Orlando City vs. Minnesota United: Three Keys to Victory

Orlando City faces Minnesota United Saturday at Allianz Field. Orlando City have climbed into the playoff hunt, but as I mentioned last week, points are hard to come by on the road in MLS. With only 13 matches left in the season, this is an opportunity to keep pace or potentially move up the table. What must the Lions do to earn all three points against Minnesota United?

Pour on the Goals

With the exception of the San Jose match, Orlando City’s defense has been inconsistent at best, and if not for Maxime Crepeau, the limited points earned since the World Cup would be even fewer. As such, in Martin Perelman’s preferred style of play, it is contingent upon the offense to score enough goals to overcome the defense.

I think Antoine Griezmann is finally taking to heart he will sometimes just need to score the goals rather than making the extra pass. As for the others, Daryl Dike is finding his feet again in MLS, Tyrese Spicer and Griffin Dorsey are good from the edges, and Justin Ellis is plenty dangerous. Minnesota is solid, if not spectacular, on defense. The Loons can be scored on, having given up 29 goals this season. Orlando City will also need to beat Minnesota goalkeeper Drake Callender to score the needed goals. It can be done, but the Lions will need to be clinical to score multiple goals.

Reap the Rest Rewards

For the first time in what feels like forever, Orlando City will have a normal match week. The Lions will have to travel to Minnesota, but that’s only a one-hour time zone difference, and there’s no extra match midweek. The potential for legs to rest and for knocks to heal is not to be underestimated. I know that Minnesota will have the same rest, but given the attacking style of play the Lions prefer, I think the rest will be beneficial.

The normal week allows Perelman to put out a mostly first-choice lineup. So I’ll be curious to see what that looks like. I think the rest will help Griezmann the most. He plays smart, but he also plays hard, puts in plenty of miles, and is 35 years old. All players need rest, let alone a “more experienced” guy like him, even if it just comes in the form of a normal match week.

Defensive Midfielders Unite

With the Lions getting that full week of rest, I’m hopeful we’ll see the defensive midfield pairing of Wilder Cartagena and Joran Gerbet. Cartagena has started looking like his old self, and Gerbet was a game changer when he came on against Real Salt Lake. It’s been a while since Orlando City had a good defensive midfield pairing, and I’m hopeful that these two could be it.

The pair will need to deal with Joaquin Pereyra, Wil Trapp, and Owen Gene in the midfield. Ideally, they’re stopping attacks by Kelvin Yeboah and Marcus Caldeira if Orlando City’s lines are high enough. If so, that plays into the opportunities created for the offense much like the second half against Real Salt Lake.

That is what I will be looking for on Saturday night. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!