This Thursday sees a break from MLS play with Orlando City SC facing Liga MX’s Santos Laguna in the quarter-final stage of the 2021 Leagues Cup.
Facing a non-MLS opponent for the first time within a regular campaign, it’s a huge occasion and a big opportunity to underline Orlando City SC on the global soccer map.
The Lions qualified for this Major League Soccer vs Liga MX tournament thanks to last year’s exploits.
Finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference, this meant that City join MLS sides Sporting Kansas City, Seattle Sounders and New York City FC in this quarter-final stage.
Santos Laguna, León, Tigres UANL and Pumas U.N.A.M. are the four Mexican clubs lining up against the four MLS sides.
With the 2021 Leagues Cup Final taking place at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Las Vegas on September 22, there is huge incentive.
This is Orlando City SC chance to compete for their first-ever international trophy, pitting their wits against Liga MX’s best.
Sure, the MLS mid-season schedule is hectic but these are the games that Orlando City SC supporters should relish.
A refreshing diversion from MLS regular season play, it’s already prestigious that Orlando City SC are in the 2021 Leagues Cup.
But to perform well, earn global kudos, and defeat some Liga MX teams in the process – now that’d be awesome!
In an interesting footnote, Santos Laguna is actually the hometown team that Orlando City SC club legend Miguel Gallardo supports!
A penny for Miggy’s thoughts heading into this mouth-watering international affair.
Orlando City SC vs Santos Laguna – Head-to-head stats
This is the first time that Orlando City SC have ever faced Liga MX side Santos Laguna.
Not even facing Guerreros in a pre-season friendly, it’s an altogether new experience for Orlando City SC.
Oscar Pareja and his first team coaching staff would’ve been closely analysing Santos Laguna’s recent performances in the Apertura phase of Liga MX.
In Mexico, they adopt a split season format.
Apertura is the opening phase of Liga MX, from July to December, whereas Clausura takes place from January to May.
So far, Santos Laguna have gone 1-2-0 during matchday one through three of the Apertura phase.
Most recently, they surrendered a 0-1 lead to draw 1-1 with the 10 men of Tigres UANL on August 7.
The Mexican side will be hoping they can carry their unbeaten domestic form into the 2021 Leagues Cup.
Orlando City SC form
Since entering MLS in 2015, Orlando City SC have contested 19 knockout fixtures across U.S. Open Cup, #MLSisBack Tournament, and MLS Cup Playoffs competition.
Fortunately, in this timeframe, the Lions have won more knockout games than they’ve lost.
Winning TWELVE and losing SEVEN knockout fixtures since 2015, last year was the first time we’ve lost more than one knockout game in one season.
- 2015 – Won 2, Lost 1
- 2016 – Won 1, Lost 1
- 2017 – Won 0, Lost 1
- 2018 – Won 2, Lost 1
- 2019 – Won 3, Lost 1
- 2020 – Won 4, Lost 2
This was due to the scheduling of the #MLSisBack Tournament, plus our qualification to the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs.
As the story goes, our most painful losses were the #MLSisBack Tournament Final defeat to Portland Timbers (2-1) and the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Semi-Final defeat to New England Revolution (1-3).
Orlando City SC 1 New England Revolution 3 – Highlights – November 29, 2021 (Credit: New England Revolution)
Should this 2021 Leagues Cup quarter-final go the distance, Orlando City SC can draw confidence from their record in penalty shoot-outs.
You know those TWELVE knockout victories we just spoke about.
Well, Orlando City SC won FOUR of those games via penalty shoot-outs.
- 2015: Beat Charleston Battery 7-8 on penalties (2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup fourth round)
- 2018: Beat D.C. United 2-4 on penalties (2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16)
- 2019: Beat New York City FC 5-4 on penalties (2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarter-final)
- 2020: Beat New York City FC 6-5 on penalties (2020 MLS Cup Playoffs first round)
Who could ever forget Orlando City SC‘s most recent penalty shoot-out victory?
The 6-5 penalty shoot-out triumph over NYCFC in the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs had everything – good and bad!
Orlando City SC 1 New York City FC 1 (A.E.T.) (6-5 on penalties) – Highlights – November 21, 2020 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
In Orlando City SC‘s last TEN knockout fixtures, BOTH SIDES HAVE SCORED in EIGHT of these games.
With these games being tight and tense affairs, as you’d expect, Orlando City SC supporters have been kept guessing for the most part.
For reference, this ten-game knockout streak stretches back to Orlando City SC‘s 1-3 win over Memphis 901 FC in the fourth round of the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
In the streak, the only times both teams didn’t score were these fixtures below.
- 2019: Lost 0-2 to Atlanta United (2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semi-final)
- 2020: Beat Montreal Impact 1-0 (#MLSisBack Tournament Round of 16)
Santos Laguna form
If you’re looking for a likely goalscorer in the opposition ranks, it could well be Chilean attacking midfielder Diego Valdés.
The 27-year-old number 10 has started Apertura well with TWO goals in Santos Laguna’s first THREE opening fixtures.
Scoring in a 0-3 win over Necaxa in July, he also scored a penalty in a 1-1 draw with Cruz Azul earlier this August.
Necaxa 0 Santos Laguna 3 – Highlights – July 23, 2021 (Credit: PATADA INICIAL MX2)