(Credit: Orlando City SC)
So this is it folks – the big one! The City Beautiful is set to host an MLS Cup Playoffs game for the first ever time with Orlando City SC facing familiar foes New York City FC.
An occasion we’ve never experienced before, tension is set to reach fever-pitch in this single-elimination knockout game scheduled for high noon at Exploria Stadium. Are you ready to #LightItPurple?
A game that is reward for a simply incredible 2020 campaign, Oscar Pareja has completely transformed the Lions’ losing culture within just 11 months.
Not only reaching the #MLSisBack Tournament Final but setting a club-record streak of 12 MLS games unbeaten, people sat up and took notice of Orlando City SC in 2020.
Elsewhere, other headlines included finally defeating Atlanta United home and away, and beating new Florida rivals Inter Miami twice.
Not to mention Daryl Dike enjoying a rookie season for the ages, Chris Mueller‘s USMNT shouts growing louder than ever before, and Nani yet again reeling back the years and leading by example.
We can tell you’re smiling at those last few paragraphs but right now, there is no room for sentiment.
This year, it’s all about #HustleAndHunger.
What that means is not being content with what we’ve already done but going one step beyond to live out our dreams of winning MLS Cup.
The team standing in our way is Ronny Deila’s New York City FC.
The side we faced in our inaugural Major League Soccer fixture, tussles with The Pigeons have been epic over the years.
NYCFC head into this 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One clash fresh off the back of four straight victories in MLS.
This is in stark contrast to how Deila started life in MLS with four losses from his first four games in charge.
With New York City FC running on adrenaline right now, it’s up to Oscar Pareja‘s reborn Orlando City SC to halt this streak and push the Lions on to the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
Orlando City SC vs New York City FC – 2015/20 head-to-head stats
Last meeting each other on October 14, Orlando City SC and New York City FC both had to be content with one point.
Typical of the Oscar Pareja regime, Orlando City SC started the game boisterously with two shots in the first minute to signal our intent.
This pressure told on 18 minutes when Chris Mueller opened the scoring following a blistering run from Lightning McQueen himself – Ruan.
The Brazilian full back shaped to come infield before blitzing past Guðmundur Þórarinsson on the outside, getting to the byline before sending in an inch-perfect cross.
Chris Mueller expertly tucked home the header to send a socially distanced version of The Wall crazy.
Unfortunately, Orlando City SC didn’t put the game away while they were on top and there was no reply to Keaton Parks’ 43rd minute equaliser.
This goal seemed to knock the wind out of City’s sails and NYCFC came into the ascendency in the second-half.
Orlando City SC 1 New York City FC 1 – Highlights – October 14, 2020 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Facing New York City FC more than any other MLS opponent, the Lions and The Pigeons enjoy a keenly-contested rivalry.
Being 2015 expansion rivals, most Orlando City SC supporters place NYCFC somewhere just beneath Atlanta United and Inter Miami on their list of most-loathed teams.
Over the years, this game series has been super-tight with Orlando City SC boasting SIX league victories to New York City FC’s FIVE.
With FIVE draws having been played out too, you can see that this Eastern Conference clash is very even, and almost deadlocked right now.
Before Orlando City SC‘s 1-3 win over New York City FC in #MLSisBack Tournament Group A, the Lions endured a wretched spell facing the side from The Bronx.
Including the aforementioned 1-1 draw too, New York City FC are undefeated in SEVEN of their last EIGHT league meetings with Orlando City SC.
Winning FOUR and drawing THREE games in this streak, granted Oscar Pareja was only around for TWO meetings so far, but Orlando City SC supporters will crave another big victory over the Big Apple side.
All of that said, Orlando City SC did enjoy some 2019 success over NYCFC – the famous Running of The Wall game in the 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarter-finals.
Orlando City SC form
Just two stoppage time minutes away from sealing an entire regular season unbeaten at home, Orlando City SC fell just short of this feat.
After Nani‘s incredible free-kick gave Orlando City SC a 2-1 second-half lead over Nashville SC, late goals from Hany Mukhtar and Jhonder Cádiz left City shell-shocked (2-3).
While a top four spot and home game seeding was already sealed, you couldn’t help but still feel frustrated at how we threw these points away.
Worse still, Cádiz’s goal was the tenth time this season that Orlando City SC have conceded from a cross.
The Achilles heel in an otherwise standout season under Oscar Pareja, this 2-3 result means Orlando City SC are undefeated in NINE of their last TEN fixtures at Exploria Stadium.
Orlando City SC 2 Nashville SC 3 – Highlights – November 8, 2020 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
New York City FC form
A lot was expected of Paraguay international Jesús Medina when he signed for New York City FC in December 2017.
For the most part, Designated Player Medina has failed to live up to expectations but this season, Ronny Deila finally seems to be getting more from the 23-year-old.
The player who scored that excellent equaliser against Orlando City SC in #MLSisBack Tournament Group A, Jesús Medina heads into this game in great form.
Scoring THREE goals in this last FOUR MLS appearances, the Paraguayan notched against Montreal Impact (3-1), Toronto FC (0-1) and Chicago Fire (3-4).
Either Kyle Smith or Kamal Miller will have to marshal him closely in this huge 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One match.
Chicago Fire 3 New York City FC 4 – Highlights – November 8, 2020 (Credit: New York City FC)
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Don’t forget, Orlando City SC vs New York City FC will be shown LIVE on FreeSports on Saturday evening at the very early time of 17:00 (GMT).
You can view our TV Fixture Tracker by clicking here.
GOOD NEWS 🚨 | @OrlandoCitySC 🆚 @NYCFC in the #MLSCupPlayoffs is LIVE on @FreeSports_TV at the early time of 5PM on November 2️⃣1️⃣. 😁👏🏽
VIEW TV TRACKER 📺: https://t.co/KV9JvpAA0o#ORLvNYC #OrlandoCity #LightItPurple #HustleAndHunger #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/h4bKFEcm2z
— x – Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) November 11, 2020