After Daryl Dike‘s amazing last gasp stoppage time winner against D.C. United (2-1), Orlando City SC visit FC Cincinnati to start the six-game run in following the international break.
Orlando City SC‘s first victory in SIX MLS fixtures, the October 2 win over D.C. United propelled the Lions back into fourth place and two points clear of the red line prior to recent World Cup Qualifiers.
An incredibly even game and one that Orlando City SC might’ve lost another day, our win over D.C. United was super satisfying.
Not only because of Daryl Dike‘s buzzer beater winner but because City had just completed a rotten September, results-wise.
Winning ONE, losing FOUR and drawing ONE in September, this streak left Orlando City SC, once a shoe-in for the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs, sitting perilously close to the red line.
A feeling of déjà vu overcame Exploria Stadium when Julian Gressel blasted D.C. United into a 0-1 lead on just 6 minutes.
Not only a former Atlanta United player, unpopular in the 407, it was the third time in three games that City had conceded in the opening 15 minutes.
Leaving ourselves with work to do yet again, the timing of Robin Jansson‘s 17th minute equaliser was key.
After this, the rest of the game ebbed and flowed in a superbly entertaining fixture for neutrals.
Orlando City SC supporters were tense however with a potential D.C. United victory, and other results, meaning a significant drop outside the super-tight Eastern Conference playoff spots.
Outshooting D.C. United 12 to 11, Oscar Pareja‘s side registered four strikes on target with just two for Hernán Losada’s Black and Red.
With Daryl Dike‘s 97th minute header off a Chris Mueller corner sending The Wall into ecstasy, morale is up again.
Now visiting TQL Stadium for the second time this year, hosts FC Cincinnati sacked Jaap Stam back on September 27.
With Tyrone Marshall currently interim head coach, Orlando City SC must earmark this game as another huge opportunity to grab an important three points.
FC Cincinnati vs Orlando City SC – 2019/21 head-to-head stats
The last time Orlando City SC faced FC Cincinnati, it was the Lions’ first ever visit to TQL Stadium on August 7.
Heading into the game after two consecutive 0-0 draws, the Orange and Blue were eager to get back to scoring ways.
With Kenneth Vermeer kept busy in the opening 40 minutes, it was the home side that opened the scoring right before half-time.
Connecting expertly with Álvaro Barreal’s cross, Brazilian forward Brenner scored his first goal in front of the TQL Stadium crowd.
On 55 minutes, Oscar Pareja subbed in Nani for Benji Michel and the captain delivered just over a minute later!
Enjoying an immediate impact, Nani snatched a loose touch from Allan Cruz before bearing down on the FC Cincinnati goal and unleashing one past Vermeer.
Orlando City SC held on for their second 1-1 draw in as many matches.
FC Cincinnati 1 Orlando City SC 1 – Highlights – August 7, 2021 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Still a young Eastern Conference game series, Orlando City SC remain unbeaten against FC Cincinnati in FOUR MLS head-to-heads.
There’s been TWO City victories and TWO draws so far. Our two wins at Exploria Stadium were both by handsome margins (5-1, 3-0) too.
In this year’s home meeting (3-0), Tesho Akindele scored in just 33 seconds to make it 1-0.
This remains Orlando City SC‘s fastest ever MLS goal with Akindele also scoring City’s second fastest goal – in 50 seconds against Toronto FC in June (2-3).
After Tesho Akindele gave Oscar Pareja‘s side a fast start, Nani (19 minutes) and Júnior Urso (80 minutes) goals further capped a dominating one-sided affair.
Orlando City SC 3 FC Cincinnati 0 – Highlights – May 1, 2021 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
FC Cincinnati must be absolutely sick of the sight of Nani!
The 34-year-old has scored in THREE of Orlando City SC‘s FOUR MLS head-to-heads with FC Cincinnati.
All in all, our captain has FOUR career goals against the Orange and Blue
The Portuguese notched a brace against FC Cincinnati in the clubs’ inaugural MLS meeting back in May 2019.
On a boiling hot day in Central Florida, Nani (x2), Tesho Akindele (x2) and Dom Dwyer goals helped City to a 5-1 drubbing over their Ohio opposition.
FC Cincinnati form
Winning just FOUR games all season, FC Cincinnati’s 2021 MLS campaign has been a total disaster.
Following two twelfth-placed Eastern Conference finishes in 2019 and 2020, the Orange and Blue have really struggled to make any early impact in MLS.
Firing Jaap Stam back on September 27, results haven’t improved under interim head coach Tyrone Marshall.
In fact, Marshall has already overseen three straight defeats against Toronto FC (3-2), New York Red Bulls (0-1), and Philadelphia Union (1-2).
This dismal run of form means the Ohio side have now lost NINE of their last TEN MLS fixtures.
This leaves them rock bottom of the Eastern Conference on just 20 points, 5 points adrift of thirteenth-placed Toronto FC.
Quite simply, Orlando City SC must be aiming for all three points at TQL Stadium despite going winless in 9 road games.
Orlando City SC form
An Orlando City SC player getting hot when it matters is 21-year-old Daryl Dike.
Everybody knows just how sensational the USMNT man’s last 18 months have been, but he’s proving vital down the stretch for the Lions.
In a stop-start season for Dike, what with his Barnsley loan and USMNT call-ups, the forward has scored THREE goals in Orlando City SC‘s last THREE games.
Scoring against New England Revolution (2-1), Nashville SC (2-2) and D.C. United (2-1), he gives Oscar Pareja‘s side more goals and ingenuity up top.
Daryl Dike‘s contributions will key to Orlando City SC reaching the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Orlando City SC 2 D.C. United 1 – Highlights – October 2, 2021 (Credit: Major League Soccer)