Orlando City host New York City in an Eastern Conference MLS fixture at the Inter & Co Stadium. Both teams come into this clash in poor form and are seeking a spark to get their campaigns back on track.
Orlando City are in the middle of a rough patch and are winless in their last three matches, leaving them sixth in the table. The last two on this run have ended in draws, including a 1-1 scoreline with Montreal in their previous fixture.
There has been little home comfort for Orlando City lately as they are winless in four of their last five matches at Inter & Co Stadium. Oscar Pareja's men have suffered three defeats on this run while six of their last eight fixtures in front of their fans have produced over 2.5 goals.
New York City is in a similar situation with Orlando City and sit one place and four points behind the hosts. Pascal Jansen’s men have been erratic lately, picking up just two wins from their last six matches in all competitions.
Things are much worse on the road for New York City, who are winless in nine of their last 10 away matches. They have lost their last two fixtures on the road, suffering a 2-0 defeat at Charlotte last time out.
How the bookies view it: Bookies backing Orlando
The bookies have installed Orlando City as overwhelming favourites, with a home win priced at 4/6 by BoyleSports. A victory for New York City is offered at 16/5 while a draw is set at odds of 11/4.
Head to head: New York City with the edge
New York City have an 11-8 edge, with 11 draws from 33 previous matches against Orlando City. The visitors are unbeaten in the last six meetings and earned a 2-1 home victory in the reverse fixture.
Players to watch: Spotlight on Ojeda
Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic have 10 goals each this season and will carry the attacking threat for Orlando City. Both men can combine to produce over 1.5 goals for the hosts (Orlando City over 1.5 goals priced at 6/10 with BoyleSports).
New York City have attacking quality of their own and will look to Hannes Wolf and Alonso Martinez to provide the spark in attack. Both men have a combined 17 goals this season and could combine to produce over 0.5 goals – available at 2/7.
Probable line-ups:
Duncan McGuire, Joran Gerbet and Robin Jansson will miss out for Orlando City, with all three men sidelined with injury. Ojeda should lead the line while Pasalic is set to start in midfield.
Keaton Parks is the only sidelined player for New York City, with the midfielder nursing a leg injury. Wolf and Ojeda are expected to continue their partnership in attack while Thiago Martins should start in defence.
Orlando City: Gallese, Brekalo, Jansson, Schlegel, Thorhallsson, Araujo, Atuesta, Pasalic, Ojeda, Muriel, Enrique
New York City: Freese, O’Toole, Haak, Martins, Gray, Perea, O’Neill, Wolf, Morález, Ojeda, Martínez
Anything else catch the eye?
The last two matches between Orlando City and New York City have produced more goals after the break (second half most goals – offered at 10/11 with BoyleSports). Both teams have been level at the break in those two meetings (halftime draw – 5/4).
Three of Orlando City's last four matches have produced over 2.5 goals – priced at 4/7.
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