ORLANDO, Fla. (March 16, 2017) – Two weeks after its Opening Day victory Orlando City SC (1-0-0, 3 points) returns home to face the Philadelphia Union (0-0-2, 2 points) on Saturday, March 18. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Orlando City Stadium.
The match will locally televised on WRDQ TV 27, and will be transmitted on Real Radio 104.1 FM in English and on La Nueva 990 AM in Spanish.
”[Philadelphia] is a team that’s added some really interesting new players, really good new players. It’s a team that made the playoffs last year so we know it’s a quality side,” Lions head coach Jason Kreis said. “And it’s a team that’s always had a tremendous amount of fight and spirit. We expect it’s going to be another really big challenge for us this weekend.”
Orlando City hosts Philadelphia after opening its new stadium with a 1-0 win against New York City FC on March 5. Cyle Larin scored the first goal in Orlando City Stadium history in the 15th minute when he headed Giles Barnes’ lofting cross - his first touch as a Lion - into the back of the net. Goalkeeper Joe Bendik preserved the clean sheet with seven saves, with his stop on Jack Harrison in the 53rd minute garnering Save of the Week honors.
Bendik’s excellence was helped by the outstanding play of his back line. In their Orlando City debuts, Donny Toia, Jonathan Spector and Will Johnson played alongside center back José Aja to keep NYC off the board with solid chemistry and heroic blocks.
Saturday marks the sixth all-time meeting between the two teams. Most recently, the Lions took three points from PPL Park on Oct. 16, 2016 riding goals from Carlos Rivas and Júlio Baptista. The teams split last year’s season series 1-1-1.
The Union are coming off their second draw of the season last week in Philadelphia. Jay Simpson’s header in the 11th minute gave Philadelphia an early lead over Toronto but Jozy Altidore equalized at the stroke of halftime and Justin Morrow scored in the 71st. Two minutes later, C.J. Sapong tied the match to secure a point.
Orlando City returns to action following an eight-day hiatus for a FIFA International window when it visits Columbus Crew SC on Saturday, April 1, at 4 p.m. ET. The Lions’ next home match is against the New York Red Bulls on April 9.
