Orlando City (7-3-4, 25 pts) faces a quick turnaround after Thursday night’s thrilling victory over Philadelphia, traveling to Yankee Stadium to face New York City FC (6-5-2, 20 pts) at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday night. The match, presented by Walt Disney World, will be televised locally on FOX35 PLUS and streamed live on the LionNation app with coverage starting at 5:30 p.m. Local radio coverage is available from 5:30 p.m. on FM 96.9 the Game in English and Acción 97.9 FM and 810 AM in Spanish.
Here’s everything you need to know about NYCFC:
Key Transactions and Player News
Key Additions - F Talles Magno (Vasco da Gama), F Thiago Andrade (Bahia), AM Santiago Rodriguez (Montevideo City, loan), DM Alfredo Morales (Fortuna Düsseldorf), LB Malte Amundsen (Vejle BK)
Key Departures - CM Alex Ring (Austin FC), LB Rónald Matarrita (FC Cincinnati), RB Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach), F Gary Mackay-Steven (Hearts)
Player News - NYCFC has been given a fresh coat of paint since Orlando City last saw them back on May 8. Brazilian winger Thiago has given the Pigeons a burst with two goals in his first 213 minutes, including an astonishing full-field run and winner late in stoppage time against D.C. United on June 27. City Football Group also spent a reported $8 million on 18 year-old Young Designated Player Talles Magno, who had been linked to top European clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and Chelsea.
Take a look at New York City’s full roster here.
Team Form
Despite pristine underlying numbers - the Pigeons rank second in the East with a +9.4 expected goal differential – results have been up and down this year for NYCFC. The Cityzens snapped a two-game losing skid on Wednesday night with a 1-0 victory over CF Montreal. Attacking midfielder Jesús Medina has enjoyed a career year for New York City, already matching his career high with six goals in just over a thousand minutes.
Head-to-Head
Sunday’s match marks the 20th time Orlando City and NYCFC have squared off in all competitions, comfortably the most matchups against a single opponent for either 2015 expansion side. Orlando is unbeaten in seven against New York City, a run that includes the Running of the Wall game in the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and Rodrigo Schlegel’s breathtaking penalty-kick save in the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Rasmussen University Fact
NYCFC has made the playoffs each of the past five seasons, but the Pigeons have just one postseason win to show for it, a first-round victory over Philadelphia Union in 2018. New York City has never advanced further than the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
