Unbeaten Lions look for win at DC United

After nearly two full years without a match against one another, Orlando City is taking to the road to face off against D.C. United on Sunday.

The D.C. United team the Lions face this weekend is markedly different than the last team they played. The club hired new coach Hernán Losada in the offseason and just 14 players remain from the 2019 roster.

But when the teams kick off at 8 p.m. ET on WRBW 65 and ESPN+, winger Chris Mueller said the team is prepared for a return to on-field absurdity that often came from past matchups against D.C. United.

“Games versus D.C. United have always been interesting,” Mueller said. “We typically had Wayne Rooney scoring crazy goals against us, so thankfully he’s gone and won’t have an opportunity to do that anymore.”

The Lions are similarly changed since their last matchup with D.C. in 2019 following a roster overhaul and the addition of coach Oscar Pareja ahead of last season. This match marks the first time that Losada and Pareja have faced one another as coaches.

As the new coach works to mold his team to a new style of play, Pareja said D.C. is in a similar position to the Lions at the same time last season.

“I understand the urgency that D.C. United has had in order to get some results with a new coach now,” Pareja said.

Defense continues to be a strong suit for the Lions, who have allowed only two goals — a league-low tied with Seattle — so far this season.

This consistency comes despite injuries throughout the defense. The Lions started the year with starters Robin Jansson and João Moutinho injured, relying on backups Rodrigo Schlegel and Kyle Smith to hold down the left side of the backline.

Jansson and Moutinho both are cleared to play this weekend as they inch back toward starting shape. Defender Ruan could be questionable for the game after exiting the last match at halftime with a lower body injury, but he returned to training this week with a “green light” from the medical staff.

While the defense remains stalwart, the Lions still are seeking goal production outside of Nani, who scored in the last three matches to fuel three of the team’s five goals on the season.

Despite a slow goal-scoring start, new attacking additions such as Matheus Aiás, Alexander Alvarado and Silvester van der Water have yet to see meaningful minutes.

Following the injury of starting striker Pato in the home opener, Pareja said he’s focused on balancing each player’s usage in the lineup.

“At this stage of the season, we normally have plenty of players with a lot of desire to play and make the lineup,” Pareja said. “Not just the desire, but I think that they have not just the capacity but they have the talent to face any team and be part of the lineup. But at the same times you have to equate the fact that you want to have consistency with some of the players or a group that needs to add some games, and get some momentum and some rhythm.”

The road match comes after the Lions played three of their first four games of the season at home.

Mueller noted the slowed pace of the 2021 season has taken some of the pressure off travel for players. This has allowed players to rest and catch their breath better between games more than in last year’s condensed and rushed season due to the pandemic.

Although certain parts of COVID-19 protocol remain — the Lions will still fly out and back on Sunday to limit exposure while traveling — team-wide vaccinations have allowed the team to return to a more normal lifestyle than last year.

Pareja’s system is styled to remain the same whether the Lions are at Exploria Stadium or in rival territory. The team showed that in its first road match of the year against Sporting KC, dominating possession and pelting their opponent with shots despite the field disadvantage.

Defender Smith said the Lions plan to play a similarly aggressive style in D.C. on Sunday.

“You don’t want to change your style of play; you want to play your game and let the opponent adapt to you,” Smith said. “We can win on the road. I don’t think we should change the way we play just because we’re on the road because we can beat any team in this league, no matter if we’re on the road or not.”