Columbus Crew set out in search of a fourth away win on the bounce when they journey to the Exploria Stadium to square off with Orlando City on Saturday.
Oscar Pareja's men have failed to win in any of their last four home matches heading into the weekend and will be looking to end this poor run.
Match preview
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Orlando City continued their strong form away from home as they picked up a hard-fought 1-0 victory over San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park last Sunday.
With nothing to separate the two sides heading into the stoppage time, 24-year-old forward Jack Lynn came up clutch for the visitors as he netted an 88th-minute winner to hand the Quakes their 10th league defeat of the season.
Orlando City have now gone unbeaten in each of their four games on the road since a 2-0 loss at Atlanta United on March 18, claiming three wins and one draw while scoring nine goals and conceding six in that time.
Pareja's men will need to be at their best this weekend as they return home, where they have failed to win their last four home games, picking up two points from a possible 12 since March's 2-0 victory over Austin FC.
Like Orlando City, Columbus Crew picked up another impressive away victory last Saturday as they edged out Chicago Fire 3-1 when the sides met at the Soldier Field Stadium.
Diego Rossi and Christian Ramirez scored in either half to put the Crew in a commanding lead, and after Carlos Teran pulled one back in the 85th minute, Jacen Russell-Rowe struck three minutes later to overcome a late comeback scare.
Columbus Crew have now gone unbeaten in 11 of their last 12 matches across all competitions — picking up five wins and six draws — with a 2-1 defeat against FC Cincinnati at Lower.com Field on May 12 being the exception.
This fine run of results has seen Wilfried Nancy's men reach the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup after seeing off Houston Dynamo and Tigres before thrashing Mexican outfit Monterrey 5-2 in the semi-finals.
With 21 points from 13 matches, the Crew are currently seventh in the Eastern Conference standings, five points and three places above Saturday's hosts, and level on points with sixth-placed Charlotte FC.
Team News
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Orlando City will take to the pitch without the defensive duo of Robin Jansson and Michael Halliday, who are currently recuperating from ankle and knee injuries respectively.
Teenage defender Tahir Reid-Brown has also missed each of the Lions' last seven games through a thigh problem and is out of contention for this Saturday's matchup.
Ramiro Enrique has been sidelined since coming off with an ankle injury against Tigres on March 13 and the Argentine striker will also play no part in this weekend's game.
Columbus Crew, meanwhile, will have to cope without 25-year-old forward Cucho Hernandez, who has missed the last two matches since sustaining an injury against FC Cincinnati on May 12.
He is joined on the club's injury table by veteran goalkeeper Evan Bush, who has been out of action since picking up an arm injury in the goalless draw against Real Salt Lake on April 14.
Orlando City possible starting lineup:
Gallese; Thorhallsson, Brekalo, Schlegel; Lodeiro, Martins, Cartagena, Angulo; Torres, McGuire, Muriel
Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Schulte; Moreira, Camacho, Cheberko; Farsi, Nagbe, Morris, Sands; Hinestroza, Rossi, Ramirez
We say: Orlando City 2-2 Columbus Crew
The last seven meetings between Orlando City and Columbus Crew have produced a combined 28 goals and we anticipate another action-packed contest at the Exploria Stadium. Both sides have put together a solid run of results in recent weeks and we predict that they will cancel out each other's efforts.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
