ORLANDO, Fla. (August 30, 2017) - In its first home game in two weeks, Orlando City B (8-6-11, 35 points) hosts Bethlehem Steel FC (10-11-3, 33 points) on Thursday, Aug. 31. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Orlando City Stadium.
The match will be streamed at www.OrlandoCitySC.com/LIVE.
“It’s going to be a tough game. [Bethlehem] is a very athletic team, they’ve got power and pace. The tricky thing with Bethlehem is probably what a lot of teams play us encounter is that trying to predict their lineup is going to be difficult," OCB head coach Anthony Pulis said. “The full focus as always will be on us and making sure our level of performance is good.”
OCB is coming off a 3-0 victory at first-place Louisville City FC to extend its Club record unbeaten streak to 11 games. Michael Cox started the scoring in the 15th minute and doubled the lead in the 27th minute when he finished a through ball from Jordan Schweitzer. Timbó added to his game-winning assist with the third goal of the game and his second of the season in the 53rd minute. Goalkeeper Jake Fenlason earned his second start of the season and made eight saves to earn his first professional shutout and USL Team of the Week honors, along with Cox.
Hadji Barry leads the team with eight goals and has four in his last three appearances. Pierre Da Silva leads the Lions with seven assists. OCB has allowed three goals in its last seven matches.
Bethlehem enters the match on a three-game losing streak, most recently dropping a 3-2 match to Pittsburgh. Steel FC previously lost to Louisville City and Charlotte. Seku Conneh leads Bethlehem with seven goals in 19 appearances.
OCB enters the match in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, three points behind fifth-place Rochester and two points ahead of eighth-place Bethlehem.
This is the second meeting and final of the season between these teams. Richie Laryea scored his first two goals of the season to earn a 2-0 win at Goodman Stadium on April 23.
The Lions next host the Richmond Kickers at the Orlando City Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 7, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
