Welcome to your match thread for a rare Thursday night match-up between Orlando City SC (6-3-4, 22 points) and the Philadelphia Union (6-3-5, 23 points) at Exploria Stadium (7:30 p.m., ESPN, ESPN Deportes). This is the first meeting between the Eastern Conference rivals in 2021, with the return fixture set for Subaru Park on Sept. 19.
History
Orlando City is 3-4-5 in the 12 MLS meetings with the Union since the club joined Major League Soccer in 2015, and 3-5-5 in all competitions. The Lions are 1-1-3 in the series at home. The teams last met in the group stage of the MLS is Back Tournament in 2020 with the game ending in a 1-1 draw after a Mauricio Pereyra goal canceled out a strike by Ilsinho.