A Record for El Pulpo
With the clean sheet on Saturday in Chicago, goalkeeper Pedro Gallese matched the Club-record for shutouts with his 13th in all competitions as a Lion. With his next clean sheet, Gallese will pass former City goalkeeper Joe Bendik for the franchise-record after having tied the record in 49 starts, compared to the 91 starts of Bendik’s Orlando City career.
Last Time at Exploria
FC Cincinnati last visited downtown Orlando in regular-season action on May 1, 2021, taking a 3-0 shutout victory over the visitors. Tesho Akindele scored the fastest goal in Club-history in the match, finding the back of the net just 31 seconds into play, with Júnior Urso and former Lions’ captain Nani accounting for the side’s other two finishes on the day.
Against the Orange & Blue
Through five matches against Saturday’s opposition, the Lions hold a 3-0-2 record, including a pair of victories at Exploria Stadium. In two home matches against the 2019 expansion side, City holds a +7 goal differential, taking a 5-1 win in the inaugural matchup between the two sides before last year’s 3-0 win in The City Beautiful.
The Bear
Júnior Urso looked to have found the back of the net for the first time this campaign on Saturday in Chicago before his long-range finish was ultimately called back following a handball decision on video review. In three matches against Cincinnati in his MLS career, Urso has found the back of the net twice, including netting the game-winner in the two sides’ last matchup on Oct. 16 of last year at TQL Stadium.
Milestone Tracker
- Mauricio Pereyra is two assists away from tying Nani for the all-time club record in assists in all competitions.
- Orlando City all-time assist leaders:
- Nani, 26
- Mauricio Pereyra, 24
- Chris Mueller, 24
- Kaká, 22
- Tesho Akindele is two goals away from 20 in his Orlando City career. Benji Michel is three goals away from 20.
- Kyle Smith’s next appearance will serve as his 75th for the Club.
- Andrés Perea’s next start will be his 30th as a Lion.
