Orlando City (4-7-5, 17 points) vs Los Angeles FC (9-4-3, 30 points)
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m
Where: INTER&CO Stadium
Radio: 96.9 the Game FM, (English), Mega 97.1 (Spanish)
Everything you need to know for the Lions' weekend home match against LAFC in "The Road Ahead" driven by Audi:
Milestones
- Rodrigo Schlegel’s next appearance will be his 100th in Major League Soccer, all for Orlando City.
- Ramiro Enrique’s next appearance will be his 50th for Orlando City in all competitions.
- Pedro Gallese’s next clean sheet will be his 40th for Orlando City.
- Duncan McGuire’s next goal will see him tie Chris Mueller for sixth on the Lions’ all-time scoring charts.
International Update
- Orlando City’s internationals were busy performing for their countries during this week’s FIFA match window. The Lions had eight players called up to various national teams, the second-most in MLS (Minnesota United, 9).
- César Araújo earned his first cap for the Uruguayan national team on June 5, entering a 4-0 friendly win over Mexico in the final moments. Facundo Torres also appeared in the final 20 minutes of that contest. Araújo and Torres have both returned to Orlando after missing out on Uruguay’s final Copa America squad.
- Pedro Gallese picked up a clean sheet as Peru drew 0-0 with Paraguay in their first Copa America tune-up game. Wilder Cartagena started the game in midfield and played 64 minutes. Peru face El Salvador this Friday night at 8:30 p.m. in their final friendly prior to the tournament.
- David Brekalo played all 90 minutes as Slovenia drew Bulgaria 1-1 in a pre-Euro 2024 friendly. Slovenia, in the Euros for the second time ever and first since 2000, open the continental competition against Denmark this Sunday.
- Duncan McGuire started and played 68 minutes as the U.S. Olympic team fell 2-0 to Japan in a pre-Paris tuneup game. McGuire is set to return to Orlando for this weekend’s match against LAFC.
- Additionally, Abdi Salim played for Somalia in the World Cup qualifiers, while Favian Loyola was with the Chile U-20s for a pair of friendlies against Australia. The homegrown player scored in their 2-2 draw in the first match.
Stats & Storylines
- Orlando City will look to get things on track following the international break against LAFC this Saturday night at Inter&Co Stadium. The Lions currently sit 11th in the Eastern Conference, two points behind Nashville SC for the final playoff spot.
- City’s defensive record has improved markedly in recent weeks after a tough start to the campaign. The Lions have conceded just four goals in their past five matches dating back to a May 15 clean sheet against Miami.
- Offensively, however, Orlando has struggled. The Lions have scored the second-fewest goals in MLS this season, only in front of last-place New England. Orlando has been shut out in three of its past five games, with Jack Lynn (against San Jose) and Facundo Torres (against Chicago) the only two players to score in that stretch.
- Picking up home form will be crucial for the Lions as they attempt to turn their season around. Orlando has the joint-worst home record in MLS at 1-4-3, equalling the Philadelphia Union. Conversely, the Lions have the best away record of any non-playoff team, showing just how important earning points at home will be the rest of the way.
Series History
All-time vs. LAFC - 0-2-2, -4 GD (0-1-1, -1 GD home)
MLS only vs. LAFC - 0-2-1, -4 GD (0-1-1, -1 GD home)
2018 - L 4-1 (A)
2019 - D 2-2 (H)
2020 - D 1-1 (5-4) (N/MLS is Back)
2022 - L 2-4 (H)
Meet the opponent: LAFC
- Orlando City takes on LAFC this weekend for the first time since April 2022, a wild match that featured six goals and two comebacks from the Lions in an ultimately losing effort. The 2022 Black-and-Gold went on to win MLS Cup and the Supporters’ Shield in one of the greatest seasons in MLS history.
- While City’s official record shows no full time wins against LAFC, the Lions knocked out the Black-and-Gold on penalty kicks in the MLS is Back Tournament quarterfinals, a match Oscar Pareja has repeatedly referred to in interviews as one of the most important and defining victories of his tenure. João Moutinho headed home a Nani corner kick before the Portuguese legend finished off a perfect 5-for-5 run of spot kicks for the Lions.
- LAFC sits second in the West on 30 points (9-4-3), three back of Real Salt Lake for the top spot in the conference with a game in hand. Since joining MLS in 2018, LAFC has missed the playoffs just once (2021) and has finished in the top three in the West on four of six occasions.
- The Black-and-Gold are led by Gabonese international forward Denis Bouanga, who has 35 goals and 12 assists in 52 MLS matches (including playoffs) since the start of 2023.
- Bouanga was one of four currently rostered LAFC players away on international duty during the June break, alongside Maxime Chanot (Luxembourg), Cristian Olivera (Uruguay), and Timothy Tillman (United States). Olivera has officially made the Uruguay squad for Copa America and will be absent on Saturday, with Tillman widely expected on the USMNT roster as well.
- LAFC will add legendary French striker Olivier Giroud next month when the MLS summer transfer window opens. Giroud, 37, has scored 333 goals for club and country in his illustrious career, counting the 2018 World Cup and the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League among his 13 total trophies.
- The Black-and-Gold also roster ageless veteran Kei Kamara, who is tied for second all-time with nine goals against Orlando City in his career.
