Lions return to The City Beautiful on Saturday
ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando City SC (10-8-9, 39 points) returns to downtown Orlando on Saturday, Oct. 2, set to take on D.C. United (12-11-4, 40 points) in a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff at Exploria Stadium. Tickets for Saturday’s match are available here or by calling (855) ORL-CITY.
Saturday’s match, presented by Walt Disney World, will be broadcast locally on FOX35 PLUS and available to stream on LionNation TV with coverage set to begin at 7 p.m. ET. The fixture will also be transmitted on Real Radio 104.1 in English and Acción 97.9FM, 810AM in Spanish.
“The expectations are always the same, trying to add three points that we’re looking for and that we need. We already know enough of this rival in [D.C. United] and they know us as well,” Head Coach Oscar Pareja said ahead of the match. “I think the opportunity now to be in front of our fans is fantastic too after this long period of going away. We’re very optimistic.”
The Lions will look to make it back-to-back victories over the Black and Red in 2021 on Saturday, having taken a 1-0 shutout win at Audi Field on May 16. Mauricio Pereyra scored the eventual game-winner in that fixture, with goalkeeper Pedro Gallese having to register just one save to preserve the clean sheet.
City enters the weekend after taking a road point from Nashville SC on Wednesday, overcoming a two-goal deficit to force the two sides to split the points on the evening. Daryl Dike converted from the penalty spot in the 76th minute to halve the deficit before a stoppage-time own goal from Brian Anunga served as the eventual equalizer on the night.
Nani leads the Lions with nine goals this season, followed by Dike with five. Mauricio Pereyra holds the team-high in assists, with 10 in total in the 2021 campaign.
D.C. comes into Saturday’s match following a 3-1 victory at home on Wednesday over Minnesota United. Goals from Ola Kamara, Julian Gressel and Júnior Moreno led the Black and Red over the Loons en route to the side’s 12th victory of 2021.
Kamara leads the league with 17 goals this season, while Gressel sits tied for second in MLS with 11 assists on the year.
Following Saturday’s match, the Lions will enjoy a week off from match play before returning to action with a road trip to FC Cincinnati on Saturday, Oct. 16 at West End Stadium.
