Orlando City SC vs. New York City FC | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Orlando City SC vs. New York City FC
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 22
Orlando City Stadium — Orlando
July 26 - 8 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN, TSN2

A rested New York City FC embark on another brutal stretch of two games in four days on two different coasts, when they head to Orlando City Stadium to meet an Orlando City SC squad smarting over a controversial penalty decision and a 3-2 loss at Columbus Saturday night.

New York City have won their last three matches against Orlando, keeping three clean sheets each game (combined scoreline of 8-0). The Lions had won five of the six previous league games between the sides (1D).

Orlando City SC

After nine straight losses, Orlando (7-12-1) appeared on the verge of two consecutive wins as goals by Sacha Kljestan and Stefano Pinho in each half — with a Gyasi Zardes strike sandwiched between — had the Lions in front of Crew SC late in the second half.

But the match turned dramatically on a controversial penalty decision that saw Zardes level from the spot, then Wil Trapp fired home the winner from distance in the second minute of stoppage time in a gutting 3-2 loss Saturday night at MAPFRE Stadium.

“It is just really, really disappointing for the players because the players didn’t deserve that tonight, they really didn’t,” new head coach James O’Connor said. “I am exceptionally proud of the players and that’s the main point that I want to get across. Everyone can see what happened.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: GK - Mason Stajduhar (Localized Ewing Sarcoma), D - Lamine Sane (quad injury), D - Jonathan Spector (hamstring injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Joe Bendik — RJ Allen, Shane O’Neill, Chris Schuler, Tony Rocha — Uri Rosell, Yoshi Yotun — Chris Mueller, Cristian Higuita, Sacha Kljestan — Dom Dwyer

Notes: In 1,441+ minutes with Chris Mueller on the field, Orlando City is averaging 1.5 goals per 90. In 499+ minutes without him, that number drops to 0.9 per 90. … Orlando City has lost 10 of their last 11 games in MLS play (1W). Additionally, they have now conceded in 14 straight matches, their longest streak since joining MLS.

New York City FC

NYCFC (12-4-4) are coming off arguably their best week ever as a club, with three shutout wins in seven days, all against Eastern Conference opponents, capped by a 2-0 victory over Crew SC on July 14.

Since, the Cityzens have gotten healthier with the attacking trio of David Villa, Jo Inge Berget and Ismael Tajouri-Shradi all training fully on Monday, though head coach Dome Torrent is unsure if they’re good to go to face Orlando or Seattle on Sunday.

“I’m not sure right now because the most important thing is to ask our doctor about that, but David is the second training session with the whole team,” Torrent said. “I think maybe he’s ready to play the next game, but I’m not sure in the moment. It’s the same with Jo and Ismael.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: M - Alex Ring
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: M - Yangel Herrera (ankle surgery), D - Cedric Hountondji (hamstring injury); QUESTIONABLE: F - David Villa (right knee injury), F - Ismael Tajouri-Shradi (hamstring injury), F - Jo Inge Berget (quadricep injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Sean Johnson — Anton Tinnerholm, Maxime Chanot, Alex Callens, Ben Sweat — Alex Ring, Ebenezer Ofori — Ronald Matarrita, Maxi Moralez, Rodney Wallace — Jesus Medina

Notes: In NYCFC’s last game, Maxi Morález became the second player in team history to record 7+ shots and 3+ chances created in a MLS match, joining David Villa. … NYCFC have won five of their last seven games in league play (1L-1D), keeping four clean sheets and conceding just five goals in that time.

All-Time Series

Overall: Orlando City SC 5 wins, 14 goals … New York City FC 4 wins, 19 goals .. 2 draws
At Orlando: Orlando City SC 3 wins, 6 goals … NYCFC 1 win, 6 goals … 1 draw
Last meeting at Orlando: Orlando City SC 0, New York City FC 3 (May 21, 2017)