ORLANDO, Fla. (May 5, 2016) – Following Saturday’s thrilling 2-2 draw in New England, Orlando City (2-2-4, 10 points) hosts the New York Red Bulls (3-6-0, 9 points) on Friday, May 6 at Camping World Stadium, formerly known as the Orlando Citrus Bowl. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. E.T.
Friday’s contest will be nationally televise on UniMás, as well as transmitted locally on Real Radio 104.1 FM in English and on La Grande 1030 AM in Spanish.
“It’s a game that I think as a coach you really look forward to because you know that the opposition is going to pose lots of questions for you. We’ve normally matched up well with them. The games, although there’s been a lot of goals, 10 goals in the last two games, I think that we match up quite well with them,” Orlando City Head Coach Adrian Heath said. “[New York Head Coach Jesse Marsch] will be the first to tell you that the games have been really, really tight. It’s a really important game for us because I think we can actually get the three points and move closer to the top of the table. I think it’s one of them games if I was a supporter I’d really look forward to because you know it’s going to be a really good game.”
This is the second meeting of 2016 for these teams. In the first fixture at Red Bull Arena, Orlando striker Cyle Larin scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season in the third minute and the Lions held the lead for over an hour. But Mike Grella scored in the 65th minute and Bradley Wright-Phillips notched a brace 10 minutes later to secure the win. City pulled within one in the 84th minute when Carlos Rivas’ corner service deflected in off New York defender Karl Ouimette.
Orlando City is coming off a dramatic draw against the Revolution. The Lions fought back from two one-goal deficits with Kevin Molino’s third goal of the season and Rivas’ first career MLS goal in the 90th minute to secure a point.
In their last game, the Red Bulls scored three second-half goals en route to a 4-0 win over FC Dallas. Lloyd Sam scored his first goal of the season in the 37th minute before Sacha Kljestan, Grella and Felipe also found the back of the net.
This is also center back Aurélien Collin’s first game with the Red Bulls since being acquired from Orlando City on April 29. The Frenchman started 27 games for the Lions in 2015, scoring two goals and an assist.
Orlando City could possibly see the return of captain Kaká. The Brazilian has featured in three games in 2016, all of them starts, and has two goals and two assists. He scored two goals and an assist in his season debut in City’s 4-1 win over the Portland Timbers on April 3.
These teams will meet one more time on Wednesday, July 13, at Red Bull Arena.
