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Just three days on from the 2019 MLS All-Star Game, the Exploria Stadium turf sees live action again as Orlando City SC return for a cross-conference clash with Luchi Gonzalez’s FC Dallas.
Just the fourth time the sides have met in Major League Soccer, James O’Connor swaps MLS All-Star head coach duties for his regular day job as his Lions plot a strong finish heading into the season’s final straight.
Back in MLS action following a demoralising 4-1 thrashing at New England Revolution, there’s simply no margin for error with just 11 regular season fixtures remaining.
With Orlando City SC currently trailing seventh-placed New England Revolution by seven points, James O’Connor‘s side now need to win as many games as possible while relying on other results to go their way.
Despite some defensive improvement this season, Orlando City SC simply haven’t made home advantage count with a record of just three victories in eleven games played at Exploria Stadium so far.
With FC Dallas completing the 1,089 mile trip from Texas to Central Florida, it’s imperative Orlando City SC start taking advantage of any possible fatigue from visiting Western Conference sides.
Luchi Gonzalez’s FC Dallas continue to place their faith in an exciting crop of talented youngsters who are showing no signs of fear as they grasp first team opportunities early on in their careers.
The picks of the bunch in 2019 certainly have to be teenage duo Jesús Ferreira and Paxton Pomykal who between them have eight goals and six assists for FC Dallas so far this season.
With Pomykal selected by Don Garber as a Commissioner’s Pick in the 2019 MLS All-Star Game, the uncapped United States midfielder certainly has a glittering career ahead of him.
Orlando City SC head coach James O’Connor will also have to field a starting eleven with one eye on next Tuesday’s simply massive 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semi-final against rivals Atlanta United.
2015/18 head-to-head stats
Last facing FC Dallas in the middle of a downright miserable run of no MLS victory in 10 games, thankfully things aren’t so desperate this time around.
Arriving at Toyota Stadium in Frisco with squad confidence at an all-time low, the last few months of 2018 were extremely hollow and depressing for Orlando City SC supporters to bear.
Looking a home banker before a ball was kicked, the game ended in yet another Lions defeat but Orlando City SC held strong until just after the hour mark before Santiago Mosquera and Victor Ulloa goals seized the initiative for the Texan side.
FC Dallas 2 Orlando City SC 0 – Highlights – October 6, 2018 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Look away now Orlando City SC supporters because when the Lions face FC Dallas, things usually end in misery!
With Toros bossing this game series with THREE victories to Orlando City SC‘s ZERO, the one single draw was a 0-0 that Orlando City UK attended back in September 2017.
The Lions’ biggest loss to FC Dallas (4-0) came back in July 16, infamously the game that led to Adrian Heath’s dismissal as City head coach.
With Inchy now making waves with Minnesota United in the Western Conference, Heath’s sacking is still a massive bone of contention among Orlando City SC supporters years later.
FC Dallas 4 Orlando City SC 0 – Highlights – July 4, 2016 (Credit: FC Dallas)
Dig even deeper into the fledgling fixture history between Orlando City SC and FC Dallas and you’ll uncover a shocking stat and one that needs fixing fast!
In 360 minutes of Major League Soccer action against FC Dallas, Orlando City SC are yet to score a single goal against the opposition from Texas.
Since our inaugural 2015 campaign, Orlando City SC has suffered 0-2, 4-0 and 2-0 defeats to the Frisco side while drawing once (0-0) at Exploria Stadium in September 2017.
Orlando City SC form
Remember when Orlando City SC‘s Exploria Stadium home used to be a hive of frequent, frantic goalscoring?
While there’s been plenty of goalmouth action and attacking intent from the Lions, recent results have certainly been low scoring.
In THREE of Orlando City SC‘s last FIVE home fixtures in MLS, the final score has either been 1-0 or 0-1.
With just one goal separating home losses to LA Galaxy (0-1) and New York Red Bulls (0-1), the Lions’ victory came against Columbus Crew (1-0) four league games ago.
Much of this can be attributed to the solid defensive form of Robin Jansson and Lamine Sané keeping things tighter at the back but a lack of ruthlessness at the top end of the pitch has truly cost Orlando City SC valuable points.
Orlando City SC 0 New York Red Bulls 1 – Highlights – July 21, 2019 (Credit: New York Red Bulls)
FC Dallas form
Currently sixth in the Western Conference standings, FC Dallas are a side more than adept at negotiating their way to the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Boasting Major League Soccer’s youngest roster in 2019, the Texan side are known for spearheading the “play your kids” ethos but have travelled averagely so far in 2019.
Picking up THREE away victories and ONE draw so far this term, Toros’ last THREE road games have ended ‘to nil’.
Prior to their latest 0-2 victory at Sporting Kansas City, Luchi Gonzalez’s young side were defeated by a single goal at Portland Timbers (1-0) and Minnesota United (1-0).