Martin Perelman insisted that Orlando City SC remain fully focused on reaching the MLS playoffs this season after ending their four-match winless stretch in midweek. 

Orlando had lost three of their last four matches going into their clash with Charlotte FC, while also conceding 13 goals, but they got themselves back on track in some style.

Martin Ojeda's brace helped the Lions to a 4-1 victory over Dean Smith's side at Inter&Co Stadium, with Luis Otavio and Ignacio Gomez also on target for Orlando. 

Orlando have taken seven points from their opening nine games, finding themselves down in 12th in the Eastern Conference. 

Perelman, however, believes the team have turned a corner in recent weeks, suggesting they will be back challenging at the right end of the table in the future.

"I think the team is in process. We've been talking about it all week. The important thing is the performance," Perelman said.

"It's hard to say that when you lose like two days ago and easier to say it when you win, but for me the message is the same.

"We are working, the team is growing, the players are giving an amazing effort, and we didn't win the league today, and we didn't lose it two days ago.

"This is a long season. What matters is where we stand at the end. That is our mindset."

Orlando will be hoping to put together back-to-back victories for the first time this season when they make the trip to Audi Field where they face struggling D.C. United. 

Rene Weiler's side are enduring a winless run of their own, going five matches without tasting victory, though their latest MLS fixture provided a lot of entertainment. 

They played out an eight-goal thriller with the New York Red Bulls in midweek, coming from behind twice at Sports Illustrated Stadium to draw the game 4-4. 

D.C. had failed to score in their previous four matches leading up to their stalemate with NYRB, and Weiler urged his team to continue firing in the final third.

When asked what his team would need to take from their latest result, Weiler said: "We must not stop scoring goals. We have to get the victory that we are looking for."

Weiler did, however, acknowledge the test his team would face, highlighting a change in approach by Orlando, who appointed Perelman in March after sacking Oscar Pareja. 

"I think they [Orlando] will be more compact because of the change of coach and the players will not want to show their best side to the new coach," Weiler added. 

"But, in the end, I am more focused on our game rather than the game of the opponent. I am hoping we can show some progress from the game against New York."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

D.C. United – Tai Baribo

Baribo scored the third hat-trick of his MLS career on Wednesday, but it was his first with D.C. United as his two previous hat-tricks came with the Philadelphia Union.

It was the 24th time a D.C. player has had a hat-trick in a regular-season game, the second most by any club in MLS history (Los Angeles Galaxy – 28).

Orlando City – Martin Ojeda

Ojeda notched a brace against Charlotte, his fourth career multi-goal game in MLS play for Orlando. 

The only players with more multi-goal MLS games than Ojeda in club history are Cyle Larin (seven) and Facundo Torres (six).

MATCH PREDICTION: ORLANDO CITY WIN

D.C. and Orlando have each won nine of the 21 all-time regular season meetings between the clubs (D3), with the Lions going unbeaten in four straight (W3 D1).

Orlando's 13-4 goalscoring advantage in those four matches gives them the edge in the all-time regular-season series, 37-33.

The Lions are coming off the back of scoring four goals against Charlotte, matching their goal output over the previous seven games across all competitions combined.

D.C., meanwhile, held NYRB to a 4-4 draw despite trailing by the scores of 2-0 and 3-1 in the match. Entering Wednesday's clash, D.C. had lost 16 straight MLS matches when trailing by multiple goals at any point.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

D.C. United – 30.2%

Draw – 24.9%

Orlando City – 44.9%