Orlando City B (3-0-0, 9 points) at Atlanta United 2 (0-2-1, 1 point)
When: Sunday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Fifth Third Bank Stadium, Atlanta
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (subscription required)
Good, Clean Fun
Orlando City B goalkeeper Javier Otero registered his first clean sheet of the campaign last Sunday as the Lions kept their intrastate rivals Inter Miami II off the board at Osceola County Stadium.
Otero had to record just two saves in the match, one of which came from the penalty spot, denying Edison Azcona just after the halftime break. The OCB goalkeeper finished the 2022 campaign as the MLS NEXT Pro leader in saves with 100, recording four clean sheets a year ago.
Player of the Matchday
Orlando City Homegrown Favian Loyola had a standout performance against Inter Miami II last weekend, tallying the assist on the Lions’ first goal off the head of Jack Lynn before running through a trio of Miami defenders to get on the board himself. Sunday served as Loyola’s first start of the season, coming off a 2022 campaign that saw him appear 11 times for OCB, scoring six goals in that span to finish tied for second on the team and earn himself a First Team contract, signing as a Homegrown with Orlando City this past offseason.
A Roaring Start
The Lions enter the weekend as one of two teams with a trio of victories in as many matches to start their MLS NEXT Pro campaign, looking to extend it to four in their inaugural meeting with Atlanta United 2 on Sunday. In all three matches thus far, Orlando City B has struck quickly, finding the back of the net inside of five minutes of play in each fixture. The side has now scored seven times through three matches, recording at least a pair of goals in each contest this season and having conceded just twice in that stretch.
Hit the Goal, Jack
Orlando City forward Jack Lynn scored his second goal of the year over the weekend, both of which have come from his head thus far to start the campaign. The 2022 MLS SuperDraft selection led Orlando City B in goals scored a year ago, finding the back of the net 15 times in 18 appearances to finish third in goals scored in all of MLS NEXT Pro.
A First for the Captain
Orlando City B midfielder Juninho tallied his first goal contribution for the side over the weekend, earning the assist on Favian Loyola’s finish ahead of halftime. Joining the Lions this past offseason on loan from Vasco da Gama, Juninho has captained the side in all three matches through the 2023 campaign and sits as one of four players to play every minute for the side this season.
