Orlando City B (8-7-2, 27 points) at Huntsville City FC (6-6-5, 24 points)
When: Sunday, 7 p.m.
Where: Osceola Heritage Park, Kissimmee, Fla.
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (subscription required)
Along the Pathway
Lions’ goalkeeper Javier Otero took his final step along the Club’s development pathway this past week, inking a First Team deal with Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer through the 2024 season, with Club options in 2025 and 2026. Otero has appeared 32 times for Orlando City B since the start of the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro campaign, finishing last season as the league-leader in saves with 100. The City netminder has previous been called up to the First Team via short-term agreements, but has yet to make his MLS debut.
The Golden Boot Race
Orlando City forward Jack Lynn netted his 10th goal of the campaign this past weekend in Huntsville, his second-consecutive season finding the back of the net for a double-digit number after scoring 15 a year ago. Lynn sits tied with Atlanta’s Nick Firmino and NYCFC II’s Matt Myers for the current Golden Boot lead, having found the back of the net three times in the Lions’ last two contests. Lynn scored a brace in the side’s last meeting with Atlanta United 2, with the side overcoming a two-goal deficit to preserve a point at home.
From the Back
Defender Alex Freeman got on the board once more over the weekend, scoring his fourth goal of the year to take sole possession of second on the squad behind only current MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot co-leader Jack Lynn. Of Freeman’s four goals this year, three of them have come against Huntsville City after bagging a brace in the two sides’ first meeting on March 31.
Protecting the Fortress
Orlando City B will look to maintain its form at Osceola County Stadium on Sunday night, where the side holds a 5-1-2 record through eight matches at home on the year. The side’s lone loss came in its last home contest on June 28 against the Philadelphia Union II, with the Lions looking to rebound in what will serve as their first home match in over two weeks. In Kissimmee in 2023, the side holds a +6 goal-differential over their opposition.
