Orlando City host D.C. United with the Eastern playoff cut line in sight
Orlando hold the last automatic spot; D.C. sit three points short of the line and need points.
Orlando City host D.C. United at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday night (7:30 p.m. ET) in a game that matters most to the teams fighting for the bottom of the Eastern Conference playoff field.
The table
Orlando are seventh at 11-13-5 with 38 points, per The Mane Land's preview, which describes that as the last playoff spot that avoids the Wild Card play-in. D.C. United are 12th at 7-9-12 with 33 points. A Yardbarker report on the Eastern race describes seven teams between seventh and 13th separated by six points and competing for the bottom three playoff places, and says both clubs have six matches left, all against teams in that group. D.C. and FC Cincinnati have played one fewer game, with a rescheduled match on October 21. By The Mane Land's math, an Orlando win would put them eight points clear of D.C.
Form
Both teams played Wednesday. Orlando drew 3-3 at Toronto FC after conceding a late equaliser. D.C. beat the New York Red Bulls 2-1 at home despite playing the final 22 minutes a man down after Lucas Bartlett was sent off. Bartlett is suspended for this game.
The venue favours Orlando on paper. They are 8-4-2 at home and have won their last four there. D.C. are 2-4-7 on the road and winless (0-3-4) in their last seven away games, according to The Mane Land.
The last meeting went D.C.'s way: a 3-2 home win on April 25. The Mane Land lists the all-time MLS series as 9-10-3 in D.C.'s favour.
Who to watch
Tai Baribo leads D.C. with 15 goals. For Orlando, Martin Ojeda has 14 goals and three assists, and Antoine Griezmann has 10 goals and six assists, per Yardbarker. Justin Ellis leads the team with 10 assists but was listed as doubtful with an illness in the Yardbarker preview.
Orlando also have defensive concerns. The same report notes they have conceded 69 goals, the most in the East. Absences listed by The Mane Land include Robin Jansson (foot surgery), Griffin Dorsey (back), Vinicius Nogueira (shoulder) and Tyrese Spicer (foot). D.C. are missing Louis Munteanu, Hosei Kijima and Gabe Segal with lower-body issues alongside the suspended Bartlett.
Why it matters
Orlando's cushion is only five points over the teams just outside the picture, and they have an interim coach, Martin Perelman, according to Yardbarker. For D.C., with games in hand and six left, a win keeps the playoff line within reach; a loss would leave a larger gap with fewer games to close it. The numbers say this is a game both sides need, but the table does not decide who gets it: Orlando's leaky defence and D.C.'s poor road record are both live factors.
Torch will have a full report after the final whistle.