MELBOURNE, Fla. (September 29, 2016) – After qualifying for the United Soccer League (USL) Cup Playoffs in its regular season finale, No. 8 Orlando City B travels to No. 1 New York Red Bulls II on Sunday, Oct. 2, for its Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET at Red Bull Arena. The match will be streamed live at www.OrlandoCitySC.com/Live.
“Just because you win the regular season doesn’t give you the divine right to just go and win the first playoff game or go and win the championship,” OCB Head Coach Anthony Pulis said. “We know, going there, it’s going to be a very difficult game for us. But obviously we’ve been working this week on a game plan and hopefully we can set up well and go get a result.”
The Lions clinched their spot in the USL Cup Playoffs after a massive 2-0 win against Bethlehem on Sunday. OCB started the must-win game with an attacking mindset and needed just nine minutes to take the lead. Forward Michael Cox shrugged off two Bethlehem defenders in the box to find Johnny Mendoza for the playoff-clinching tap-in. Then, in the 58th minute, Lewis Neal iced OCB’s playoff berth with one of the Lions’ best goals of the season when he struck a bouncing ball from 30 yards out into the top left corner.
OCB’s win secured the club’s fifth USL playoff appearance dating back to its pre-MLS days in 2011. The Lions won three regular season titles and two USL PRO Cup championships in four years before moving to MLS.
Cox leads the team and is eighth in the USL with 11 goals. Hadji Barry and Tyler Turner have four goals each while goalkeeper Mark Ridgers leads the USL with 106 saves.
New York Red Bulls II are coming off of a 2-1 win against the Charleston Battery. The Red Bulls opened the scoring in the 38th minute when Vincent Bezecourt struck a left-footed free kick from outside the box off Charleston goalkeeper Alexander Tambakis’ hands and into the net. Brandon Allen then converted from the penalty spot in the 74th minute.
Allen leads the Red Bulls with 15 goals and is third with four assists. Junior Flemmings has seven goals while Derrick Etienne leads the team with six assists. Goalkeeper Ryan Meara leads the team with 54 saves.
With a win on Sunday the Lions would move into the Eastern Conference semifinals to face the winner between the defending champion Rochester Rhinos and Charlotte Independence.
