After a catastrophic 6-2 loss at Colorado last weekend and a 4-1 home win against El Paso in the Open Cup on Wednesday, the Houston Dynamo return to MLS action with a trip to Orlando City SC. This will be the Dynamo’s fifth game in Orlando, where they hold a record of 0W-1L-4D, most recently drawing and losing on PKs in the 2023 Leagues Cup.

Orlando has long been one of the most consistent clubs in MLS, making the playoffs in each of their last six seasons. However, they have been in awful form since last year’s Leagues Cup break, winning just three games and losing 11 out of the 18 matches they’ve played in all competitions. That poor run of form led to longtime head coach Oscar Pareja being sacked in mid-March.

Orlando has had an awful start that has left them bottom of the league in xG created (1.18 xG/90) and in goals conceded (3.4/90). Their only win of the season came at home to CF Montreal, and they only just picked up their second set of points at Columbus with a 1-1 draw. Orlando has conceded four goals to Miami, five goals to both NYCFC and Nashville, and a six-piece to LAFC.

Key Players

Martin Ojeda

Ojeda joined Orlando in 2023 and has been a consistent creator ever since; he had a breakout year last season with 20 goals and 13 assists in all competitions. The few times that Orlando has done well in the last 10 months have been thanks to great performances from Ojeda, who scored the winning goal against Montreal in Orlando’s sole win of the season.

Marco Pasalic

Pasalic is a graduate of the prestigious Borussia Dortmund academy, and while the winger didn’t find success with the Dortmund first team, he has found his place in MLS since joining as a DP last season. He scored 15 goals and tallied six assists last year.

Braian Ojeda

Braian Ojeda has been an MLS mainstay with over 110 appearances since joining Real Salt Lake from Nottingham Forest in 2022. Orlando acquired Ojeda from RSL for $1.8 million in GAM this last window. While Ojeda hasn’t found his form in Orlando yet, he will be one of the keys to the team as they look to turn around their poor start to the year.

Head Coach

Martin Perelman

After Pareja’s sacking, Orlando City appointed assistant coach Martin Perelman as interim manager as they seek to recover their season. After two poor away losses to Nashville and LAFC where Orlando conceded 11 goals, Perelman got his first points away at Columbus last weekend with a 1-1 draw. The 39-year-old Argentinian will be looking to get a positive result in his first home game as coach this weekend.

Last Five Matches

March 14 - Orlando 2-1 Montreal
March 21 - Nashville 5-0 Orlando
April 4 - LAFC 6-0 Orlando
April 12 - Columbus 1-1 Orlando
April 15 - Naples 0-1 Orlando (USOC)

Last Match Staring XI (from Fotmob)

Here’s how El Paso lined up for their last MLS game, a 1-1 draw at Columbus.

2026 Roster

Goalkeepers: Javier Otero, Maxime Crepeau

Defenders: Adrian Marin, David Brekalo, Robin Jansson, Zakaria Taifi, Nolan Miller, Griffin Dorsey, Tahir Reid-Brown, Iago

Midfielders: Luis Otavio, Braian Ojeda, Martin Ojeda, Wilder Cartagena, Eduard Atuesta, Colin Guske, Joran Gerbet, Gustavo Caraballo

Forwards: Tiago, Duncan McGuire, Tyrese Spicer, Justin Ellis, Harvey Sarajian, Yutaro Tsukada, Ivan Angulo, Marco Pasalic

Enemy Scouting Report: Orlando City SC

Previewing Houston Dynamo at Orlando City with The Mane Land