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After another winter of mass upheaval and yet another reboot at Orlando City SC, our 2019 MLS home opener against New York City FC is now only days away.
Opening the season at home for a fifth consecutive season in Major League Soccer, Orlando City Stadium will be as boisterous as always as Lions supporters everywhere expect an improvement on last season’s dismal eleventh place finish.
Making 12 permanent additions and two loan signings this off-season, Orlando City SC‘s fresh faced young roster will be spearheaded by the recent marquee arrival of Nani on a free transfer from Sporting Lisbon.
With this eye-catching transfer handing most Orlando City SC supporters renewed vigour and hope following a miserable 2018 campaign, it’s time for James O’Connor and the Lions roster to rid their memories of what’s gone before.
With Gameweek 1’s opponents New York City FC having previously opened two Major League Soccer campaigns in Central Florida, our 2015 MLS expansion rivals are no strangers with 12 meetings contested so far.
NYCFC head coach Domènec Torrent has a lot to prove to fans of The Pigeons in 2019 with the Yankee Stadium-based outfit’s form a little erratic in the second half of last season despite reaching the post-season.
Always a tough act to follow the impressive Patrick Vieira in the dugout, the side from The Big Apple are weaker for the loss of David Villa in 2019 but have recruited Alexandru Mitriță as his replacement plus USMNT midfielder Keaton Parks on loan from Benfica.
With the first game of a new Major League Soccer campaign something of a free hit with new faces needing to gel, NYCFC come into this particular head-to-head in great form having won the last four meetings.
2015/18 head-to-head stats
Last facing each other at Orlando City Stadium back in July 2018, two late first-half strikes from Maxi Moralez and Anton Tinnerholm quickly took this game out of Orlando City SC‘s reach.
The game could’ve had a completely different outcome had James O’Connor‘s side received a bit more luck with the Lions hitting the woodwork four times during this encounter.
With Orlando City SC coming into this game on the back of a hugely controversial 3-2 defeat at Columbus Crew, Orlando City SC couldn’t use this injustice as fuel to overcome one of the Eastern Conference’s stronger franchises with Shane O’Neill seeing red late on.
Orlando City SC 0 New York City FC 2 – Highlights – July 26, 2018 (Credit: New York City FC)
With complete mirror imagery across the wins, draws and losses spectrum, the outcome of Orlando City SC versus New York City FC fixtures is completely equal right now.
Orlando City SC certainly enjoyed earlier meetings with The Pigeons with NYCFC bossing this particular game series since May 2017.
The Lions’ last victory over their 2015 MLS expansion rivals came way back on 23rd April 2017 when two Cyle Larin goals helped Jason Kreis‘ Orlando City SC overcome NYCFC 1-2, in a limited edition white Adidas Parley jersey no less.
Orlando City SC‘s recent inferiority to NYCFC is hammered home by the fact The Pigeons have won the last FOUR head-to-head to nil.
Outscoring the Lions by ten goals to zero in the last four MLS head-to-heads contested since May 2017, James O’Connor‘s side will bid to end this alarming 360-minute drought against a side loathed by most Orlando City SC supporters.
New York City FC 3 Orlando City SC 0 – Highlights – June 2, 2018 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Orlando City SC form
Casting our minds back across Orlando City SC‘s four Major League Soccer campaigns, Lions supporters can at least take heart from the fact we’ve gone unbeaten in every opening fixture so far – but only just!
Drawing (1-1) and defeating (2-1) New York City FC in opening fixtures in both 2015 and 2017, opening fixtures in 2016 and 2018 were almost heart-stopping as the games approached stoppage time.
You’d have to go a long way to match the drama of March 2016’s 2-2 draw with Real Salt Lake with 94th and 95th minute strikes from Cyle Larin and Adrian Winter remarkably pegging back a two-goal deficit at the Citrus Bowl.
Last year, an equally late 93rd minute strike from Stéfano Pinho on his debut broke D.C. United hearts in a 1-1 draw at Orlando City Stadium.
Orlando City SC 1 D.C. United 1 – Highlights – March 3, 2018 (Credit: Orlando City SC)
New York City FC form
As for New York City FC’s form in opening MLS fixtures, The Pigeons have won two of their four openers with Orlando City SC denying them on the two winless occasions.
Overcoming Chicago Fire 3-4 in an incredible opening day fixture in 2016, NYCFC pulled off an impressive 0-2 road win at Sporting Kansas City last term.