appeared in his 125th match across all competitions while donning the Lions’ kit. The Swedish international is the Club-record holder for most appearances across all competitions for Orlando. In 2021, Jansson signed a new two-year deal to stay in the City Beautiful.
Built for the Stretch
The Lions are in the midst of a massive stretch of games in the middle of the season across all competitions.
The game against Columbus will serve as the Club's third-straight away game in eight days. City will then have another quick turnaround as it heads back to Exploria Stadium to play New York City FC on Wednesday, May 17 followed by a trip to South Florida to battle intrastate rivals Inter Miami on Saturday, May 20. Overall, the Lions will have played five games in 14 days to start the month of May.
Creighton’s Finest
Forward Duncan McGuire has recorded three goals for the Lions so far this season, which leads the team. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft out of Creighton University is the only 2023 MLS SuperDraft pick to score at least three goals.
McGuire led all of NCAA Division I men’s soccer in goals and points in 2022, winning the MAC Hermann Trophy while setting the Creighton single-season record in goals with 23.
Milestone Watch
- Midfielder Mauricio Pereyra is two starts away from 100 in all competitions.
- Kyle Smith is one start away from 75 across all competitions.
- Head Coach Oscar Pareja is two wins away from 50 wins across all competitions at the helm of the Lions.
Don't miss Kickoff -60, airing one hour before Orlando City's match against Columbus, exclusively on the LionNation App. Join host Gabrielle Amado and Orlando City’s English-language radio talents Evan Weston and Paul Shaw as they break down the upcoming match, with special guests appearing regularly throughout the season.
Fans can download the LionNation App at the link here.
