Orlando City vs LAFC: Match Preview

Where: Exploria Stadium, Orlando, Florida

When: Saturday, September 7, 4:30 pm PT

How to Watch: YouTube TV in the LA and Orlando viewing areas, KVMD in the LA viewing area, and ESPN+ in the rest of the United States.

Los Angeles Football Club will look to rebound from their fifth loss this season as they go on the road for a mid-international break matchup with Orlando City. LAFC are coming off their first loss at home in MLS play (second in all competitions) this season to Minnesota United, who beat them 2-0 at Banc of California Stadium. Orlando is also coming off a loss, a 3-0 demolition on the road against Chris Wondolowski and San Jose.

LAFC, despite the gut-punch of a loss to Minnesota, are still on top of the Western Conference and MLS with 62 points. As they look bound for the Supporters’ Shield, the countdown to breaking the New York Red Bulls’ points record in a single MLS season (72) is ten points with six games remaining. LAFC’s goal difference now stands at +44, with 74 for and 30 against, all good for best in the league. Meanwhile, Orlando is just below the playoff line in the Eastern Conference, with 34 points, four below Toronto FC in 7th place.

The Black-and-Gold have nine wins, three draws, and two losses on the road this season in MLS play, so Bob Bradley will have his men ready to roll in Exploria Stadium. Orlando, meanwhile, have six wins, one draw, and seven losses at home.

For the second straight week, LAFC will be taking on an opponent they have not faced yet this season. This will be the first time in 2019 that LAFC plays Orlando, having met just once before. That was in July 2018, when Orlando came to The Banc and got rocked, with LAFC winning 4-1. That game featured goals from Latif Blessing and Adama Diomande within four minutes of each other in the first half, before Dio and Diego Rossi put on two more goals within two minutes in the second half.

Prediction: Orlando 0, LAFC 3. LAFC has been very good this season at coming back after a loss. They won 4-1 after Vancouver, 5-1 after Colorado, 3-1 after Portland (in the Open Cup), and 4-3 after the Galaxy. I don’t think this will be any different, as LAFC are the better team and will be out for blood.

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