Orlando City (14-11-7, 49 points) at FC Cincinnati (17-10-5, 56 points)
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m
Where: TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio.
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: Real Radio 104.1, (English), Mega 97.1 (Spanish)
Everything you need to know for the Lions' Saturday night match at FC Cincinnati in "The Road Ahead" driven by Audi:
Milestones
- Orlando City’s next goal will set a new single-season MLS regular season record for the club. The Lions are currently on 55 goals for the year, the same amount the club scored in 2016 and 2023. Orlando has scored 38 goals in its past 15 regular season games, with multiple goals in 13 of those matches.
- Facundo Torres, who became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer on Wednesday, can set a new single-season club record with his next goal, which would be his 19th of the year in all competitions. Cyle Larin scored 18 in his historic rookie campaign in 2015, a number Torres matched with his goal Wednesday against Philadelphia.
- Torres can tie MartÃn Ojeda’s club record from earlier this season of seven straight matches with a goal contribution if he scores or assists a goal against Cincinnati this weekend.
- At 25 assists, Torres is one helper from tying Nani for second in club history.
- MartÃn Ojeda is up to 23 assists in all competitions for the club, including 13 this season, tied with Nicolás Lodeiro for the club’s single-season record. Ojeda’s next assist will see him tie Chris Mueller for fourth in club history.
- Kyle Smith’s next appearance will be his 175th for Orlando City in all competitions. Smith is second all-time in club history in appearances (Robin Jansson, 194).
- Wilder Cartagena’s next appearance will be his 75th for Orlando City in all competitions.
Stats & Storylines
- Orlando City won again on Wednesday night, taking a hard-fought three points from a desperate Philadelphia Union side to hold serve in the race for fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The win completed Orlando’s first-ever season sweep of the Union.
- All three teams chasing Orlando for fourth – New York City FC, the New York Red Bulls, and Charlotte FC – also won on Wednesday, meaning the Lions had to beat the Union in order to maintain control of their own destiny. The New York teams are both two points behind Orlando while Charlotte is four points back.
- Orlando City can clinch fourth place and home field advantage in the MLS Cup Playoffs first round on Saturday with a win in Cincinnati AND a loss or draw by both New York teams. The Red Bulls are in Atlanta on Saturday night (7:30 p.m., MLS Season Pass) while NYCFC hosts Nashville SC on Sunday afternoon (4:00 p.m., MLS Season Pass).
- The Lions are 9-2-1 in their past 12 MLS matches dating back to the start of July. No team in MLS has secured more points since July 1 than Orlando City. The Lions’ home unbeaten streak now stands at 10 matches in all competitions.
- The City Beautiful has a new scoring king! Facundo Torres surpassed Cyle Larin as Orlando City’s all-time leading goalscorer with his 45th career goal in all competitions on Wednesday night. Torres has a goal contribution in six consecutive matches, scoring 6 G/1 A going back to August 31 against Nashville.
- After a long adaptation period to MLS, Luis Muriel has started to come alive. Operating as a central playmaker, the Colombian has 2 G/3 A in just 110 minutes off the bench over his past four matches, most recently assisting both goals on Wednesday night in Philadelphia and winning Heineken Star of the Match after coming on at halftime. Muriel has enjoyed playing against the Union this year, providing 2 G/3 A in the two wins against Philly.
- Duncan McGuire is suspended from this weekend’s game thanks to a late yellow card against Philadelphia. McGuire has scored three times in his past five appearances, twice assisted by Muriel.
Series History
All-time vs. FC Cincinnati - 4-3-3, +6 GD (2-1-2, +1 GD away)
MLS only vs. FC Cincinnati - Same
2019 - W 5-1 (H), D 1-1 (A)
2021 - W 3-0 (H), D 1-1 (A), W 0-1 (A)
2022 - L 1-2 (H), L 1-0 (A)
2023 - D 0-0 (H), W 0-1 (A)
2024 - L 0-1 (H)
Meet the opponent: FC Cincinnati
- Orlando City will look to avenge one of its most crushing defeats of the season this Saturday when it travels to Ohio to face FC Cincinnati. The clubs’ first meeting this year back on May 4 saw long-time Orlando villain Luciano Acosta score 17 seconds into the game, a lead that would hold for the remaining 89 minutes and 47 seconds despite Cincinnati playing in a deep low block for the rest of the match. Orlando City also went down to 10 men in the first half thanks to a Rodrigo Schlegel red card.
- Orlando did win at Cincinnati last year, their second 1-0 away win in southwest Ohio in three years. A first-half Facu Torres goal was enough to see the Lions to the clean sheet victory despite only 43% possession for Orlando in the game.
- Overall, the home team has won just one of the past seven games in the series dating back to the 2022 season, with Orlando winning twice in Ohio and Cincinnati taking two victories in Florida.
- As Orlando City has ascended in recent months, Cincinnati has stumbled. After starting the year 15-4-3, including a seven-game winning streak from April 20 - May 25, the Garys are 2-6-2 in their last ten MLS matches dating back to July 13. Their home form has been particularly rough – Cincinnati has lost three of its past five MLS home matches while also falling out of Leagues Cup against Philadelphia at TQL Stadium in August.
- While Cincy may be limping into the postseason, Acosta continues to terrorize MLS defenses. The diminutive playmaker has double digit goals and assists for the third straight season, leading MLS with 19 helpers while adding 13 goals. Acosta has a goal contribution in three straight games going back to September 21, though Cincinnati did not win any of those matches.
- Cincinnati’s dip in form has coincided with an availability crisis at center back. Reigning MLS Defender of the Year Matt Miazga was ruled out for the season following knee surgery in late June, while backline mainstay Nick Hagglund swiftly joined him on the sidelines with an ankle injury in early July. Miles Robinson has been in and out due to national team duty, injury, and suspension, while summer replacement Chidozie Awaziem came off injured last weekend against LAFC and missed this Wednesday’s game against NYCFC.
