After a conservative, yet professional winning performance at D.C. United (0-1), Orlando City SC return home to face temporary Exploria Stadium tenants Toronto FC.
Unbeaten in five MLS games and conceding just two goals so far, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions ended Gameweek 5 second in the Eastern Conference and just two points behind leaders New England Revolution with a game in hand.
Sure, Orlando City SC haven’t yet produced the free-flowing soccer we saw on multiple occasions last season.
Nevertheless, this group is maturing all the time and our stingy defensive performances and game management are testament to this.
At the start of any Major League Soccer campaign, getting points on the board early is key.
Right now, most Orlando City SC supporters will be quietly confident that this could be another season to remember.
Alongside Nashville SC and Seattle Sounders, the Lions are still undefeated in 2021 and all Orlando City SC supporters would’ve taken that five fixtures in.
There’s always room for improvement however. While Orlando City SC showed they could tough it out with their smash and grab victory at D.C. United, there will be a greater onus on taking the game to Toronto FC.
Now led by Chris Armas after Greg Vanney’s distinguished tenure, TFC are still finding their feet. Right now, they aren’t quite the Eastern Conference force we know them as.
TFC are currently twelfth in the East having gone 1-2-2 in their opening five fixtures. The Reds did earn a morale-boosting 2-0 victory over much-fancied Columbus Crew recently though.
That was before their most recent outing. This was a 1-1 draw at high-flying New York City FC thanks to a Jacob Shaffelburg equaliser.
Elsewhere, longtime Lion Dom Dwyer recently signed for Toronto FC after entering free agency at the end of 2020, and will relish facing City in familiar surroundings.
Orlando City SC vs Toronto FC – 2015/19 head-to-head stats
With no regular season or #MLSisBack Tournament meeting last season, these sides face each other for the first time since August 2019.
On that occasion, Orlando City UK attended the Lions’ 1-1 draw at BMO Field live during our two-year emigration to Canada.
A game earlier, James O’Connor‘s side earned a 2-0 win over FC Dallas following the 2019 MLS All-Star Game, and this was another big opportunity.
In a tight affair, second-half substitute Benji Michel wasted no time getting acquainted to the action.
Scoring just one minute after replacing Robinho in Ontario, City’s Homegrown forward gave the Lions a crucial lead.
Unfortunately, City couldn’t hold on and Toronto FC’s pressure told in the 77th minute when Patrick Mullins replied beyond Brian Rowe.
Toronto FC 1 Orlando City SC 1 – Highlights – August 10, 2019 (Credit: Toronto FC)
No single Major League Soccer side has inflicted defeat on Orlando City SC more than Toronto FC.
Since 2015, The Reds have defeated the Lions on EIGHT separate occasions. City have picked up just TWO victories in 1080 minutes of head-to-head action.
Orlando City SC‘s last victory over the Ontario side came back in July 2018 (2-1), representing James O’Connor‘s first ever win as City head coach.
As the season panned out, this win proved to be a false dawn and was depressingly Orlando City SC‘s only victory in 23 consecutive MLS games – a simply horrible streak lasting five entire months!
Orlando City SC 2 Toronto FC 1 – Highlights – July 14, 2018 (Credit: Toronto FC)
Despite Toronto FC enjoying this game series way more than Orlando City SC, things have been much tighter of late.
Indeed, in THREE of the last FOUR MLS head-to-heads, both sides have been drawing 0-0 at half-time.
Now Orlando City SC have a newfound identity under Oscar Pareja while Chris Armas is still getting acquainted after Greg Vanney’s dynasty, it’s up to the Lions to peg back TFC in this series.
Orlando City SC form
Getting on the front foot early has been key for Orlando City SC so far this season.
Indeed, the Lions have scored the first goal in THREE of their FIVE MLS fixtures so far.
The only game Oscar Pareja‘s side have trailed so far was at Sporting Kansas City where Gianluca Busio struck just before half-time.
Defending admirably in our 0-1 win at D.C. United, Orlando City SC will want to score early again but this time, seal a victory much earlier and more comfortably.
Toronto FC form
Early into Chris Armas’ tenure as Toronto FC head coach, he’s seen his side go 1-2-2 in five MLS fixtures.
Across these games, there have been AT LEAST TWO GOALS scored.
Having CONCACAF Champions League commitments earlier this season, Armas’ only league victory for TFC came back on May 12.
This was a 2-0 win over a much-fancied Columbus Crew side at their temporary Exploria Stadium home.
Toronto FC have been acquainted with Central Florida for a little while now. However, they will have a boisterous home crowd and The Wall to contend with this time round.
Toronto FC 2 Columbus Crew 0 – Highlights – May 12, 2021 (Credit: Toronto FC)