After losing 2-0 at fierce rivals Atlanta United, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now return to Central Florida to welcome Austin FC to Inter&Co Stadium for the very first time in MLS.
Down in the dumps right now, the Lions are winless in four MLS games, scoreless in three, and currently second bottom in the Eastern Conference in what has truly been a nightmare start to 2024.
Last time out
Last Saturday, Orlando City SC lost 2-0 to rivals Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Heading to Georgia deflated, fatigued, and understrength, facing The Five Stripes away is always tough – even at the best of times.
On 8 minutes, Rafael Santos sent in a cross to Atlanta United’s back post, a cross that inadvertently hit Brad Guzan’s crossbar.
Within the space of the same minute, Giorgos Giakoumakis launched a threatening counter for the hosts, skilfully curling a pass with the outside of his boot into the onrushing Saba Lobjanidze down the right wing.
Just where he wanted him, Lobjanidze caught Rafael Santos one-on-one with our left back having to backpedal after his marauding run forward.
Turning our number 3 inside out, the Georgian then fired low past Pedro Gallese to ruthlessly punish the Lions (1-0).
Experiencing that all too familiar sinking feeling, the Lions had a big mental hurdle to climb early on in front of 40,000+ fans.
Despite our adversity, Orlando City SC dug deep to steady themselves, settling into the game thereafter with the dangerous Luis Muriel (x2) and Martín Ojeda forcing Brad Guzan into multiple first-half saves.
Reassuringly, you can see the sheer quality that newcomer Muriel brings to the team, game by game.
In spite of this, Atlanta United – who are a devastating side in transition – bypassed a nonexistent and makeshift Orlando City SC midfield multiple times throughout the first-half.
After all, Oscar Pareja made the strange decision to start Kyle Smith out of position in central midfield while sticking with natural midfielder Dagur Dan Thórhallsson at right back.
This was despite Felipe Martins being available in the absence of dynamic duo César Araújo (injury) and Wilder Cartagena (suspension).
I’m not a coach, but tactically speaking, the lack of a natural destroyer looked a really naive move on Atlanta United’s huge plastic pitch.
Several times throughout the first 45 minutes, a mighty determined Robin Jansson was forced to bail out Orlando City SC‘s defence with several trademark last-ditch interceptions.
In first-half stoppage time, Pedro Gallese showcased his determination too, making an incredible double save to keep City in the game.
Demonstrating cat-like reflexes, El Pulpo repelled a Stian Gregersen header off an Atlanta United corner before impressively clawing away Xande Silva’s rebound too.
Uncharacteristically sloppy so far this season for Orlando City SC, this double save was the true Pedro Gallese that we all know and love.
Despite steadying ourselves in the game, we still entered half-time 1-0 down.
Patiently maintaining spells of possession to put second-half pressure on Atlanta United, we still couldn’t produce enough genuine quality to really hurt them in the final third.
This came back to bite us on 70 minutes.
Breaking forward down the right wing, Brooks Lennon left Rafael Santos on the floor before spotting Giorgos Giakoumakis lurking dangerously on the edge of the City box.
Connecting with Lennon’s assist one-time, Giakoumakis curled a devastatingly accurate strike into Pedro Gallese‘s top right hand corner from distance (2-0).
A goal that painfully took the game out of City’s reach, it was a truly stunning finish from one of Major League Soccer’s most prolific strikers.
It’s never nice losing to your rivals, and given our terrible current run of form, the current mood is one of pure pain for everybody connected with Orlando City SC.
Especially given the level of excitement and genuine belief that we could be dark horses for MLS Cup this year.
Of course, it’s still very early into 2024 but now having lost three MLS games from four and having already been eliminated from the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, Orlando City SC‘s dramatic fall from grace has been rather shocking to say the least.
Not only for us City supporters but for MLS analysts and pundits too.
After all, many of them tipped us for continued success in 2024.
Last head-to-head
Entering Major League Soccer as recently as 2021, Orlando City SC have only faced Austin FC on one previous occasion.
This was back in May 2022 when Oscar Pareja‘s Lions surrendered a two-goal first-half lead to draw 2-2 at Q2 Stadium.
On the night, City players and supporters experienced a simply horrible refereeing performance from Joe Dickerson.
Brandishing red cards to Rodrigo Schlegel and César Araújo in Texas, the latter was understandable but Schlegel’s dismissal was really bad at best and grossly incompetent at worst.
Starting fantastically, Orlando City SC led 0-2 through Ercan Kara and Ruan goals by the 22nd minute.
It all started going wrong just before the hour mark, however.
On 58 minutes, Jon Gallagher’s powerful strike hit Rodrigo Schlegel‘s hand from close range.
With Joe Dickerson handing Schlegel a yellow, this was a tad harsh, yet understandable considering the Argentine had made himself “unnaturally bigger” in the context of current IFAB rules.
Then, only a matter of seconds later, Sebastián Driussi’s resulting free-kick was cannoned into the Orlando City SC wall quicker than a flash.
Cue sheer bemusement as Dickerson immediately pointed to the penalty spot (ignoring VAR) for a second Rodrigo Schlegel handball in as many minutes.
To make matters worse, Schlegel received a second yellow (and red card) for this second handball offence.
Right after this, Sebastián Driussi converted the resulting penalty kick (1-2).
Honestly, when you watch replays of this crucial moment in the game, Rodrigo Schlegel consciously tucked his right arm in despite the ball making contact.
In other words, on this occasion, Schlegel’s position wasn’t made “unnaturally bigger” unlike his first handball offence.
Playing angry by this point, César Araújo stupidly lunged in on Alexander Ring for a straight red card on 69 minutes.
