Just four days after visiting Mexico for our CONCACAF Champions League debut against Tigres UANL, Orlando City SC are back in Major League Soccer action for our first domestic road trip of 2023.
Visiting Audi Field to take on D.C. United, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions will attempt to banish the Wayne Rooney curse, with the Englishman enjoying much personal success against City as a player and now head coach.
Casting our minds back to last Saturday, Orlando City SC earned their second successive shutout with a 0-0 home draw against FC Cincinnati.
Oscar Pareja made five changes to the starting line up in anticipation of our huge Round of 16 first leg with Tigres UANL.
Sitting key players like César Araújo, Robin Jansson, and Martín Ojeda, starters Ercan Kara and Facundo Torres‘ minutes were managed too.
In truth, the 90 minutes weren’t pretty with Orlando City SC particularly impotent in attack for a second gameweek running.
There are growing concerns about Ercan Kara‘s usefulness (or lack thereof) in Oscar Pareja‘s system, with the Designated Player isolated and on the fringes of the game again.
Nevertheless, City were defensively solid against a dangerous striking combo in Brenner and Brandon Vazquez, with rookie Abdi Salim impressing on his Lions MLS debut.
Dagur Dan Thórhallsson can also feel buoyed by his first City start with the Icelandic midfielder tenacious and tidy in possession throughout.
Ultimately, our off-season attacking recruitment saw City supporters’ expectations rise. However, it’s important to remember that we’re only two MLS gameweeks down.
With several new faces still acclimating and team chemistry to come with time, City are yet to concede this 2023 MLS season and currently sit sixth in the Eastern Conference at this very early stage.
As for Gameweek 3 opponents D.C. United, Wayne Rooney’s Black and Red have won one and lost one to start 2023.
In their February 25 home opener, D.C. won a barmy game 3-2 against Toronto FC with two stoppage time goals sealing a super memorable comeback.
Christian Benteke’s 90th minute equaliser and then Theodore Ku-DiPietro’s buzzer beater sent Audi Field crazy.
Most recently. D.C. United fell 2-0 at Columbus Crew last weekend thanks to a first-half Lucas Zelarayán brace.
In another footnote, this matchup may well see former City favourite Ruan line up against Orlando City SC after joining D.C. back in December.
D.C. United vs Orlando City SC
Last 3 head-to-heads
- October 2, 2021: Orlando City SC 2 D.C. United 1 (MLS)
- July 4, 2022: Orlando City SC 3 D.C. United 5 (MLS)
- July 31, 2022: D.C. United 2 Orlando City SC 1 (MLS)
2015/22 head-to-head stats
- It was 2-1 to D.C. the last time the sides met (July 2022)
- Played D.C. 15 times in MLS – D.C. 8, Draws 1, Orlando 6
- Six of the last 7 MLS head-to-heads have been separated by one goal
- Orlando have lost their last 3 away fixtures in MLS
- D.C. have gone 1-1-3 in their last 5 home fixtures in MLS
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Watching the game
D.C. United vs Orlando City SC will be shown live on Apple TV at 00:30 (GMT) on Sunday, March 12.
Remember, UK supporters can watch all of Orlando City SC‘s 2023 MLS regular season fixtures by subscribing to Apple TV’s “MLS Season Pass”.
Subscribe now by clicking here.
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