Reaching 100
With an appearance on Monday night, defender Ruan will reach 100 appearances across all competitions for Orlando City. In reaching the century mark, the Brazilian international will join teammates Robin Jansson and Tesho Akindele, along with former Lions Chris Mueller and Cristian Higuita in reaching that point. Ruan joined the Club ahead of the 2019 MLS campaign and has net four finishes with 15 assists to add in addition to his contributions on the defensive end.
Against the Black and Red
The Lions will look to make it three wins in a row on Monday against their visitors from the nation’s capital, having taken a pair of victories from D.C. a year ago. City took a 1-0 shutout victory from Audi Field behind a 16th-minute game-winner from Mauricio Pereyra last May before a stoppage-time game-winner from former Lions forward Daryl Dike clinched a 2-1 win at Exploria Stadium on Oct. 2 later in the year.
On Independence Day
Orlando City will take the pitch for the third time in Club history on the Fourth of July on Monday, with the Lions set to celebrate Independence Day in front of its home crowd for the first time in The City Beautiful. Fans will have the opportunity to purchase a specialty line of 4th of July merchandise, as well as take part in a number of activations in celebration of the holiday.
Two-Way Contribution
Defender Rodrigo Schlegel found the back of the net for the second time in all competitions this campaign on Wednesday night, scoring a stoppage-time equalizer to force extra time in the Lions’ Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal match against Nashville SC. The goal served as the eighth by an Orlando City defender in 2022, with Schlegel joining teammates Ruan and João Moutinho at two apiece, while Kyle Smith and Robin Jansson have each notched one finish this year in all competitions.
Back to League Play
City returns to action in Major League Soccer after punching its ticket to the Semifinals of the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night, advancing past Nashville SC via a penalty-kick shootout to secure its spot in the last four of the nation’s oldest cup competition. Following Schlegel’s stoppage-time equalizer, goalkeeper Pedro Gallese made one save in penalty kicks in what served as his Open Cup debut to send the Lions through to the Semifinals.
Milestone Tracker
- Benji Michel is two appearances away from reaching 100 in all competitions as a Lion.
- Mauricio Pereyra is one appearance away from 80 with the Club.
- Tesho Akindele is two goals away from 20 for Orlando City.
