8 – Opening round wins
Orlando City got off to a promising start in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup last week, defeating Memphis 901 FC 3-1 in Tennessee. Going back to their time in USL, Orlando City have won their opening round game in 8 out of 9 U.S. Open Cups. The Lions have never lost an away game to start an Open Cup.
4 – PK attempts
Orlando City have had a penalty kick attempt in each of their last four games, marking the longest streak in club history. Nani took the first three, officially converting just one, though he slotted home a rebound against Cincinnati. Sacha Kljestan scored against Memphis in Nani’s absence. The Lions’ previous high was three games in a row from May 17-30, 2015.
5 – International absent
Orlando City are well-represented at this summer’s international tournaments. Five Lions are participating in the CONCACAF Gold Cup—Canada’s Will Johnson and Kamal Miller, Honduras’ Danilo Acosta, and Trinidad & Tobago’s Greg Ranjitsingh. Orlando also have star midfielder Sebas Mendez at Copa America for Ecuador. None of these players will be available for the Open Cup clash against New England.
1-1 – Against Bruce Arena
Orlando City have faced Bruce Arena twice in their history, once in each of his last two years with the Los Angeles Galaxy. The Lions gave Arena a particularly rude welcome to Orlando in 2015, destroying the Galaxy 4-0 behind goals from Eric Avila, Cyle Larin, Kaka, and Darwin Ceren. Orlando would fall to Arena’s Galaxy in Los Angeles in 2016.
1-0 – Arena at Exploria
Interestingly, Arena has coached at Exploria Stadium once before, but not in MLS. He led the USMNT into its penultimate 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Panama in Orlando in October 2017. The Americans ran away with a comfortable 4-0 victory in front of a raucous Orlando crowd in what would ultimately be Arena’s final USMNT win—the team failed to qualify after losing in shocking fashion against Trinidad & Tobago four days later.
5 – Dollar Beers
FIVE DOLLAR BEERS!
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