Winning the West
Orlando City and LAFC have faced 5 Western Conference opponents in common this season. The Lions are 3-2-0 against Minnesota, Portland, San Jose, Real Salt Lake and Vancouver, whereas LAFC is 4-1-0 against those teams.
The Lions are currently 4-2-0 against Western Conference opponents in 2018 with wins over Portland, San Jose, Colorado and Real Salt Lake. The Lions’ 4 wins over the Western Conference are 1 shy of tying a Club-record 5 wins over the West in 2015.
A New Era Begins
Saturday’s match will be the 1st for HC James O’Connor at the helm for the Lions. O’Connor joined City from Louisville City FC (USL), where he went 56-21-28 in the regular season since 2015. Under O’Connor, LouCity went to three consecutive USL Eastern Conference Finals before winning the USL Cup in 2017.
Beginning in 2012, O'Connor played parts of three seasons for Orlando City during the Club's USL Pro days. In 2012, O'Connor and City won the USL regular-season championship. In 2013 with O'Connor as a player/coach, City won its second USL Cup in three years. O'Connor retired from playing in June 2014 after accepting the head coaching position at Louisville City.
All-Star Selections
M Yoshi Yotún (Peru) is back from the 2018 FIFA World Cup and is available for selection for the first time since May 13. Yotún was selected to the 2018 MLS All-Star Game by Atlanta United HC Gerardo Martino.
LAFC’s F Carlos Vela and D Laurent Ciman were also selected to the 2018 MLS All-Star Team. Vela has not played for the LAFC since May 26 as at the World Cup with Mexico. Vela could potentially be available for selection on Saturday.
It’s No Purple Palace
LAFC is 4-0-3 at home since opening Banc of California Stadium on April 29 vs. Seattle. In 2017, Orlando City became the first MLS team to unveil a new stadium with 5 consecutive victories, with wins over NYCFC, Philadelphia, LA Galaxy, the New York Red Bulls and Colorado.
The Lions will look to become the first team to beat LAFC at Banc of California Stadium and if they do, they’ll match their three road MLS wins from 2017. City won 5 league road games in 2015 and 3 in 2016. City does have 2 additional road wins in the U.S. Open Cup this year.
Milestone Tracker
GK Joe Bendik is 1 save away from his 50th of the season. Bendik is the Club’s all-time MLS leader with 281 saves.
GK Joe Bendik and M Cristian Higuita are T-2nd in Club history with 84 MLS appearances each. F Cyle Larin holds the record with 87. Bendik is the Club’s leader in MLS starts with 84.
Club Connections
M Will Johnson was teammates with LAFC D Steven Beitashour at Toronto FC in 2016.
F Dom Dwyer was teammates with LAFC F Latif Blessing at Sporting KC in 2017 before coming to Orlando. Dwyer was teammates with LAFC M Benny Feilhaber from 2013 to 2017. M Uri Rosell was teammates with Dwyer and Feilhaber at Sporting KC in 2013, when Sporting won the MLS Cup.
D Amro Tarek was teammates with LAFC D Omar Gaber in camp with the Egypt national team ahead of the World Cup.
D Donny Toia was teammates with LAFC D Laurent Ciman and M Calum Mallace at Montreal Impact in 2015 and 2016.
LAFC M Mark-Anthony Kaye played for HC James O’Connor at Louisville City FC (USL) in 2016 and 2017.
M Sacha Kljestan was teammates with LAFC M Lee Nguyen with the USMNT in 2007.
