1 - Champions Beware
Orlando City SC is 2-0-0 against defending MLS Cup champions. The Lions blasted the 2014 champion LA Galaxy, 4-0, to earn their first home MLS win in 2015. Eric Avila, Cyle Larin, Darwin CereÌn, and KakaÌ all found the back of the net. City then dominated the Portland Timbers, 4-1, in 2016, to earn its first home win of 2017. KakaÌ had a goal and two assists and goal- keeper Joe Bendik saved a penalty kick attempt.
2 - Rave Green To Purple
Lions mid elder Servando Carrasco will visit his former team Wednesday. Seattle drafted Carrasco in the second round of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft out of UC Berkeley and he went on
to make 40 appearances over three seasons with the Sounders. Carrasco scored his first MLS goal on a penalty kick in 2013 and scored his second on April 9 to lift City to a 1-0 win over the Red Bulls.
3 - Familiar Beginnings
Orlando City finished out its inaugural season with 44 points, just three fewer than Seattleâs 47 inaugural season points. The Sounders played their opening match in front of a 32,523-person crowd, while the Lionsâ debut brought in 62,358. In both expansion seasons, Orlando City and Seattle defeated the reigning MLS champion. The Sounders bested 2008 MLS Cup winner Columbus Crew, 1-0, in 2009. The Lions dominated the 2015 champion LA Galaxy, 4-0, and defeated the 2015 champion Portland Timbers, 4-1, in April 2016.
4 - Spectacular Stoppers
Stefan Frei was one of the leagueâs leading goalkeepers in the 2016 season and was named 2016 MLS Cup MVP. During the second half of extra time, Frei made an astonishing diving save
to keep out Jozy Altidoreâs header. MLSSoccer.com reporter Sam Stejskal called it âone of the best saves in MLS Cup history.â Lions goalkeeper Joe Bendik played a vital role in the Lionsâ 2016 season, playing every minute in goal and making 114 saves. Bendik won MLS Save of the Week 11 times in 2016 and won MLS Save of the Year with 74% of the vote for his back-to-back saves against Sporting Kansas City.
5 - Welcome To The Score Sheet
Jonathan Spector and MatiÌas PeÌrez GarciÌa scored their first goals for Orlando City against Montreal Impact. MPG made sure he found the net after receiving a rolling cross from KakaÌ just in front of goal. Spector used his height to rise above a sea of Impact players and head MPGâs lofty corner kick into the upper 90 for the extra time equalizer. The goals were MPGâs first since September 2015 and Spectorâs first in MLS.
6 - Crowd Pleasers
These teams are known for having two of the best fan bases in MLS. Before moving to Orlando City Stadium, the Lions regularly enjoyed crowds of 30,000-plus. In 2015 Seattle and Orlando City ranked No. 1 and 2 with average crowds of 44,247 and 32,847, respectively, and were the top two in 2016 as well. The Lionsâ inaugural MLS match in 2015 had the ninth-largest crowd in the leagueâs history with an attendance of 62,358.
The Lions have sold out Orlando City Stadium eight times in 10 MLS matches this season.
