ORLANDO, Fla. (October 5, 2017) - Orlando City B (10-8-12, 42 points) can clinch a spot in the 2017 USL Cup Playoffs when it hosts New York Red Bulls II (12-12-5, 41 points) on Saturday, Oct. 7 in its second to last regular season match at Orlando City Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
The match will be streamed online at www.OrlandoCitySC.com/LIVE.
“It’s good that it’s in our own hands, but there’s still an awful long way to go,” OCB head coach Anthony Pulis said. “I don’t mean to be cliché but an awful lot can happen in two games. We know that Red Bulls are a very good team. They have the same fundamentals and principles as their First Team. We know it’s going to be a difficult game.”
Orlando City B is coming off a 1-0 victory against the Richmond Kickers in their last road match of the regular season. Hadji Barry scored the game-winning goal in the 80th minute on an assist from Michael Cox, who entered the game just three minutes earlier.
Barry leads OCB with nine goals in 16 appearances, while Pierre Da Silva leads the team with seven assists. Goalkeeper Jake Fenlason earned his second clean sheet since taking over the starting job in August.
This is the final time OCB will meet with New York Red Bulls II this regular season following New York’s 3-1 win on April 14. The Lions were eliminated in the first round of the 2016 USL Cup Playoffs by the eventual champion Red Bulls II.
New York Red Bulls II are coming off a 3-2 loss against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Wednesday. Stefano Bonomo started the scoring in the 16th minute for New York, but Joe Cole equalized two minutes later and Marcel Schäfer scored a game-winning brace at the stroke of halftime. Junior Flemming brought New York within one in the 54th minute.
Flemmings and Brandon Allen lead Red Bulls II with nine goals apiece and Vincent Bezecourt leads the team with 10 assists.
OCB enters its penultimate match of the regular season in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of eighth-place NYRBII. A win would put OCB four points up on New York with one match to play and clinch OCB's second consecutive playoff berth.
The Lions will close out their regular season against the I-4 Derby rival Tampa Bay Rowdies on Thursday, Oct. 12. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Orlando City Stadium.
