Orlando City SC vs. NYCFC – Game Preview
Friday, Oct. 16th, 7:00 p.m. Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL.
This is a repeat of a recently-historic rivalry between the two newest teams in Major League Soccer. Both Orlando and New York are the 2015 MLS expansion sides, both having very interesting, if somewhat turbulent inaugural seasons.
Hosts Orlando City are now ranked seventh in the MLS Eastern Conference, one position below the red line, with 41 points (11-13-8). Still with a faint hope to clinch a playoff position, Orlando must win New York tonight.
Orlando’s 2-1 win over Montreal Impact marks a 4-game winning streak.
Visitors NYCFC are ranked eighth in Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference, trailing one spot behind tonight’s opposition with 37 points (10-15-7).
With last week’s 2-1 loss to D.C. United, New York’s playoffs for their first MLS season have been shattered. That loss put to an end NYCFC’s 3-game winning streak.
The teams are meeting for the third time this season, with the first-ever MLS match of both was against each other in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando on March 8th of this year. Where NYCFC’s Mix Diskerud scored the first goal in the club’s history, to be followed by a late equalizer for Kaka making history for Orlando, with the match ending in a 1-1 draw.
To follow, Orlando visited New York and played at Yankee Stadium on July 26th. Where David Villa scored two goals, added to teammates Javier Calle, Thomas McNamara and Mix Diskerud scoring one each. Orlando’s Cyle Larin impressively retaliated with his three goals throughout the night, but that wasn’t enough for Orlando, who lost 5-3 to the hosts.
