Coming off a 3-0 victory against Ottawa Fury FC, Orlando City B (7-6-10, 31 points) will travel to face the Charlotte Independence (12-4-7, 43 points) on Saturday, Aug. 19, at the Sportsplex at Matthews. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET.
The match will be streamed online at www.OrlandoCitySC.com/LIVE.
“With this team, it’s a process. It takes time, it’s not going to fall into place straight away and we knew that at the beginning of the year,” OCB Head Coach Anthony Pulis said. “We’ve seen good performances but we’ve achieved nothing. It’s important that we carry the same mentality into the final nine games of the season.”
Orlando City B tied its own Club record nine-game unbeaten streak with Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Ottawa Fury FC. Seb Hines’ header opened the scoring in the 34th minute for his first goal of the season before Hadji Barry’s highlight reel brace with goals in the 60th and 71st minutes. Earl Edwards, Jr. made a season-high nine saves to earn his ninth clean sheet and fourth in five games.
OCB has posted six clean sheets over the unbeaten run and has allowed just four goals in that span. After scoring four goals in his last three games, Barry leads the Lions with seven goals. Pierre Da Silva leads the team with seven assists and Edwards’ nine clean sheets are the most in the USL.
In its last match, the Independence defeated Bethlehem Steel FC 1-0. Enzo Martinez scored the game-winning goal in the 33rd minute. The forward leads the team with 13 goals, which is fourth in the league. Goalkeeper Cody Mizell is tied for third in the league with 68 saves.
This will mark the third and last meeting of the season between both teams. Rookie Albert Dikwa scored his first professional goal to draw Charlotte on April 8. Dikwa scored again on May 27 in a 3-1 loss to the Independence.
The Lions jumped into playoff picture with Wednesday night’s win and are tied for seventh place with FC Cincinnati at 31 points. The team is three points ahead of defending champion New York Red Bulls II in ninth. Charlotte is first in the Eastern Conference and second in the USL with 43 points.
OCB finishes the road trip in Kentucky against Louisville City FC on Saturday, Aug. 26 at Louisville Slugger Field. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The Lions then return to Orlando City Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 31 to host Bethlehem Steel FC at 7:30 p.m. ET.
