After a miserable 3-0 thumping at San Jose Earthquakes, Orlando City SC have just five regular season fixtures left to try and clinch a spot in the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Achieving that objective looks a tall order right now, especially considering they now face runaway Western Conference leaders and arguably the best MLS regular season side of all-time, Los Angeles FC.
Bob Bradley’s men visit Exploria Stadium for the very first time in Major League Soccer with LAFC having enjoyed their inaugural campaign in 2018.
Romping home towards the Supporters’ Shield right now with Carlos Vela on pace to gazump Josef Martínez’s year-old record of 31 goals, the prospect of this team facing Orlando City SC is a frightening one.
Nevertheless, James O’Connor will have to develop a game plan to emulate what only four head coaches have managed to do against Los Angeles FC in MLS this year – beat them!
With only Vancouver Whitecaps (1-0), Colorado Rapids (1-0) and LA Galaxy (3-2) having defeated LAFC all season long, Orlando City SC need to pull off the unthinkable with a victory to stay in the playoff race.
On the evidence of our performance at San Jose Earthquakes last Saturday, the prospect of Orlando City SC even picking up a point in this one seems extremely slim.
Only scoring three goals in our last five Major League Soccer fixtures, Orlando City SC are desperately lacking a clinical goalscorer with way too much pressure on the Lions defence to keep the opposition out.
With Los Angeles FC leading the Western Conference by a mighty 16 points and already having one eye on making their mark in the post-season, some have suggested Bob Bradley may rest some of his key men at distance in Central Florida.
However, with LAFC chasing a record regular season points total and Carlos Vela chasing down records of his own, Orlando City SC may well run into the might of a full-strength Los Angeles FC side at the peak of their powers.
2018 head-to-head stats
With only one full Major League Soccer campaign in the books, Orlando City SC have only faced Los Angeles FC once so far – and that’s probably a good thing!
Last facing off at Banc of California Stadium in July 2018, the scoreline was fairly respectable (2-1) until Bob Bradley’s side punished a tired and jet lagged Orlando City SC with two late goals to add some gloss to the full-time result (4-1).
A fixture that was originally scheduled for a Saturday afternoon, the game was shifted to a later start time (after 11PM ET) on the same day due to triple-digit daytime temperatures in the LA metro area.
After Adama Diomande and Latif Blessing goals put LAFC 2-0 up just after the half hour mark, Orlando City SC were fearing the worst.
In James O’Connor‘s first game in charge however, the Lions rallied well with Sacha Kljestan pegging back the hosts lead in the 59th minute before late Adama Diomande and Diego Rossi strikes put the outcome beyond all doubt.
Los Angeles FC 4 Orlando City SC 1 – Highlights – July 7, 2018 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
In terms of MLS franchise history, Orlando City SC and Los Angeles FC are both new kids on the block. However, there is a huge gulf in quality between either side.
With LAFC having reached the MLS Cup Playoffs in their inaugural season, it must be acknowledged that the level of investment is far, far higher at the California side.
Nevertheless, it still stings Orlando City SC supporters to see sides like Atlanta United and Los Angeles FC join Major League Soccer after us, choose their head coaches and build their rosters far smarter, and enjoy instantaneous success as a result.
While the financial might of Los Angeles FC compared to Orlando City SC is night and day, let’s hope the Lions can at least catch up to the Western Conference leaders in this game series.
Orlando City SC form
Scoring is a problem, both on the road but also at home lately.
In Orlando City SC‘s last FIVE home fixtures in Major League Soccer, there have been UNDER 2.5 GOALS scored making for tense, nerve-racking affairs.
Heading into the latest round of MLS fixtures, Orlando City SC boast the fourth best defensive record in the Eastern Conference (39 goals conceded) but hold the third worst attacking record (35 goals scored).
Right now, it seems to City supporters that if Tesho Akindele doesn’t score, Orlando City SC rarely score with the Lions overly reliant on the Canadian international plus Nani to score.
With Nani having played consistent football since August 2018 at the start of the last European season, the Portuguese international is in danger of suffering burnout so contributions from elsewhere have become even more important.
Orlando City SC 0 Atlanta United 1 – Highlights – August 23, 2019 (Credit: Atlanta United FC)
Los Angeles FC form
Los Angeles FC have been like a train in 2019, blowing away almost everybody who stands in their path – both home and away!
Only dropping seven home points at Banc of California Stadium in a simply outstanding 2019, LAFC have been imperious on the road too, only losing to Vancouver Whitecaps (1-0), Colorado Rapids (1-0) and LA Galaxy (3-2).
Winning FOUR of their last FIVE away fixtures however, distance and the potential for jet lag just hasn’t affected the morale, togetherness and team spirit of what is a hugely talented roster under the experienced Bob Bradley.
Real Salt Lake 0 Los Angeles FC 2 – Highlights – August 17, 2019 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
On pace to surpass New York Red Bulls’ current record breaking regular season points tally of 71, Bob Bradley’s side sit on 62 points with six games remaining.
With both the team and Carlos Vela in rampant mood to rewrite the history books by smashing records, Los Angeles FC have scored AT LEAST TWO GOALS in TEN of their last ELEVEN MLS fixtures.
Depending on how you assess things, this could be the best or worst time to face Los Angeles FC.
With Orlando City SC club legend Adrian Heath performing a tactical masterclass to inflict LAFC’s first home defeat of the season (0-2) with Minnesota United last Sunday, Bob Bradley will want a reaction, fast.
With talisman Carlos Vela missing that game with a right hamstring strain, another absence would hand Orlando City SC a massive boost heading into this encounter.
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Don’t forget, Orlando City SC versus Los Angeles FC will be shown LIVE on Sky Sports Football in the early hours of Sunday morning (00:30 GMT).
You can view our TV Fixture Tracker by clicking here.
NEW #OrlandoCityUK blog | @SkyFootball televising @OrlandoCitySC’s September @MLS fixture against @LAFC! 👍🏽📺⚽️
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— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) August 16, 2019