Orlando City (1-0-2, 5 pts), fresh off a comprehensive 3-0 victory over FC Cincinnati last weekend, will look to keep the good vibes going against New York City FC (2-1-0, 6 pts) at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday night at Exploria Stadium. Tickets for the Club’s three home matches in May are sold out due to demand from Season Ticket Members and Partial Plan holders and no individual game tickets will be available, but the match against NYCFC, presented by JetBlue, will be televised nationally on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, with local radio coverage on Real Radio 104.1 FM in English and Acción 97.9 FM and 810 AM in Spanish.
Here’s everything you need to know about NYCFC:
Key Transactions and Player News
Key Additions - LB Malte Amundsen (Vejle BK), LB Chris Gloster (Jong PSV), DM Alfredo Morales (Fortuna Düsseldorf), LW Thiago Andrade (Bahia)
Key Departures - CM Alex Ring (Austin FC), LB Rónald Matarrita (FC Cincinnati), RB Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach), W Gary Mackay-Steven (Hearts)
Player News - Center forward Valentín “Taty” Castellanos has been on fire to start the season, scoring in all three of NYCFC’s matches. Going back to last season, Castellanos has scored seven goals in his last five MLS regular-season matches. The striker has been the subject of reported interest from Brazilian clubs, including reigning Copa Libertadores champions Palmeiras, but NYCFC Head Coach Ronny Deila stated last week that the club does not intend to sell Castellanos.
Take a look at New York City’s full roster here.
Team Form
After an opening-weekend defeat away to D.C. United, NYCFC have been flying, posting a 5-0 win over Cincinnati before going to Philadelphia and knocking off the 2020 Supporters’ Shield winners 2-0. New York City took an early lead when Jesús Medina struck in the fifth minute and picked up an extra boost from a red card to Union midfielder Jose “El Brujo” Martínez in the 16th minute. Castellanos would add the insurance goal midway through the second half.
Head-to-Head
Orlando City has faced NYCFC more than any other club in franchise history, battling the Bronx side 18 times in all competitions over the past six years. The Lions are 6-5-7 all-time against NYCFC, with two of those draws turning into famous penalty-kick shootout victories – the Running of the Wall in the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal,
Rasmussen University Fact
Chris Mueller has scored five goals in nine career appearances against NYCFC across all competitions. Mueller put three past NYCFC in 2020, including a brace inside 10 minutes in an MLS is Back Tournament group stage match on July 14.
