Following a gutting 1-2 home defeat to D.C. United last weekend, James O’Connor‘s Orlando City SC will be looking to bounce back against Colorado Rapids.
Facing opposition from the Western Conference for the first time this season, the Lions go in search of their first home win after an encouraging second-half performance against D.C. that probably deserved a draw.
After the controversy of Wayne Rooney winning a contentious free-kick that resulted in the former England international curling home a beauty to put Ben Olsen’s D.C. United into a 0-2 lead, the Lions’ reaction was strong.
Pushing the Eastern Conference high flyers really close with a Dom Dwyer consolation strike followed by a hugely impressive cameo from Chris Mueller who hit the D.C. woodwork in stoppage time, there was plenty for Orlando City SC supporters to take heart from.
Nevertheless, there is no escaping the fact that James O’Connor has now overseen just three victories from 22 fixtures contested under his leadership.
Inheriting a troubled roster from Jason Kreis midway through last season, you can definitely tell that there is more heart and fight in the team in 2019 but our slow starts, particularly at home, are worrying.
The challenge against Anthony Hudson’s Colorado Rapids will be to start strong and build a platform rather than being forced to chase the game, something we’ve endured against New York City FC, Montreal Impact and D.C. United so far.
Uncharacteristically looking more resilient on the road so far this term, there is no must win games this early into the season but that said, any side aiming to reach to post-season needs to be winning their home games.
2015/18 head-to-head stats
Being a Western Conference franchise, Orlando City SC only meet Colorado Rapids once a season and the last time the duo faced off, the Lions claimed all three points in Commerce City.
Travelling to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in April 2018, Jason Kreis‘ Orlando City SC put in a fantastic performance with a ferocious second-half strike from Cristian Higuita and penalty from Yoshimar Yotún overturning a 26th minute Dominique Badji opener.
Colorado Rapids 1 Orlando City SC 2 – Highlights – April 29, 2018 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Just over a year ago, Orlando City SC could do little wrong with this 1-2 win over Colorado Rapids representing the Lions’ fifth consecutive win in Major League Soccer – a fantastic start to the 2018 season before it all went wrong.
The occasion was equally joyous due to the fact that Orlando City SC‘s Supporters Groups travelled in large numbers to Colorado for this victory, not to mention the fact we hosted an Orlando City UK Watch Party in London for this win.
THAT 3️⃣ POINT ROAD GAME FEELING!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽#OrlandoCityUK Watch Party was 🔥🔥#COLvORL #OCSC #MLS pic.twitter.com/aMQige48cF
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) April 29, 2018
The good news for Orlando City SC is that Colorado Rapids are yet to taste a single victory over the Lions in Major League Soccer to date.
Facing each other four times in MLS previously, twice in Central Florida and twice in the Rocky Mountains, Orlando City SC are undefeated having won THREE of these games and drawn one.
The last time Rapids visited the Sunshine State in April 2017, the Lions ran out 2-0 winners.
The day belonged to the great Kaká who’s timely return from injury coincided with a cameo appearance and stoppage time strike before heading to celebrate with The Wall.
This match also included an absolute rocket of a strike from Carlos Rivas – something of a rare commodity with the Colombian’s strikes often reaching row Z in his time with the Lions!
Kaká vs Colorado Rapids – Highlights – April 29, 2017 (Credit: Guga KakaTV)
Dig even deeper into the rather short fixture history between Orlando City SC and Colorado Rapids and you’ll find that Rapids have only scored ONE goal in the FOUR head-to-heads contested so far.
With the since departed Dominique Badji registering that strike in last season’s 1-2 victory for the Lions, Orlando City SC defeated Colorado Rapids 2-0 in our inaugural 2015 season and drew 0-0 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in August 2016.
Orlando City SC form
In our D.C. United stats preview, we highlighted the fact Orlando City SC are starting home games on the back foot giving themselves a mountain to climb.
Sadly for the Lions, this is a script that remains true after affording Steve Birnbaum far too much space to head home the Black and Red’s opening goal in last weekend’s 1-2 defeat.
With Wayne Rooney putting Ben Olsen’s side into a 0-2 lead by the half hour mark, Orlando City SC have now conceded the first goal in their last FIVE home fixtures in Major League Soccer.
A run stretching back to a 1-2 defeat against Seattle Sounders in October 2018, James O’Connor has now overseen just ONE victory in our last TEN home fixtures at Orlando City Stadium.
This is something that has to be turned around soon with everybody knowing that road victories are so difficult to attain in MLS, particularly with the travelling distances involved.
Colorado Rapids form
More encouragement for Orlando City SC lay in the fact that Colorado Rapids have travelled poorly on the road this season and last.
Failing to win ELEVEN of their last TWELVE away fixtures in MLS, Anthony Hudson’s side have lost both their road fixtures so far this season – 2-0 at Seattle Sounders on March 9 and 2-1 at FC Dallas on March 23.
Although they defeated Minnesota United 0-2 at TCF Bank Stadium in the final month of last season, this was very much an anomaly with three other draws and five other losses making up this run.
FC Dallas 2 Colorado Rapids 1 – Highlights – March 23, 2019 (Credit: Major League Soccer)