Orlando City heads to the Big Apple for the first away match of the season. The Lions will take on New York City FC in the worst venue in MLS — Yankee Stadium. Orlando City is looking to earn the first points of the season after two straight losses. Away matches are typically difficult in MLS and nowhere moreso than on a baseball field. What must Orlando City do to earn all three points against NYCFC Saturday night?

The Back Line…Again

I know that right now it feels like I could copy and paste this section week to week, but since the player availability keeps changing, I do need to update the particulars. We know that Colin Guske (although he does not play on the back line, he helps shield it) will serve a red card suspension in this match, and it’s likely that Orlando City will also be without Nathan Miller at center back. Despite the experience level of the two players, this is not good news for the Lions.

Guske has done well since coming on for Wilder Cartagena in the first match, and Miller has arguably been Orlando City’s best center back so far. The loss of Guske isn’t as bad because midfield is a position of strength for the Lions and Eduard Atuesta’s return remedies Guske’s absence. Center back is not a position of strength for the Lions and that means Iago must continue to improve at a rapid pace. He did better against Inter Miami than the New York Red Bulls, but that may not be good enough this weekend.

This defense will need to do better for the full 90 minutes against the likes of Nicolas Fernandez, Hannes Wolf, and Augustin Ojeda — that’s right, they have their own Ojeda. That’s not to mention perennial pain in the Lions’ rear, Maxi Morales. Hopefully, everyone can go the full 90 minutes.

All the Goals

Orlando City did well in the first half against Inter Miami with both Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic scoring goals. That is a good and necessary thing for Designated Players to do, and I need them to do it again this Saturday. I also need Duncan McGuire to start scoring again. We know he can do it, I just need it to happen so he remembers he can do it.

Orlando City’s attack will have to deal with a back line consisting of Thiago Martins, Raul Gustavo, Kevin O’Toole, and Tayvon Gray. The biggest challenge might be the man in goal, Matt Freese, who is a top-notch MLS level keeper. NYCFC has only allowed one goal each match so far this season and that was against Philadelphia and LAFC. Given the state of Orlando City’s defense, the Lions will likely need to score more than one goal if they want to win.

Jekyll or Hyde?

Despite the loss to New York Red Bulls, Maxime Crepeau looked every bit the shot stopper Orlando City needed despite sketchy distribution. He was also good in the first half against Miami…and most of the second, except when he wasn’t. So, which version of Crepeau will we get in either half or both?

To be fair to Crepeau, he has the second-highest number of saves so far this season at 15. That’s also an indictment of the defense. However, he is also tied for second in goals allowed at six. His passing and distribution will be even more important on the baseball field masquerading as a soccer pitch that is Yankee Stadium.

That is what I will be looking for Saturday night. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!