The Road Ahead, driven by Audi: Orlando City SC at Philadelphia Union

Milestones, storylines and more ahead of the Lions away match at Philadelphia Union in "The Road Ahead" driven by Audi:

Milestones

- Martín Ojeda’s next goal will tie Facundo Torres’ Orlando City club record of 47 career tallies. Ojeda is three assists away from Mauricio Pereyra’s club record, also 47.

- Daryl Dike’s next goal will be his 22nd for the club, tying former teammate Chris Mueller for ninth on the Lions’ all-time scoring list. 

- Marco Pašalić is two goals away from 20 for the club across all competitions, three behind Dike.

Stats & Storylines

- Orlando City hits the road this weekend for a six-pointer against the red-hot Philadelphia Union ahead of the international break. This year, FIFA switched its international calendar from two separate one-week breaks in September and October to one combined two-week break. MLS, along with Liga MX, is playing through the first of the two weekends, which coincides with this match.

- Due to international competition, Orlando City will be without five players for Saturday’s game: attackers Justin Ellis (United States), Tyrese Spicer (Trinidad & Tobago), and Marco Pašalić (Croatia), midfielder Wilder Cartagena (Peru), and defender David Brekalo (Slovenia).

- Ellis could make his United States Men’s National Team debut at home; the U.S. kicks off its four-match window with a friendly against Peru at Inter.co Stadium on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET. Ellis is joined on the U.S. roster by former Lion Alex Freeman, while Peru’s squad features Cartagena and former City stars Pedro Gallese and Yoshimar Yotún. 

- Orlando City will have to make due without several regulars in Philadelphia in what is suddenly a massive fixture. Philadelphia enters the game two points and one spot ahead of Orlando in the Eastern Conference standings. 

- Martín Ojeda inched one goal closer to history with his penalty kick finish against the New England Revolution last weekend. Ojeda’s 46 career goals, including a team-high 13 in 2026, leave him one shy of Facundo Torres’ club record of 47. The Argentine has scored in two straight games in all competitions as he continues to round into form after a midseason thigh injury. 

- Iván Angulo continued the best goalscoring form of his Orlando career last weekend, scoring for the third consecutive MLS match while playing three different positions across the 90 minutes (right back, left wing, left back). Angulo is up to 4g/10a in all competitions this season.

Series History

All-time vs. Philadelphia - 8-9-7, -8 GD (4-3-4, -1 GD home)

MLS only vs. Philadelphia - 7-8-7, -8 GD (3-3-4, -2 GD home)

2015 - D 0-0 (H), L 1-0 (A)

2016 - L 2-1 (A), D 2-2 (H), W 0-2 (A)

2017 - W 2-1 (H), L 6-1 (A)

2018 - W 0-2 (A), L 1-0 (A/USOC), D 2-2 (H)

2019 - L 1-3 (H), D 2-2 (A)

2020 - D 1-1 (N)

2021 - W 2-1 (H), L 3-1 (A)

2022 - W 2-1 (H/USOC), L 0-1 (H), L 5-1 (A)

2023 - W 1-2 (A), D 2-2 (H)

2024 - W 2-3 (A), W 2-1 (H)

2025 - L 2-4 (H), D 0-0 (A)

2026 - W 4-3 (H)

Meet the opponent: Philadelphia Union

- Philadelphia has been the single hottest team in MLS since the World Cup, going 9W-0L-2D in regular-season play since restarting the campaign in July under interim head coach Ryan Richter. The Union were 1W-10L-4D and sitting dead last in the league table after the first half of the season, but have put together a historic turnaround to climb back to .500 and up to sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

- The good news for Orlando is that Philadelphia will also be down five starters due to international duty, headlined by 16-year-old attacking wunderkind Cavan Sullivan. The soon-to-be U.S. international has enjoyed a massive breakout over the past month, posting 6g/8a over his past eight matches. Sullivan scored his first-ever MLS goal against Orlando City at Inter.co Stadium back in May and could make his United States debut in the same building on Saturday.

- Sullivan will be joined on the U.S. roster by fellow young Americans Frankie Westfield, a 20-year-old right back, and Neil Pierre, an 18-year-old center back who stands at a towering 6-foot-7 inches tall. Both Westfield and Pierre have been key starters for the Union in their resurgence. Philly will also be without veterans Danley Jean Jacques (Haiti) and Andre Blake (Jamaica) this weekend.

- Orlando City beat Philadelphia in a thrilling 4-3 contest back on May 13. Martín Ojeda scored twice for Orlando, including a 90’ winner. Ojeda has 4g/3a in seven career matches against the Union.