After our 2-1 loss at New York Red Bulls and a 21-day break, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC return to Exploria Stadium to play an away game, only by name, behind closed doors, against temporary tenants Toronto FC.
Despite surrendering our unbeaten start, the international break perhaps came at the right time for City. In short, we’ve performed solidly to earn 12 points from our first seven games this season.
The huge bonus right now?
The fact that key men Daryl Dike, Nani and Alexandre Pato will soon be welcomed back into the team. Either for this game or in the gameweeks to come.
In short, we’ve still only conceded four goals all season long. Adding the aforementioned trio’s goals and firepower can only be a good thing going forward.
Sure, City’s performance at New York Red Bulls was lacklustre and disappointing. However, we can’t forget that we’re still not the finished article.
Not only did young Michael Halliday earn his MLS debut at Red Bull Arena. Silvester van der Water only entered as a second-half substitute too before bagging his first City goal.
Ultimately, Oscar Pareja is still learning more and more about his roster. In a 34-game regular season, there will always be bumps in the road.
Nevertheless, this away (home) game against Toronto FC behind closed doors is winnable.
After all, Chris Armas has endured a tough start in charge of TFC, earning just ONE league victory so far.
This is despite inheriting a very talented roster from Greg Vanney. Ali Curtis and the TFC Front Office have brought in Dom Dwyer, Kemar Lawrence, and Yeferson Soteldo too.
Elsewhere, Armas does have the benefit of having recently seen Orlando City SC at close quarters.
Indeed, TFC and City last faced off at Exploria Stadium only 28 days before this game.
Orlando City SC will look to take full advantage of playing in familiar surroundings, albeit an away fixture in the history books.
Toronto FC vs Orlando City SC – 2015/20 head-to-head stats
Last facing Toronto FC just over a month ago, Tesho Akindele‘s solitary 12th minute goal was enough to grab all three points.
On a hot spring day in Central Florida, Silvester van der Water stepped into the starting eleven after a harsh two-game suspension for Nani.
City’s flying Dutchman grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
Collecting a neat forward pass from Kyle Smith, van der Water shimmied past Chris Mavinga before laying in an inch-perfect cross into the TFC box.
Tesho Akindele was on scene to head home a point-blank strike beyond the helpless Alex Bono.
From here on in, Orlando City SC hung on by soaking up second-half Toronto FC pressure with Pedro Gallese denying Ako Akinola and Yeferson Soteldo late on.
Orlando City SC 1 Toronto FC 0 – Highlights – May 22, 2021 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Sure, no MLS team has defeated Orlando City SC more than Toronto FC (8 wins). However, the Lions begun the fightback in the last head-to-head.
All eight of these Toronto FC victories came under Greg Vanney’s watch. Right now, Chris Armas still finding his feet after his January 2021 TFC appointment.
It hasn’t been an easy start for Armas, especially considering he’s following Vanney’s distinguished tenure in Ontario.
Not only that but Chris Armas’ early tenure has been complicated due to the fact Toronto FC are currently locked out of BMO Field due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
With Toronto FC’s Exploria Stadium seat colour PR stunt ending with egg on the Canadian sides’ face, Orlando City SC will attempt to further close the gap in this game series with another win.
While the most recent meeting saw Orlando City SC win 1-0, THREE of the last FIVE MLS head-to-heads have seen BOTH SIDES SCORE.
On City’s last visit to Ontario, Orlando City UK attended the Lions’ 1-1 draw at BMO Field live during our two-year emigration to Canada.
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)
Toronto FC form
As we’ve already alluded to, Toronto FC’s home games have been based out of Orlando City SC‘s Exploria Stadium so far this season.
Sure, Parramore isn’t the club’s official home. However, TFC’s form has been better in so-called home games, albeit only two games in the sample.
On April 24, a late Jonathan Osorio equaliser earned Toronto FC a 2-2 draw against Vancouver Whitecaps at Exploria Stadium.
Then on May 12, Chris Armas earned his first TFC victory and The Reds’ first win of 2021. This was a 2-0 (home) triumph over Columbus Crew.
Toronto FC 2 Columbus Crew 0 – Highlights – May 12, 2021 (Credit: Toronto FC)
Orlando City SC form
In 2019 and 2020, the rear neckline of Orlando City SC‘s Bring The Noise home jersey read “Defend The Fortress”.
While we’ve struggled to effectively execute this in the past, the statement couldn’t be truer right now.
Only conceding ONE goal in FOUR games at Exploria Stadium this season, Valentín Castellanos’ penalty for NYCFC was preventable too.
With João Moutinho carelessly conceding the penalty on May 8, the good news is that this is still the only goal conceded in the 407 this campaign.