Back to Work
The Lions return to play on Wednesday after nearly three weeks off from match play, last taking the pitch on Saturday, May 28 against FC Dallas. The side returns to action with a pair of matches this week, set to return home to Exploria Stadium after the midweek to host the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, June 18, followed by a visit to FC Cincinnati next Friday and a U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal match against Nashville SC at home the following Wednesday.
In Between the Pipes
With goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar sidelined with a jaw injury, Adam Grinwis is set to step between the pipes for the Lions on Wednesday as Peruvian international Pedro Gallese makes the trek back from international duty. Grinwis appeared twice for City a year ago, with 11 appearances across all competitions in two separate stints with the Club from 2018-19 and 2021 onward, hallmarked by the Running of the Wall as part of the Lions’ 2019 U.S. Open Cup run to the Semifinals.
El Maestro
Mauricio Pereyra comes back from the international break looking to continue his form from prior, having registered a pair of assists in as many matches for the side this campaign before the break. The Lions’ No. 10 leads the side in all competitions in helpers this season with seven to his credit, now with 30 in his Orlando City career, a Club-record.
Leading at the Front
Ercan Kara currently sits as the Lions’ leading scorer in all competitions, netting five goals for the side since joining ahead of the 2022 campaign. In the side’s last two regular season matches, Kara has found the back of the net a pair of times with finishes against Dallas and Austin FC prior to the international break.
For Club & Country
- Pedro Gallese and Peru came up just short for a berth to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, falling in a penalty shootout to Australia on Monday afternoon. Gallese made one save for Los Incas’ in penalty kicks, but the side ultimately fell 5-4 to the Aussies in the shootout after battling to a scoreless stalemate through 120 minutes of play.
- Sebas Méndez appeared in two of Ecuador’s trio of friendlies over the international break, starting their first match against Nigeria in what resulted in a 1-0 victory on June 2 before coming off the bench in a scoreless draw against Mexico three days later.
- Mikey Halliday joined the U.S. U-20 National Team over the weekend ahead of the Concacaf U-20 Championship from June 18-July 3 in Honduras. The U.S. will take aim at one of four berths to the 2022 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia and attempt to qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time since 2008.
- Thomas Williams and Alex Freeman spent the international break in Spain for a pair of friendlies against England and Norway, with Freeman starting both matches for the U.S. and Williams getting the nod against England. The Stars and Stripes defeated the English 2-1 on June 6 before taking a 3-0 shutout victory over Norway three days later.
Milestone Tracker
- Tesho Akindele’s next appearance will be his 100th in all competitions for Orlando City.
- Ruan (96) and Benji Michel (94) are also nearing the 100-appearance milestone.
- Should he start, João Moutinho will set a new career high in minutes played in the 34th minute of Wednesday’s game against New England. Moutinho’s previous career high was 1290, set last season.
- Andres Perea's next appearance will be his 70th for the Club.
- Alexandre Pato will record his 20th appearance for the Club in his next outing.