Austin FC vs. Orlando City SC 5/22/22 - Major League Soccer Picks & Predictions

Last Updated: 05/21/2022 at 3:51 PM ET

Austin FC hosts Orlando City SC in a MLS inter-conference fixture on Sunday. Austin has taken over first place in the Western Conference table at 7-2-3 on 23 points with a goal difference +13. Austin is tied on points with LAFC but has a better goal difference. Austin defeated LAFC 2-1 in LA on Wednesday. Ruben Gabrielson scored in the 13th minute for Austin and Diego Fagundez scored the eventual winner in the 80th minute to give Austin all three points.

Austin has scored 25 goals thus far this season which is first in the MLS. Last season, through the first 12 matches, Austin scored only 12 goals and was shut out seven times during that span. Sebastian Driussi is the leading goal scorer for Austin with seven, while Maximiliano Urruti has scored four. Diego Fagundez is the leader in assists with seven and Driussi has three.

Orlando City FC is fourth in the Eastern Conference table at 6-2-4 on 20 points with a goal difference of -1. Orlando City is tied on points with CF Montreal and New York City FC but trails both clubs in goal difference. Orlando City defeated Toronto 1-0 in Toronto on Saturday with a goal from Kyle Smith during second half stoppage time (90’+2’).

Orlando City has been victorious in four of his last six matches after defeating Toronto last Saturday. The win was Orlando City’s third victory in its last five played on the road, with one draw and one loss, after winning just two matches in its previous 14 on the road. Joao Moutinho, Junior Urso, Ercan Kara, Facundo Torres and Alexandre Pato have each scored two goals for Orlando City. Mauricio Pereyra and Pato each have three assists.

This is the first meeting ever between Austin and Orlando City in what is just Austin's second campaign in the MLS. The Texas-based club has become a MLS scoring machine with a league-leading 23 goals and has tightened up its back line, allowing just 12 goals through the first 12 matches. Orlando City will have its hands full in the backline attempting to keep Austin from taking open shots in the box. Final Score Prediction, Austin FC wins 2-0.

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