WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: ORLANDO CITY SC
Welcome back to What You Need To Know, a preview for Austin FC fans to check in on their next opponent.
Austin FC is coming off of another 2-2 draw at home where they gave up a tying goal. That leaves Austin at 0-3-1 (W-D-L) on the season with three points total. I mentioned this on the We Are Austin TV Twitter Space after the match, the abstract of these results isn’t bad. Minnesota is currently leading the West and hasn’t lost so far this season, Seattle is a perennial power, St Louis City finished first in the West last year, and Philadelphia is a team that hasn't missed the playoffs since 2017. All that to say, this is Austin’s slowest start in their short existence, but that’s more of a function of who they are playing as much as anything else.
We got to see Sebastian Driussi play for Austin FC for the first time on Saturday after suffering a hamstring injury in preseason. While he was limited to 20’ he looked healthy and dangerous, if rusty, per Josh Wolff on Thursday he’s going to start tonight.
On another note, with Austin FC II being eliminated from the US Open Cup on Tuesday by Foro SC, I want to take a minute and advocate for continuing to pay attention to that competition this season, especially these early round games. We get to see small local clubs compete with each other and the charm of the local stadiums. This tournament began in 1913 making it the longest running cup competition in this country and shouldn’t be supplanted by a different mid-season tournament. Losing out on this being a tournament all clubs take seriously and compete for robs all of us of memories and foundational club moments.
For soccer to continue to grow in this country we have to support our local soccer clubs, including Austin FC II so that clubs all over can be healthy and financially stable.
History vs. Austin FC:
These teams have only played once, in 2022, in one of the most bonkers matches Austin FC has ever played. Austin was scored on via a WPIOOTBGW a minute into the match, Orlando had two players sent off, and Moussa Djitté got Austin FC a draw in the 95’.
Recent Matches:
Orlando City have lost 3 of their four matches in MLS this season including losing 2-0 to Atlanta on Saturday. They currently have the worst Goal Difference in MLS (-8) thanks to a 5-0 loss to in-state rival Inter Miami.
Players to Watch:
Robin Jansson
The Orlando City Captain will be without his preferred partner with David Brekalo out on national team duty. He’s one of many Orlando players who are known for a hard-nose style and plenty of shithousing, and we get to see two masters at work as he and Diego Rubio will battle throughout the match.
Felipe Martins
Austin FC has missed Felipe since he left after 2022. He brought leadership and confidence the locker room has been missing since then. I’m not so secretly hoping he starts and commits a foul in the first 8 seconds of the match to set the tone for Orlando.
Luis Muriel
The Colombian forward has looked dangerous in MLS play so far, mostly due to his penchant to shoot whenever given the opportunity. With few attacking options available he’s going to be the main threat for Orlando and someone Brad Stuver is going to have to be aware of whenever he’s on the ball.
Keys to the Match:
Forced Rotations
Because MLS doesn’t adhere to the FIFA Calendar and with this being an international break week for everywhere else in the world, both teams are without multiple players. Austin will be without Julio Cascante (Costa Rica) and Dani Pereira (Venezuela), while Orlando City will be missing 7! Players, including starters Duncan Maguire (USA Under 23), Pedro Gallese (Peru), and Facundo Torres (Uruguay).
Eastern Promises
Austin FC has only ever lost one road match to an Eastern Conference team in their history, Nashville in 2021. They’re also 9-2-6 overall against Eastern Conference Teams in MLS play in that span.
Needing three points
Austin FC has won only one of their past 17 matches, (home to DC United in 2023). After a tough start to the season, they get to what should be a soft spot in their schedule. If Austin is a playoff team this year (and this writer isn’t sure they are) now is when they need to start building up some points to climb the standings to a playoff spot.
WRITTEN BY: SCOTT SPECHT
