NYCFC vs Orlando City SC preview: Can NYCFC win one more match before the MLS break?

New York City FC will look to end the road trip with a victory after losing and picking up two draws. With the five-match home stand earlier in the season, the opposite was bound to come up as they had four straight away games in July. After a promising performance against Atlanta United FC, NYCFC looks to end the road trip in the win column. However, they have some obstacles to jump through. 

Saturday might be one of their most difficult matches on the road trip with Orlando riding a four-match winning streak since the Boys in Blue defeated them at the end of last month. They did score four goals against them but conceded two. This time, the home team's number one goalkeeper Pedro Gallese is back following his stay at the Copa América with Peru. This game can go either way, with Orlando struggling to win in their stadium with a 3-5-3 record at Inter&Co Stadium.  

NYCFC does not want to fall down the table as they still sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. It was positive to see Mounsef Bakrar smiling and scoring goals after a rough few months. Talles Magno also played in his second game and was fantastic, making him a choice on the attack again. There were some concerns regarding the injured players. Thankfully, it appears that almost everyone is healthy.

The only way that NYCFC could leave Orlando with a win is with solid defending and a strong attack. Here is the preview of the match between NYCFC and Orlando City SC.  

Date 

NYCFC and Orlando SC will play each other on Saturday, July 20.  

Time 

The game is at 7:30 PM ET. 

Location 

The match is set to take place at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, FL. 

How to watch 

Fans can watch the match on Apple TV through the MLS Season Pass.  

Weather 

Summertime in Florida is always difficult as it is set to be a high of 93 degrees by 3 PM. The good news is the temperature is set to drop to around 80 at kickoff. There is a 60 percent chance of rain, which could also cause thunderstorms due to the warm weather in the area.  

Injury Report 

The injury list is thankfully smaller again. Malachi Jones (right leg) and Andrés Perea (right leg) are unavailable for Saturday.

Players to watch 

Fans should keep an eye out for Magno. He looks fit and ready to prove himself to Nick Cushing and the NYCFC fans that he is here to stay. He would also be a good choice in the attack following the injuries and fatigue of some players. If he starts, the Brazilian could start as the left-winger, where he has proven to be successful in the past.  

NYCFC should watch out for Wilder Cartagena. He recently returned from the Copa América with Peru and is always difficult on the defensive side of the pitch. Despite no natural goal scorers on the team, Orlando could always have a surprise attack in the final third, with a chance to score in a set-piece situation.  

Prediction  

NYCFC won the first match against Orlando at home. Therefore, Orlando could take a win on their home soil. Either a 2-1 or 1-0 loss could happen, but the best-case scenario is that the Boys in Blue have a stellar match and take a close 1-0 win.