Major League Soccer

Mar 2, 2025 at 12.30am UK

Orlando City Stadium

Orlando City vs Toronto

Match preview

It has been a less than ideal start to the 2025 season for Orlando City, who have conceded four goals to the Union, all of which have found the back of the net.

The four goals conceded in the first half must be a major concern for Oscar Pareja, who saw his side concede three or more goals on six occasions in this competition last year.

That, combined with their inability to convert their chances, contributed to their opening defeat as Orlando had nine shots on target and 55% of possession.

It was their second consecutive defeat at the Inter & Co Stadium in the regular season, dating back to last year, and they will be looking to avoid losing their first two home games of an MLS campaign for the first time in club history on Saturday.

A year ago, the Lions only lost two games in this competition when they scored first, and their opening day defeat puts them halfway there.

Last year, they took points from three of their four MLS meetings with Canadian opposition, but only managed to win one of those games, a 2-1 victory over Toronto at BMO Field in early July.

Resilience was the name of the game for Toronto in the season opener, as Robin Fraser's side twice came from behind to earn a point.

The result snapped a two-match losing streak in the competition dating back to the end of 2024 and marked the second successive season they have avoided defeat in their opening game.

Their two goals on the opening day were as many as they scored in their last five matches of the 2024 domestic campaign combined.

While a point is nice, this is a team who have dropped points in six consecutive league games and are winless in their last three away from home in the regular season.

In this competition last year, the Reds dropped 16 points after scoring the opening goal and six points after conceding the first.

One of those come-from-behind victories came in a 2-1 win over the Lions at the Inter & Co Stadium in April to end a three-match losing streak at the venue, with those three defeats coming by a combined score of 9-0.

Recent Performance

Orlando City Major League Soccer form:L

Toronto Major League Soccer form:D

Team News

On the opening day, Orlando were without Yutaro Tsukada due to a knee problem, Duncan McGuire with a sore shoulder and Favian Loyola with a thigh injury.

Marco Pasalic scored a brace in last week's defeat, becoming the first player in club history to do so on his debut, while Eduard Atuesta and Joran Gerbet also made their first appearances for the Lions.

Toronto could have Lorenzo Insigne available after the Italian trained this week, while former Arsenal defender Zane Monlouis made his debut off the bench and the club earlier this week sent Adam Pearlman on loan to Halifax Wanderers of the Canadian Premier League for the 2025 season.

Jonathan Osorio scored the Reds' first goal of the season against DC and Federico Bernardeschi equalised from the penalty spot with 20 minutes remaining.

Possible starting lineup

Orlando City possible starting lineup:

Gallese; Thorhallsson, Brekalo, Schlegel, Santos; Atuesta, Araujo; Pasalic, Ojeda, Angulo; Muriel

Toronto possible starting lineup:

Johnson; Monlouis, Long, Rosted; Laryea, Coello, Longstaff, Cimermancic; Osorio; Bernardeschi, Corbeanu