After all of the waiting and anticipation, a brand new era is set to begin. Oscar Pareja will make his Lions debut in Orlando City SC‘s 2020 home opener against Real Salt Lake.
Starting at home for a sixth consecutive season in Major League Soccer, Orlando City UK will be attending the game at Exploria Stadium LIVE. All City supporters will hope 2020 is finally the year we reach the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Making five permanent additions and three loan signings this off-season, Orlando City SC now have new direction under Oscar Pareja.
The Colombian is Orlando City SC‘s fourth full-time coach in six MLS seasons.
El Generalito is the man tasked with turning around City’s losing culture and cultivating a new-look squad into a brave and disciplined unit.
This isn’t the first time the MLS fixture machine has selected Orlando City SC vs Real Salt Lake for a curtain raiser. The Claret and Cobalt visited the Citrus Bowl in March 2016 with that game sparking much nostalgia.
With one point feeling like three that day, Cyle Larin and Adrian Winter goals sealed an incredible 2-2 comeback in stoppage time.
This time round, Oscar Pareja will want all three. However, the Lions face Freddy Juarez’s RSL without club captain and talisman Nani.
Issued a two-game suspension and fine for aggressive behaviour during Orlando City SC‘s final game of 2019, Nani also misses City’s March 7 trip to Colorado Rapids.
This off-season, Real Salt Lake’s winter signings have included Zac MacMath, Ashtone Morgan, Giuseppe Rossi and Lions villain Justin Meram.
With club talisman Jefferson Savarino joining Atlético Mineiro, the Venezuelan attacker won’t be easy to replace.
Head coach Freddy Juarez has more to prove after going 6-1-5 in 12 fixtures since Mike Petke’s exit.
A playoff team in 2019, RSL are a strong underrated opponent for Orlando City SC in Gameweek 1.
Orlando City SC vs Real Salt Lake – 2015/19 head-to-head stats
Orlando City SC last faced Real Salt Lake in Sandy, Utah in April 2019.
On the night at Rio Tinto Stadium, Orlando City SC supporters were left frustrated by a tired performance that lacked any real urgency.
Controversially, James O’Connor managed Nani’s minutes by leaving the Portuguese on the bench before a 34-minute second-half cameo.
In that time, Nani scored a beautiful curling free-kick that gave us hope but it was all in vain after Sam Johnson and Damir Kreilach goals put RSL 2-0 up before the hour mark.
Real Salt Lake 2 Orlando City SC 1 – Highlights – April 13, 2019 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
The good news for Orlando City SC is that they hold the advantage in this cross-conference affair.
A game series only five fixtures old, the Lions have defeated the Claret and Cobalt twice in both 2017 (0-1) and 2018 (3-1).
Orlando City SC‘s only victory at Rio Tinto Stadium was in June 2017 where Will Johnson returned to haunt his former side with a goal in a 0-1 victory in Sandy, Utah.
Orlando City SC vs Real Salt Lake fixtures are typically exciting affairs with both teams scoring in FOUR of FIVE MLS head-to-heads so far.
The exception was the aforementioned 0-1 victory in 2017 where Will Johnson scored the only goal.
But who could forget RSL’s first ever visit to Central Florida in March 2016?
A game Orlando City UK attended live, no Orlando City SC supporter can ever forget the way in which Cyle Larin and Adrian Winter goals sealed an incredible comeback to draw 2-2 in second-half stoppage time.
Orlando City SC 2 Real Salt Lake 2 – Highlights – March 6, 2016 (Credit: Real Salt Lake)
Orlando City SC form
While nobody needs reminding of Orlando City SC‘s failure to reach the MLS Cup Playoffs in five attempts, our record on opening day is somewhat respectable.
Undefeated in FIVE MLS opening fixtures so far, it must be said that FOUR of these games were draws with the only victory coinciding with Exploria Stadium’s inaugural fixture in March 2017.
However, Orlando City SC showed heart and determination to recover a 2-0 half-time deficit against New York City FC on opening day in 2019.
With second-half goals from Chris Mueller and Tesho Akindele cancelling out Ebenezer Ofori and Alexander Ring’s first-half strikes, the Orlando City SC faithful went home pleased.
Orlando City SC 2 New York City FC 2 – Highlights – March 2, 2019 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Real Salt Lake form
Remarkably, Real Salt Lake have drawn their last FIVE consecutive MLS fixtures on opening weekend.
- 2015 – Portland Timbers 0 Real Salt Lake 0
- 2016 – Orlando City SC 2 Real Salt Lake 2
- 2017 – Real Salt Lake 0 Toronto FC
- 2018 – FC Dallas 1 Real Salt Lake 1
- 2019 – Houston Dynamo 1 Real Salt Lake 1
With FOUR of these FIVE games taking place on the road, the Claret and Cobalt certainly know how to stay competitive out of the gate.