In a new calendar year, we get to witness our beloved Orlando City SC take the field earlier than ever before with the Lions hosting Brazilian giants Flamengo at our newly renamed Inter&Co Stadium in a friendly match as part of the FC Series 2024.
A friendly announced back on December 7 and originally scheduled to take place at Camping World Stadium, the fixture marks City’s first friendly in preparation for the 2024 season and Flamengo’s final game of their weeklong pre-season tour of Florida.
The only team in the world that has 40 million fans in its own country, Flamengo are the most popular club in Brazil and also boast millions of devoted supporters worldwide.
After the Lions hosted Premier League giants Arsenal in the FC Series midway through 2022 – not disgracing themselves either – this Flamengo friendly should again underline Orlando City SC‘s name on the global soccer map.
Not the first time that Orlando City SC have faced the side nicknamed Rubro-Negro, the pair actually met at the historic Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro back in November 2015.
A friendly taking place at the end of Orlando City SC‘s inaugural Major League Soccer campaign, a solitary second-half Luiz Antônio strike settled the game against Adrian Heath‘s Lions (1-0).
To take you down memory lane, City’s starting eleven on the day was Thierry Graça (a trialist), Rafael Ramos, Aurélien Collin, Seb Hines, Luke Boden, Darwin Cerén, Cristian Higuita, Lewis Neal, Adrian Winter, Bryan Róchez, and Carlos Rivas.
Inchy introduced David Mateos, Servando Carrasco, Harrison Heath, Mikey Ambrose, Eric Avila, and Pedro Ribeiro as second-half substitutes too.
Given the strong Brazilian connections with Orlando City SC over the years, namely Flavio Augusto da Silva, Kaká, Alex Leitão, Luiz Muzzi, and Ricardo Moreira among many others, who knows whether this friendly may prove an unofficial scouting mission for Oscar Pareja and co too?
After all, Orlando City SC have recruited the likes of Antônio Carlos, Alexandre Pato, Rafael Santos, and Júnior Urso direct from Campeonato Brasileiro Série A in seasons gone by.
When it comes to Flamengo’s most recognisable stars, these include prolific Brazilian striker Gabriel Barbosa, more commonly known as “Gabigol”, as well as the experienced former Chelsea and Arsenal defender David Luiz.
There is also new club captain Gerson and attacking midfielder Giorgian de Arrascaeta – a Uruguay international and team-mate of Facundo Torres.
Flamengo also boast a former Orlando City SC player in their ranks in Brazilian centre back Léo Pereira whose career has come on leaps and bounds since making 10 Major League Soccer appearances for the Lions under Jason Kreis back in 2017.
All of these Flamengo players were part of the Rubro-Negro squad that defeated Philadelphia Union 0-2 in a FC Series 2024 friendly at Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Al Lang Stadium last Sunday.
Appointed in October 2023, Flamengo’s head coach is the highly experienced Tite.
The 62-year-old heavily linked with Orlando City SC last August.
With Flamengo having already displayed their quality against MLS opposition, this Inter&Co Stadium friendly should certainly provide City’s players with a stiff, yet appropriate test ahead of February’s two legs against Cavalry FC in Round One of the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
The game should also whet City supporters’ appetites heading into another Major League Soccer season full of renewed hope and expectations as Oscar Pareja embarks on his fifth campaign as head coach.
Orlando City SC vs Flamengo
Head-to-heads
- November 15, 2015: Flamengo 1 Orlando City SC 0 (Friendly)
Head-to-head stats
- It was 1-0 to Flamengo the last time the sides met (November 2015)
- Played Flamengo once in club history – Orlando 0, Draws 0, Flamengo 1
- It was 6-1 to Orlando the last time they beat Brazilian opposition (Bahia, February 2016)
- As an MLS club, Orlando have played Brazilian opposition 3 times in friendlies – Orlando 2, Draws 0, Opposition 1
- Orlando have scored at least 3 goals in 2 of their 3 friendlies against Brazilian opposition
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Watching the game
Orlando City SC vs Flamengo will be streamed live on orlandocitysc.com at 19:00 (GMT) on Saturday, January 27.
Click here for more details.
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