‘Confident’ Lions eager to clash with stingy Toronto

Orlando City returns home after two games on the road looking to continue climbing up the MLS table.

Come-from-behind results against D.C. United and CF Montréal give the Lions optimism heading into a challenging weekend matchup.

Orlando (2-3-3, 9 points) takes on Toronto FC (4-4-1, 13 points) at Inter&Co Stadium tonight (MLS Season Pass, 7:30).

Toronto has always been a tough matchup. The sides are 8-8-3 against each other since Orlando’s debut MLS season in 2015. The good news for the Lions is they have not lost to Toronto here since ’19.

That home-field advantage is vital for Orlando, with only one loss this season in front of the home crowd.

“It’s good to be back at home in front of the fans and to play at our stadium. So we’re very confident going into this game,” Lions defender Kyle Smith said. “We’ve been unbeaten in the past few matches, so we’re ready for it.”

One of Orlando’s biggest strengths has been players coming off the bench to make a difference.

Forwards Duncan McGuire and Martin Ojeda have given the Lions fresh legs in the second half to earn much-needed points in the last few matches.

That roster depth will be called upon against Toronto, which has kept five clean sheets, the most in MLS.

“It helps when you have someone like Duncan coming in at the end of the game and everyone knows that he can score goals, change the game, as well as all the other subs we have that come on,” Smith added.

“We have dangerous players coming off the bench every single game, so that helps guys when they see those people coming in.

“We’re confident they can get a goal.”

Argentine forward Ramiro Enrique (right ankle) is the only Lions player who’ll be unavailable for the MLS East match.