It may not seem like it, but the timing for City’s three-game, cross-continental road trip couldn’t be better.
As the losses mount, so too does the external noise. Beginning with today’s trip to Miami for tomorrow’s U.S. Open Cup fourth-round match, the Lions will travel almost 8,000 miles for three games in 10 days.
Much like preseason, it’s a time to come together.
“These trips are fun,” midfielder Sacha Kljestan said before training Tuesday. “When you get away for a little bit you go to a few cool cities, you usually have one or two nights on your own to get out and get some dinner and take off the Orlando City gear and put on some normal clothes and just be bonding. It’ll be good for us.”
City will travel the entire roster to Miami, Vancouver and Montreal, which is a good sign in itself.
“We’re taking everybody with the mindset that the players that are injured are so close to coming back that the work they’re doing is best done on the field and with the staff that we have traveling,” head coach Jason Kreis said.
That includes Lamine Sané, Dom Dwyer and captain Jonathan Spector, who is finally a full participant in training after several weeks in concussion protocol. Defender Amro Tarek, gone with the Egypt national team since after the Toronto match, will rejoin the squad tonight.
“Very disappointing situation not to make the World Cup but I’ve been messaging him and he’s handling it in a very good way,” Kreis said. “From our point of view we’re very happy to have him back.”
But getting away is only a good thing if they return with results. That begins on Wednesday when City takes on NPSL side Miami United FC, which has already defeated two professional teams on its way to the fourth round.
“It’s all about the respect that you give them,” Kreis said. “If we go into this match thinking that they’re not a professional team, they’re not a first-division team, they’re not a second-division team - if we’re focused on that, they will hurt us for sure.”
The Lions prepped for Miami with footage from their first three Open Cup matches, and it seems they left an impression.
“They’re no pushovers,” midfielder-turned-right-back Will Johnson said. “We’re going to have to be sharp and ready.”
Kljestan was more direct.
“You can’t underestimate your opponent, especially when you’re playing on the road against a lower-division team,” Kljestan said. “This is the game of the season for them.”
And while it won’t define the Lions’ season on its own, it could be the kick-start they need.
“Obviously if we come away with some good results then it makes the trip even more fun,” Kljestan said. “We’re all looking forward to it.”
