Despite a rousing second-half that saw Orlando City SC overturn a 1-3 half-time deficit in just nine minutes, the Lions’ 3-3 draw with New England Revolution leaves our playoff hopes on the brink.
On a night where Montreal Impact’s 0-1 loss to FC Cincinnati gave James O’Connor‘s side a huge opportunity to make up ground, City desperately needed all three points, not one.
Crucially, seventh-placed New England Revolution have played a game less (30) than Orlando City SC (31) right now although their game in hand comes at a tough venue at Portland Timbers on September 25.
Orlando City SC now need to win their last three remaining MLS games while hoping that Revs, Montreal Impact and Chicago Fire completely collapse around them.
An incredibly tall order, the Lions now travel to Texas in their penultimate road game of the season at Houston Dynamo who’ve endured a largely forgettable 2019 campaign.
A season that started with Wilmer Cabrera is now finishing with interim head coach Davy Arnaud who has done little to arrest The Orange’s slide down the Western Conference since taking charge in August.
A match up of two sides probably wondering what could’ve been this season, these circumstances could make for a very open game with Houston Dynamo and Orlando City SC each currently in a nothing to lose state of mind.
James O’Connor would’ve taken immense pride from the way his Orlando City SC side battled back from a desperate looking 1-3 scoreline last Saturday against Revs.
Despite a lack of ruthlessness and mental lapses costing Orlando City SC dear this season, this 2019 roster has at least captured the imagination of a suffering fanbase with more grit, heart and determination.
Nothing but a professional and fearless attitude will do heading into the final three games of the season.
2015/18 head-to-head stats
Placed in the middle of a terrible stretch of five league losses between September and October 2018, Orlando City SC‘s last meeting with Houston Dynamo (0-0) was a very hollow affair.
With nothing but pride to play for in the final stages of a bitterly disappointing campaign, a poor Lions side did at least show battle in this one.
After arguably one of their worst MLS showings to date – a desperate 4-0 loss at Chicago Fire a week previous – James O’Connor wanted to see some effort and was repaid with a more committed performance.
Orlando City SC 0 Houston Dynamo 0 – Highlights – September 22, 2018 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Four games deep into this cross-conference game series and everything is tied up right now.
Sharing ONE victory each with TWO 0-0 draws in both 2016 and 2018, Orlando City SC actually achieved their first ever Major League Soccer victory against Houston Dynamo (0-1) in March 2015.
Only the second game of our MLS existence, a 74th minute Tyler Deric own goal handed Adrian Heath‘s Lions all three points on our first of only two league trips to BBVA Stadium so far.
Houston Dynamo 0 Orlando City SC 1 – Highlights – March 13, 2015 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
We are yet to witness both sides scoring in any of the FOUR Major League Soccer head-to-heads so far.
Aside from 2016 and 2018’s 0-0 draws, the other two results finished ‘to nil’.
Orlando City SC‘s only MLS loss to Houston Dynamo came in May 2017 when Alberth Elis, Mauro Manotas (x2) and Romell Quioto strikes sealed an emphatic four-goal triumph over Jason Kreis‘ Lions.
Houston Dynamo 4 Orlando City SC 0 – Highlights – May 6, 2017 (Credit: Nación Púrpura)
Houston Dynamo form
With Montreal Impact surprisingly picking up Wilmer Cabrera from Houston Dynamo just over a week following his exit from The Orange, Davy Arnaud is the interim head coach at BBVA Stadium.
Taking charge of his first Dynamo game against Colorado Rapids (2-2) on August 17, one win and three losses has followed since.
Houston Dynamo have actually lost SEVEN of their last NINE Major League Soccer fixtures with the struggling franchise simply playing for pride in the games that remain.
This kind of poor form hands Orlando City SC hope in their unlikely bid to reach the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs from their current standing.
Orlando City SC form
Sure, Houston Dynamo has looked a sorry side this season but Orlando City SC‘s road form is nothing to write home about either.
Failing to win our last SIX away fixtures in MLS, James O’Connor‘s side last tasted a road victory at Columbus Crew (0-2) back on June 29.
Picking up four road points since, this streak included respectable one-point hauls at Philadelphia Union, Portland Timbers, Toronto FC and Minnesota United.
However, in reality, Orlando City SC needed to squeeze a few victories from these results after disappointingly blowing leads in all four of these games.
…
Don’t forget, Houston Dynamo versus Orlando City SC will be shown LIVE on Premier Sports 2 in the early hours of Sunday morning.
You can view our TV Fixture Tracker by clicking here.
GOOD NEWS 🙌🏽 | @HoustonDynamo 🆚 @OrlandoCitySC is LIVE on @PremierSportsTV 2 in the early hours of Sunday morning! 👍🏽⚽️📺
TV TRACKER 📺: https://t.co/KV9JvpAA0o#HOUvORL #ForeverOrange #FaceOfCity #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/uK700seyVJ
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) September 20, 2019