Orlando City B (4-5-7, 23 points) at New York Red Bulls II (7-7-3, 26 points)
When: Sunday, July 21, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: MSU Soccer Park, Montclair, NJ
TV: MLSNEXTPro.com
Florida Derby Thriller
The MLS NEXT Pro edition of the Florida Derby between intrastate foes Orlando City B and Inter Miami CF II had not been previously kind to the Lions this season. Entering last Sunday’s third and final leg of the matchup, Miami held a 2-0-0 advantage and outscored Orlando 5-1 on aggregate. The young Lions turned things around in the last match of their five-game homestand with a 1-1 draw, stealing an extra point by winning the end-of-regulation shootout 2-0. After falling behind 1-0 late in the match, second-half substitute Wilfredo Rivera scored his fifth goal of the season in the 80th minute to push the game to the shootout. Goalkeeper Carlos Mercado would make two massive saves for the Lions to seal the extra point and give OCB a much-needed result in the rivalry.
New York State of Mind
For just the second time in team history, Orlando City B will travel to MSU Soccer Park to take on New York Red Bulls II. The Lions lost the only other match last season 2-1 in August with former OCB forward Moises Tablante as the lone goal scorer for the Lions. Sunday’s match will also be the second match of the 2024 season between Orlando and New York Red Bulls. The Lions pulled out a 3-1 win after a three-goal first half lead by Shak Mohammed and Yutaro Tsukada.
Roaming Lions
Sunday’s match against New York Red Bulls II will be the first of a three-game road trip for the Lions. OCB will also travel to Finley Stadium for the second time this season to take on Chattanooga FC and visit Truist Point for the first time in team history to take on Carolina Core FC. The Lions are 2-2-3 on the road this season, picking up 10 points and winning one of their three end-of-regulation shootouts. Orlando had previously played its last five matches at Osceola County Stadium with a 0-1-4 record and picked up seven points.
Playoff Push
With just 11 games left of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season, the Lions are looking to end their season strong to make a push for the playoffs after making it as the fifth seed in 2023. The top eight teams in each conference make the playoffs and Orlando City B is currently sitting in 10th place with 23 points. However, the Lions sit only three points eighth place New York Red Bulls II for the final Eastern Conference spot. OCB also sits just five points behind Chattanooga FC for fourth place and an opportunity to pick its opponent in the first round of the playoffs.
