3 in 7 - Run the Gauntlet
Orlando City is currently preparing for a grueling seven-day grind. First, the Lions head to the heart of Texas to face Austin FC on Sunday. Then they’ll come home for a Wednesday night Florida Derby against Inter Miami in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and then it’s right back to league play after that with FC Dallas coming to town on Saturday. Orlando had a three-in-seven stretch last June and won all three games, defeating Toronto and San Jose at Exploria Stadium before a dramatic come-from-behind win in Fort Lauderdale against Inter Miami in the final match of the run.
2,627 - Lone Star Blues
March 13, 2015 is a famous day in Orlando City history, the day the Lions picked up their first-ever MLS victory with a 1-0 win at the Houston Dynamo. Come Sunday’s trip to Austin, it will have been 2,627 days since that triumph, and Orlando has yet to win another game in the state of Texas. To be fair to them, they’ve only had five tries, as both FC Dallas and Houston are in the Western Conference and thus don’t play Orlando frequently. The Lions drew 0-0 at Dallas in their last game in the Lone Star State in September 2020. Both Dallas and Houston will be at Exploria Stadium within the next month.
5 - The Best Offense is…Offense From Your Defense
There was a time when Orlando City was infamous for getting almost no offensive production from its defenders. No longer–Kyle Smith’s late game winner against Toronto FC last week was the fifth goal scored by an Orlando defender this season. The Lions are third in MLS in goals from defenders, behind only Montréal (7) and LAFC (6). In addition to Smith, Orlando has gotten back line goals from João Moutinho (2), Ruan, and Rodrigo Schlegel this year.
25 - Or, The Best Offense is Just Offense
Austin FC has been the surprise of MLS this season, charging to the top of the Supporters’ Shield race with a statement victory over LAFC on Wednesday night. Austin has scored 25 goals so far this season, more than any other team in Major League Soccer. Argentine attacker Sebastián Driussi leads the way with seven, but seven different players have scored at least two goals for Los Verdes.
