Far from our best at Toronto FC but fighting back to earn a road point (1-1), Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now face Philadelphia Union at Exploria Stadium.
It’s the first of three home fixtures in just 13 days. A crucial stage of the season, it’s now time to solidify our positioning near the top of the Eastern Conference.
After sub Jozy Altidore gave Toronto FC a 72nd minute lead last Saturday, it was difficult to predict Orlando City SC equalising.
A game that TFC bossed in large spells, both Nani and Mauricio Pereyra struggled to pull the strings in a bitty affair.
Fortunately, Orlando City SC found a timely response. This came just five minutes after Altidore thought he’d scored a crucial game winner.
On 73 minutes, Robin Jansson sent a searching ball upfield that Auro Jr. made a complete hash of.
With the pacy Benji Michel smartly getting in between Auro Jr.’s misplaced back pass and the onrushing Alex Bono, Bono crashed into Michel.
Despite TFC players pleading their innocence, referee Marcos de Oliveira consulted VAR before awarding Nani a 77th minute penalty kick.
The perfect route back into the game for a below-par Orlando City SC, Nani got lucky.
With Alex Bono getting a left hand to Nani‘s penalty kick, the Portuguese exerted just enough power to beat the TFC stopper.
A point most Orlando City SC supporters were content with, attention now switches to Philadelphia Union.
A side the Lions haven’t faced since July 2019’s meeting in the #MLSisBack Tournament, this will be a tough game.
Last weekend, Union’s 2-1 win over D.C. United helped the Pennsylvania side into second, above Orlando City SC, in the East.
Jim Curtin’s side have been mighty consistent in recent seasons, and Orlando City SC will need to be at their best to earn all three points in this one.
Orlando City SC vs Philadelphia Union – 2015/20 head-to-head stats
Only meeting once last season, Orlando City SC‘s last game with Philadelphia Union was a 1-1 draw at the #MLSisBack Tournament in July 2020.
The third and final fixture in Group A, the Lions had already sealed qualification to the knockout stage following matchday two.
In a keenly contested encounter, two second-half goals within just 120 seconds of each other left the result all square.
After veteran Ilsinho smartly swept home an Alejandro Bedoya assist on 68 minutes, up stepped Mauricio Pereyra on 70 minutes.
Heading home an inch-perfect cross from Nani, the result meant City topped Group A (7 points) with Union also qualifying on 7 points (inferior “Goals For” record).
Philadelphia Union 1 Orlando City SC 1 – Highlights – July 20, 2020 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Familiar Eastern Conference foes, the number of Orlando City SC vs Philadelphia Union fixtures now stands at TWELVE.
In the 1080+ minutes of MLS action, Union hold a two-win advantage over City with FOUR draws taking place since 2015.
The last time Orlando City SC defeated Union was way back in April 2018.
On the evening at Talen Energy Stadium (now Subaru Park), quick-fire first-half goals from Dom Dwyer and Chris Mueller sealed City’s first away victory of the season.
So far in MLS, Philadelphia Union have visited Orlando (Citrus Bowl and Exploria Stadium) on FIVE separate occasions.
On Union’s last two visits however, Jim Curtin’s side have been on the back foot early on.
In September 2018, Dom Dwyer gave City a ninth minute lead and in July 2019, Chris Mueller gave City an eighth minute lead.
Unfortunately for Orlando City SC, home advantage didn’t count for too much with these results ending 2-2 and 1-3 respectively.
Orlando City SC 1 Philadelphia Union 3 – Highlights – July 3, 2019 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Orlando City SC form
Sure, any Major League Soccer side should depend on their Designated Player for consistent output.
That’s exactly what Nani has been doing, but Orlando City SC can’t become too overly reliant on our Portuguese captain.
Of our SIX MLS victories so far this season, Nani has scored in FOUR of them (four goals in total).
Our only victories when Nani didn’t score were against D.C. United (0-1) and Toronto FC (1-0), both in May.
Philadelphia Union form
The bad news for Orlando City SC heading into this one is that Philadelphia Union are undefeated in TEN of their last ELEVEN league fixtures.
A well-oiled machine in recent seasons, Union have become one of the strongest sides in the Eastern Conference.
Usurping Orlando City SC into second place last weekend, this is a big opportunity to jump them again at the first time of asking.
We’ll have to keep Sergio Santos quiet however. The Brazilian forward has scored two goals in Union’s last two MLS outings.
Philadelphia Union 2 D.C. United 1 – Highlights – July 17, 2021 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
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Don’t forget, Orlando City SC vs Philadelphia Union will be shown LIVE on Sky Sports Football in the early hours of Friday morning at 00:35 (GMT).
You can view our TV Fixture Tracker by clicking here.
GOOD NEWS 🚨 | @OrlandoCitySC 🆚 @PhilaUnion is LIVE on @SkySports Football at 00:35AM in the early hours of Friday morning. 😁⚽👏🏽
It’s only our second game live on Sky this season. 📺
READ 📕: https://t.co/9fBVm8MJqI#ORLvPHI #OrlandoCity #DOOP #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/Pnm2hgO07o
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) July 19, 2021