Sports Mole previews Saturday’s MLS clash between Philadelphia Union and Orlando City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Orlando City will be looking to secure a third win on the bounce for the first time since October when they visit Subaru Park to go head to head with Philadelphia Union on Saturday night.
Both sides have already faced off this season, with the Union claiming a comfortable 4-2 victory in February’s season opener courtesy of goals from Daniel Gazdag, Mikael Uhre and a brace from 27-year-old Tai Baribo.
Match preview
© Imago
Philadelphia Union were guilty of a wasteful display in front of goal last Sunday as they suffered a 2-1 defeat against Inter Miami when the two sides squared off at the Allianz Stadium.
Robert Taylor broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute to hand Inter Miami a first-half lead, and after Lionel Messi hit the target two minutes after coming off the bench to put the Herons two goals up, Gazdag halved the deficit with an 80th-minute strike.
Having kicked off the season with three back-to-back victories, Philadelphia Union have now lost two of their most recent three outings, with a 1-0 win over 10-man St Louis City on March 23 sandwiched between the two defeats.
Despite their recent slump in form, head coach Bradley Carnell will be delighted with his side’s start to the campaign as they currently sit second in the Eastern Conference standings, just one point behind leaders Inter Miami.
© Imago
On the other hand, Orlando City secured consecutive victories for the first time this season last time out when they fought back from behind to see off Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 at the Dignity Health Sports Park.
Christian Ramirez gave LA Galaxy a dream start to the contest as he opened the scoring in the 14th minute but Martin Ojeda restored parity in the 76th minute before Luis Muriel struck in the 90th minute to complete the comeback.
Prior to that, Orlando City picked up back-to-back home wins in the league for the first time since October as they thrashed DC United 4-1 courtesy of goals from Muriel, Ojeda, Alexander Freeman and Marco Pasalic.
Oscar Pareja‘s men have won three of their six games to start the 2025 MLS campaign while losing twice and claiming one draw to collect 10 points and sit 12th in the seventh in the East but could move level on points with first-placed Inter Miami with a win this weekend.
Orlando City will fancy themselves to keep the juggernaut rolling this weekend as they journey to Subaru Park, where they are unbeaten in five of their last seven visits in the league, picking up three wins and two draws since April 2018.
Philadelphia Union MLS form:
Orlando City MLS form:
Team News
Kai Wagner missed Philadelphia Union’s game against Inter Miami last time out through abdominal strain and the German defender is a major doubt for this weekend’s clash.
Nick Pariano also missed the aforementioned game through injury and the American midfielder, who is yet to feature for Carnell’s men this season, has been ruled out of Sunday’s clash.
Orlando City have their fair share of injury concerns as the offensive duo of Yutaro Tsukada and 19-year-old Favian Loyola, who have been sidelined through knee and thigh problems respectively.
Wilder Cartagena has been out of action since sustaining an Achilles tendon injury in December’s playoff clash against New York Red Bulls and the 30-year-old midfielder is also out of contention for the visitors.
Fellow midfielder Nicolas Rodriguez has missed each of the last five games since picking up a thigh injury in February’s season opener against Philadelphia Union and the 20-year-old will also play no part in this weekend’s matchup.
The trio of Ojeda (4), Pasalic (4) and Muriel (3) have scored 11 of Orlando City’s 15 league goals this season and should form the attacking quartet with 26-year-old Ivan Angulo.
Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Blake; Harriel, Glesnes, Glavinovich, Westfield; Sullivan, Lukic, Jacques; Baribo, Uhre, Gazdag
Orlando City possible starting lineup:Gallese; Freeman, Jansson, Schlegel, Santos; Atuesta, Araujo; Pasalic, Angulo, Ojeda; Muriel
We say: Philadelphia Union 2-2 Orlando City
After stumbling into the new campaign, Orlando City appear to have hit their stride and will head into the weekend in search of a third win on the spin. Home advantage gives Philadelphia Union an extra edge here but we predict that Orlando will do just enough to force a share of the spoils.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
ID:569370:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect9733:Previews by email
Click here to get Sports Mole‘s daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!
