After drawing 0-0 with Real Salt Lake on MLS opening weekend, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now head west to face Colorado Rapids.
Last visiting Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in April 2018, the Lions will be hoping for a positive result at altitude – 5,200 ft above sea level.
Orlando City SC were 3-7-7 on the road in 2019, a big improvement on a pitiful 2-0-15 in 2018.
Last season, Robin Jansson formed a strong partnership with Lamine Sané and Oscar Pareja now needs to decide his best central defensive duo.
Failing to turn one road point into three on too consistent a basis last season, James O’Connor‘s Lions did at least manage to keep most road games tight.
Extremely tough given the distances involved, Oscar Pareja will aim to create a siege mentality on the road, putting less pressure on our form at Exploria Stadium.
Colorado Rapids away presents unique challenges given the high altitude in Commerce City although Orlando City SC are undefeated in two visits so far.
Last March, Rapids played out an infamous snow game with Portland Timbers (3-3), officially the coldest fixture in Major League Soccer history at -7°C.
This time round, the local temperature will be 13°C at kick-off so our boys won’t be feeling the chill in the Rocky Mountains.
As for Colorado Rapids, Robin Fraser’s side saw Tim Howard retire in the summer with Nicolas Benezet reinforcing an attack that still features Lion slayer Kei Kamara.
Aside from the now departed Ignacio Piatti, no opponent has scored more MLS goals (9) against Orlando City SC than the Sierra Leone forward.
Colorado Rapids vs Orlando City SC – 2015/19 head-to-head stats
A game that literally had everything, weather delay and all, Orlando City SC squeezed past Colorado Rapids 4-3 in the clubs’ last meeting.
Orlando City SC‘s second victory of 2019 six games in, an 89th minute penalty from Nani stole all three points in a game where the lead changed hands four times.
You could forgive The Wall for fearing the worst when Cole Bassett steered Rapids into a 2-3 lead by the 71st minute.
But after enduring a one-hour lightning delay with the second-half kicking off at 9:40pm local time, Orlando City SC mustered all their energy to strike twice through Chris Mueller and Nani in the final 10 minutes.
It’s fair to say, the natives went home delighted.
Orlando City SC 4 Colorado Rapids 3 – Highlights – April 6, 2019 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
See that big fat zero for Colorado Rapids? Orlando City SC will hope things stay that away after this latest meeting at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
FIVE fixtures into this cross-conference affair, Orlando City SC are undefeated against Colorado Rapids.
The last time Orlando City SC visited the Rocky Mountains in April 2018, we hosted an Orlando City UK Watch Party in London for the fantastic 1-2 comeback win.
On that occasion, second-half goals from Cristian Higuita and Yoshimar Yotún sealed an impressive victory in front of the travelling Ruckus and Iron Lion Firm.
THAT 3️⃣ POINT ROAD GAME FEELING!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽#OrlandoCityUK Watch Party was 🔥🔥#COLvORL #OCSC #MLS pic.twitter.com/aMQige48cF
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) April 29, 2018
Tying once (0-0) in 2016, Orlando City SC have won the last THREE consecutive meetings with Colorado Rapids 2-0, 1-2 and 4-3.
With the 1,835 mile trip not deterring Orlando City SC from picking up points so far, let’s hope the early season enthusiasm carries the Lions through again.
Colorado Rapids 1 Orlando City SC 2 – Highlights – April 29, 2018 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Colorado Rapids form
Winning 1-2 at D.C. United on Gameweek 1, Colorado Rapids head into their 2020 home opener with good pedigree over the last six seasons.
Undefeated in their last SIX MLS home openers at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Rapids have won THREE and tied THREE of these games.
Eager to impress in front of their home supporters, Centennial 38, this will be a true early test of Orlando City SC‘s mettle under Oscar Pareja.
Orlando City SC form
There’s mirror imagery across the win, draw and loss columns when assessing Orlando City SC‘s form in their first away fixture of each campaign.
In 2015 and 2016, Orlando City SC earned the perfect starts on the road, defeating Houston Dynamo 0-1 and New York City FC 0-1.
In recent years, it hasn’t been so pretty.
Almost snatching all three points at Chicago Fire last March, a stoppage time lapse from Shane O’Neill saw C.J. Sapong level the game (1-1) to the agony of City supporters everywhere.
Chicago Fire 1 Orlando City SC 1 – Highlights – March 9, 2019 (Credit: Major League Soccer)