7 - A new club record?
Orlando City’s 4-1 win against Chicago Fire FC on Saturday night was their sixth consecutive game without a loss, going back to a victory over Nashville SC on August 26. It’s the second time in the club’s MLS history they’ve gone six games without defeat, the other coming in 2018 when the Lions won six straight in the early part of the season. Orlando City will have a chance to make history if they can get a result on Wednesday night against Sporting Kansas City, as they’ve never gone seven in a row without losing in their MLS history.
12 - Mueller setting the pace
It was just another day at the office for Chris Mueller on Saturday night, as the third-year winger put up another goal and assist to run his total to 7 G/5 A on the season. Mueller is one of four players currently leading the league with 12 goal contributions, with his name alongside LAFC’s Diego Rossi, Columbus’ Gyasi Zardes, and Toronto’s Alejandro Pozuelo. Notably, Mueller has played the fewest minutes out of the four, taking the field for 100 fewer minutes than Zardes and over 200 fewer than Rossi or Pozuelo.
5 - A generous captain
Nani was extraordinary for Orlando in their victory over Chicago, making the MLS Team of the Week bench with a 1 G/1 A performance. Beyond the top-line numbers, the captain dished out five key passes, the most of any player in any Orlando City match this season. Nani’s 19 key passes lead the team, just ahead of Mueller (18) and Mauricio Pereyra (17). It’s been another terrific season for the Portuguese, who has 6 G/5 A in 13 appearances in all competitions.
42 - A marquee mid-week matchup
Orlando City currently sit in third place in both the Eastern Conference and the Supporters’ Shield standings with 22 points, their best 12-match start to a season ever. Sporting Kansas City, the Lions’ opponent on Wednesday night, are second in the West with 20 points, as Peter Vermes’ side have responded well to a disappointing 2019 that saw them miss the postseason. The combined 42 points between the two teams is the second-highest of the night behind the Columbus-Minnesota matchup, making for a major contest on national television.
368 - Returning to his roots
Sunday’s game at FC Dallas will be a special night for Orlando City head coach Oscar Pareja as he returns to his former club for the first time since departing for Club Tijuana in the fall of 2018. Pareja is arguably the most important figure in the history of FC Dallas, playing in or managing 368 games for Los Toros Tejanos in all competitions over a 20-year period. Pareja also spent several more years as an assistant coach and academy director for the club.
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