Orlando City vs. Austin FC: Three Keys to Victory

Orlando City continues the quest for a first win in the MLS regular season this Saturday night in the friendly confines of Inter&Co Stadium. The challenges don’t get any easier with several Lions missing the match while on international duty. Orlando City will have to win with the players available. What do the Lions need to do to secure all three points and their first win of the season?

It’s Mason Time

So many online have been clamoring for Mason Stajduhar to get the start because they think Pedro Gallese hasn’t been good enough. Please listen to The Mane Land PawedCast, since we addressed the absurdity of that notion. However, those who want to see Stajduhar will get their chance since Gallese is away on international duty with Peru. Evidently, Peru thinks he’s good enough.

Before anyone gets too upset, I’m a big fan of Stajduhar. He is an OG Lion and one of the better backup keepers in MLS, but he is just that. He will have the opportunity to show his stuff, and he will need to, because Orlando City has been leaking goals at much too great a rate. Here’s hoping he can get a clean sheet for the Lions.

Fix the Defense

Wilder Cartagena is joining Gallese with Peru, and David Brekalo will be on international duty with Slovenia. Having Rodrigo Schlegel step in for Brekalo is the easy solution on the back line. The more difficult issue is what to do with a defensive midfield that is missing both the defensive midfielders?

Against Atlanta United, Oscar Pareja switched to a 4-4-2 formation with Kyle Smith making the start in the defensive midfield. I actually predicted that might be the case in last week’s Three Keys article, and I will now say it wasn’t a good choice. If you need a backup fullback on either side, Smith is your guy. I think that may be what needs to happen against Austin FC. Dagur Dan Thorhallson has played more midfield in his career than fullback. Have Thorhallson and Smith swaps spots and see what happens. Who knows? It might even work.

More Muriel

I’m not saying that I need to see Muriel get more minutes, though with Duncan McGurire on international duty with the USMNT U-23 squad, he most certainly will. What I need to see more of — or at all really — is Orlando City’s new No. 9 scoring goals. He needs it and so does Orlando City.

I’m a pretty patient person. I know that he’s still learning about his teammates, his club, and the league, but it’s time to get that first MLS goal. Given Orlando City will be without McGuire, look for Pareja to revert to the 4-2-3-1 he prefers with Muriel up top. That’s not to say Muriel won’t find his way back to collect the ball and start some attacks, because he will. I’m saying that he will be the only striker up top and will need to score for Orlando City to get a result.

That is what I will be looking for this Saturday as the Lions look to defeat Austin FC. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!