Lions to feature in front of a full-capacity crowd at Exploria Stadium
ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando City SC (4-1-3, 15 points) returns to Exploria Stadium on Tuesday, June 22 to host the San Jose Earthquakes (3-5-1, 10 points) in front of a full-capacity crowd for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Tuesday’s match will serve as the Club’s Pride in Our City match, presented by the National Pulse Memorial & Museum , formerly known as the onePulse Foundation. To celebrate Pride month, the Lions will wear rainbow numbers on the back of their Thick n Thin kits along with a specialty jersey patch located in the center of the chest. The side will also sport adidas’ “Love Unites” rainbow tops for warm-ups with the items set to be auctioned off after the match.
The fixture will be nationally broadcast on UniMás and TUDN with English commentary available on Twitter, while being transmitted on 96.9 The Game in English and Acción 97.9FM, 810AM in Spanish.
“It’s a quick turnaround for the boys and we already visualized that. The result [on Saturday] was fantastic for us, but we need to turn the page quickly and prepare for San Jose, be present in the game like we always demand of the players,” Head Coach Oscar Pareja said. “Certainly it’s going to be a difficult rival, but we are incorporating more players now. We’re good, we’re optimistic. It’s important to turn our thoughts and set ourselves up for Tuesday’s game.”
The Lions come into Tuesday’s fixture after battling to a 3-2 victory over Toronto FC this past Saturday. Both sides found the back of the net twice before the halftime break, with Tesho Akindele and Nani accounting for the Lions’ pair of finishes before Júnior Urso decided the contest in the 84th minute of play.
Nani leads the Lions with four goals on the year followed by Akindele with three. Akindele sits tied for the team-high in assists with Chris Mueller, both with three to their credit.
San Jose comes to The City Beautiful following a scoreless draw to open Q2 Stadium at Austin FC this past Saturday night. Earthquakes goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski tallied six saves in the match for his first clean sheet of the year.
Four members of the San Jose roster sit tied for the team lead in goals scored with two finishes apiece this season, while Cade Cowell holds the team high in assists with three.
Following Tuesday’s contest, the Lions face yet another quick turnaround, traveling down south to face intrastate foes Inter Miami CF at DRV PNK Stadium on Friday, June 25 in an 8 p.m. ET kickoff.
