Orlando City will play host to Western Conference opponents Sporting Kansas City this Sunday. This match will be filled with so many compelling storylines. First of all – Dom Dwyer. The former Orlando City star returns to the Citrus Bowl to face his former team. Also, Sporting midfielder Amobi Okugo returns to face the Lions for the first time in this pivotal match-up.
Sunday will also be interesting for Shirley and David Zusi, Orlando City season ticket holders that also happen to be the parents of SKC and US Men’s National Team star Graham Zusi. Zusi was born and raised in Longwood, Florida, and played high school soccer locally at Lake Brantley High School.
Also facing former teammates will be Orlando City midfielder Servando Carrasco, who joined the Lions mid-season, and Orlando City center back Aurelien Collin. Orlando City traded for Collin in December of last year and he has been an integral part of Orlando City’s lineup during the inaugural season.
Collin was thrilled as he prepared to face his former team, “[I feel] great! I’m very happy, and it’s always special playing against my former team. It was an amazing moment in Kansas City, so it’s always going to be special when I play against them.”
During his time in Kansas City, Collin was a workhorse for the men in blue. Throughout four seasons, Collin featured in 107 matches and scored 11 goals. In 2011, the French defender won the MLS Cup MVP honor after SKC defeated Real Salt Lake in penalties to win the MLS Cup. He also made the MLS All-Star roster for three straight seasons.
While excited to face his former team, one thing is for certain – Collin has not lost focus. “I want to win,” he asserted. “We have to focus from the first minute to the last.”
During this weekend’s match, Collin will face the arduous task of stopping former Lion star Dwyer, a challenge for which he is probably most excited. “We all know Dom. He is a very physical player, and I really like that kind of striker…He likes playing in front, he fights, and he is very hard to defend against.”
However, Collin does have a plan of his own in stopping Dwyer. “Play the same style of play as him,” smirked the central defender. “It is my style, very physical. That’s why I love it…That’s why I can’t wait.”
With all the history between the two teams, it will certainly be a very exciting and electrifying matchup in the Orlando Citrus Bowl this weekend.
