Surrendering another road lead by conceding two goals in three minutes at Houston Dynamo (2-1), Orlando City SC are almost consigned to their fifth consecutive season without reaching the MLS Cup Playoffs.
On a night that saw playoff qualification rivals New England Revolution, Chicago Fire and Montreal Impact all drop points, the Lions’ late capitulation in Texas was bitterly disappointing for City’s suffering fanbase.
Now travelling to Nippert Stadium for the very first time to take on Eastern Conference basement boys FC Cincinnati, James O’Connor‘s Lions owe their fans professional performances in the two games remaining.
Despite Orlando City SC making a huge defensive improvement this season, the Lions’ current tenth-placed standing does little to reassure supporters that everything is rosy going forward.
Sure, 2019 newcomers Tesho Akindele, Robin Jansson, Jhegson Méndez, Nani and Ruan have all enjoyed positive debut seasons at Exploria Stadium with talent acquisition looking far stronger under Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira.
However, question marks remain over Orlando City SC‘s lack of identity at home, an over-reliance on Nani, and whether James O’Connor is the man to finally overcome the Lions’ mental block of reaching the post-season next year.
With David Beckham’s Inter Miami joining an already talent-stacked Eastern Conference in 2020, Orlando City SC‘s Front Office must dig deep to change the culture of an underachieving side with reduced season ticket renewals and weaker gates.
As for this weekend’s opposition FC Cincinnati, the Orange and Blue have endured a quite awful inaugural Major League Soccer campaign with Alan Koch, Yoann Damet and now Ron Jans having all taken charge of a poor 2019 roster.
With FC Cincinnati currently tying Orlando City SC for the unwanted record of most MLS goals conceded in a single campaign (74), the Lions will hope to win this one and consign the Ohio side to being the single worst defence in league history.
The Orange and Blue are currently on a measly 22 points at the foot of the Eastern Conference standings meaning Orlando City SC can only finish the season as low as eleventh place.
New England Revolution’s 2-2 draw at Portland Timbers on Wednesday night means Orlando City SC are still not eliminated from contention to reach the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs, however the Lions’ participation appears unlikely.
2019 head-to-head stats
Given the emphatic 5-1 full-time result, it’s easy to forget that Orlando City SC conceded the first goal in the club’s first ever meeting at Exploria Stadium back in May.
With Jamaican international Darren Mattocks side stepping Robin Jansson to put the Orange and Blue 0-1 up in the 24th minute, Orlando City SC‘s response was first class.
On a boiling hot day in Central Florida, Tesho Akindele replied in the 37th minute before a Nani brace, another Akindele goal and a Dom Dwyer header secured the Lions’ biggest win of the season.
Orlando City SC 5 FC Cincinnati 1 – Highlights – May 19, 2019 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
With this weekend’s game only the second time Orlando City SC has faced FC Cincinnati in Major League Soccer, this is the Lions’ youngest game series of the lot.
Currently leading the Eastern Conference’s bottom side by 14 points, such has been the desperation of FC Cincinnati’s first ever MLS campaign, they need to win their last two games to equal Orlando City SC‘s awful 2018 haul of 28 points.
Currently tying Orlando City SC for most MLS goals conceded in a single season (74), the motivation for the Lions is to win here and consign the Ohio side to being the single worst defence in league history.
FC Cincinnati form
Good home form is paramount in any league, especially Major League Soccer given the vast road distances travelled.
Unfortunately for FC Cincinnati, they’ve only treated their Nippert Stadium crowd to three home MLS victories in 2019.
A downright depressing statistic in their first ever MLS campaign, Ron Jans’ side have lost SEVEN of their last EIGHT home fixtures.
Four of these losses have taken place under the Dutchman’s watch since he succeeded Yoann Damet on August 4.
Only a win will do for Orlando City SC who will be expecting their side to beat one of Major League Soccer’s weakest first-year entrants.
The root cause of FC Cincinnati’s miserable 2019 campaign? An inability to keep goals out.
But worse still, they’ve been extremely toothless in attack too – a destructive combination.
Scoring just 30 goals in Major League Soccer this year, it’s the lowest tally of any Major League Soccer side with Vancouver Whitecaps the current second lowest scorers with 33 goals.
Scoring only ONE goal in their last THREE MLS fixtures, Allan Cruz’s solitary strike at Montreal Impact was actually enough to hand the Orange and Blue only their sixth win of the season back on September 14.
A result handing Orlando City SC real impetus in their playoff chase that gameweek, James O’Connor‘s side couldn’t take full advantage after tying 3-3 with New England Revolution.
Montreal Impact 0 FC Cincinnati 1 – Highlights – September 14, 2019 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Orlando City SC form
Orlando City SC have made huge defensive strides this season but unfortunately, old habits have crept back in – just when it mattered.
Conceding AT LEAST TWO GOALS in our last FOUR MLS fixtures, James O’Connor‘s side have looked a soft touch ever since a 3-0 thrashing at San Jose Earthquakes on August 31.
A time where Orlando City SC needed to step on the gas in a hugely competitive Eastern Conference, it just hasn’t happened for a side still looking to reach the MLS Cup Playoffs five seasons into our big league existence.
San Jose Earthquakes 3 Orlando City SC 0 – Highlights – August 31, 2019 (Credit: Major League Soccer)