Orlando City returns to MLS play Saturday night, hosting the Houston Dynamo as the Lions look to replicate the home form that earned them a victory over CF Montreal earlier this season.<\/p>\n
The Lions (1-5-1, 4 points) take on the Dynamo (2-4-0, 6 points) at Inter&Co Stadium at 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
\u201cHouston is a strong team. They have a good roster. We respect them like we respect all the opponents,\u201d Orlando interim head coach Mart\u00edn Perelman said. \u201cWe are thinking\u00a0on us, working our ways, our\u00a0strategies, preparing the game like always.\u201d<\/p>\n
Orlando enters the match following a U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 victory Wednesday. Perelman utilized a heavily rotated lineup to rest his regular starters, securing a 1-0 road win over USL League One side FC Naples behind a goal from forward Tyrese Spicer. Orlando City booked a Round of 16 matchup at the New England Revolution on April 29 with the winning result.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no better training than the competition. So that\u2019s something we take as the best training session we can have, the competition,\u201d Perelman added about the team\u2019s preparation on short rest. \u201cAnd then we rest, we recover, we do a lot of video sessions, some short sessions on the field. That\u2019s it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Back in league play, Orlando faces a Houston squad navigating its own early-season struggles. The Dynamo sit 12th in the Western Conference table and have allowed 16 goals. For an Orlando attack trying to establish a consistent rhythm, Saturday offers a chance to capitalize on a leaky defense and gain ground in the Eastern Conference standings.<\/p>\n