ORLANDO, Fla. (Oct. 1 2022) - Orlando City SC (13-12-6, 45 points) returns to action on Sunday, Oct. 2, traveling to take on 2015 expansion rivals New York City FC (14-11-7, 49 points) in a 1 p.m. ET kickoff at Red Bull Arena.
The match, presented by CITY Furniture, is set to be locally televised on FOX35 PLUS and LionNation TV, while being transmitted on Real Radio 104.1 in English and Acción 97.9 in Spanish.
Sunday will serve as the first of three matches over the course of the final week of the 2022 MLS regular season with the Lions pushing for their third-consecutive berth in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. NYCFC currently sits four points above City in the standings, with the Lions having a game in hand.
Orlando returns to the field after the international break after taking a 4-0 shutout victory over Toronto FC in its last outing on Sept. 17. Facundo Torres, Ercan Kara and Tesho Akindele found the back of the net for the Lions on the night, with an own goal by the Reds adding to the tally. The clean sheet for the side served as the ninth on the calendar year, matching the single-season Club-record.
Kara and Torres sit tied for the team lead in goals scored, each with 11 in all competitions in 2022. Torres and Mauricio Pereyra hold the high in assists, with 11 to their credit this season.
NYCFC comes into the weekend after taking a 2-0 shutout victory in the Hudson River Derby ahead of the international break over the New York Red Bulls. First half finishes from Alexander Callens and Santiago RodrÃguez in the first and 23 minutes, respectively, secured the victory for the Pigeons on the afternoon.
The two sides last faced on Aug. 28, resulting in a 2-1 victory for the Lions thanks to a late game-winner in the sixth minute of second half stoppage time from Tesho Akindele. The deciding finish served as the second in as many weeks for Akindele, after netting a game-winner in Charlotte the week prior. Júnior Urso accounted for the other finish for City in its last meeting with NYCFC.
Following Sunday’s match, the Lions will face a quick turnaround, traveling to take on intrastate foes Inter Miami CF on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at DRV PNK Stadium before hosting the Columbus Crew on Decision Day four days later on Oct. 9. Kickoff for the midweek matchup is set for 8 p.m. ET in a locally broadcast match on FOX35 PLUS and LionNation TV.
