World Cup Watch
M Yoshi Yotún was named to Peru’s official 23-man 2018 FIFA World Cup roster. Yotún played 90 minutes in Los Incas’ 3-0 win over Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Peru faces off against Sweden on Saturday, June 9 at 1:15 p.m. ET in its last contest before the World Cup. Yotún has 34 wins with Los Incas, which is the most of any player on the team.
D Amro Tarek did not make Egypt’s 23-player roster and will be available for selection for City on Saturday.
No Rest for the Wicked
This will be the second time City travels over 2,500 miles to Vancouver on short rest. The Lions are coming off an Open Cup match against Miami United FC on Wednesday before traveling to Vancouver.
In its only previous trip to Vancouver in 2016, the Lions erased a 2-1 second-half deficit to earn a road point. The Lions battled fatigue and GK Joe Bendik played the entire match with stitches above his left eye earned when he stonewalled Gonzalo Veron’s point-blank shot at Red Bull Arena three days earlier. Also in that match, then-Red Bull and current Whitecap Felipe scored a free kick.
Best vs. the West
City currently boasts a 4-1-0 record against Western Conference opponents in 2018. The Lions have posted victories over Portland, San Jose, Colorado and Real Salt Lake. Their lone defeat came to Minnesota on March 10 in the second match of the season.
The Lions’ 4 wins over the Western Conference is 1 shy of tying a Club-record 5 wins over the West in 2015. City notched victories over Houston, Portland, LA Galaxy, Colorado and Sporting KC in their inaugural 2015 MLS season.
Orlando City’s 4-1-0 record vs. the West is tied with New York Red Bulls for the second-best in the East. NYCFC is 6-2-1 vs. the West in 2018.
Milestone Tracker
GK Joe Bendik is 6 saves away from his 500th career MLS save. Bendik is City’s current all-time saves leader with 268 saves in purple.
Familiar Faces
Saturday’s match will see City face off against former Lions M Brek Shea and D José Aja. Shea was traded on Feb. 25, 2017 in exchange for F Giles Barnes. Aja was traded to Vancouver on Feb. 24, 2018 in exchange for $125,000 in 2019 Targeted Allocation Money. Both players were traded following City’s last preseason date at Orlando City Stadium.
Whitecaps GK coach Stewart Kerr was Orlando City’s goalkeeper coach in 2016.
Off the Schneid
Orlando City ended its 4-game losing streak across all competitions with a 3-0 win over Miami United FC (NPSL) on Wednesday. M Sacha Kljestan had the first 3-assist game by a Lion since M Kaká on Sept. 25, 2015, at Red Bull Arena. F Stéfano Pinho scored his 2nd goal of 2018 and M Dillon Powers and D PC scored their first goals as Lions. GK Earl Edwards, Jr. was called upon for just 1 save for his 2nd career Open Cup clean sheet.
The Lions will face D.C. United in the Round of 16 on June 20 at 7 p.m. ET at Maryland SoccerPlex.
