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After the pick me up of a dramatic 2-1 victory over Columbus Crew and our first Major League Soccer win since July 14, Orlando City SC now travel to New York Red Bulls on MLS Decision Day 2018.
The final fixture of a campaign to forget, this fixture has massive implications for who is crowned 2018 Eastern Conference champions with just one point separating first-placed Atlanta United and second-placed New York Red Bulls heading into game 34.
The Lions’ rivals Atlanta United head north to Toronto FC this weekend while New York Red Bulls aim to defeat Orlando City SC at Red Bull Arena, hoping that the Five Stripes slip up in Canada.
A side we love to loathe, many Orlando City SC supporters won’t want to see Tata Martino’s side seal first place in the Eastern Conference and the Supporters’ Shield.
In truth, this game looks a home banker for a massively in-form New York Red Bulls side who have won their last four consecutive MLS fixtures as Chris Armas’ side have their sights on stealing the Supporters’ Shield away from Atlanta United.
But as we witnessed first hand when Orlando City SC made Columbus Crew sweat on their participation in the 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs last weekend, sides simply playing for pride can sometimes have a huge sway on the final outcome.
It was so important for James O’Connor‘s side to grab another victory before the end of 2018 with Orlando City SC supporters having had next to nothing to shout about all season long.
With goalscorer Yoshimar Yotún making the MLS Team of the Week thanks to his performance in our 2-1 victory, the entire squad played with far greater hunger, determination and belief which has been severely lacking for the most part this year.
In recent months, James O’Connor would’ve been assessing who he wants to retain and cut for 2019, and this game represents the final opportunity for the Orlando City SC players to rep the crest with pride and show they want to remain in Central Florida next year.
Additionally, this fixture will also see Sacha Kljestan return to Red Bull Arena for the first time as an opposing player having served the New Jersey side with such distinction between 2015 to 2017.
2015/18 head-to-head stats
Orlando City SC last faced New York Red Bulls back in March when the Lions earned their first victory of the season in dramatic fashion.
Overcoming the New Jersey side 4-3 in a topsy turvy encounter, New York Red Bulls – then managed by Jesse Marsch – took the lead twice before Jason Kreis’ Lions impressively hit back to go 3-2 up before the 50th minute mark.
The scoring hadn’t finished however! When Aaron Long equalised with an 82nd minute header, Orlando City SC‘s heads could’ve dropped but ever persistent, their positivity was rewarded just four minutes later.
A fierce Scott Sutter strike from range deflected off an unsuspecting Josué Colmán who perfectly diverted the ball beyond Luis Robles to steal all three points in front of a rapturous crowd on The Wall.
Draws are a rarity between New York Red Bulls and Orlando City SC with just a single tie in eight Major League Soccer meetings.
With Red Bulls currently edging the game series with FOUR victories to Orlando City SC‘s THREE, the New Jersey side have been a model of consistency when it comes to reaching the post-season.
In the years to come, Orlando City SC could learn a lot from the way in which the New Jersey side have fostered homegrown talent while scouting and spending wisely in recent seasons, Carlos Rivas aside!
It was the Colombian who actually put the Lions 0-1 up the last time they visited Red Bull Arena back in August 2017 before a Léo Pereira own goal and strikes from Bradley Wright-Phillips and Sean Davis sealed a home win.
New York Red Bulls 3 Orlando City SC 1 – Highlights – August 12, 2017 (Credit: New York Red Bulls)
New York Red Bulls form
Orlando City SC won’t be under any illusions regarding the size of their task this Sunday.
After all, New York Red Bulls have won NINE of their last TEN home fixtures at Red Bull Arena with Columbus Crew the only side to come away from Harrison with points in a 2-3 victory on July 28.
Relentless in their mission to hunt down Atlanta United at the top of the Eastern Conference standings, Chris Armas has been a revelation since succeeding Jesse Marsch back in July.
Of the 17 MLS fixtures the former United States international has coached so far, New York Red Bulls have won 11 of these games while drawing three and losing just three.
New York Red Bulls 2 Columbus Crew 3 – Highlights – July 28, 2018 (Credit: New York Red Bulls)
Boasting the meanest defence in all of Major League Soccer, this is a huge reason why New York Red Bulls can still be crowned Eastern Conference champions.
Red Bulls have kept a clean sheet in their last FOUR home fixtures with Los Angeles FC’s Diego Rossi the last man to score at Red Bull Arena back on August 5.
Conceding just 33 goals with one fixture remaining, Aaron Long and Tim Parker have been rock solid all season long for Red Bulls.
A USL graduate, Aaron Long has been a huge success story this season with the 26-year-old earning his first ever call-up to the USMNT for the Stars and Stripes’ recent international friendly against Peru in East Hartford.
In their most recent home fixture, New York Red Bulls delivered a masterclass to seal an absolutely crucial 2-0 victory over Supporters’ Shield rivals Atlanta United back on September 30.
New York Red Bulls 2 Atlanta United 0 – Highlights – September 30, 2018 (Credit: New York Red Bulls)
Orlando City SC form
Our wretched form – particularly away from home – has been so heavily documented this term, we’ll just leave this one here.
Everybody connected with Orlando City SC knows massive improvements need to be made on the road in 2019.