Can LA Galaxy Break Winless Streak Against Orlando City?

CARSON, Calif. — The Los Angeles Galaxy, current Major League Soccer champions, will host Orlando City SC at Dignity Health Sports Park this Sunday as both teams seek redemption early in the 2025 season.

Having begun the season with five matches without a win, the Galaxy find themselves under pressure as they aim to boost their performance. In stark contrast, Orlando City enters the match following a much-needed 4-1 victory over D.C. United last week, positioning them favorably in the Eastern Conference standings.

Historically, the Galaxy found formidable form at the end of the 2024 season, winning their closing five matches while scoring 18 goals. However, this season has seen a troubling decline, with the team conceding 10 goals while managing to score only four. “We have to find a way to get back on form,” Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said. “We can’t continue to drop points like this.”

In their latest fixtures, the Galaxy have faced difficulties, especially at home, where they have allowed half of the goals conceded this season. They will need to tighten their defense and find a way to convert scoring opportunities against Orlando City. The Galaxy’s attacking struggles stand in contrast to last year’s impressive performance, where they averaged almost 14 goals in the same number of matches.

Orlando City arrives at Dignity Health Sports Park with renewed confidence after their dominant win last week, pulling them to seventh place in the Eastern Conference with 7 points from five matches. “We want to build on this momentum,” said head coach Oscar Pareja. “Winning away will be challenging, but we’ve come close before.” However, the squad has struggled in away matches, with their last away victory dating back to October.

Both teams face key injury concerns ahead of the weekend match. LA Galaxy’s center-back faces a hamstring injury and is ruled out, adding to the team’s worries on defense. Meanwhile, Orlando City will miss as he recovers from a tendon injury and another defender who is nursing a knee issue. Yet, they remain optimistic about another outstanding performance as they have won three of their last five matchups against the Galaxy.

The both teams are also looking to define their squad strategy early in the season. The Galaxy are expected to start John McCarthy in goal, backed by a solid defense of Maya Yoshida and Miki Yamane. Orlando City, on the other hand, might deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation, hoping for contributions from their freshest talents.

Kickoff for the match is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT on Sunday. The Galaxy will be eager to mark their first win of the campaign, while Orlando City aims to keep their upswing alive.