New York City vs Orlando City

Yankee Stadium is the venue as New York City and Orlando City go head-to-head in an exciting MLS affair.

After a run of two consecutive draws in mid-May, the hosts have blown hot and cold, racking up four wins in their subsequent eight MLS matches while losing the other four. New York City’s recent league games have been notably tight, though, with each fixture won/lost in that eight-match sequence yielding a full-time margin of a single goal. At home, the ‘Pigeons’ have put together three straight MLS triumphs following a three-game winless streak (D1, L2), beating their opposition by a narrow one-goal margin on each occasion. However, Ronny Deila’s men have failed to outscore Orlando in both previous H2H as hosts (D1, L1), falling behind within 18 minutes each time. New York’s attacking set-up usually sparks into life beyond half-time, as witnessed by the fact that 76.92% of their total MLS goals scored at home this term arrived in the second half of play (10/13).

In the meantime, Orlando eked out a tight 2-1 home triumph over Philadelphia Union last time out to hamper a three-game winless MLS streak (D1, L2). Despite their indifferent form, the visitors are very much in contention for a top place in the Eastern Conference as they take the field trailing pacesetters New England Revolution by five points. The ‘Lions’ have been a fun team to watch of late, with six of their last eight MLS matches seeing 3+ goals and both sides on the scoresheet, which has been the case in four of their previous five league trips. Even if they fall behind here, Orlando should have enough character to bounce back as they have recovered from conceding the opener three times in four such away MLS fixtures (W1, D2, L1). There’s been plenty of late action in Orlando’s league trips this term, with six of their seven such contests seeing a goal scored beyond the 75th minute.