Pre-match Preview: CITY SC to host Orlando in mid-week action

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Matrix Midwest) - St. Louis CITY SC will host Orlando City SC mid-week for the first meeting between the two sides this season.

Last week, CITY shared points in a six-goal thriller with LA Galaxy. St. Louis extended its unbeaten run against Galaxy to six games, dating back to May 2023.

The match was highlighted by a career performance for CITY forward João Klauss. Klauss scored the club’s first-ever hat trick, including an equalizer in second-half stoppage time.

His efforts earned him MLS Player of the Matchday honors, making him the second St. Louis player to receive the award this season.

The draw didn’t impact CITY’s place in the Western Conference standings. With a record of 3-9-6 and 15 points, the club is still in 14th place and seven points behind a spot in the playoffs.

The Lions Come to Town

This will be the first time these two meet this year and the second time since St. Louis’s inaugural 2023 season.

Orlando sits in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with 30 points and an 8-4-6 record.

The Lions broke a two-match losing streak last weekend with a 1-0 victory over Colorado.

Orlando is a side that seems to find success regardless of where it’s playing. Although the Lions have won nearly twice as many games at Inter & Co Stadium as at other venues, they have only lost twice on the road. With three wins and four draws in nine road matches, Orlando City SC knows how to get at least some return from its matches outside of Florida.

In its last three road matches, the Lions are 1-1-1, averaging 1.67 goals per match. It was just over a month ago that Orlando defeated Inter Miami 3-0 on the road.

The club is very deep as far as offensive production. Seven different players have scored two or more goals this season. Midfielder Martín Ojeda leads Orlando with nine goals and five assists.

As for St. Louis, injuries will once again interfere with the match-day roster. Several players, including Eduard For St. Louis, injuries will once again interfere with the match-day roster. According to Interim Manager David Critchley, several players, including Eduard Löwen, Chris Durkin, Henry Kessler, Rasmus Alm, Tomas Ostrák, and Joakim Nilsson, will likely be out on Wednesday.

João Klauss, who is coming off a historic hat-trick in CITY’s last match, will have his work cut out for him as he faces a defense that is top 10 in the league in fewest goals scored.

And with a majority of the injured list being comprised of midfield players, it’ll be interesting to see how Citchley designs his Lion-taming roster.

“We’ve talked obviously about utilizing a couple of players inside the midfield now that might have been a different role,” Critchley told media members on Monday. “We’ve also utilized systems where a withdrawn forward could come into that role or something. So just trying to be flexible in their moments as well.”

It will be a hot, humid Wednesday evening at Energizer Park. The 7:30 p.m. kick-off temperature hovers just under 90 degrees.

For more on the forecast ahead of match day, click here.

For more on St. Louis CITY SC, click here.

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