5-0 - Penalty prowess
Orlando City won their second penalty shootout of 2020 last weekend, albeit in more dramatic fashion than usual, when they downed NYCFC 6-5 to move on to the Eastern Conference semifinals. Since entering MLS in 2015, Orlando City have never lost a penalty shootout, winning five out of five. The first three–against Charleston Battery in 2015, DC United in 2018, and the famous “Running of the Wall” against NYCFC in 2019–all occurred in the U.S. Open Cup, while the fourth was against LAFC in the quarterfinals of the MLS is Back Tournament.
0 - New England wins in Orlando
Orlando City have faced the New England Revolution seven times in Central Florida in all competitions. In that span, the Revs have never beaten the Lions, a fact mentioned by New England goalkeeper Matt Turner in an interview with MLSsoccer.com’s Extratime podcast. Orlando has three wins and four draws against the Revs at home, including a record-breaking 6-1 win in 2017 and a 2-1 extra time victory in the 2019 U.S. Open Cup, the only previous knockout game ever between the two sides.
34 - Experience in this Arena
New England Revolution head coach Bruce Arena has won five MLS Cups, more than any other manager in league history. In total, Arena has 34 career playoff wins, also a league record. Sigi Schmid, the man for whom the league’s Coach of the Year award is named, is second with 26, while LAFC head coach Bob Bradley and former Houston Dynamo and San Jose Earthquakes manager Dominic Kinnear tied way back in third at 15.
2 - Sets of college teammates
In an astonishing coincidence, not one, but two sets of college teammates could not only be on the field on Sunday, but could go directly against one another. Former Virginia Cavaliers Daryl Dike and Henry Kessler should match up in front of New England’s goal, where 2019 ACC Tournament MVP Kessler will look to slow down the red-hot Dike, who scored eight goals in his rookie season to finish third in the AT&T Young Player of the Year voting. On Orlando’s left flank, former Syracuse defender Kamal Miller could face up against ex-teammate Tajon Buchanan, who has filled in at right back for the Revs over the past few games.
1.5 - FAIRWINDS Credit Union
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