Lions look for back-to-back victories with trip to the Big Apple
ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando City SC (7-3-4, 25 points) heads out on the road to take on New York City FC (6-5-2, 20 points) on Sunday, July 25, at Yankee Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. ET with coverage set to begin on FOX35 PLUS at 5:30 p.m. ET.
The match, presented by Walt Disney World, in addition to being locally broadcast on FOX35 PLUS, will be available to stream live on LionNation TV while being transmitted on 96.9 The Game in English and Acción 97.9FM, 810AM in Spanish.
“It’s another important match for us against a team that we have had good derbys with in the last year and a half. Obviously, just as Philadelphia, they have a very defined model of their game that we know,” Head Coach Oscar Pareja said. “Surely they know us too, so it will be important that we can concentrate again with the same energy, the same desire and execute the game plan that we have. [It’s important] to be optimistic to bring home three points that will help us to keep escalating in the standings and keep aiming for the first objective which is qualifying for the playoffs.”
Sunday’s fixture will serve as the second between the 2015 expansion rivals this season, the first of which came on May 8 at Exploria Stadium, a match that resulted in a 1-1 draw. Nani scored the lone goal for City in that fixture.
The Lions enter the match looking to make it back-to-back victories after defeating Philadelphia Union by a score of 2-1 on Thursday night at Exploria Stadium. The home side found the back of the net on both sides of the half, with Benji Michel scoring in the 10th minute followed by Andrés Perea in the 59th for the eventual game-winner.
Nani leads the Club with seven goals on the year, while Mauricio Pereyra holds the team-high in assists after tallying two on Thursday night, good for his fifth and sixth helpers of the year. Pereyra will be unavailable for Sunday’s match at Yankee Stadium. The midfielder will serve a one-match suspension for yellow card accumulation.
The Pigeons come into the match after taking a 1-0 shutout victory over CF Montréal at the midweek. Ismael Tajouri-Shradi scored the lone goal in the fixture, finding the back of the net in the 29th minute of play.
Jesús Medina leads NYCFC with six goals this season, followed by Tajouri-Shradi with five. Anton Tinnerholm holds the team high in assists with four to his credit in 2021.
Following Sunday’s match, the Lions will return home to take on Atlanta United FC on Friday, July 30 at Exploria Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. ET with tickets available here or by calling (855) ORL-CITY.
