On Saturday, Orlando City will face off against the Philadelphia Union for their second match of the year. While Orlando City earned a win in their first week and had their second match cancelled due to weather, the Union have earned two draws in their first two matches. According to Head Coach Jason Kreis, that proves one thing.
“A lot of fight,” Kreis said, describing the spirit of this Union squad. “It’s a team that made the playoffs last year so we know they’re a quality side. And they are a team that’s always had a tremendous amount of fight and spirit, so we know it’s another really good challenge for us this week.”
It isn’t just a team that made the playoffs last year. They edged Orlando City into the Eastern Conference playoffs by just one point, leaving some sour history between the two sides. But Kreis said that the focus heading into this home match isn’t about the Union-- it’s about themselves.
“For me, when we’re at home, it’s not so much about the opposition. It’s about us,” Kreis said. “And we know that the job is very simple, the objective is very simple. It’s three points. And we push the game with an aggressive mindset and we demand maximum effort and we demand that guys give everything they can to get three points.”
“It’’s the Union,” Goalkeeper Joe Bendik said. “They’re a very similar team as they’ve been in the past. They have an extremely high work rate and they’re willing to give everything, every minute of the game. So, for us, we have to match that and beat them tactically.”
Orlando City knows what the objective is. Get three points.
It’s that simple.
