ORLANDO, Fla. (Aug. 19, 2022) - Orlando City SC (9-10-6, 33 points) hits the road again this weekend, set to take on 2022 expansion side Charlotte FC (10-14-2, 32 points) at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 21. That match is set to kickoff at 7 p.m. ET.
Sundayâs game will be locally televised on FOX35 PLUS and LionNation TV, and transmitted on 96.9 The Game in English and AcciĂłn 97.9 in Spanish.
âThere are a lot of expectations at this point in the season with the way the standings are. I said this last week against the Red Bulls, but we have that urgency as a team to get momentum to jump over these hurdles and win three points. Weâre going to Charlotte with the same mentality. We know as well that itâs a difficult place, but weâre trying to go with confidence, courage and weâve seen the team this week working tremendously well,â Head Coach Oscar Pareja said ahead of the match. âWe are very positive that the feelings after the game [last week] were good. Despite the challenges that weâve had, we are together and weâre optimistic. Charlotte is a rival that has had ups and downs, as well as many, in that pack of teams looking for qualification [to the playoffs]. They have great energy from their fans, energy from the players too so we will be prepared for that and try to cope with that energy and overcome any circumstances and bring the points to Orlando.â
City won its inaugural match against Charlotte FC earlier this season at Exploria Stadium by a 2-1 scoreline. Ruan and Facundo Torres each scored for the Lions in the match. Defender Robin Jansson tallied his 100th appearance as a Lion in all competitions on the night, becoming the third player to do so in Club history. The match also saw midfielder Maruicio Pereyra set a new Club-assist record, tallying his 27th helper as a Lion to pass former City captain Nani for the all-time achievement.Â
The Lions are recently coming off a 1-0 road victory over the New York Red Bulls. City was backed by a 17th-minute strike from forward Facundo Torres after a nice build-up sequence with JĂşnior Urso and Alexandre Pato combining for the assist. The match also saw goalkeeper Pedro Gallese record his eighth clean sheet of the campaign, setting a new single-season Club record.Â
City now has 18 points in 13 road games this MLS season. The Club only had more road points in a full season once, with 20 points in 2021. The Lions sport a 4-3-6 record and have taken away five points from their last four road games.Â
Charlotte is coming off a 3-1 victory over NYCFC at Red Bull Arena on Wednesday night. It was the 2022 expansion sideâs second-ever road victory as they got an early goal and then added two more later in the second half. Charlotte is teetering on the playoff line only one point below the current mark, making Sundayâs match pivotal for both teamsâ playoff hopes.Â
After Sundayâs match, the Lions return home to Exploria Stadium to battle NYCFC in a nationally televised game on Sunday, August 28 on FS1 and FOX Deportes. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.