Playing two men light (9 men) for over 20 minutes, Orlando City SC almost miraculously pulled off a statement 1-2 victory.
It would’ve been a huge win, especially considering that Austin FC were storied Western Conference leaders at the time.
But three points weren’t to be.
To add insult to injury, Moussa Djitté equalised deep into second-half stoppage time after an incorrectly called corner (2-2).
The robbery from PRO Referees was complete!
What’s at stake this time?
Quite simply, Orlando City SC‘s pride is at stake right now.
Currently second bottom on one point when combining both the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference, nobody envisioned that City would be here.
In our tenth Major League Soccer season, we aimed to #HonorThyHistory, but it seems we’ve taken this too literally!
After all, recent results and performances have been worryingly reminiscent of our early year struggles in MLS.
Sure, juggling the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup with two rivalry road trips back-to-back is tough, but we still expected more.
That’s why this home game against cross-conference Austin FC is so important.
Securing a win in this game and clinching our first MLS victory of 2024 would be a huge relief.
It might also help City supporters be more accepting of our challenging start to the season.
Draw or lose to Los Verdes however, and the pressure will really ramp up on Oscar Pareja and his squad.
Especially after finishing second in the 2023 Supporters’ Shield with the Orlando City SC Front Office spending big on three quality signings in the off-season.
Like we said all along in our early season previews, the game isn’t played on paper.
Instead, it’s up to the Lions’ entire squad and coaching staff to do some soul searching off the field.
They must unite, dig deep, and work together to steer the City ship back on course.
After all, we cannot allow our Eastern Conference opponents to gain too much ground on us before it’s too late.
It seems rather odd to call this game a ‘must win’ fixture so early into a new season.
But with Austin FC winless, only on three points, and sitting twelfth in the Western Conference, this is a game we really need to be winning.
Ultimately, anything other than three points will be considered another catastrophe for Oscar Pareja‘s Lions.
Especially having already lost 2-3 at home to a cross-conference opponent in Minnesota United back on March 9.
Sure, we’ll be without seven players for this game because of March international call-ups.
But we built a deep squad precisely for situations like this.
Right now, it’s all about the next man up, making no excuses, and battling hard to change our fortunes.
Opposition danger men
When it comes to Austin FC danger men, attacking midfielder Sebastián Driussi is undoubtedly Los Verdes’ best player.
During his MLS career so far, Driussi has tallied 38 goals and 17 assists for Josh Wolff’s side and is revered for his two-footedness, tireless work ethic, and goalscoring.
Formerly a River Plate and Zenit Saint Petersburg player, the versatile Driussi is typically deployed as a 10 but occupies either wing as well.
Last weekend, Driussi made a 28-minute cameo from the substitutes bench against Philadelphia Union following injury – his only minutes so far this season.
Elsewhere, Diego Rubio is another dangerous threat in Austin FC’s ranks.
No stranger to MLS having spent three years at Sporting Kansas City and five years at Colorado Rapids, the Chilean international striker joined Austin FC as a free agent back in January.
Scoring his first Austin FC goal against Philadelphia Union (2-2) last weekend, the 30-year-old is always one to watch.
New opposition faces
Compared to the last time Orlando City SC faced Austin FC in MLS, Josh Wolff’s side have several new faces in their ranks.
Besides Diego Rubio who we already spoke about, Los Verdes have a new left back – Guilherme Biro.
Signed permanently from Mirassol in the off-season, the Brazilian has appeared in all four of Austin FC’s MLS games so far this season, achieving his first start last time out.
Colombian winger Jáder Obrian also traded another Texan club FC Dallas for Austin FC in the off-season.
Elsewhere, former D.C. United centre back Brendan Hines-Ike is now an Austin FC player as well.
He could be set to start alongside MLS veteran Matt Hedges with other first choice centre back Julio Cascante currently away on international duty with Costa Rica.
Injuries, international call-ups, and suspensions
Heading into this game, César Araújo (ankle) and Ramiro Enrique (ankle) are questionable for Orlando City SC.
As we already mentioned, the Lions will also be without several first team stars due to international call-ups this March.
This is far from ideal given our current plight.
To catch you up, here are Orlando City SC‘s current international absentees.
| PLAYER | NATIONAL TEAM |
| David Brekalo | Slovenia |
| Wilder Cartagena | Peru |
| Pedro Gallese | Peru |
| Favian Loyola | USMNT U-19 |
| Duncan McGuire | USMNT U-23 |
| Abdi Salim | Somalia |
| Facundo Torres | Uruguay |
In place of Pedro Gallese, Mason Stajduhar will make his first MLS appearance of the season.
Injury-wise, Finland international defender Leo Väisänen (foot) is Austin FC’s only questionable absence.
As for Los Verdes’ own international call-ups, the Texan side will only be missing defender Julio Cascante (Costa Rica) and midfielder Daniel Pereira (Venezuela).
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Orlando City SC vs Austin FC
Last head-to-head
- May 22, 2022: Austin FC 2 Orlando City SC 2 (MLS)
Head-to-head stats
- It was 2-2 the last time the sides met (May 2022)
- Played Austin 1 time in MLS – Orlando 0, Draws 1, Austin 0
- Seven of Orlando’s last 8 MLS fixtures have finished ‘to nil’
- The last time that Orlando lost 4 consecutive MLS games was in September 2021
- Both sides have scored in 3 of Austin’s 4 MLS fixtures this season
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Watching the game
Orlando City SC vs Austin FC will be shown live on Apple TV at 23:30 (GMT) on Saturday, March 23.
Remember, UK supporters can watch all of Orlando City SC‘s 2024 MLS regular season fixtures by subscribing to Apple TV’s “MLS Season Pass”.
Subscribe now by clicking here.
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