FC Dallas vs. Orlando City SC | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

FC Dallas vs. Orlando City SC
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 32
Toyota Stadium — Frisco
October 6 - 8 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

FC Dallas are looking to hold off charges from Sporting Kansas City and LAFC and remain atop the Western Conference Saturday night when they host Orlando City SC.

FC Dallas extended an unbeaten streak to four games with a 0-0 draw against the Portland Timbers last Saturday, while the Lions shared the points with the Houston Dynamo in their last game.

Orlando City SC, which hasn’t scored a goal in three consecutive games, has yet to find the back of the net against FC Dallas in three all-time meetings.

FC Dallas

FC Dallas (15-6-9) booked their spot in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs with a goalless draw against the Timbers at Providence Park Saturday.

In a match with few scoring chances for either side, Carlos Gruezo had arguably the best one, rattling the woodwork late in the first half before the ball bounced away.

“It’s great news,” Oscar Pareja said when told his team clinched a playoff berth Saturday night. “I want to congratulate the players who have done a terrific job so far. It’s not easy to qualify, especially in this league where every team is very competitive and differences are very tight. Well deserved for the club that we’re back in the playoffs after a very tough year.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: D - Matt Hedges
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Kris Reaves (left foot stress fracture), F - Cristian Colman (torn left ACL)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Jesse Gonzalez — Reggie Cannon, Matt Hedges, Reto Ziegler, Marquinhos Pedroso — Carlos Gruezo, Victor Ulloa — Michael Barrios, Maxi Urruti, Santiago Mosquera — Roland Lamah

Orlando City SC

Orlando (7-18-4) return to league play after a bye in Week 31, which came on the heels of a 0-0 draw against the Houston Dynamo on Sept. 22.

It was the Lions' second clean sheet of the year, the previous a 2-0 victory at Philadelphia on April 13 On the other end, the goalless streak extended to 270 minutes.

“I think the positive is the clean sheet,” James O’Connor said after the match. “I think the final third, the movement in the midfield was good. I think we created some openings.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: M - Sacha Kljestan, M - Yoshi Yotun, F - Dom Dwyer
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: GK - Mason Stajduhar (Localized Ewing Sarcoma); DAY-TO-DAY: M - Richie Laryea (hamstring injury), M - Cristian Higuita (calf injury), M - Jose Villarreal (ankle injury), D - Amro Tarek (hamstring injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Adam Grinwis — Scott Sutter, Jonathan Spector, Lamine Sane, Mohamed El-Munir — Carlos Ascues, Uri Rosell — Will Johnson, Sacha Kljestan, Yoshi Yotun — Dom Dwyer

All-Time Series

Overall: FC Dallas 2 wins, 6 goals … Orlando City SC 0 wins, 0 goals … 1 draw
At Dallas: FC Dallas 1 win, 4 goals … Orlando City SC 0 wins, 0 goals … 0 draws
Last meeting at Dallas: FC Dallas 4, Orlando City SC 0 (July 4, 2016)