Another gameweek has come and gone with Orlando City SC‘s losing streak now stretching to nine games after a thumping 4-1 defeat at Los Angeles FC.
Despite James O’Connor‘s recent arrival as new head coach, the Irishman couldn’t help earn the Lions their first league point since May 6th 2018.
A devastating looking result on paper, the scoreline didn’t begin to tell the whole story of the match with a dubious disallowed Dom Dwyer goal in the 72nd minute proving pivotal in the final outcome.
With Orlando City SC having pegged back LAFC 2-1 at the time thanks to a clinical Sacha Kljestan finish in the 59th minute, replays later showed that Dom Dwyer‘s disallowed goal was indeed onside and should have stood.
Whist it’s true that dropped heads and poor defensive play allowed Bob Bradley’s men in to cruelly seize control of the game through Adama Diomande and Diego Rossi strikes, City fans were left pondering what could’ve been.
No doubt a tough proposition at Banc of California Stadium, Orlando City SC managed to keep Los Angeles FC out until the 28th minute with far more heart, determination and fight on display in James O’Connor‘s first game.
Speaking after the 4-1 loss, O’Connor conceded that the goals we gave away were poor and that we need to be much sharper defensively.
Now facing a must win game against fellow Eastern Conference strugglers Toronto FC, the home comforts of Orlando City Stadium are much needed after a stretch of five testing away league fixtures since June.
Controversially prioritising the CONCACAF Champions League over MLS at the beginning of the season, Greg Vanney’s TFC just haven’t managed to surge up the table since losing the final to Guadalajara on April 25th.
Expected to rise up the Eastern Conference, that just hasn’t happened with the talented Canadian side surprisingly languishing in tenth place (18 played, 16 points) right now.
2015/17 head-to-head stats
Narrowly defeated 2-1 at Toronto FC on May 18th, maybe a bit more grit to tie this fixture may have paved the way for a few more victories rather than the desperate nine-game losing streak we currently find ourselves in.
After Jay Chapman a goal put the home side 1-0 up at BMO Field, a well-taken Cristian Higuita goal 10 minutes later looked to have earned the Lions a road point heading into the latter stages.
Sadly, this game belonged to exciting 24-year-old winger Ryan Telfer who was a constant threat all night, grabbing the headlines with an 87th minute winner – simply heartbreaking.
Toronto FC 2 Orlando City SC 1 – Highlights – May 18, 2018 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Look away now Orlando City SC supporters!
When it comes to bogey sides in Major League Soccer, Toronto FC are exactly that for the Lions.
While we’re all too painfully aware that we haven’t defeated Atlanta United yet, victories against TFC are extremely scarce with just a single MLS win over the Canadian side coming back in June 2016.
On that occasion, a last, last gasp 110th minute penalty from Kaká in stoppage time grabbed all three points in the last kick of the game at Camping World Stadium.
With Sacha Kljestan grabbing our first goal in a whopping 329 minutes of MLS play at LAFC last Saturday, at least we’ve broken our scoring hoodoo.
When Orlando City SC and Toronto FC meet however, both sides usually get on the scoresheet with the last THREE consecutive fixtures ending 2-1, 1-3 and 2-1.
Orlando City SC 1 Toronto FC 3 – Highlights – July 5, 2017 (Credit: Toronto FC)
Orlando City SC form
High scoring Orlando City SC fixtures are nothing new! Unfortunately, the majority of these goals have been conceded by the Lions rather than scored in recent months.
With OVER 2.5 GOALS being scored in ELEVEN of the Lions’ last TWELVE league fixtures, demoralising defensive displays now mean the Lions have conceded the most amount of goals (41) in the East.
This is something James O’Connor and his staff desperately need to work on with the players to avoid finishing bottom of the Eastern Conference at the end of 2018.
Toronto FC form
Whilst Sebastian Giovinco needs no introduction, another Toronto FC player finding form right now is Canadian international striker Jordan Hamilton.
Receiving increased playing time with Jozy Altidore still out injured, the 22-year-old has made the most of his opportunities lately with Hamilton scoring in his last two MLS outings against Minnesota United and Sporting Kansas City.
Sporting Kansas City 2 Toronto FC 2 – Highlights – July 7, 2018 (Credit: Toronto FC)