19 - We meet again
Orlando City takes on New York City FC for the 19th time in all competitions this Saturday at Exploria Stadium (6 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN Deportes) in a match presented by JetBlue. The Lions have faced the Bronx side more than any other team since the two joined MLS together in 2015. The teams have battled 16 times in the MLS regular season, once in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and once in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. Orlando has taken six wins to five for NYCFC with seven draws, two of which turned into Orlando victories in penalty kicks.
203 - The Ecuadorian regista
Sebas Méndez has taken a big step forward in 2021, locking down the holding midfield role in Oscar Pareja’s system through three games. Méndez leads MLS with 203 completed passes, hitting them at a 92.7% clip on the season. It’s not just short stuff, either – Méndez ranks in the top 10 in the league among non-goalkeepers in long passes completed as well.
35 - Chances coming
Orlando City broke through offensively against FC Cincinnati, scoring three times to comfortably put away the visitors from Ohio. The Lions have been creating chances since the start of the season, though, ranking sixth in MLS with 35 chances created through three matches. Nani leads the team and ranks in the league’s top 10 with eight chances created. This weekend’s opponent, NYCFC, sits second in MLS at 41.
7 in 5 - Taty on a tear
NYCFC striker Valentín “Taty” Castellanos has been on fire to start the 2021 season, scoring in each of his side’s first three games. Going back to the final two games of 2020, Castellanos has scored seven goals in his last five regular-season appearances. It marked an emergence from a cold streak for the forward, who had just two goals in 2020 before ending the season with a bang.
1.5 - FAIRWINDS Credit Union
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