Los Angeles FC will be looking to keep the pressure on the Western Conference leaders when they face Orlando City on Saturday night.
At a time when the visitors are second in that division, Orlando are down in 11th position in the Eastern Conference table.
Match preview
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While Los Angeles may be sitting in second behind Real Salt Lake, there is little doubting they are the form team in MLS at the present time.
A total of seven successive wins have been posted in all competitions, with Steve Cherundolo's side not conceding a goal in their last six outings.
That is not to say that LAFC have necessarily had things all their own way, with their widest margin of success across the most recent three matches being 2-0.
Furthermore, LAFC have remarkably won just two of their away matches in MLS this season after failing to prevail in any of their first five.
Having played two more home fixtures than away, matches such as these could prove to be the difference makers when it comes to keeping pace with Real Salt Lake.
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As far as Orlando City are concerned, they are yet to put together successive victories in all competitions throughout the entire campaign.
For a team that finished in second place last season and reached the Conference semi-finals, it is a considerable comedown, leaving Oscar Pareja under pressure to deliver a response.
During the middle of May, that appeared on track with five points coming over a three-game period, but Orlando have since scored just one goal across their most recent triple-header.
Orlando also possess the worst home record in the Eastern Conference, collecting just six points and scoring just six goals across eight matches at the Inter&Co Stadium.
Team News
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Six of Orlando's starting lineup from the last fixture have since been selected for international duty, with Pedro Gallese, David Brekalo, Wilder Cartagena, Cesar Araujo, Duncan McGuire and Facundo Torres going away with their respective nations.
Mason Stajduhar, Kyle Smith, Abdi Salim, Felipe Martins, Luis Muriel and Jack Lynn could all come into the side in their places.
LAFC find themselves definitely without two players with Timothy Tillman and Cristian Olivera with their national teams.
Erik Duenas and Kei Kamara may be brought into the side, while Maxime Chanot and Denis Bouanga should be in a position to return from their own spells on the international scene.
Orlando City possible starting lineup:
Stajduhar; Smith, Salim, Schlegel; Thorhallsson, Angulo, Martins, Lodeiro, Santos; Muriel, Lynn
Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Palencia, Chanot, Long, Campos; Duenas, Sanchez, Atuesta; Kamara, Bogusz, Bouanga
We say: Orlando City 1-2 Los Angeles FC
Although Orlando have home advantage in their favour, we cannot ignore the resurgence of Los Angeles FC of late. They may have to work hard for their win, but the visitors should collect three points nevertheless.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
