Perelman urges Orlando to stop conceding costly goals ahead of D.C. United
Orlando City interim coach calls for defensive fix before D.C. United clash
Orlando City host Eastern Conference rivals D.C. United on Saturday as the race for the play-off places intensifies, with interim head coach Martin Perelman urging his side to stop conceding goals "that cost us too much".
Orlando are seventh in the Eastern Conference with five regular-season games to go following a 3-3 draw with Toronto FC on Wednesday. Martin Ojeda, Antoine Griezmann and Daryl Dike scored for the Lions, but they conceded an 89th-minute equaliser to Matheus Pereira.
Only Sporting Kansas City with 72 have conceded more goals in MLS this season than Orlando with 69, who have shipped 13 goals in their last four matches.
"I think at the end of the day, we concede goals that cost us too much and force mistakes," said Perelman. "Maybe we need to improve there, but as well, it's true that the team dominated the game and in normal situations we would win."
"It was a point. It's not what we wanted because we wanted to win. Things to improve like always, but at the same time, great effort from the players, personality to play there. The effort was there, the performance, as well, and that's it. It's a point on the road. Now we continue on our journey until the end."
Opposition in form
D.C. United are 12th in the East but just five points behind upcoming opponents Orlando and with a game in hand. Rene Weiler's side defeated New York Red Bulls 2-1 last time out as Tai Baribo starred with a goal and an assist to end their four-game winless run.
Players to watch
Orlando City – Antoine Griezmann
Griezmann had a goal and an assist in Orlando City's draw at Toronto on Wednesday and now has 16 goal contributions, 10 goals and six assists, in 13 MLS matches. He has been involved in at least one goal in 11 of those 13 matches, including the last nine in a row.
D.C. United – Tai Baribo
Baribo scored his 15th goal of the regular season in D.C. United's win over NYRB on Wednesday, nine more than any other player for the club this year. Only Raul Diaz Arce with 23 in 1996, Roy Lassiter with 18 in 1998 and Luciano Emilio with 20 in 2006 scored more in their first MLS season with D.C.
Form guide
Orlando's 3-3 draw with Toronto marked their 22nd consecutive match with a goal in all competitions, setting a new club record ahead of a 21-game streak in 2025. The Lions have not been shut out since a 2-0 defeat at CF Montreal on May 9.
D.C., meanwhile, are winless in six straight away matches in all competitions, D4 L2, last winning on the road on May 3 at New York City FC. United have managed just five wins in 31 away matches in all competitions since the start of 2025, D11 L15.
They ended a four-match winless run against Orlando, D1 L3, with a 3-2 home victory on April 25. United can even the all-time series with a win in this match, as Orlando have won 10 of the 23 meetings in all competitions to D.C.'s nine wins, D4.
Opta win probability: Orlando City 54.4%, Draw 23.4%, D.C. United 22.2%.