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Orlando City FC vs. West Bromwich Albion FC
Orlando Citrus Bowl
Wednesday, July 15th, 19:30 EST
Join MLSGoals in yet another celebration of soccer from around the world. Tonight, it will be Major League Soccer expansion side Orlando City FC, meeting for a friendly match English Premier League side West Bromwich Albion FC.
Hosts Orlando has proven to be one of the MLS surprises of this season, with the team not waiting and starting to build a reputation from its first season. Currently ranked 4th in the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference, and with legendary AC Milan and Real Madrid playmaker Kaka, Orlando has been one of the teams that impressed MLSGoals the most this season.
Still, despite the home-side advantage to Orlando, the MLS team will be lacking some of its best talent due to injuries and suspensions. Sean St. Ledger, Break Shea and Conor Donovan are out due to injuries. And Luke Boden is out with a one-game suspension due to two late yellow cards and a send-off during last Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to FC Dallas.
As in most friendly matches however, it will give Orlando’s boss Adrian Heath a chance to play some of his younger players that do not receive a lot of minutes during Major League Soccer’s regular season. Kaka tweeted on social media: “young players have plenty to gain in this friendly against EPL’s West Brom”.
West Bromwich Albions are still coming into this match as the favourites, despite of the long travel and playing away from home. The club replaced managers in January last season, when Tony Pulis took over from Alan Irvine. The club that until then dipped in and out of relegation zone, took a turn for the better under Pulis and ended up finishing in respectable 13th place in the English Premier League last season. Most notably, the Albions signed on last season Ireland International, winger James McClean from Wigan Athletic, and have been rejecting offers to buy their star Striker Saido Berahino.
This should be a great match to watch tonight, with all odds in West Brom’s favour. However MLSGoals recalls Orlando City FC beating the odds several times this season.
