After lots of bye week deliberation time following our 1-1 draw with New York Red Bulls on March 30, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now visit the nation’s capital to take on D.C. United at Audi Field in our third away fixture of the 2024 MLS regular season.
Currently eighth in the Eastern Conference on 10 points, Troy Lesesne’s D.C. United come into this game somewhat disappointed after a late Aidan Morris equaliser (1-1) prevented them from a noteworthy victory at Columbus Crew last Saturday.
Last time out
Back on March 30, Orlando City SC drew 1-1 with New York Red Bulls at Inter&Co Stadium.
In the first-half, the Lions bossed possession 55% to 45% but it was the visitors who frustratingly went into the break 0-1 up.
On the night, Oscar Pareja persisted with a central midfield duo of Kyle Smith and Nicolás Lodeiro despite César Araújo and Wilder Cartagena being available again.
On 20 minutes, the dangerous Lewis Morgan sprinted into the City penalty area, getting his toe to the ball milliseconds before Kyle Smith felled him.
While The Accountant gestured a dive to Victor Rivas, the referee pointed to the penalty spot on a night where PRO Referees returned to officiate Major League Soccer games.
Making no mistake from the spot, Scottish international Morgan clinically dispatched his PK past Pedro Gallese for his sixth MLS goal of the season (0-1).
To their credit, Orlando City SC rallied afterwards to play protagonist in the game, pressuring Red Bulls and forcing a flurry of first-half corners.
While Red Bulls were penned back in their half and content to counter, we still lacked fluidity with our attack looking blunt.
Ultimately, throughout the entire 90+ minutes, we failed to get many quality looks on Carlos Coronel’s goal – a continued cause for concern.
On the night, Sean Nealis and Kyle Duncan were rock solid in the Red Bulls defence, looking typically energetic and determined to protect their lead.
In truth, Red Bulls could’ve doubled their lead on 58 minutes where Robin Jansson got in a last-ditch interception to deny Dennis Gjengaar after neat work from Frankie Amaya and Dylan Nealis.
On 79 minutes, Red Bulls definitely should’ve doubled their lead when sub Elias Manoel dragged a gilt-edged chance wide of Pedro Gallese’s goal after racing clear of the City defence and facing up El Pulpo one on one.
Looking back, this miss was significant because it probably would’ve sealed all three points for the visitors.
Thankfully for Orlando City SC, Elias Manoel’s miscue let us off the hook at a crucial stage in the game.
Despite Oscar Pareja moving Facundo Torres into the number 10 position to make a second-half impact, El Cuervo still struggled to make any creative inroads.
When it looked like we could play until midnight and still not score, we finally found the equaliser on 89 minutes.
After Iván Angulo got to the byline, he fired a low cross into the Red Bulls box.
Causing confusion at Carlos Coronel’s near post, it initially looked as if Jack Lynn deftly flicked Angulo’s cross home for his second goal in as many games.
But it was actually Noah Eile who the ball deflected off last (1-1).
Officially an own goal from the Red Bulls substitute, there was relief all around Inter&Co Stadium with this equaliser saving City from suffering two home losses from three.
Last head-to-head
The last time that Orlando City SC faced D.C. United, the Lions painfully suffered their third consecutive home defeat in MLS.
On April 22, 2023, City were comfortably beaten 1-3 by Wayne Rooney’s side.
Sloppy defending, individual errors, and a lack of attacking quality all contributed to another sobering evening at Inter&Co Stadium.
When Donovan Pines and Christian Benteke plundered D.C.’s second and third goals, heads genuinely seemed to drop.
Probably the most telling takeaway of all, this isn’t something we’ve associated Oscar Pareja‘s City teams with too often.
Usually never giving up, there was a real air of resignation after Benteke baited The Wall with his signature Lebron James inspired celebration after scoring on 62 minutes.
When Duncan McGuire went off injured, after equalising with a well-taken 23rd minute strike, this was a real gut punch.
On a night where Orlando City SC suited up in their 2023 Adidas One Planet Kit rather than their home purple, City supporters unfortunately went home super frustrated.
What’s at stake this time?
Orlando City SC are desperately looking to get their attack firing six Major League Soccer games into 2024.
Having only scored a measly five MLS goals so far, this is a big part of the reason we’re fourteenth in the Eastern Conference.
Right now, Luis Muriel still awaits his first goal for the Lions, five MLS appearances in.
Frustrating for both him and City supporters alike, this hasn’t been for a lack of trying, however.
Against Red Bulls, Luis Muriel actually played in the number 10 position, dropping deep multiple times in order to spring several attacks forward, just as we’ve seen in his previous MLS appearances.
On one hand, Muriel’s tendency to drop off and make plays is admirable but on the other, he isn’t right at the sharp end of the pitch to score goals and really hurt the opposition.
