Minnesota United seeks its first home victory this season with Orlando in town

The Loons have had two draws this season at Allianz Field and three victories on the road.

April 14, 2023 at 10:57PM
Minnesota United's Raheem Edwards, left, and Orlando City's Joao Moutinho (4) battle for positon on the ball during the MLS is Back tournament at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. Orlando City won, 3-1. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS) ORG XMIT: 1736376
Fomer Loon Raheem Edwards, left, and Orlando City’s Joao Moutinho clashed the last time the Loons played Orlando City, in August 2020 in the MLS is Back tournament. (Stephen M. Dowell, Orlando Sentinel via TNS/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

7:30 p.m. vs. Orlando City SC * Allianz Field * Free to watch on Apple TV, 1500-AM

Preview: The 3-1-2 Loons return home seeking their first Allianz Field victory after draws with New York Red Bulls and Vancouver. They're coming off a 2-1 loss at Chicago last Saturday. That ended a three-game road winning streak that started the season. Orlando City arrives 2-2-2 but has played only two of its six games on the road (1-0-1). … Newly acquired South Korean striker Sang Bin Jeong made his MLS debut last Saturday. When asked if he'll be in the starting 11, Loons coach Adrian Heath said, "He'll be in the squad for tomorrow, yes." … The two teams haven't played a regular-season game since August 2019. Orlando City won 3-1 in the 2020 MLS is Back tournament semifinal. … Heath coached Orlando City for four seasons in his USL days and into its second MLS season. … Heath on Friday called veteran defender Bakaye Dibassy "80-85 percent" in his comeback from a season-ending ruptured quadriceps tendon last August. Heath said he's hopeful Dibassy could join his teammates in training in a "couple months."

Injuries: The Loons list Dibassy (ruptured quadriceps tendon), D Ryen Jiba (knee) and MF Emanuel Reynoso (suspended) as out. Orlando City lists D Michael Halliday (knee) as out.

about the writer

about the writer

Jerry Zgoda

Reporter

Jerry Zgoda covers Minnesota United FC and Major League Soccer for the Star Tribune.

See More

More from Soccer

card image

Minnesota started only two strikers against Seattle, leaving Sang Bin Jeong and Joseph Rosales to provide the width behind Teemu Pukki and Kelvin Yeboah.