What’s better than heading into the next MNUFC game on the back of a 5-1 win? Heading into the next MNUFC home game on the back of a 5-1 win. Subtle, I know, but it makes all the difference. Now, with Allianz Field ready to welcome the boys home, it’s time for another cross-conference showdown against a team from the southeast corner of the country, with Orlando City set to come to town this weekend. 

Minnesota United (7-7-7)

Run of Form: W-L-D-W-D (All Competitions)

Not long ago, that run of form had a few more L’s sprinkled in. With just one loss in their last five games, though, your Loons seem to have found something that works recently. A promising end to Leagues Cup set the stage for a successful return to MLS action, and a draw against a strong RSL side saw Head Coach Cameron Knowles and the boys carry some of that momentum with them. A disappointing home loss to Atlanta seemingly woke the squad up, spurring a 5-1 goal-explosion against San Jose. While it’s not without its hiccups, this is the best run of form MNUFC has had for some time. 

Orlando City SC (7-11-3)

Run of Form: W-L-D-D-L (All Competitions)

At ninth in the Eastern Conference, Orlando is having a similar season to your Loons in many ways. They’ve proven capable of success, but misfortune and a few weaknesses have seen them fall further down the table than they hoped at the start of the season. The arrival of Antoine Griezmann has brought an interesting cutting edge to the squad, elevating their ceiling and making them genuine threats to pick up points in every match. Much like the Loons, they’ll be hoping that this match could be part of a form revival. 

Keys to the Match:

Creatures of Habit

Strikers are a breed of their own, aren’t they? MNUFC forward Kelvin Yeboah already has 10 goals this season, his highest single-season goal-total in a Loons shirt. His brace against San Jose was the glorious end of an eight-game goal drought, and his performance taught us quite a bit about the mindset of an elite striker. Oftentimes, the psychological profile of a talented goal scorer looks something like this: technically gifted, creative, and intuitive. That makes for a player that can beat defenders, find space, and keep up with the game. When that kind of player is in a rut, though, the second and third attributes tend to get stretched. The best cure? Scoring a dang goal, of course. Yeboah scored seven goals in his first 12 games in 2026, getting himself on the scoresheet a season-high three games in a row back in April. His confidence — and the confidence of many exceptional strikers — is inherently tied to output, and that couldn’t have been more clear on Saturday night. The relief after that first finish in the 40th minute appeared to have energized the forward, giving him the belief to try that audacious chip in the 44th minute. When it rains, it pours for strikers. Now, the question is, how can we make sure the storms keep coming?

The Secret Formula

The Loons have spent most of 2026 experimenting and alternating between a few different shapes and lineups. With a variety of profiles available on the bench, they’ve got the flexibility to drastically alter their approach by swapping just a handful of players in the lineup. If Saturday night is anything to go by, though, I reckon they’ve found a shape worth repeating. The 5-2-1-2 may have left exceptional talents like Tomás Chancalay and Bongokuhle Hlongwane on the bench, but it got the best out of this squad by utilizing its strongest elements. The back-five is a must-have, the wingbacks are central to this team’s identity, and the double pivot makes it all work. Joaquín Pereyra has proven to be one of the league’s most creative midfield forces, and allowing him to be the lone engine of the attack worked out wonderfully. Add the highly-mobile presence of Yeboah next to the patient, central positioning of Marcus Caldeira up top, and the Loons were able to fill space perfectly, allowing each individual to shine. Squad rotation is a hot topic these days, but for a team that’s starting to find form, a little bit of consistency could go a long way toward keeping the ball rolling.

Griezmann and…

It’s no secret that Antoine Griezmann is the star of this Orlando side — more on that in Storylines this week. But who else should you be worried about ahead of this match? Well, with Martín Ojeda out, the Lions will need other faces to step up and support their new Frenchman, and that very well might come in a familiar form. USMNT striker Daryl Dike is back in Florida after a journey across the pond to play with West Brom, joining last month and getting up to speed with substitute appearances. MLS fans will remember his breakout campaigns in 2020 and 2021 well, when he averaged a goal or an assist in almost every game. Injuries kept him from hitting the heights expected of him in England, but there’s undoubtedly a talented player in Dike. In the back, Slovenia international David Brekalo is in the prime of his career, anchoring Orlando’s defense with a solidity that will test the likes of Caldeira and Yeboah. Should they get past him, Canada’s number one goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau boasts World Cup experience between the sticks, meaning your Loons won’t have it easy at either end of the pitch this weekend.