Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the MLS regular season clashes between Charlotte and Orlando City will take place on July 6 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. I’m offering a bet on goals in this match with an attractive odds value.
Match preview
Charlotte returns home after a gruelling away stretch that saw them lose four out of five matches. However, Dean Smith’s side are a different beast at home — six wins in eight home games in Charlotte speak volumes. The team starts strong in front of their fans, never losing when leading at halftime (three wins from three in such scenarios).
Despite the positive home record, the squad situation is far from ideal: Zaha is suspended, while Tim Ream and Patrick Agyemang are away at the Gold Cup final. The loss of several key players could hamper attacking cohesion, especially against a side adept at closing down space. Still, even under such circumstances, Charlotte keeps finding the net — and does so consistently at home.
For Orlando, the situation is almost the opposite: the team fails to impress at home, but on the road, they play with maturity and confidence. Only once in their last nine away games have the Lions left empty-handed — a remarkable feat, especially in a league as unpredictable as MLS. This team knows how to bide its time and exploit space behind opposing defenders, which should be in abundance in Charlotte.
However, Orlando still lacks consistency: even after scoring first, they’ve already squandered the lead four times. Issues converting chances, despite boasting the best attack in the Eastern Conference, have led to tension within the squad. With Duncan McGuire and defender Freeman unavailable, coach Oscar Pareja will once again have to reinvent his side’s balance.
Probable lineups
- Charlotte: Kahlina; Marshall-Rutty, Malanda, Privett, Doumbia; Westwood, Bronico; Williamson, Biel, Vargas; Toklomati
- Orlando City: Gallese; Thórhallsson, Schlegel, Jansson, Brekalo; Pašalić, Atuesta, Araújo, Angulo; Ojeda, Enrique
Match facts and head-to-head
- Charlotte is unbeaten in their last four home games against Orlando in all competitions.
- Orlando City has picked up points in eight of their last nine MLS away matches.
- Orlando's only win in Charlotte came back in 2022 (2-1).
Prediction
Both teams are coming off defeats and aren’t in the best spirits, but throughout the season they’ve shown a clear penchant for attacking football. Charlotte consistently scores at home, while Orlando plays boldly and freely on the road. Absentees on both sides should open up the game, especially after halftime. Expect goals at both ends and at least three in total. Our bet: Over 3.0 goals at odds of 1.86.
