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The penultimate home fixture of our 2017 Major League Soccer campaign, Orlando City SC welcome FC Dallas to Orlando City Stadium on Saturday.

A game that Orlando City UK are attending live, there is at least a feel good factor around the club once more following Wednesday’s thumping 6-1 win over New England Revolution.

Kicking off at 4pm local time, this is a rare day game in the Florida sunshine and the first since our 2-0 win over Colorado Rapids back in April.

Currently sixth in the West after 30 games played, Óscar Pareja’s men have looked a shadow of the side that finished Western Conference champions in 2016.

Nevertheless, FC Dallas have never struggled to score in MLS and boast some incredibly talented attackers on their roster including Maximiliano Urruti, Michael Barrios, Mauro Díaz, Tesho Akindele and USMNT star Kellyn Acosta.

Toros haven’t only beaten Orlando City SC in Major League Soccer but they’ve completely demoralised us.

Recording comprehensive 0-2 and 4-0 victories over the Lions since 2015, it was the Texan side who put the final nail in the coffin of Adrian Heath‘s reign last year.

With FC Dallas making only their second MLS trip to Central Florida, Orlando City SC will again be looking to close out 2017 with another positive home performance.

Failing to make the MLS Cup Playoffs for a third consecutive season, Orlando City SC supporters need hope heading into the off-season.

Starting the season in tremendous fashion with five straight home victories, we’re all hoping Orlando City SC can close out the season in similar fashion.

2015/17 head-to-head stats

The last time Orlando City SC faced FC Dallas, the Texan side effectively put an end to Adrian Heath‘s five-year Lions tenure.

Following our 4-0 thrashing at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, the Orlando City SC Front Office parted company with Inchy just three days later.

Put on the back foot as early as the 11th minute through Walker Zimmerman’s goal, further strikes from Michael Barrios, Matt Hedges and Fabián Castillo heaped on the misery.

FC Dallas 4 Orlando City SC 0 – Highlights – July 4, 2016 (Credit: FC Dallas)

Look away City fans because when the Lions face FC Dallas, things don’t end well.

That said, Orlando City SC have only faced Toros twice in MLS so far considering they’re a Western Conference franchise.

Aside from last season’s 4-0 defeat in Frisco, Óscar Pareja’s side also found joy against City in July 2015 when prevailing 0-2.

Travelling to the Citrus Bowl after two consecutive victories, FC Dallas made it three courtesy of Mauro Díaz and David Texeira strikes.

Orlando City SC 0 FC Dallas 2 – Highlights – July 11, 2015 (Credit: FC Dallas)

Following two head-to-heads, the grim reality is that Orlando City SC are yet to register a single goal against FC Dallas.

Comfortably beaten on both occasions so far, hopefully we can make home advantage count at Orlando City Stadium this time around.

Orlando City SC form

Results wise, it’s been a mixed bag for Orlando City SC when facing Western Conference opposition so far this season.

Unbeaten in six of 10 games against Western Conference sides, the Lions have only been thrashed in two games – 4-0 at Houston Dynamo back in May 2017, and 3-0 against Portland Timbers two games ago.

With this FC Dallas game representing our final game against a team from the West in 2017, City haven’t disgraced themselves against faraway opposition this year.

FC Dallas form

There is great hope for Orlando City SC getting all three points in this fixture too.

With New England Revolution losing their last seven on the road prior to Wednesday’s 6-1 thrashing, FC Dallas have also endured poor away form recently.

Losing their last FIVE away fixtures in Major League Soccer, most recently a 4-1 loss at Minnesota United on September 23rd, the Lions will fancy their chances in this one.

Minnesota United 4 FC Dallas 1 – Highlights – September 23, 2017 (Credit: Major League Soccer)

There’s even more room for pre-game optimism when you dig even deeper into FC Dallas’ recent road form.

Óscar Pareja’s side have conceded AT LEAST TWO GOALS in their last FIVE away fixtures in MLS.

Comfortably beaten by a three-goal margin in their last two away fixtures against Atlanta United (3-0) and Minnesota United (4-1), Toros have really struggled to keep the backline tight lately.

When FC Dallas have faced Eastern Conference opposition in 2017, there is mirror imagery across the results spectrum.

With their standout result being a 3-1 victory over Eastern Conference champions elect Toronto FC in July 2017, their worst result was a 3-0 thrashing at Atlanta United earlier this month.