Orlando City welcome Seattle Sounders to the Exploria Stadium on Thursday aiming to pick up a fourth consecutive Major League Soccer victory.

On the other hand, the visiting team make the trip to Florida looking to return to winning ways having failed to win any of their last four matches.

Match preview

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Orlando City secured a first league triumph on home turf since July as they saw off the threat of New York City in a 2-1 victory on Monday.

Oscar Pareja's men broke the deadlock early on through Junior Urso, but they were pegged back by Maximiliano Moralez after which Tesho Akindele netted a late winner to decide the game.

The Lions are fifth in the Eastern Conference as it stands, but their place in the playoffs is far from guaranteed with just four points separating them from FC Cincinnati in eighth.

Coming up next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who are yet to lose any of the previous six meetings between the teams, picking up four victories and two draws.

Having let in the joint second-most goal on home turf so far, Thursday's hosts will need to tighten up at the back if they are to come out on top here.

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Seattle Sounders failed to win on the road for the sixth game running following a 2-1 defeat versus Portland Timbers at the Providence Park on Saturday.

Brian Schmetzer's men went behind to Yeimar Gomez's eighth-minute strike before hitting back through goals in either half from Dairon Asprilla and Sebastian Blanco.

The Rave Green have slipped to 10th place in the Western Conference standings, four points shy of the last playoff place having played a game more than Los Angeles Galaxy.

With no wins from their last six matches on the road, Thursday's visitors have it all to do in this one as they seek to avoid coming away empty-handed from another outing on enemy territory.

Team News

Alexandre Pato has missed each of Orlando City's last two involvements due to a muscle problem and he is a major injury concern for this one.

Midfielder Joseph DeZart remains without an appearance since May due to a knee problem, while Jack Lynn continues to nurse a leg injury.

Tesho Akindele came off the bench to get on the scoresheet for the second straight match last time out, and he could be rewarded with a place in the starting XI this time.

Joao Paulo is a guaranteed absentee for Seattle Sounders here as the Brazilian is yet to fully recuperate from a long-term knee injury.

The away side are also set to be without the services of 17-year-old Obed Vargas, who is currently battling with a damaged ankle.

Orlando City possible starting lineup:
Gallese; Moutinho, Schlegel, Carlos, Ruan; Junior, Cartagena; Michel, Torres, Mulraney; Kara

Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:
Frei; Tolo, Arreaga, Gomez; Rowe, Leyva, Rusnak, Roldan; Lodeiro, Ruidiaz, Morris

We say: Orlando City 1-0 Seattle Sounders

Given the current form of both sides heading into this one, Orlando City will be expected to carry the day, and coupled with the added advantage of playing on their own patch, we are predicting a home victory at the end of the 90 minutes.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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