Rescuing a 1-1 draw at Charlotte FC on Wednesday, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now visit TQL Stadium to complete a quick-fire two-game streak against runaway Supporters’ Shield contenders FC Cincinnati.
Unrecognisable from being former wooden spoon whipping boys, Pat Noonan’s formidable side have lost just three regular season fixtures so far.
Reflecting on Wednesday’s visit to Bank of America Stadium, Orlando City SC were relieved to steal a draw by full-time.
Coming into the game, CLTFC were confident after a 2-1 win over Los Angeles FC.
Their first victory in nine MLS fixtures, Orlando City SC had to contend with early pressure from the Queen City side.
On 11 minutes, Brecht Dejaegere blazed a golden chance over the bar before Pedro Gallese flexed his trusty tentacles to deny a point-blank Derrick Jones header on 37 minutes.
An incredible save, this denied City villain Justin Meram any satisfaction as the man who provided the assist.
On 41 minutes, Ramiro Enrique – earning a rare start – smacked Kristijan Kahlina’s post with a fierce strike from range that skidded across the soaking wet turf.
Giving Orlando City SC genuine belief that they could hurt the home side, the Lions so nearly opened the scoring just three minutes later.
After Pedro Gallese caught Charlotte FC napping from a quick goal kick, it was suddenly Facundo Torres and Duncan McGuire breaking on goal versus a single defender – Adilson Malanda.
Delaying his critical assist, El Cuervo laid in Duncan McGuire who duly found the net, only for the play to be ruled offside.
On further inspection from replays, the call was incredibly tight and honestly could’ve gone either way.
Nevertheless, referee Rosendo Mendoza called no-goal and the sides entered half-time at 0-0.
On 53 minutes, Ben Bender thought he’d opened the scoring with a point-blank volley – a play correctly flagged offside.
From here, the game ebbed and flowed with Facundo Torres almost scoring a golazo from deep on 59 minutes.
The deadlock was finally broken by Enzo Copetti from the penalty spot on 81 minutes, however.
After Ashley Westwood sent a hopeful ball into Orlando City SC‘s penalty area, Scott Arfield missed a header before Enzo Copetti nipped in front of fellow Argentine Rodrigo Schlegel.
Making the most of minimal contact, Schlegel’s sloppily dangled left leg saw referee Rosendo Mendoza point to the spot.
Grimacing, shaking his head, and wagging his finger in disagreement, Oscar Pareja wasn’t a fan of the call.
A really harsh penalty to concede, especially so late on, Copetti buried his PK past Pedro Gallese to make it two goals in two games against the Lions.
Orlando City SC sides of old may have buckled by this point, but Oscar Pareja‘s Lions have really dug deep since spring.
Albeit fortuitous, the 88th minute saw substitute Martín Ojeda tie the game from improbable distance.
Curling a left-footed free-kick from deep, the ball sailed over the entire Charlotte FC defence.
Nestling beautifully to Kristijan Kahlina’s right, the equaliser left the home side shell-shocked, and probably Ojeda himself too!
This timely equaliser extended Orlando City SC‘s unbeaten record on the road to three games.
With emotions running high from the prior penalty incident, Rodrigo Schlegel and Enzo Copetti clashed again in stoppage time.
However, Copetti only received yellow, not red, with Schlegel hitting the deck after a violent conduct call.
The 1-1 draw gave Orlando City SC their 22nd road point this year.
The most in a single season in club history, this surpasses City’s previous high of 21 – set last season.
Looking ahead to Saturday, there’s no tougher game in Major League Soccer right now than FC Cincinnati away.
Winning 12 of their 13 home fixtures at TQL Stadium, Pat Noonan’s side visited Atlanta United in midweek.
Second-half Luciano Acosta and Brandon Vazquez goals saw FC Cincinnati overturn a 1-0 half-time deficit.
This 1-2 win was the Orange and Blue’s seventeenth victory of a simply incredible MLS regular season.
Significantly, the win also saw FC Cincinnati become the first side to qualify for the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Saturday’s visit to Ohio will be a true test of Orlando City SC‘s mettle, giving the Lions a realistic idea of the type of quality they can potentially expect to face in the post-season.
FC Cincinnati vs Orlando City SC
Last 3 head-to-heads
- March 12, 2022: Orlando City SC 1 FC Cincinnati 2 (MLS)
- June 24, 2022: FC Cincinnati 1 Orlando City SC 0 (MLS)
- March 4, 2023: Orlando City SC 0 FC Cincinnati 0 (MLS)
2019/23 head-to-head stats
- It was 0-0 the last time the sides met (March 2023)
- Played Cincinnati 8 times in MLS – Cincinnati 2, Draws 3, Orlando 3
- Three of the last 4 MLS head-to-heads have been separated by one goal
- Cincinnati are unbeaten at home so far this MLS season, winning 12 of their 13 home fixtures
- Both sides have scored in Orlando’s last 4 MLS fixtures
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Watching the game
FC Cincinnati vs Orlando City SC will be shown live on Apple TV at 00:30 (GMT) on Sunday, September 3.
Remember, UK supporters can watch all of Orlando City SC‘s 2023 MLS regular season fixtures by subscribing to Apple TV’s “MLS Season Pass”.
Subscribe now by clicking here.
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