After a fantastic 1-2 win at Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC face another quick turnaround as they head to FC Dallas on Sunday.
Revisiting his beloved Frisco, Texas, Papi is a legend at Toyota Stadium after a glorious 19-year association with FC Dallas as a player then head coach.
The feel-good factor surrounding Orlando City SC is contagious right now.
With the SKC win sealing a club-record streak of seven MLS games unbeaten, confidence is sky-high at the minute.
National broadcasters may have thought our #MLSisBack Tournament form was a fluke but Orlando City SC continue getting better and better.
After Wednesday’s round of fixtures, Orlando City SC sit second in the Eastern Conference with 25 points from 13 games played.
Still the outright top goalscorers in the East with 25 goals so far, the Lions have been ruthless when chances have presented themselves.
Crucially, Orlando City SC have developed the knack of winning MLS games when they’re not at their best.
With goal contributions from all round the park, players like Chris Mueller and Benji Michel have elevated their game to new heights under Oscar Pareja.
The sheer quality of Tesho Akindele and Benji Michel‘s strikes at Children’s Mercy Park demonstrate the confidence coursing through the club’s veins right now.
More quality will be required in abundance at FC Dallas. The club from the Lone Star State sit fourth in the Western Conference and are undefeated in six of their seven home games this season.
In midweek however, FC Dallas lost 1-0 at Atlanta United to halt a three-game winning streak. It’ll be up to Orlando City SC to ensure Toros stay downbeat in this one.
FC Dallas vs Orlando City SC – 2015/19 head-to-head stats
Last facing FC Dallas in August 2019, Orlando City SC kept the feel-good factor going after hosting the 2019 MLS All-Star Game three days prior.
Defeating Luchi Gonzalez’s side 2-0 at home, it was the Lions’ first victory in four games as James O’Connor attempted to kick-start our bid to reach the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs.
On an important night at Exploria Stadium, Tesho Akindele gave City a 21st minute lead against his former side.
However, home supporters faced an agonising wait as the Lions aimed to make a crucial three points safe.
They could breathe a big sigh of relief in stoppage time however as Carlos Ascues scored his only goal in purple.
Orlando City SC 2 FC Dallas 0 – Highlights – August 3, 2019 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
That aforementioned 2-0 victory represented Orlando City SC‘s first MLS win over FC Dallas at the fifth attempt.
A real tough nut for City to crack since entering Major League Soccer, it felt good to right the wrongs of previous meetings.
Regarding previous visits to Toyota Stadium, Orlando City SC first visited Frisco in July 2016.
Thrashed 4-0 on a humiliating evening, that defeat ultimately cost Adrian Heath his job with Inchy parting ways with City just three days after.
Not only was Orlando City SC‘s 2-0 win over FC Dallas their first victory over Toros, it was the first time we scored against them too.
Remarkably going four MLS games (360 minutes) against Orlando City SC without conceding, this goalscoring curse is now over.
With Orlando City SC currently the outright leading goalscorers in the Eastern Conference, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions are more than capable of scoring against any MLS opponent.
FC Dallas 2 Orlando City SC 0 – Highlights – October 6, 2018 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
FC Dallas form
FC Dallas are renowned for developing top youth talent and accelerating them into the first team spotlight when the time is right.
The best way for young players to learn is to play alongside experienced older heads. Just look at Nani‘s influence in Central Florida!
An experienced older head is exactly what Franco Jara is.
A man in form right now with FOUR goals in his last FOUR MLS appearances, the experienced 32-year-old Argentine has been a fantastic mid-season signing.
Originally signing for FC Dallas in January, his move was made effective in July and the former Pachuca man hasn’t looked back.
Overall, he’s currently scored in half (FIVE) of his 10 MLS appearances so far.
Orlando City SC form
Franco Jara is undoubtedly a threat for FC Dallas but Orlando City SC have another goalscoring weapon of their own.
Deployed as a right midfielder against Sporting Kansas City, Benji Michel is a man in a rich vein of form right now.
Scoring FOUR goals in his last FIVE MLS appearances, the 22-year-old Orlando native has been doing his city proud.
We saw that Benji Michel had promise in his rookie MLS season but now, he’s adding more end product to his game – and how!
A speed merchant in his own right, MLS defenders hate facing pace and trickery and that’s exactly what Benji has in abundance.
Sporting Kansas City 1 Orlando City SC 2 – Highlights – September 23, 2020 (Credit: UTC FOOTBALL TV)