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Suitably rested with no fixture last weekend, Orlando City SC taste their first MLS action in 14 days with a testing away fixture at Western Conference leaders FC Dallas.
Travelling to Frisco, Texas with heads a little higher following an improved performance in our 0-0 draw against Houston Dynamo, James O’Connor‘s side are now battling to avoid finishing bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Currently six points adrift of tenth-placed Chicago Fire with two games in hand on Veljko Paunović’s side, time is running out for Orlando City SC to avoid finishing rock bottom.
After an unacceptable team performance in a 4-0 loss at Fire on September 16, there was at least far greater energy, hustle and fight against Dynamo, albeit still blunt as an attacking force.
The major positive from that game was the performance of third choice goalkeeper Adam Grinwis who was not only making his Orlando City SC debut but his first ever Major League Soccer appearance too.
Coming through a tricky moment in the 15th minute when Romell Quioto stole the ball from his grasp to put the away side in what they thought was an early lead, VAR intervention correctly determined that Grinwis placed both hands on the ball.
Reacting strongly thereafter, a fantastic one-on-one save in the 57th minute brought a smile to Orlando City SC fans’ faces with Adam Grinwis originally unexpected to feature this season.
Given Joe Bendik‘s slump in form, Grinwis will likely start again here against FC Dallas who will be the overwhelming favourites.
Heading into the final few fixtures top of the West, FC Dallas have won half of their 30 league fixtures so far with 54 points accumulated.
With Sporting Kansas City and Los Angeles FC also vying for the Western Conference title, Óscar Pareja’s men will want to avoid any slip ups against an Orlando City SC side playing for pride.
2015/17 head-to-head stats
Last facing FC Dallas just over a year ago in a fixture that Orlando City UK attended live, it was a rare case of stalemate at Orlando City Stadium.
An occasion whereby Orlando City SC were similarly closing out the season with just pride at stake, James O’Connor and the Front Office will be fully aware of cultivating a more competitive club culture going forward.
The strange habit of starting both 2017 and 2018 fast but then crashing completely is something Orlando City SC supporters will want to consign to the history books.
Orlando City SC 0 FC Dallas 0 – Highlights – September 30, 2017 (Credit: Sports News Center)
Being a Western Conference franchise, Orlando City SC only face FC Dallas once a season and it’s probably a good thing considering Toros are undefeated against the Lions.
The Texan side were in rampant mood at Toyota Stadium back in July 2016 when goals from Walker Zimmerman, Michael Barrios, Matt Hedges and Fabián Castillo comprehensively trounced the Lions after a run of five MLS fixtures unbeaten.
As the story unfolded, this defeat proved Adrian Heath‘s final game in charge of Orlando City SC with the much loved Englishman relieved of his duties just three days later.
FC Dallas 4 Orlando City SC 0 – Highlights – July 4, 2016 (Credit: FC Dallas)
So Orlando City SC are yet to defeat FC Dallas in three attempts but worse still, the Lions are yet to register a single MLS goal against their Texan opposition.
The first MLS meeting between the duo ended in a 0-2 win for FC Dallas back in July 2015.
Fast forwarding to 2018, FC Dallas currently boast the third best defensive record in the Western Conference with 38 goals conceded this year. What’s more, they’ve only conceded one goal in their last three MLS fixtures.
With starting centre backs Matt Hedges and Reto Ziegler boasting a combined age of 60, there’s plenty of experience and know-how in Óscar Pareja’s back line.
Orlando City SC 0 FC Dallas 2 – Highlights – July 11, 2015 (Credit: FC Dallas)
FC Dallas form
FC Dallas’ Toyota Stadium home is a fortress, simple as that!
As with any side currently leading a conference, you’d expect them to boast a handsome home record and that’s exactly what FC Dallas possess.
Winning NINE of their FIFTEEN home games played so far this season, surprisingly only San Jose Earthquakes – the side bottom of the West – are the only side to have claimed all three points in Frisco this year.
Orlando City SC form
As we’re all too familiar, the damage has already been done this season with Orlando City SC languishing at the foot of the Eastern Conference.
All too easy to play against away from home, Orlando City SC have conceded AT LEAST THREE GOALS in NINE of our last TEN road trips in Major League Soccer.
While FC Dallas’ attackers will be licking their lips about this, James O’Connor will need to instruct his team to make this an ugly fixture, digging in before we choose our counters wisely.