Orlando City and Houston Dynamo will both be vying to return to winning ways on Saturday, when they square off at the Exploria Stadium.
A slight dip in form has seen the hosts drop to fifth place in the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference standings, while their visitors sit eighth in the Western Conference after 14 league outings.
Match preview
© Reuters
Orlando City began the MLS campaign with high expectations, but they have somewhat failed to impress thus far, winning just six of their opening 15 games.
Wins over Charlotte FC and Toronto, either side of a disappointing defeat to CF Montreal, did take their tally to 20 points from 12 outings, but the Lions have since failed to post another victory in three attempts.
Following a 2-2 draw away at Austin FC, Oscar Pareja's side hosted FC Dallas and were comfortably beaten 3-1, despite Ercan Kara putting them ahead, as Paul Arriola hit a brace in the second half alongside a Franco Jara goal to seal all three points for the visitors.
The Florida outfit then travelled to take on New England Revolution on Wednesday, and, after falling behind, they were, at least, able to return home with a point as Robin Jansson levelled the game at 1-1 in the first half with no further goals in the second 45 minutes.
While the Lions remain in the playoff places in the Eastern Conference, they will be keen to improve on their current form and ensure they return to winning ways on Saturday with the chance to climb back into the top three depending on other results.
© Reuters
They welcome a Houston Dynamo side who are pushing to break back into the playoff places in the other Conference, with the visitors currently eighth in their division.
After a positive start to the campaign, in which they amassed 11 points from the opening six outings, El Naranja hit a tough patch, losing three consecutive MLS games to drop behind the leading group.
Their form has been particularly inconsistent since, with Paulo Nagamura's side firstly putting an end to that slump with a 2-0 win over Nashville SC before falling to a narrow defeat at home to Seattle Sounders.
They again returned to winning ways in impressive fashion, thrashing Los Angeles Galaxy 3-0 thanks to goals from Sebastian Ferreira, Tyler Pasher and Thorleifur Ulfarsson, but, after a US Open Cup defeat to Sporting Kansas City, they would be on the wrong end of a 3-0 scoreline last time out.
In their trip to Real Salt Lake, Nagamura's men were comfortably brushed aside as Bobby Wood, Sergio Cordova and Justen Glad got on the scoresheet, and they will now be vying to return to the playoff places with a positive result on their travels.
- W
- L
- W
- D
- L
- D
- W
- W
- D
- W
- L
- D
- L
- L
- W
- L
- W
- L
- W
- W
- L
- W
- L
- L
Team News
© Reuters
Pareja has several decisions to make regarding how he sets up his faltering Orlando side, with striker Ercan Kara pushing to retake his place up front after being dropped to the bench last time out, with former Chelsea man Alexandre Pato preferred.
Whoever is deployed at the top end of the pitch should be supported by Junior Urso and Mauricio Pereyra, while Jake Mulraney has recently taken the final spot in the three behind the lone striker.
Experienced midfielder Jhegson Mendez will also be pushing for a return to the starting XI after he was forced to watch from the substitutes bench last time out, with the Ecuadorian international expected to come back in and partner Cesar Araujo.
Houston Dynamo head into Saturday's game without influential midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla, who will serve a suspension after being shown a fifth yellow card of the MLS season in their recent defeat to Real Salt Lake.
In his absence, Darwin Ceren is likely to come into the engine room, while the likes of Fafa Picault and Tyler Pasher will be pushing for attacking spots.
Nagamura may also reconsider his focal point, with Thorleifur Ulfarsson, who led the line last time out, managing just one league goal so far this season.
Orlando City possible starting lineup:
Gallese; Smith, Schlegel, Jansson, Moutinho; Mendez, Araujo; Urso, Pereyra, Torres; Kara
Houston Dynamo possible starting lineup:
Nelson; Zeca, Parker, Hadebe, Lundqvist; Vera, Ceren; Pasher, Rodriguez, Baird; Picault
We say: Orlando City 2-0 Houston Dynamo
While they have certainly had their struggles recently and look far from their best, Orlando City have more than enough talent in their ranks to outclass the visitors, and we see them making a return to winning ways at the weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Sam Varley
