ORLANDO – May 11, 2015 – After producing an inspiring comeback performance to draw the New England Revolution 2-2 on Friday night, Orlando City SC (2-4-3, 9 points) will face D.C. United (5-1-3, 18 points) on Wednesday at RFK Memorial Stadium.
Set to kick-off at 8 p.m. ET, the match marks Orlando City's first of two games scheduled for this week, as the Lions prepare to face the LA Galaxy at home on Sunday.
"I would certainly settle for the same performance we gave them last time, because we were excellent on the day and missed probably seven or eight glorious opportunities," said head coach Adrian Heath. "So, if we can play anything remotely as good as we did a few weeks ago, I'll be delighted and then we'll take whatever comes from that. But, D.C. United are traditionally very good at home, and we don't expect anything different. We know we'll have to play well to get a result."
Orlando enters the game against United after earning a valuable point against New England – one of the league's hottest teams. The Lions conceded two goals in both halves to the Revolution but fought their way back into the fixture, scoring twice in the final 15 minutes in dramatic fashion.
Rookie Cyle Larin provided the spark for City, nodding home a strong header from Rafael Ramos' cross for his second professional goal. Then, in the final moments of the match, veteran defender Aurelién Collin also scored a header for the game's final goal, resulting in a 2-2 final score.
However, the upcoming fixture against United signifies another strong test for City. Both sides previously met at the Orlando Citrus Bowl on Friday, April 3. Despite dominating possession and chances on goal, the Lions fell 1-0 to D.C. in their first meeting of the season when second-half substitute Luis Silva scored a curling free-kick in the 91st minute.
D.C. United comes into the match sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference – tied with first place side New England Revolution on points (18). Since previously facing Orlando, D.C. has not suffered a defeat in its last five games, defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 and the Columbus Crew SC 2-0.
D.C.'s only loss of the season came in a 2-0 defeat to the New York Red Bulls in week two. So for this season, United has not lost a game at home. Chris Rolfe and Jairo Arrieta lead the team in scoring (2), as the Costa Rican scored his second goal of the season in United's 1-1 draw against Sporting KC this past weekend.
To purchase group or individual tickets, visitwww.OrlandoCitySC.com or call 855-ORL-CITY. Also, follow the latest Orlando City news and updates via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
About Orlando City Soccer Club:
One of the leading teams in Major League Soccer (MLS), and the only MLS team in Florida, Orlando City Soccer Club has developed a rich history and passionate following in its short existence since starting in the USL in 2011. The Lions’ first team set the U.S. record for best start of any professional soccer club in its first 100 USL matches (66-12-22). During that time, the Lions won three regular season titles and two postseason championships.
In MLS, the team draws an average of over 36,900 fans per home game – including 62,500 for its home opener – a record for an expansion team in its first five home games. In addition, the team is currently near the top of the league in social media followers. Orlando City has not only captured the passion of soccer fans in the City Beautiful, it continues to build its brand overseas as its matches are broadcast in 100 countries and in 30 languages.
Outside of the first squad, OCSC also has a youth club, Orlando City Youth Soccer (OCYS) and a U-23 team that participates in the PDL. Lastly, the Orlando City Foundation is active in the community year round, promoting health and wellness in children throughout the region, and raising funds for and volunteering time for various local organizations.
For more information, visitwww.OrlandoCitySC.com,www.OrlandoCityYouth.org andwww.OrlandoCitySC.com/Foundation.com.