There’s no time to rest for Orlando City SC right now with James O’Connor‘s Lions returning home to face New York Red Bulls – just three days after our gritty 1-1 draw at Portland Timbers.
Travelling a gruelling 3,062 miles back across the United States to Exploria Stadium, this is the eighth game Orlando City SC has played in just 26 days.
Despite surrendering a one-goal lead in the final 10 minutes through Jeremy Ebobisse’s goal, there was so much to be proud of in the Orlando City SC performance.
With the odds completely stacked against the Lions before kick-off, James O’Connor‘s side overcame huge adversity to pick up a highly respectable point in an intimidating sold out Providence Park.
With O’Connor making nine changes to the starting lineup with three goalkeepers making up the travelling squad, Kyle Smith had to revert to the unfamiliar role of centre back with Will Johnson filling in at right back when subbed in for Alex De John early on.
After initial fears that De John was unconscious following a Brian Fernández collision, he thankfully came round but had to watch the rest of the game from the stands.
Still earning a tie in difficult circumstances thanks to Santiago Patiño‘s second MLS goal, we’re starting to see grit, determination and hunger from Orlando City SC on much more of a consistent basis – a marked improvement from our 2018 form.
Now returning home to Exploria Stadium to face New York Red Bulls, Orlando City SC go up against a side fresh off the back of a 3-1 defeat at Toronto FC on Wednesday.
Winning the Hudson River Derby against arch-rivals New York City FC a game previous, results from Chris Armas’ side have been up and down of late.
With this game described as a six pointer in many quarters, it’s vital Orlando City SC claim maximum points with just three points separating the Lions from seventh-placed NYCFC heading into the weekend.
2015/19 head-to-head stats
Orlando City SC last met New York Red Bulls back on March 23, impressively picking up their first victory of the season at a notoriously tough venue.
Running out narrow 0-1 winners at Red Bull Arena, the night belonged to the Red Bulls’ all-time assist leader Sacha Kljestan who returned to haunt his former side.
Slotting home a neat cross from João Moutinho in the 72nd minute, Orlando City SC scored at a crucial time and defended valiantly to take all three points back home to Central Florida.
New York Red Bulls 0 Orlando City SC 1 – Highlights – March 23, 2019 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
The number of times Orlando City SC has faced New York Red Bulls is now in double digits with the Lions facing the New Jersey side TEN times in Major League Soccer.
It’s the side from Harrison who boast the slight advantage with FIVE victories to Orlando City SC‘s FOUR.
Both sides enjoyed a win each in last season’s two head-to-heads with March 2018’s 4-3 victory over Red Bulls representing one of the most entertaining games of the MLS season.
A game in which Orlando City SC trailed twice, Josué Colmán unknowingly deflected in the game winner (4-3) in the 86th minute, just four minutes after Aaron Long thought he’d rescued a point (3-3).
Orlando City SC 4 New York Red Bulls 3 – Highlights – March 31, 2018 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
A pattern emerging in recent meetings between Orlando City SC and New York Red Bulls fixtures is that one side usually keeps a clean sheet.
Indeed, in THREE of the last FIVE head-to-heads in Major League Soccer, the games have ended ‘to nil’.
Taking our 0-1 win at Red Bull Arena into account earlier this season plus Red Bulls’ 1-0 triumph to hand them the Supporters’ Shield in the final game of last season, the other clean sheet game came back in April 2017.
On this occasion, a single 34th minute header from Servando Carrasco handed Jason Kreis‘ Lions all three points at Exploria Stadium.
Orlando City SC 1 New York Red Bulls 0 – Highlights – April 9, 2017 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Orlando City SC form
A pattern has been emerging in Orlando City SC home fixtures at Exploria Stadium over the past few months.
Indeed, in the Lions’ last SIX home games in MLS, FOUR of the results have finished ‘to nil’ with one side or the other coming out on top.
Those results were Vancouver Whitecaps (1-0), Toronto FC (0-2), LA Galaxy (0-1) and Columbus Crew (1-0).
New York Red Bulls form
There is huge room for encouragement for Orlando City SC when it comes to New York Red Bulls’ recent form on the road.
While Chris Armas’ side still sit above the red line, their away form will need to improve if the side from Harrison, New Jersey are to remain there by October.
Conceding AT LEAST THREE GOALS in their last FOUR away fixtures in MLS, Red Bulls were most recently humbled 3-1 at Toronto FC on Wednesday following a 3-2 defeat at Philadelphia Union, a 4-0 hammering by Houston Dynamo and a 3-3 draw at Atlanta United.