Assist King's Purple Reign
M Sacha Kljestan was acquired, along with $150,000 TAM, from RBNY on Jan. 3 in exchange for F Carlos Rivas and D Tommy Redding. Kljestan registered 51 regular season assists in 3 years in New Jersey and led the league with 20 assists in 2016 and 17 in 2017. Kljestan started and played 90 minutes last week at Yankee Stadium and wore the captain’s armband following D Jonathan Spector’s halftime substitution.
Kljestan led New York to the 2015 Supporters’ Shield and enjoyed tremendous chemistry with F Bradley Wright-Phillips during his 3 years in New York. Kljestan and BWP combined for 27 goals, including 1 in the 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Rivas is City’s 2nd all-time leader with 13 MLS assists (Kaká, 22) and is 4th all-time with 8 MLS goals as a Lion. Redding was City’s first Homegrown signing on March 11, 2014.
He Scores When He Wants
F Dom Dwyer is fit and available for selection for the first time in 2018. The Designated Player was acquired from Sporting KC on July 25, 2017, in exchange for a then-record $1.6 million in GAM and TAM. Dwyer earned his first MLS assist as a Lion on Sept. 9 at D.C. United and went on to score or assist on 8 of City’s last 12 goals in 2017. Dwyer was re-signed to a 3-year contract on Jan. 3.
Friendly Interactions
D Aurélien Collin will make his second visit to Orlando City Stadium after playing 90 minutes in RBNY’s 1-0 loss on April 9, 2017. Collin was on City’s inaugural roster and scored 2 goals and 1 assists in 30 MLS matches before being traded to New York in exchange for a conditional 4th-round pick in the 2017 SuperDraft on April 29, 2016.
Jersey Boy
Lions GK coach Tim Mulqueen was the goalkeeper coach for the New York/New Jersey MetroStars from 1996 to 1999. Mulqueen coached GK Tim Howard at New York in 1998 and ‘99. Mulqueen went to high school roughly 45 minutes from Red Bull Arena at St. Joseph High in Metuchen, N.J.
Keeper Connection
GK Adam Grinwis was teammates with New York GK Evan Louro at the University of Michigan in 2014 - Grinwis’ 5th-year senior season and Louro’s freshman year. Additionally, Red Bulls GK Ryan Meara played for HC Jason Kreis and with D RJ Allen at New York City FC in 2015. Meara made 6 saves in a 1-0 loss at Chicago on April 24, 2015.
Purple For Everyone
M Sacha Kljestan and his wife, Jamie Lee Darley, bought out a showing of Love, Simon and donated half the tickets to the Zebra Coalition, a local housing and support service for homeless LGBTQ+ youth. Kljestan is good friends with Robbie Rogers - who was the first openly gay athlete to play in any of the five major North American leagues and is married to Love, Simon director Greg Berlanti.
Kljestan had this to say about living in Orlando: “Yeah. Orlando has been very accepting. With everything that’s gone on in our community and the support that everyone has for the gay and lesbian communities has been great. It’s a great place that my wife and I are happy that our kids are here to see that as well. We want them raised in a place like that. Orlando has been great and very welcoming to my family since I got here.”
Career vs. RBNY
In their careers against the New York Red Bulls...
F Dom Dwyer has 5 goals and 1 assist in 7 regular season games
M Sacha Kljestan has 2 goals and 3 assists in 9 regular season games F Justin Meram has 2 goals and 2 assists in 12 regular season games D RJ Allen has 3 assists in 7 regular season games
Milestone Tracker
GK Joe Bendik’s next win will be his 20th as a Lion. F Dom Dwyer is 3 goals away from reaching 100 as a professional (including U.S. MNT, MLS, USL Pro and MLS Reserves). M Cristian Higuita’s next appearance will tie him with M Kaká for 3rd all-time with 75 MLS appearances for City. M Will Johnson’s next goal will be his 30th MLS regular season goal (32nd including playoffs).
