Orlando City vs. Austin FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

Welcome to your match preview and live thread for a Saturday night matchup between Orlando City (0-3-1, 1 point) and Austin FC (0-1-3, 3 points) at Inter&Co Stadium (7:30 p.m., MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+). This is the only scheduled meeting between the teams this season.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the match.

History

There is very little history between these two clubs, as they have only met once previously, and tonight will mark the first meeting in Orlando. The lone meeting came on May 22, 2022 in Austin, when the teams drew 2-2. The Lions built a 2-0 lead on goals by Ercan Kara and Ruan, and appeared set to take the first meeting between the teams. However, things spun out of control in the second half. Rodrigo Schlegel was booked twice for handball within a matter of seconds. His first set up a set piece, and the subsequent delivery hit him in the area. Although his arm didn’t appear to be in an unnatural position, match referee Joe Dickerson awarded a penalty and gave the Argentine a second yellow card, reducing Orlando to 10 players. Sebastian Driussi pulled the hosts within a goal on the ensuing spot kick.

Dickerson (properly, this time) sent off Cesar Araujo, reducing the Lions to just nine players. Still, Orlando was moments away from victory when Dickerson made another error that helped the hosts. A seemingly obvious goal kick was instead given as a corner and Moussa Djitte scored off that set piece in the 95th minute to limt Orlando’s point haul to just one in their first trip to Austin.

Match Overview

Orlando City enters this match still looking for its first win of the season. The Lions are 0-1-1 at home and are coming off a 2-0 loss Sunday at Atlanta United. Orlando has failed to score in three of its four matches this season and only Duncan McGuire, who is unavailable tonight due to international duty (more on that later), has a regular-season goal in 2024. The Lions have given up a whopping 10 goals through four matches while scoring just twice. Things aren’t quite as bad at home (two goals for, three against).

Austin FC is also seeking its first win this season but has gotten three results — all draws — from four matches. The Texas club is coming off a 2-2 home draw against the Philadelphia Union last weekend. Tonight’s match will be just the second away game for Austin, which is 0-0-1 after a scoreless draw at Seattle on the second matchday of the season. Austin has scored five goals and surrendered six on the season.

One of the biggest things Orlando needs to do is overcome its personnel issues. While Austin has a few players out, the Lions will be without several players who are away on international duty, including the following starters: striker Duncan McGuire (U.S. U-23s), winger Facundo Torres (Uruguay), goalkeeper Pedro Gallese (Peru), central midfielder Wilder Cartagena (Peru), defender David Brekalo (Slovenia). Reserves Abdi Salim (Somalia) and Favian Loyola (U.S. U-19s) are also missing.

“We had a chance to have a couple extra days to add into our trainings and it’s healthier,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said. “I hope that we can use that obviously to get a result that is very necessary, but most importantly, at this time as well, is that we can gel together, and then we can add time in training and games with players that add to our roster. We’re good and we’re taking advantage of this time during the week.”

In addition to their international absences, Orlando City lists Cesar Araujo (ankle) and Ramiro Enrique (ankle) as questionable. With Austin’s availability report not up to date on the MLS website and not listed at all in the team’s game notes, we’ll defer to our Intelligence Report this week.

Julio Cascante and Dani Pereira were called up for international duty, which makes the back line a little thinner than we feared they might be with injuries to both Leo Vaisanen (plantar fasciitis) and Zan Kolmanic (hamstring).

Match Content

• Our Intelligence Report provides insight on Austin FC from Phil West of Verde All Day.
• Our most recent PawedCast includes our key match-ups and score predictions for today’s match.
• Dave Rohe outlined his three keys to victory for Orlando City in this match.

Official Lineups

Orlando City (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Mason Stajduhar.

Defenders: Rafael Santos, Robin Jansson, Rodrigo Schlegel, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson.

Midfielders: Ivan Angulo, Nico Lodeiro, Kyle Smith, Martin Ojeda.

Forward: Luis Muriel, Jack Lynn.

Bench: Javier Otero, Alex Freeman, Michael Halliday, Thomas Williams, Jeorgio Kocevski, Felipe, Wilfredo Rivera, Shak Mohammed.

Austin FC (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Brad Stuver.

Defenders: Guilherme Biro, Matt Hedges, Brendan Hines-Ike, Jon Gallagher.

Defensive Midfielders: Jhojan Valencia, Alex Ring.

Attacking Midfielders: Ethan Finlay, Sebastian Driussi, Jader Obrian.

Forward: Diego Rubio.

Bench: Stefan Cleveland, Jimmy Farkarlun, Antonio Gomez, Hector Jimenez, Emiliano Rigoni, Owen Wolff, Gyasi Zardes.

Referees

REF: Esteban Rosano.
AR1: Alexander Arita.
AR2: Diego Armando Parra.
4TH: Jonathan Weiner.
VAR: Alan Kelly.
AVAR: TBA.

How to Watch

Match Time: 7:30 p.m.

Venue: Inter&Co Stadium — Orlando.

TV/Live Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.

Radio:  Real Radio 104.1 FM (English), Mega 97.1 FM (Spanish).

Twitter: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow along at @TheManeLand, as well as Orlando City’s official Twitter feed (@OrlandoCitySC).

Enjoy the match. Go City!