If this is by design, perhaps we need to find another way?
With Muriel and Duncan McGuire very much a work in progress in terms of a striking partnership, they need to figure things out and fast if we are to quickly climb the standings.
Subbed off on 65 minutes last time out, Luis Muriel desperately needs a goal for his own confidence and to settle him down, despite the 32-year-old looking a promising, quality addition.
While Muriel is still new in town, Facundo Torres certainly isn’t.
Worryingly on the fringes of the entire game against New York Red Bulls, El Cuervo looked visibly frustrated with both himself and his team-mates.
Failing to spark anything positive for City, Torres really needs to shake the tag of only coming good for Orlando City SC in the second half of our MLS campaigns.
In truth, it wasn’t just Torres who struggled.
Ultimately, the entire City team failed to create enough quality chances to genuinely trouble Carlos Coronel.
For me, we need to start swinging in more crosses.
Despite starting both Duncan McGuire and Luis Muriel, there was a real reluctance to whip in crosses from either wing.
And this doesn’t make much sense to me.
Against Red Bulls, several of our attacking plays broke down on the periphery of the opposition box – a source of continued frustration.
If we’re being honest, we need better quality in the final third to truly get our MLS season back on track.
You don’t suddenly become a bad team overnight and with undoubted attacking quality on our 2024 roster, we certainly have the talent to turn our fortunes around.
It’s just a matter of showing it on the field.
Opposition danger men
When it comes to D.C. United danger men, experienced striker Christian Benteke is the Black and Red’s best player.
During his MLS career so far, Benteke has tallied 20 goals and four assists for D.C. and is revered for his physicality, aerial ability, and hold-up play.
Formerly of Aston Villa, Liverpool, and Crystal Palace, 6 ft 3 in Benteke has a knack for being in the right place at the right time and can score with both his head and his feet.
Christian Benteke has already tallied five MLS goals so far this season, taking no time to lead by example under new head coach Troy Lesesne.
Back in D.C.‘s 2024 MLS home opener, Benteke bagged a hat-trick in their 3-1 win over New England Revolution at Audi Field.
New opposition faces
Compared to the last time Orlando City SC faced D.C. United in MLS, there are a fair few new faces in the Black and Red’s ranks.
First and foremost, they have a new head coach in Troy Lesesne.
Appointed back on January 10, 2024, the American was head coach of New York Red Bulls for much of last season after Red Bulls and Gerhard Struber mutually parted ways.
Player-wise, D.C. United have several new defenders in Conner Antley, Lucas Bartlett, Aaron Herrera, and Christopher McVey.
Guatemala international right back Herrera actually joined D.C. in a December trade that saw former lion Ruan join CF Montréal.
Beyond these defenders, Jared Stroud is also a new face in D.C. United’s 2024 roster.
Trading Chris Durkin to St. Louis CITY SC in exchange for Stroud, the midfielder grabbed his first MLS goal for D.C. in a 1-3 home defeat to Inter Miami back in Gameweek 4.
This is still D.C. United’s only defeat in seven MLS fixtures so far this season.
Last but not least, there’s also Finland international midfielder Matti Peltola and highly-rated young forward Kristian Fletcher.
18-year-old Fletcher is now back at D.C. United after spending the first half of 2023/24 on loan with Swansea City’s Under-21 side in Wales.
Injuries and suspensions
Heading into this game, Oscar Pareja should be able to select from a fully fit roster.
After all, Papi confirmed this week that Ramiro Enrique has successfully recovered from his right ankle injury.
Nevertheless, the April 12 MLS Player Status Report still lists Enrique as being ‘OUT’ so it appears that the Argentine’s gameday inclusion is touch and go.
For D.C. United however, they will definitely be without four players.
Right now, club captain Steve Birnbaum (knee), Theodore Ku-DiPietro (hip), and Tyler Miller (shoulder) are all out injured for Troy Lesesne’s side.
Elsewhere, midfielder Russell Canouse is sidelined indefinitely with a health issue unrelated to an ankle injury that has kept him out since pre-season.
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D.C. United vs Orlando City SC
Last 3 head-to-heads
- July 31, 2022: D.C. United 2 Orlando City SC 1 (MLS)
- March 11, 2023: D.C. United 1 Orlando City SC 1 (MLS)
- April 22, 2023: Orlando City SC 1 D.C. United 3 (MLS)
2015/23 head-to-head stats
- It was 1-3 to D.C. the last time the sides met (April 2023)
- Played D.C. 17 times in MLS – D.C. 9, Draws 2, Orlando 6
- D.C. are unbeaten in the last 4 MLS head-to-heads, winning 3 of these games
- D.C. have scored the first goal in all 3 of their MLS home games so far this season
- Orlando’s last 7 away fixtures in MLS have all finished ‘to nil’
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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, April 14.
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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