ORLANDO, Fla. (May 27, 2016) – In its third match in nine days, Orlando City SC (3-3-6, 15 points) visits New York City FC (4-4-5, 17 points) on Sunday, May 29, at Yankee Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. E.T.
The match will be nationally televised on ESPN, as well as transmitted on Real Radio 104.1 FM in English and on La Grande 1030 AM in Spanish.
“They’re coming on the back of a really heavy defeat and I know how much that will affect the manager because I know what it was like as a player and it will have hurt the players,” Lions head coach Adrian Heath said. “They will be coming out firing and we’ve got to be ready from the very first whistle. They’ll be a lot, lot better and we’re going to have to be ready for them. The first goal at the weekend will be huge.”
Orlando City is coming off a thrilling 2-2 draw against the Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia Union. Philadelphia’s Tranquillo Barnetta started the scoring in the 52nd minute before Kevin Molino - who entered the game in the 67th minute - equalized in the 68th on just his second touch of the game. Cyle Larin scored three minutes later before Ken Tribbett brought the Union level.
The goal increased Larin’s team-leading total to seven, while Molino scored his fifth goal in his 11th appearance of the season. Joe Bendik climbed into second place in MLS in saves with 46 following his three-save performance Wednesday. Bendik now has 18 saves in his last three matches.
New York is coming off a 7-0 drubbing at the hands of the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, May 21. Prior to that match, NYCFC was unbeaten in five, going 3-2-0 in that stretch and climbing near the top of the Eastern Conference.
NYCFC is led by Spanish forward David Villa with eight goals, while Thomas McNamara has three goals and four assists. Josh Saunders has played every minute in goal, making 38 saves on 64 shots in 13 games.
This is the fifth encounter between the 2015 expansion clubs. The teams split last year’s series 1-1-1 before the Lions captured a 1-0 victory at Yankee Stadium on March 18. Rafael Ramos assisted Cyle Larin’s third goal of the season in the seventh minute and Joe Bendik made five saves as the Lions held on for the win.
Orlando City will be without captain Kaká, who recently was called up to Brazil’s 23-man roster for Copa America Centenario. It is the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year’s first ever Copa America call-up.
The match is also the Lions’ last MLS game before the league-wide Copa America Centenario break. Orlando City returns to action on Saturday, June 18, to host the San Jose Earthquakes at Camping World Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. E.T.
