1 - Home Away From Home
Yankee Stadium has been kind to the Lions. In three games at the Bronx, Orlando City has picked up four points and its first MLS hat-trick. Trailing 4-3 in stoppage time on July 26, 2015, Kaká’s free kick rang off the post and NYC returned it for a score and a 5-3 win after Cyle Larin scored three goals in the second half.
Then in their first road game of 2016 on March 18, Larin scored his third goal of the season in the seventh minute to capture a 1-0 win. On May 29, the Lions stormed back from a 2-0 deficit to equalize in stoppage time.
2 - Cyle Loves New York
Cyle Larin as dominated NYC since being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. Larin has scored seven goals in six matches against the Lions’ 2015 expansion rival, including his first ever hat-trick on July 26, 2015. In their only meeting this year, Larin bagged the first goal inside Orlando City Stadium on Opening Day with a powerful header to the near post.
That goal gave Larin three game-winning goals against the Pigeons, which is the most of any player. On top of that, the 22-year-old also had the game-tying assist in City’s dramatic stoppage-time comeback on May 29, 2016.
Larin’s second hat-trick came at the New York Red Bulls on Sept. 25, 2015, in a 5-2 win. Larin has four goals against NYRB.
3 - Full Back Contributions
Scott Sutter led the team with three chances created Saturday against the LA Galaxy. Sutter lofted the ball back into the box for Will Johnson to open the scoring, earning the Swiss right back his first assist in MLS.
Donny Toia led the team with seven tackles against the Galaxy. Toia kept Giovani dos Santos and Gyasi Zardes to just three chances created.
4 - Century Mark
With a win on Sunday, the Lions will claim their 100th point since joining MLS in 2015. After picking up 44 and 41 points in their first two seasons, City is off to its best start in the MLS era with 12 points through five matches. The Lions picked up their first MLS point on March 8, 2015 with Kaká’s stoppage-time free kick.
5 - Ever Impressive Bendik
Joe Bendik has been nothing less than exceptional since joining Orlando City, and particularly impressive against NYC. Bendik has the lowest goals allowed average (0.75) of any goalkeeper against the Pigeons, allowing just three goals in four games and pitching two shutouts. He is also tied for the league lead with four wins.
Bendik also could make his 40th appearance as a Lion on Sunday. The former Clemson Tiger has played every MLS minute in goal since the start of 2016, and has won MLS Save of the Week 12 times in addition to MLS Save of the Year in 2016. The Lions needed every bit of Bendik’s excellence against LA after his outstretched left hand helped lead Giovani Dos Santos’ free kick onto the woodwork and out.
6 - Team Effort
Orlando City leads MLS with ve game-winning assists. Carlos Rivas and Giles Barnes combined for the game-winner on Opening Day. After Rivas’ subtle touch, Matias Perez Garcia freed Cyle Larin for the game-winner against Philadelphia. Will Johnson has two victory-sealing assists, first to Servando Carrasco against New York Red Bulls and then to Larin against LA.
7 - Don't Look Now...
With 12 points through five games, Orlando City is in the midst of the second-best five-game stretch in its MLS era. The run is the best start City has enjoyed to begin an MLS season.
The only time the Lions picked up more points over ve games was at the end of 2015, when they rattled off ve straight victories in their push for the playoffs. Orlando City has put together three ve-game unbeaten runs in MLS.
8 - Not A Spectator
Jonathan Spector was featured in MLS Team of the Week for the third time this season for two goal-line clearances in the last two matches. After sliding away a deflected rebound against the Red Bulls, Spector poked a Galaxy chance over the bar to preserve the lead. Spector has played every minute for the Lions through their first five matches and has contributed to two clean sheets.
9 - Parlay For The Oceans
In commemoration of Earth Day and in conjunction with MLS’ Greener Goals initiative, the match will see both teams wear special adidas Parlay uniforms, which are made from plastic re- cycled from the oceans. Orlando City and New York City FC are two of the four MLS clubs selected to be a part of this initiative.
