Los Angeles Football Club vs. Orlando City SC | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Los Angeles Football Club vs. Orlando City SC
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 19
Banc of California Stadium — Los Angeles
July 7 — 11:00 pm ET
WATCH: FS1, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

Their streak of consecutive wins was snapped at three after conceding a pair of goals deep in stoppage time in a 2-2 draw with the Houston Dynamo on Tuesday, but LAFC are unbeaten at the Banc (4-0-3) and have a chance to move atop the Western Conference standings with a win Saturday against slumping Orlando City SC.

The Lions have lost eight straight games and are ninth in the Eastern Conference, but there’s newfound confidence with James O’Connor set to make his MLS coaching debut in Los Angeles.

LAFC

The good news for LAFC is that Latif Blessing and Mark-Anthony Kaye scored in each half to give LAFC (9-4-4) a two-goal lead they took into the final moments. However, Mauro Manotas and Philippe Senderos struck two minutes apart deep into second-half stoppage time for the host Houston Dynamo in a 2-2 draw Tuesday night at rain-soaked BBVA Compass Stadium.

LAFC extended their unbeaten streak to four games and moved within one point of Western Conference leaders Sporting Kansas City, but its another game where they feel they left points on the table.

“Late in the game, obviously, it's desperation time and [it's about] our ability to still connect a few more passes and just manage the situation because any ball that turns over they’re just going to play long and try to turn it into a chance or a set piece," Bob Bradley. “I thought overall we had a lot of good effort, but got sloppy and a little bit careless at the end and paid for it.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: GK - Luis Lopez (right tibial stress fracture), GK - Quillan Roberts (right fibular fracture), M - Omar Gaber (right thigh sprain), M - Eduard Atuesta; QUESTIONABLE: F - Diego Rossi (left hamstring irritation), F - Latif Blessing (undisclosed injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Tyler Miller — Steven Beitashour, Walker Zimmerman, Laurent Ciman, Jordan Harvey — Benny Feilhaber, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Lee Nguyen — Joao Mountino, Adama Diomande, Aaron Kovar

Orlando City SC

Atlanta United scored early and then added three goals after halftime to romp Orlando (6-10-1), 4-0, at home Saturday night. The Lions have yet to beat their Eastern Conference rival, falling to 0-3-2 all-time, and haven’t won an MLS game since defeating Real Salt Lake, 3-0, on May 6.

However, a new era officially begins with James O’Connor arriving after coaching Louisville City FC for the last time on the weekend. A former Lions player, O’Connor has talked about playing attacking soccer and his players believe this could be the shot in the arm needed to push back into the playoff race in the East.

“There’s a lot of excitement in the group, buzz around the facility,” Dom Dwyer said after training Tuesday morning. “It’s going to be hopefully a good turning point for us, a lot we can look forward to.”

Suspended: M/D - Will Johnson
Suspended after next caution: M - Uri Rosell
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: GK - Mason Stajduhar (Localized Ewing Sarcoma); QUESTIONABLE: M - Cristian Higuita (adductor injury)

Projected Starting XI
(3-4-3, right to left)
GK: Joe Bendik — Jonathan Spector, Lamine Sane, Amro Tarek — Scott Sutter, Yoshi Yotun, Uri Rosell, Mohamed El-Munir — Sacha Kljestan, Dom Dwyer, Chris Mueller