ORLANDO, Fla. (May 25, 2017) - Orlando City SC (6-4-2, 20 points) travels north to face 2017 expansion side Minnesota United FC (3-7-2, 11 points). Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET at TCF Bank Stadium.
The match will be locally televised on WRDQ TV27 and transmitted in English on Real Radio 104.1 FM and in Spanish on La Nueva 990 AM.
“At the moment everybody knows we’re going through a little bit of a difficult patch. So for me it’s about clawing our way out of that and to me that comes through effort, commitment and togetherness,” Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said. “So I’m looking for another game where I feel like everybody’s on the same page and everybody understand what we’re trying to do.”
This is the first match between two of Major League Soccer’s most recent expansion clubs. Minnesota is led by long-time Lions coach Adrian Heath and assistants Ian Fuller and Mark Watson. Heath led the Lions to three regular season and two postseason USL Pro championships in four years.
City will look to pick up points in its second consecutive road match following last Wednesday’s 1-1 draw in San Jose. Carlos Rivas entered the match and scored within 20 minutes but Chris Wondolowski scored in the 83rd minute to secure the third draw in the all-time series. The Lions saw their home-unbeaten streak ended Sunday against New York City FC.
Rivas’ goal gave him two for the season to go with his team-leading five assists. Cyle Larin leads the team with seven goals and leads the league with four game-winning goals.
Minnesota is coming off a 2-1 loss to the LA Galaxy at home despite outshooting LA, 22-8. Christian Ramirez equalized in the 66th minute but was on the wrong end of a Romain Alessandrini free kick that found the back of his own net.
Ramirez is tied with Larin and two others for fifth in the Golden Boot race. Kevin Molino, who played four years for City in USL Pro and was the Club’s first MLS signing before being traded this offseason, leads the Loons with three assists to go with his five goals.
