Orlando City News Release -- www.orlandocitysoccer.com
Thursday, April 21, 2011
ORLANDO, Fla. - Orlando City makes Orlando soccer history again this Friday when Puerto Rico United, the first professional soccer team from Puerto Rico to come to Orlando for a regular season match, comes to town this Friday. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Citrus Bowl.
City comes into the match with a two-game winning streak, and combined with preseason results remains undefeated at the Citrus Bowl. A win against Puerto Rico United would keep City in third place overall in the USL PRO standings.
Puerto Rico United is unlike the teams City has played so far. United's playing style is something the Lions have yet to encounter this season. Rather than a physical match, the Lions are preparing for a more finesse and technical game.
“By all accounts they are a very technical side,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath. “They keep possession of the ball well and play a very South American style game. They like to try and work the ball through the field. We’ll have to be patient.”
As focused as Heath is on his opponent, he is just as focused on making sure his Lions continue to come together as a squad. Having key players return to full match fitness is part of that process.
“I gradually feel as though the group is getting better, getting a better understanding of each other,” said Heath. “Half the team is new and hasn’t played together. Five of the starters are new to the system. With the improvement I’m seeing, I’m confident we can push on and get another result on Friday.”
One thing that won’t change is how City plays the game. Their style, particularly on offense, will not be dictated by Puerto Rico United’s possession game.
“There are two sides to the game,” said Heath. “Offensively, the opposition will have to accommodate us. Defensively, there are certain things you can do with teams that like to keep possession – pressuring higher up the field, trying to win the ball back in our attacking third – and that’s what we’ll look to do tomorrow night; play a high-tempo, aggressive game.
Although he led the team in assists in preseason, and is the assists leader for the club in USL PRO as well, the one thing Devorn Jorsling has not done in three matches is score. The Lions are looking to get Jorsling more involved in the offense this match.
“We haven’t been able to get [Devorn] enough chances in and around the box,” said Heath. “I’m hoping to get him the ball in and around the penalty area a bit more on Friday.”
Orlando City projected starting line-up (unofficial):
GK – Miguel Gallardo
RB – Mechack Jerome, CB – Demar Stewart, CB – Rob Valentino, LB – Jack Traynor
RM – Jamie Watson, CM – Yordany Alvarez, CM – Lawrence Olum, LM – Lewis Neal
FW – Maxwell Griffin, FW – Devorn Jorsling
Available subs:
Sean Kelley, Ian Fuller, Luke Boden, Kieron Bernard, Erik Ustruck, Kevin Molino, Dennis Chin, Wes Allen