After recording our most emphatic MLS victory of 2022, a much-needed 4-0 win over Toronto FC prior to the international break, Orlando City SC now have three games left to finally seal qualification for the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Visiting New York City FC in our penultimate away fixture of the regular season, this game is being contested in Harrison, New Jersey at Red Bull Arena rather than NYCFC’s usual Yankee Stadium home.
Casting our minds back to September 17, our thumping 4-0 win over Toronto FC was just was the doctor ordered.
Coming off a bitterly disappointing 0-1 home loss to rivals Atlanta United on September 14, you wondered whether Orlando City SC could muster one final push after the emotional energy put into our 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title.
Just when doubt might’ve crept in with City just two points above the red line at the time, Oscar Pareja‘s side stood up and were counted right when it mattered most.
As early as the ninth minute, Facundo Torres continued his fine vein of form. Cutting in off the right wing, he unleashed an unstoppable long-range strike past Quentin Westberg.
Torres’ seventh goal of a hugely promising debut MLS campaign, the goal proved a point to Uruguay head coach Diego Alonso.
Alonso harshly left Facu out of La Celeste’s 26-man squad for September friendlies against Iran and Canada.
On 22 minutes, Ercan Kara neatly dispatched a sensational inch-perfect defence splitting pass from Mauricio Pereyra, much to the Austrian’s relief.
Wheeling away with a “shush” gesture in celebration, Kara really needed this confidence-boosting goal in a stop-start campaign.
All MLS season long, Orlando City SC have failed to comfortably defeat their opposition.
On this occasion however, we successfully punished a below-par TFC side, officially eliminating them from post-season qualification.
Just minutes into the second-half, Lukas MacNaughton could only deflect a wicked João Moutinho cross into his own net.
With a rout very much on, Tesho Akindele continued his fine personal form against Toronto FC with City’s fourth on 84 minutes.
In a season that has looked great one moment, and then hugely unconvincing the next, this 4-0 scoreline sets Orlando City SC up perfectly for the final three games of the regular season.
By no means an easy finish, that three-game run starts with this visit to New York City FC.
NYCFC are defending 2021 MLS Cup champions and recent 2022 Campeones Cup champions, of course.
Defeating Atlas 2-0 to claim the latter title on September 14, NYCFC won the Hudson River Derby 2-0 just three days later.
This will be another stiff examination of the Lions’ credentials before two more tough games against Inter Miami and then Columbus Crew on 2022 MLS Decision Day.
New York City FC vs Orlando City SC – 2015/22 head-to-head stats
Last meeting on August 28, it was Cardiac Cats season as Orlando City SC narrowly defeated New York City FC 2-1 with a 96th minute Tesho Akindele game winner.
Not only capping City’s second late, late victory in two gameweeks, the 2-1 win was also the Lions’ third MLS victory in a row.
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!
Orlando City SC 2 New York City FC 1 – Highlights – August 28, 2022 (Credit: New York City FC)
The aforementioned 2-1 victory over New York City FC drew Orlando City SC two wins clear of NYCFC in this Eastern Conference series.
Facing New York City FC more than any other MLS opponent, there’s now been TWENTY league meetings between these 2015 expansion rivals.
Holding EIGHT league victories to New York City FC’s SIX, we’ve also seen a lot of draws (SIX) in this super competitive matchup.
With an embarrassing 5-0 humiliation in July 2021 being the exception, the Lions are unbeaten against NYCFC in EIGHT of the last NINE head-to-heads across all competitions.
This includes MLS, U.S. Open Cup, #MLSisBack Tournament, and 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs play.
Heading into this game, an interesting footnote is that Orlando City SC have taken the lead in SIX of the last SEVEN MLS head-to-heads.
This includes New York City FC’s May 2021 visit to Exploria Stadium (1-1).
On 52 minutes, Nani struck a sublime opener, his third goal in his opening four games of 2021.
Seemingly creating his own Goal of the Season competition, Orlando City SC recklessly surrendered this slender lead on 77 minutes.
Had it not been for João Moutinho carelessly conceding Taty Castellanos’ penalty, we may well have stolen all three points.
Orlando City SC 1 New York City FC 1 – Highlights – May 8, 2021 (Credit: New York City FC)
New York City FC form
Reviewing New York City FC’s last FOUR MLS fixtures, THREE of these games have finished ‘to nil’.
Prior to Nick Cushing’s sides’ 2-0 win over rivals New York Red Bulls prior to the international break, NYCFC lost 1-0 at Charlotte FC, drew 1-1 against FC Cincinnati, and lost 3-0 to New England Revolution.
A streak of just TWO victories in ELEVEN MLS games has seen NYCFC’s season stagnate, despite The Pigeons still holding onto fourth place – and a home playoff game – right now.
Heading into this game, NYCFC have played a game more (32) than Orlando City SC (31) and if City are truly aiming for fourth place, this is a game we’ll need to win.
Orlando City SC form
Combining MLS and our victorious 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run, Facundo Torres has ELEVEN GOALS / ASSISTS in his last ELEVEN appearances for Orlando City SC.
Back in January, we all knew Facundo Torres was an especially talented signing.
Over the last couple of months however, the Uruguayan international has really sparked into life, demonstrating his quality for all of MLS to see.
Almost single-handedly winning City the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, his brace against Sacramento Republic in the final earned Facu instant legendary status.
Given Facundo Torres‘ hot streak, it’s all the more baffling how the 22-year-old was left out of Uruguay’s 26-man squad for September friendlies against Iran and Canada.
Despite this snub, in the three MLS regular season games that remain, Torres will be doing all he can to earn his spot on Uruguay’s plane to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Orlando City SC 4 Toronto FC 0 – Highlights – September 17, 2022 (Credit: Toronto FC)
…
Check out our preview on NYCFC.com
Also don’t forget to check out our game preview on The Away End at NYCFC.com
Click here to read the preview.
Ahead of Sunday’s #NYCvORL clash, we spoke to @Orlando_CityUK to learn more about our opponent 📰🦁 @BerkeleyCollege
— New York City Football Club (@NYCFC) October 1, 2022
…
Support Orlando City UK
Passionate about what we do, Orlando City UK content will always be free. The most important thing for us is sharing our love of Orlando City SC with you all and donations are by no means expected. However, if you enjoy our content, a token towards the regular maintenance of Orlando City UK is hugely appreciated!
