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After Orlando City SC‘s crucial 1-0 win against Sporting Kansas City, the Lions make their first ever trip to Allianz Field to take on Minnesota United of the Western Conference.
The fixture represents the first ever MLS meeting of Lions club legend Adrian Heath and his former Orlando City SC player James O’Connor in the dugouts as Inchy plots a third consecutive win over the club he served with such distinction.
With James O’Connor making 41 USL appearances for Orlando City SC under Adrian Heath, the Inchy effect is the major footnote heading into this third ever Major League Soccer meeting.
Enjoying what is turning out to be an incredible 2019 so far, Heath’s Minnesota United currently sit second in the Western Conference, not to mention reaching the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final where they will face Atlanta United.
It’s been a meteoric turnaround for Adrian Heath at Minnesota United with Inchy overseeing ninth and tenth-placed finishes in the Loons’ two full MLS campaigns prior to this one.
With Minnesota United owner Bill McGuire sticking with Heath through the Saint Paul-based side’s early transition into MLS, that faith and loyalty now appears to be paying off – and how!
Naturally, the Loons’ 2019 form under Heath begs the popular question – was Phil Rawlins‘ sacking of Inchy way too premature?
A question that makes most Orlando City SC supporters sit rather uncomfortably, City now face a huge task containing a Minnesota United side who are the second highest goal scorers (43) in the West behind a prolific Los Angeles FC (65).
With McGuire investing far more into the Loons’ roster this term, Minnesota United have added genuine midfield quality in Osvaldo Alonso and Ján Greguš while Darwin Quintero continues to contribute impressively with eight goals.
Elsewhere, former Lions Kevin Molino and Lawrence Olum also make up the home side’s roster at the brand new, shiny 19,400 Allianz Field.
As for Orlando City SC, the Lions have dug real deep to haul themselves level on points (33) with seventh-placed Montreal Impact.
Sitting one place below the Quebec side due to Impact’s superior win record (10) over Orlando City SC‘s (9), our hopes and dreams of reaching the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs are very much alive – credit to James O’Connor for that!
2017/18 head-to-head stats
Orlando City SC last faced Minnesota United in March 2018 – a game Orlando City UK attended live.
Unfortunately, this was the first time I witnessed a City loss in person with an Ethan Finlay brace earning Adrian Heath a second victory over Orlando City SC since departing Central Florida in July 2016.
With Richie Laryea drawing a contentious penalty that underwent Video Review, Orlando City SC cancelled out Finlay’s opener with Yoshimar Yotún converting the resulting spot kick on 43 minutes.
Nevertheless, the night belonged to Ethan Finlay who struck again in the 79th minute to hand the Loons their first victory of the season.
Orlando City SC 1 Minnesota United 2 – Highlights – March 10, 2018 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Only entering Major League Soccer in 2017, this game series is just two head-to-heads old but in that time, Minnesota United have taken six points from six.
Despite Orlando City SC‘s roster undergoing mass overhauls in the past two years, Adrian Heath knows the organisation like no other.
In other words, Inchy has something to prove every time he faces the Lions.
Still very much emotionally invested in seeing Orlando City SC do well – to which we have no doubt – Heath felt wronged by his dismissal as Lions head coach, and with good reason.
Perhaps this has been the fuel that has driven Minnesota United to two victories over Orlando City SC so far with a solitary Christian Ramirez strike proving the difference in the club’s first ever meeting (1-0) in May 2017.
Minnesota United 1 Orlando City SC 0 – Highlights – May 27, 2017 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
With 1-0 and 1-2 scorelines having been played out so far, things are very tight when Orlando City SC face Minnesota United.
Still way too early to draw any strong themes given the fledgling fixture history, Orlando City SC need to work hard to contain a free-scoring Loons side this time around.
Currently the second highest goalscorers in the Western Conference, goals have been shared around the team this term with Darwin Quintero (8), Ethan Finlay (6), Ángelo Rodríguez (5), Mason Toye (4) and Kevin Molino (3) all chipping in so far.
Minnesota United form
The bad news for Orlando City SC? Well, Minnesota United are a pretty formidable opponent at home.
Wasting no time in getting used to the vociferous surroundings of their new state-of-the-art Allianz Field home, Adrian Heath has managed the transition from TCF Bank Stadium well.
Undefeated in TWELVE of their THIRTEEN home fixtures so far this season, the Loons’ only home loss came against Eastern Conference trailblazers Philadelphia Union (2-3) back on June 2.
Breaking the spirit of a fearless Minnesota United side in front of their so-called Wonderwall will be a very tough ask.
Minnesota United 2 Philadelphia Union 3 – Highlights – June 2, 2019 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Orlando City SC form
As we draw towards the sharp end of the season, every point matters in the race to reach the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs.
A real anxious time for Orlando City SC supporters to bear as we hope and pray for a first ever appearance in the MLS post-season, recent scorelines haven’t been for the faint-hearted.
There have been UNDER 2.5 GOALS scored in SIX of Orlando City SC‘s last SEVEN league fixtures with fine margins making a huge difference.
With the exception of the Lions’ 4-1 thrashing at New England Revolution on July 27, games against Columbus Crew (1-0), Portland Timbers (1-1), New York Red Bulls (0-1), FC Dallas (2-0), Toronto FC (1-1) and Sporting Kansas City (1-0) have been extremely tense, nerve-racking affairs.