Orlando City has benefited from home field advantage early on this season.
“I think it’s special,” said Head Coach Jason Kreis. “This is one of the man reasons why I came here. Very clearly that for me; it’s a special ownership group, it’s a special community here, and it’s a special fan base here and now we have a special stadium.”
The Lions are 3-0 at newly built Orlando City Stadium, a record that the 25 thousand screaming fans at every home game this season are ecstatic about.
Defender Tommy Redding has been a part of the Lions for all three seasons. He was there for the inaugural season, which Orlando City did win three games in a row twice, but never four consecutive games.
“I feel like this year we’re a lot more of a team on and off the field,” Redding said. “ It’s a great thing to have Will Johnson – guys like Will and Giles(Barnes) because they’re leaders and they help our team.”
Defender Will Johnson, a 10-year MLS veteran was signed on Dec. 28 2016 and 28-year-old forward Giles Barnes was acquired from the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in exchange for Brek Shea just one week before the season opener.
“When they come here, they’re coming for a scrap,” Barnes said. “If they think they’re going to take any points off us, they gotta fight us with tooth and nail. That’s the only way you’re even going to take any points and even then, you’re probably going to take none.”
In its brief MLS history, Orlando City has not won more than three home games in a row, but this 2017 team is in on the verge of during just that as they get ready to face the LA Galaxy this Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
“We know we need to improve, and I don’t think anyone is hiding from that,” said Head Coach Jason Kreis. “That’s a pretty good place to be; to have nine points in your pocket and say, ‘we need to get better,’ and we can get better.”
