Orlando City SC’s defensive struggles continued last time out, as the Lions let two leads slip in a frustrating 2-2 draw at New York Red Bulls. While Martín Ojeda and Marco Pašalić produced moments of brilliance, soft goals at the other end proved costly once again. On a positive note, Luis Muriel has been more effective this season, helping the Lions adopt a more direct attacking style under Oscar Pareja.
Now, City return home to Inter&Co Stadium, facing Troy Lesesne’s unbeaten D.C. United side (1-3-0) who drew 0-0 with CF Montréal last weekend. With Pedro Gallese away on international duty, young keeper Javier Otero is set for a big opportunity, while Duncan McGuire’s return from injury offers us a timely boost.
Last time out
Orlando City SC’s early-season defensive struggles continued in an action-packed 2-2 draw at New York Red Bulls, where the Lions twice surrendered the lead. A stunning strike from Martín Ojeda and a well-taken Marco Pašalić goal weren’t enough, as Eric Choupo-Moting’s dubious penalty and Dennis Gjengaar’s equaliser saw City drop points again. The match saw Joran Gerbet make his first MLS start, stepping in for the absent César Araújo. Meanwhile, Luis Muriel’s deeper false nine role continues to free up City’s attack, allowing Pašalić and Ojeda to play more directly through the middle rather than relying on our left wing for production . With 10 goals conceded in four games, tightening up at the back remains our priority.
Last head-to-head
On July 6, 2024, Orlando City SC secured their most emphatic win of last season, thumping an understrength D.C. United 5-0 at Inter&Co Stadium. First-half goals from Martín Ojeda, Robin Jansson, and Iván Angulo, and second-half goals from Facundo Torres and Ramiro Enrique sealed the rout. Torres’ goal was significant as it saw him set a new club record with his 11th multi-contribution game, while Enrique’s strike was his first goal of the season. With Pedro Gallese earning a rare clean sheet, Orlando City SC’s win extended D.C. United’s winless streak to 10 MLS games while a first-half Lucas Bartlett red card compounded the misery for Troy Lesesne’s Black and Red.
What’s at stake this time?
With ten goals conceded in four MLS games, Orlando City SC must tighten up fast. While the penalty Robin Jansson conceded at Red Bulls was soft, his careless giveaway on 71 minutes nearly gifted Dennis Gjengaar his second goal, saved only by Pedro Gallese’s last-ditch stop. Eliminating these costly errors is crucial to climbing the Eastern Conference. Speaking of Gallese, he is currently away with Peru for two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, giving Javier Otero a big opportunity in this game. The young keeper prepared well, starring in Orlando City B’s 2-2 draw vs. Atlanta United 2 last Sunday, saving a penalty in a 4-1 shootout win at Osceola County Stadium. Lastly, it was great to see Duncan McGuire back at Red Bulls in his first appearance since November 9, when he heroically injured his right shoulder winning the stoppage-time penalty that Facundo Torres converted to see Orlando City SC past Charlotte FC in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Opposition danger men
🇧🇪 Christian Benteke (23 goals, 7 assists – 2024 MLS)
🇧🇷 Gabriel Pirani (6 goals, 2 assists – 2024 MLS)
🇺🇸 Jared Stroud (3 goals, 10 assists – 2024 MLS)
New opposition faces
🇺🇸 Jordan Farr (Tampa Bay Rowdies)
🇺🇸 Luis Barraza (New York City FC)
🇯🇵 Hosei Kijima (St. Louis CITY SC)
🇧🇷 João Peglow (Radomiak Radom)
🇨🇦 Lukas MacNaughton (Nashville SC)
🇺🇸 Derek Dodson (2024 MLS Re-Entry Draft)
🇺🇸 Hakim Karamoko (2025 MLS SuperDraft)
🇰🇷 Kim Joon Hong (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors)
🇨🇷 Randall Leal (Nashville SC)
🇦🇺 Kye Rowles (Heart of Midlothian)
🇺🇸 Brandon Servania (free agent)
🇺🇸 Gavin Turner (Loudoun United)
🇨🇦 Rida Zouhir (CF Montréal)
🇲🇽 Fidel Barajas (on loan from Guadalajara)
Injuries
🇵🇪 Wilder Cartagena (right leg) – SEI
🇨🇱 Favian Loyola (thigh) – out
🇨🇴 Nicolás Rodriguez (thigh) – out
🇯🇵 Yutaro Tsukada (knee) – SEI
🇺🇸 Conner Antley (knee) – out
🇺🇸 Jackson Hopkins (ankle) – out
🇺🇸 Hakim Karamoko (abdomen) – out
🇨🇷 Randall Leal (thigh) – out
*SEI – Season-Ending Injury List (Unavailable)
Suspensions
None
International call-ups
🇸🇮 David Brekalo (Slovenia)
🇵🇪 Pedro Gallese (Peru)
🇺🇸 Colin Guske (USMNT U-18)
🇫🇮 Matti Peltola (Finland)
🇦🇺 Kye Rowles (Australia)
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Orlando City SC vs D.C. United
Last 3 head-to-heads
- April 22, 2023: Orlando City SC 1 D.C. United 3 (MLS)
- April 13, 2024: D.C. United 2 Orlando City SC 3 (MLS)
- July 6, 2024: Orlando City SC 5 D.C. United 0 (MLS)
2015/24 head-to-head stats
- It was 5-0 to Orlando the last time the sides met (July 2024)
- Played D.C. 19 times in MLS – Orlando 8, Draws 2, D.C. 9
- Orlando won both MLS head-to-heads last season
- Orlando have conceded at least 2 goals in all 4 of their MLS fixtures this season
- Christian Benteke has scored in 3 of D.C.’s last 4 MLS fixtures (3 goals)
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Watching the game
Orlando City SC vs D.C. United will be shown live on Apple TV at 23:30 (GMT) on Saturday, March 22.
Remember, UK supporters can watch all of Orlando City SC’s 2025 MLS regular season fixtures by subscribing to Apple TV’s “MLS Season Pass”.
Subscribe now by clicking here.
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