Orlando City B (3-2-1, 11 points) vs New York Red Bulls II (3-1-1, 10 points)
When: Sunday, April 27, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Osceola Heritage Park, Kissimmee, Fla.
TV: Watch on MLSNextPro.com
Taifi Takes the Field
Orlando City B defender Zakaria Taifi made his MLS debut last Saturday, coming on as a second-half substitute in the 85th minute for the Lions in their road match against CF Montréal. Prior to the match, Taifi was signed to a short-term agreement with the First Team. The Orlando City Academy product has started 21 matches in 42 career appearances for OCB, scoring one goal and recording three assists. Taifi also served as the captain of the Orlando City SC squad that won the U17 MLS NEXT Cup in 2021. So far in the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro regular season, Taifi has started all five of the Lions’ matches while scoring one goal and providing two assists.
Getting in on the Fun
In Orlando City B’s last match against Inter Miami CF II, midfielder Riyon Tori and forward Dyson Clapier both recorded their first assists of the season and firsts all-time across all competitions for OCB. The Lions’ assists happened to occur on the same play as Tori slid a pass across Inter Miami’s 18-yard box to Clapier who then dropped the ball back to Tahir Reid-Brown just outside the box. Reid-Brown then lasered it into the back of the net for Orlando’s first goal of the match.
A Close Race at the Top
Just one point separates Orlando City B and New York Red Bulls II in the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference standings. OCB currently holds sole possession of second place at 11 points on the season, but Red Bulls II is right behind the Lions, holding 10 points. With nearly identical records of 3-2-1 for OCB through six matches and 3-1-1 for the Red Bulls through five, as well as similar goal differentials with OCB at even and the Red Bulls +1, Sunday’s match will be an opportunity for both teams to gain an advantage in the standings heading into the month of May. The Lions enter the match with a 2-1-1 all-time record against New York Red Bulls II in MLS NEXT Pro and are undefeated at home versus the team from the Garden State.
Young Lions on Top
It was a massive weekend for the Orlando City Academy last weekend, as the U18 side won this year’s Generation adidas Cup at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. 16-year-old First Team midfielder Gustavo Caraballo scored a brace in a 2-1 extra-time win over the Colorado Rapids in the final of the U18 Championship bracket, notching the first goal in the third minute before a 75th minute winner to claim the title for the U18s. Caraballo was named MVP for the tournament in the U18 age group, while Orlando City B forward Justin Ellis scored six goals to take the Golden Boot in the same age group.
