Orlando City SC will return to league play for the first time in three weeks on Saturday night when they visit a D.C. United side suddenly looking more dangerous under new manager Rene Weiler.
Orlando City (13-7-8, 47 points) enter the weekend in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with six matches to play in MLS. That’s one more match than the four teams above them but three fewer than sixth-place Miami, which is only a point behind the Lions.
And after losing both in the semifinals and the third-place match of the Leagues Cup to conclude August, Orlando City are trying to snap a three-match slide in all competitions.
They’ll also be without veteran forward Luis Muriel, who received a red card in Orlando City’s most recent league fixture, a 5-1 loss at Nashville on Aug. 23. But that could open an avenue for American striker Duncan McGuire, who finally is healthy again after playing only 12 league matches this season due to two separate shoulder injuries.
McGuire scored 14 and 10 goals in his first two MLS seasons before a potential move to Blackburn Rovers fell apart at the last moment this past winter.
“The medical department has done a terrific job on recovering him, and also the timing with Duncan has been great also. At the moment that I see him today, he’s probably better than before,” Lions manager Oscar Pareja said.
D.C. United (5-15-9, 24 points) already are eliminated from postseason contention but have earned five points in three matches (1-0-2) since Weiler officially took the reins.
Jackson Hopkins and Gabriel Pirani each have scored twice, with the latter’s brace powering D.C. to a surprising 2-1 win at New York City FC in one of only four MLS matches played last weekend.
The Black-and-Red still are last in the East (behind Montreal on goal difference) and third from bottom in the Supporters’ Shield table. But there’s a better feel around the team.
“The first goal was to get a bit more trust back. A little bit more of belief in ourself,” Weiler said. “And at the end, only the results help (do that). And to be more a team, to defend all together. Because when you are in a difficult situation, you have, first of all, to defend.”
–Field Level Media
