Claiming all three points from our trip to the Rocky Mountains, Orlando City SC‘s season continues to go from strength to strength with the win representing our fifth straight victory in MLS.
One nil down at half-time, there was much to admire about the way Jason Kreis‘ Lions didn’t panic before a Cristian Higuita strike and Yoshimar Yotún penalty completed the 1-2 comeback at Colorado Rapids.
With head coach Jason Kreis reiterating that we must all keep our feet on the ground right now, you can’t help feel excited at the way in which Orlando City SC‘s season seems to be coming together.
Although it was a nervy ending at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, there seems to be a lot more camaraderie and fight in this current Orlando City SC group with Yoshimar Yotún and Justin Meram putting in particularly impressive performances at altitude.
Elsewhere, the centre back partnership between both Lamine Sané and Amro Tarek continues to improve, so much so that club captain Jonathan Spector may struggle to force a start on his return from injury.
Now facing Colorado Rapids’ primary rival Real Salt Lake at home, Orlando City SC have the chance to make history with a sixth consecutive victory in Major League Soccer.
Our current winning streak of five games ties a club record set from September to October 2015. Additionally and rather impressively, this is the longest winning streak by any team in MLS this season.
As for Real Salt Lake, Mike Petke’s side currently find themselves sixth in the Western Conference with 10 points after eight games played.
The Claret and Cobalt are still winless on the road this season after drawing 1-1 at FC Dallas, losing 3-1 at Toronto FC, losing 4-0 at New York City FC and losing 2-0 at Vancouver Whitecaps.
The other interesting footnote to this fixture is that Jason Kreis will be facing the side he played for and managed with such distinction between 2005 and 2013.
Winning MLS Cup with RSL in 2009, we can only dream he’ll achieve this feat with Orlando City SC in 2018.
2015/17 head-to-head stats
The diamond in the rough middle and latter part of our 2017 MLS campaign, Orlando City SC achieved the second of only three road victories at Real Salt Lake in June 2017.
Scoring early through former Real Salt Lake man Will Johnson on 17 minutes, the Lions managed to keep this lead intact at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Will Johnson’s goal at Real Salt Lake – Highlights – June 30, 2017 (Credit: Legends of Football)
Like Colorado Rapids, Real Salt Lake are another team who are still yet to inflict defeat on Orlando City SC in MLS.
Having already mentioned our 0-1 win over RSL last season, the first two head-to-heads between the sides both ended in draws, most famously the 2-2 draw in the opening fixture of 2016.
A game that Orlando City UK attended live, when all hope looked lost, late stoppage time goals from both Cyle Larin and Adrian Winter completed the most miraculous of comebacks at Camping World Stadium.
Orlando City SC 2 Real Salt Lake 2 – Highlights – March 6, 2016 (Credit: Real Salt Lake)
Orlando City SC form
Fortunately, scoring goals hasn’t been a problem for Orlando City SC so far this season.
With Dom Dwyer and Chris Mueller in fantastic goalscoring form recently, the Lions have scored AT LEAST 3 GOALS in our last THREE home fixtures in MLS.
The best thing about our campaign so far is that seven different players have scored proving that we’re not entirely reliant on a single goalscorer, much like we were with Cyle Larin.
Orlando City Stadium has certainly been the home of goals and entertainment so far this season.
Particularly recently when Orlando City SC narrowly overcame Portland Timbers 3-2, New York Red Bulls 4-3 and San Jose Earthquakes 3-2.
With OVER 2.5 GOALS being scored in our last FOUR home fixtures in Major League Soccer, Lions fans and Joe Bendik will be hoping for a clean sheet in this one.
Real Salt Lake form
The good news for Orlando City SC is that Real Salt Lake have travelled poorly so far in 2018.
Drawing 1-1 at FC Dallas on opening weekend, Mike Petke’s side lost their following three road fixtures at Toronto FC (3-1), New York City FC (4-0) and Vancouver Whitecaps (2-0).
This game will prove another opportunity to build self-confidence while staying as close as possible to rivals Atlanta United and New York City FC at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Vancouver Whitecaps 2 Real Salt Lake 0 – Highlights – April 27, 2018 (Credit: KSL Sports)