Here at Orlando City UK, we’re campaigning for stoppage time to be renamed “Tesho time” after the Canadian striker earned Orlando City SC a late MLS victory for the second consecutive gameweek.
After his late winner at Charlotte FC, Tesho Akindele‘s 96th minute header earned the Lions another crucial 2-1 victory over New York City FC on Sunday.
After a dry spell of just one win in eight MLS games, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions have come roaring back into form.
Yesterday, Júnior Urso‘s sweet volley, off yet another Facundo Torres assist, gave City an early seventh minute lead.
Surviving Chris Penso’s VAR Review, Orlando City SC then had to survive an Antônio Carlos red card.
On 46 minutes, the Brazilian was initially shown red for an alleged stamp on Nicolás Acevedo.
Fortunately, after VAR review, Chris Penso correctly downgraded the infringement to a yellow card.
With both sides battling through a torrential first-half downpour, Maxi Moralez neatly dispatched a Thiago Andrade through ball just eight minutes into the second-half.
Just when you thought another home game was passing the Lions by, Tesho Akindele stepped up big for a second gameweek running.
Deep in stoppage time, Tesho headed an Iván Angulo corner past Sean Johnson to take the roof off Exploria Stadium!
Winning three consecutive MLS games, right when it matters, Orlando City SC are building confidence ahead of their biggest ever match on September 7.
But before minds stray to our 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final against Sacramento Republic, up first is the midweek visit of Seattle Sounders.
With no cross-conference MLS matchup for 1,204 days, it’s always novel when Brian Schmetzer’s Sounders come to town.
The Rave Green are bruised right now after losing 2-1 at fierce rivals Portland Timbers and surrendering the Cascadia Cup in turn.
Orlando City SC vs Seattle Sounders – 2015/19 head-to-head stats
Last meeting Seattle Sounders way back in May 2019, the Western Conference side narrowly defeated the Lions 2-1.
With Lumen Field one of the toughest away venues in MLS, this was one of three Orlando City SC fixtures crammed into just seven days.
Conceding a 19th minute opener to Raúl Ruidíaz, Handwalla Bwana doubled Sounders’ lead on 68 minutes.
With the game seemingly getting away from Orlando City SC, substitute Chris Mueller scored a fine cameo goal with 15 minutes remaining.
A little over five minutes after subbing in for Josué Colmán, “Cash” made another instant impact from the bench.
After tremendous work from Dillon Powers to thwart Seattle Sounders from clearing their lines, Chris Mueller went on a mazy solo run before burying one beyond a helpless Stefan Frei.
Rooting one of Major League Soccer’s best stoppers isn’t easy but Mueller achieved it.
Unfortunately, Sounders held on for all three points.
Seattle Sounders 2 Orlando City SC 1 – Highlights – May 15, 2019 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
With seven complete Major League Soccer seasons in the books, Orlando City SC still await their first league victory over Seattle Sounders.
Long one of the Western Conference’s powerhouses, the Lions will be desperate to finally defeat the Rave Green.
Our one draw with Sounders actually came at CenturyLink Field (now Lumen Field) back in June 2017.
On the night, a last, last gasp strike from Scott Sutter cancelled out Will Bruin’s early opener to take one point all 3,077 miles back home to Central Florida.
Seattle Sounders 1 Orlando City SC 1 – Highlights – June 21, 2017 (Credit: Seattle Sounders FC)
If you’re a neutral, Orlando City SC vs Seattle Sounders fixtures are not to be missed!
After all, BOTH SIDES HAVE SCORED in the last FOUR MLS head-to-heads.
Moreover, SEVEN of the SIXTEEN game series goals so far have come within the first 20 minutes after kick-off.
For whatever reason, both these sides come out of the gates fast when facing each other.
Orlando City SC have only taken the lead over Sounders once in the five previously contested fixtures.
That was back in August 2016 when a Seb Hines header gave Adrian Heath‘s Lions a seventh minute 1-0 lead at the Citrus Bowl.
Unfortunately, this preceded the Clint Dempsey show with the USMNT icon bagging a hat-trick before the 50th minute.
Orlando City SC form
As we’re all accustomed to, Orlando City SC simply haven’t been able to blow any teams away this MLS season.
Therefore, we’ve relied heavily on defending slender margins and scoring late buzzer beaters.
Digging deeper into our 2022 campaign, Orlando City SC‘s last SEVEN MLS victories have all been by ONE-GOAL margins.
In fact, all but TWO of our 2022 league victories have been by one goal.
The exceptions are CF Montréal (2-0) and Columbus Crew (0-2).
Seattle Sounders form
The good news heading into this game is that Seattle Sounders have travelled really poorly all season long.
In fact, the Rave Green have lost FIVE of their last SIX away fixtures in MLS.
In fourteen road games this year, Brian Schmetzer’s side have gone 3-2-9.
Music to the ears of Orlando City SC supporters, there’s 3,077 miles separating Lumen Field and Exploria Stadium.
Hopefully a long-haul midweek road trip means a fatigued Seattle Sounders.
This is big opportunity for the Lions to pick up another crucial three points heading down the stretch.
Portland Timbers 2 Seattle Sounders 1 – Highlights – August 26, 2022 (Credit: Seattle Sounders FC)
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