In Between the Sticks
Goalkeeper Brian Rowe made his first start of 2020 on Wednesday at Atlanta, with Pedro Gallese currently on international duty. Rowe recorded three saves in the match to earn his first clean sheet of the season, now with eight shutouts on his resume as a Lion. Joining the Lions ahead of the 2019 season, Rowe appeared in 32 matches last season, registering 110 saves and seven clean sheets to help the Lions tie a Club-record for shutouts through the campaign.
Changing Faces, Not Results
Head Coach Oscar Pareja made four changes to his starting XI on Wednesday night, with Brian Rowe, Joey DeZart, Robinho and Benji Michel entering the fold. The start served as the first of DeZart’s professional career and the first for Rowe in 2020, while just the second for Robinho. Pareja has now utilized 21 different players in starting roles throughout the Lions current 10-game unbeaten run, with 23 total players recording an appearance.
Against the Crew
The Lions are currently riding a three-game unbeaten streak against Sunday’s opposition, including two shutout victories a year ago. City took a 2-0 win at MAPFRE Stadium on June 29, 2019, behind goals from Chris Mueller and Tesho Akindele and three saves from goalkeeper Brian Rowe to keep the clean sheet. The Lions would then turn around just two weeks later to earn a 1-0 victory over the visiting Crew at Exploria Stadium, with Benji Michel scoring his first professional goal in the 84th minute for the game-winner.
The Shield Race
Orlando City and Columbus comprise two of the four teams in the Eastern Conference currently in the mix for the Supporters’ Shield, with Crew SC currently tied for second with Philadelphia Union at 31 points. The Lions currently sit tied for third with Seattle at 30, with the Western Conference side holding a game in hand. After defeating New England on Wednesday, Toronto FC is in the driver’s seat at 34 points, with Sunday’s matchup offering the Lions a six-point swing in the race to jump the Crew and close in on the Reds.
The Fortress
In six matches at Exploria Stadium this season, the Lions hold a 4-0-2 record, with victories over Nashville SC, Inter Miami CF, Chicago Fire FC and the New York Red Bulls. In those fixtures, City holds a +8 goal-differential, scoring 13 goals while allowing only five. The Lions have yet to concede multiple times in a single match at home. Seven different members of the squad have found the back of the net at Exploria this season in Chris Mueller, Nani, Daryl Dike, Mauricio Pereyra, Benji Michel, Júnior Urso and Antonio Carlos.|
Moving Up the Ranks
Lions’ Head Coach Oscar Pareja is one win away from moving up a spot in the MLS All-Time Coaching Wins list, currently sitting in 10th on the list at 111 career victories. With a win on Sunday, Pareja would tie long-time New England Revolution boss Steve Nicol (112) and move one away from tying former D.C. United Head Coach Ben Olsen, who sits at eighth with 113. The Lions’ currently sit tied for the third-most wins in the league this season with eight on their resume.
