Two clubs on contrasting trajectories in Major League Soccer face off at Inter&Co Stadium, where Orlando City welcome Charlotte FC for a matchday 13 fixture.
The hosts are unbeaten in nine matches across all competitions and will be keen to extend that run, while the visitors arrive having suffered three successive defeats.
Match preview
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Having begun the 2025 campaign with two losses in their opening three league matches, Orlando have since rediscovered their rhythm, thanks largely to their defensive solidity.
Oscar Pareja‘s side have won three times during their ongoing unbeaten streak in the top flight, keeping five consecutive clean sheets before a recent six-goal thriller at home.
That match saw Martin Ojeda net a hat-trick against New England Revolution on Sunday, but the Lions failed to hold on to their lead, ultimately settling for a dramatic 3-3 draw after conceding a late equaliser.
Orlando have now scored 21 goals this term and conceded 15, a return that places them eighth in the Eastern Conference standings and 14th overall as the table begins to take shape.
They will be determined to avoid going two home games without a win for the first time this season, having secured three victories from six fixtures on their own patch so far, with the Lions’s only defeat at Inter&Co coming on the opening day against Philadelphia Union.
Much of their success at the ground has been built on a vibrant attack that has struck at least twice in five of those six top-flight outings, an encouraging sign heading into this encounter.
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Meanwhile, Charlotte make the trip to Florida in need of a spark, having seen their strong start fade in recent weeks, with Dean Smith‘s men slipping after winning six of their first nine league matches.
That solid early run has been followed by defeats to New England Revolution, Columbus Crew and, most recently, a narrow 2-1 loss to Nashville SC, which has dropped the Crown to sixth in the East and 10th overall.
Their recent defensive vulnerabilities have been especially costly, with seven goals conceded in their last three matches, matching the total they allowed across the opening nine.
The visitors will also be wary of their recent record at Inter&Co, where they have lost not found success on their last three visits, and while the most recent ended in a penalty loss, the previous two were 2-0 defeats.
Their current form on the road also leaves much to be desired, with Charlotte losing four of their six league trips this term, while the Crown’s only away win came against basement side CF Montreal.
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Team News
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Favian Loyola remains sidelined for the hosts as he continues recovery from a torn muscle bundle, while Eduard Atuesta is doubtful, having missed the past two top-flight outings through injury.
The burden in attack will fall on Marco Pasalic, Luis Muriel and Ojeda, with the trio responsible for 16 of Orlando’s 21 league goals so far in the 2025 campaign.
As for Charlotte, Smith’s squad is threadbare heading into this midweek trip, with a growing list of injury concerns disrupting selection.
Souleymane Doumbia, Jahlane Forbes, Pep Biel and Brandon Cambridge are all ruled out as they remain sidelined with hamstring issues.
The visitors are also without Nathan Byrne and Nimfasha Berchimas, who are continuing their recovery from neck and foot injuries, respectively.
Luis Abada found the net for the fourth time this season in the defeat to Nashville SC, making him the club’s leading scorer, and he will be relied upon to stretch the flanks and offer attacking thrust alongside Patrick Agyemang.
Orlando City possible starting lineup:
Gallese; Freeman, Schlegel, Jansson, Brekalo; Araujo, Gerbet; Pasalic, Ojeda, Angulo; Muriel
Charlotte FC possible starting lineup:
Kahlina; Marshal-Rutty, Ream, Malanda, Scardina; Bronico, Westwood; Zaha, Biel, Abada; Agyemang
We say: Orlando City 3-1 Charlotte FC
Orlando are firing on all cylinders in the final third and have made their turf a difficult hunting ground, which spells further concern for a Charlotte side that have faltered defensively and rarely enjoyed success at Inter&Co in recent times.
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