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Match Preview: Orlando City Returns to Orlando Citrus Bowl to Face Columbus Crew SC

Crew Preview 2

ORLANDO – May 28, 2015 – Orlando City Soccer Club (3-5-4, 13 points) will return to the Orlando Citrus Bowl on Saturday night for a match-up against Eastern Conference foes Columbus Crew SC (4-4-3, 15 points). Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.


Tickets for the match are still available and can be purchased by calling 855-ORL-CITY or by visiting www.OrlandoCitySC.com.


In addition, the match will broadcast live on MY65 and Sun Sports Florida. The fixture will also be transmitted on Real Radio 104.1 FM and La Grande 1030 AM.


"I have great respect for what Greg Berhalter's done since he's been there," said head coach Adrian Heath. "I think for me they're one of clubs who has an identity with the way that they play – a bit like Sporting Kansas City, you know how they play. That's something that we've spoken about here. Trying to get 23 players on the same page is a process, but, we're getting there. We've had to tweak it a bit because of the personnel that we have, but I have a great load of respect for Columbus."


Saturday's contest will mark the second meeting between both sides this season – as the Lions previously faced the Ohio-based club on Saturday, April 18, at MAPFRE Stadium. After being reduced to ten men early in the first half, City suffered its first road loss of the season to Crew SC, falling 3-0 as Federico Higuain, Justin Meram and Kei Kamara found the back of the net.


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However, since losing to Columbus, the Lions have been in good form as of late – producing four points in its previous two matches. After a convincing 4-0 victory over the LA Galaxy at home, Orlando drew the San Jose Earthquakes 1-1 at Levi's Stadium as Kaká scored his fifth goal of the season.


The draw maintained Orlando City's sixth place position in the Eastern Conference, keeping the Lions in the playoff race.


Currently sitting in fourth place in the East, Columbus Crew SC enters Saturday's match after drawing the Chicago Fire 2-2. Veteran striker Kei Kamara, who has been in blistering form this season, scored his third brace in 2015 during the 2-2 draw, extending his season tally to nine.


Kamara, who scored a goal and notched an assist in the team's previous match-up against Orlando, also leads the league in goals, two ahead of Seattle Sounders and U.S. Men's National Team star Clint Dempsey.


Nevertheless, Crew SC has struggled to create much success on the road so far this season, failing to record a win while away from MAPFRE stadium. In five away fixtures, Columbus has registered losses against the Houston Dynamo, D.C. United and the San Jose Earthquakes – drawing Vancouver and New England.