ORLANDO, Fla. (September 22, 2017) - Following Saturday’s 3-3 draw against Atlanta, Orlando City SC (9-12-8, 35 points) concludes a four-game road trip against the Portland Timbers (12-10-8, 44 points) on Sunday, Sept. 24. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET at Providence Park.
The match will be nationally televised on FS1 and FOX Deportes, and transmitted in English on Real Radio 104.1 FM and in Spanish on La Nueva 990 AM.
“I think the really nice thing about playing Portland right now is it’s very similar to playing Atlanta. Portland’s [Diego] Valeri is similar to Atlanta’s [Miguel] Almirón,” Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said. “Both want to occupy very similar spaces. Both are looking for the ball in the same sorts of areas. Both are very lethal with the ball at their foot. We’ll be fully prepared.”
This will be the third all-time meeting between the two teams. On April 18, 2015, Cyle Larin scored his first MLS goal in his first career start to lead City to a 2-0 win at Providence Park. Then on April 3, 2016, the Lions captured three points with a dominant 4-1 victory against the then-defending MLS Cup Champions. The match saw goals from Seb Hines, Brek Shea, Kaká and Kevin Molino as well as an impeccable penalty kick save from Joe Bendik. Jack Mclnerney scored the Timbers’ consolation goal in the 89th minute.
An MLS record crowd of 70,425 fans was on hand to see Saturday’s thrilling 3-3 draw between Orlando City and Atlanta United. Dom Dwyer scored his first two MLS goals as a Lion during the first half when he headed home crosses from Donny Toia and Scott Sutter. Josef Martínez scored his second of the game to level the score in the 55th minute, but three minutes later, Dwyer found Larin for the second time in as many games to take a 3-2 lead. Martínez scored once again in the 69th minute for the second draw between the two teams.
Sunday’s match will see Bendik face his former team. Bendik made his MLS debut with the Timbers on April 28, 2012 and went on to make five appearances for Portland. He currently leads the league with 99 saves. Larin leads the team with 12 goals, as do Kaká and Carlos Rivas with five assists. Returning from suspension for the Lions are Kaká, Hines, José Aja and Servando Carrasco.
Portland is coming off a 2-1 loss against Real Salt Lake to snap its four-game unbeaten streak. Albert Rusnák opened the scoring in the 14th minute. Diego Valeri equalized two minutes into the second half when he headed a cross from Dairon Asprilla. Jefferson Savarino scored the game-winner in the 61st minute.
Valeri is tied for second in MLS with 18 goals and set an MLS record against RSL with a goal in eight straight matches. The Argentine also leads Portland with nine assists.
City enters the match in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, seven points behind sixth-place New York Red Bulls, with five games remaining.
The Lions return to Orlando City Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 27 to host the New England Revolution. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
