Leagues Cup: Orlando City vs Cruz Azul
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m
Where: Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, FL
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: Real Radio 104.1 FM, (English)
Here are five storylines to watch on Friday as the Lions host Mexican side Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup Round of 32:
A Record Day, Again, Again
Orlando City once again had a record day in its 1-1 draw against Atlético San Luis on Sunday night as Argentine forward Ramiro Enrique scored his sixth goal in as many consecutive contests in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time. With that goal, Enrique officially set the Club record for most consecutive matches with a goal across all competitions, passing former Lions forward Daryl Dike. In addition to Enrique’s record, Orlando City extended its own record in penalty-kick shootouts, remaining undefeated with a 5-4 result on Sunday night. The Lions are now 9-0 in penalty kick shootouts in their MLS era and 6-0 under Head Coach Oscar Pareja.
Summer of Facu, Leagues Cup Edition
The Summer of Facu showed out yet again in the Lions’ 1-1 draw against Atlético San Luis last time out for City, with forward Facundo Torres providing the assist on Ramiro Enrique’s record-setting strike. Torres holds seven goals and six assists tallied since June 19, contributing to nearly half (13/27) of the Club’s overall goal tally in that span. The Uruguayan winger has multiple goal contributions in half of his last 10 contests and pushed his 2024 tally to 20 goal contributions on the year across all competitions.
First Meetings
Orlando City’s first opponent in the Leagues Cup 2024 Knockout Rounds is one that the Lions have never faced in official competition prior to Friday’s meeting. The Lions will host Cruz Azul from Liga MX for the first time in history, also marking the first time that Orlando City has played an official match against a team from Mexico that isn’t Tigres UANL, Santos Laguna or Atlético San Luis. Cruz Azul has one of the most expensive rosters in North American soccer, spending more than $20 million this offseason to reinforce their roster.
Cemented In History
Cruz Azul was founded in 1927 as the official sporting arm of Mexico City-based cement company Cemento Cruz Azul. The Club played amateur soccer for more than three decades before transitioning to professional status in the late 1950s. They were promoted to the Mexican first division in 1964 and have remained in the topflight ever since. Nicknamed La Máquina or The Machine, Cruz Azul is one of the most successful clubs in Mexican soccer history, winning eight Liga MX titles, six Concacaf Champions Cup titles and a North American treble in 1997.
Full of Possibilities
If the Lions are able to take the result against La Máquina on Friday night, the Club will host the winner of fellow MLS club D.C. United and Liga MX Mazatlán F.C. Past that Orlando could match up against FC Cincinnati, New York City FC, Santos Laguna, CF Montréal and the Philadelphia Union, with FC Cincinnati serving as the only potential matchup in the Quarterfinals that would see the Lions head out on the road for the contest.
Milestone Tracker:
- Duncan McGuire is one goal away from tying Dom Dwyer (24) for fifth on Orlando City’s all-time scoring list and two goals away from tying Kaká (25) for fourth
- Facundo Torres (24) is one assist away from passing Chris Mueller (24) for third on the Club’s all-time assist chart.
- Torres also sits just five goals away from the all-time Club record set by Cyle Larin (44) across all competitions
