Orlando City News Release -- www.orlandocitysoccer.com
Monday, June 27, 2011
ORLANDO, Fla. – It is the best of USL PRO against the best of Major League Soccer on Tuesday night as Orlando City faces its toughest test of the season in U.S. Open Cup play. The Lions head to Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas, to face off against last season’s MLS Cup runner-up, FC Dallas. The match will determine which team advances to the final eight in the nation’s oldest and most prestigious soccer competition. The match will be broadcast on FCDallas.com.
Open Cup stakes aside, this match is also about revenge for the Lions. This preseason, Orlando City went 2-1-0 in three matches against MLS competition. The only loss came at the hands of FC Dallas in the opening round of the Disney Pro Soccer Classic. The Lions look to avenge that 1-0 loss by sending the reigning MLS Western Conference champions out of the Open Cup.
In the previous meeting, the match was very even. The Lions more than held their own against what was billed as higher level competition, showing City is the class of USL PRO. Pride is very much on the line for Orlando in this match. With all USL PRO teams facing MLS competition at this stage of the tournament, the Lions could also be the last USL PRO team standing, resulting in a $10,000 prize from U.S. Soccer.
Orlando comes into the match riding a two-game winning streak. The Lions soundly defeated American Division rival Antigua Barracuda FC twice in three days in a trip to the Caribbean nation this past weekend. Firing on all cylinders, City is fully prepared for the match. Several starters were rested for Sunday’s match, which should eliminate the fatigue caused by Orlando’s hectic travel schedule going into the match.
One key player for Orlando City in this match is midfield Jamie Watson. Watson is a Dallas native, and played for FC Dallas in 2008. Watson has a knack for coming up big in games with personal connections. In his return to Wilmington earlier this season, Watson scored two goals and earned USL PRO Team of the Week honors for his performance against his former team.
For Orlando, the key to the match will be containing Brek Shea. The speedy utility player for FC Dallas has seven goals in MLS play this season and is a constant threat in the attacking third. In Orlando’s previous encounter with Dallas, Shea set up the game’s only goal, heading a corner kick back across the net to leave Orlando’s Miguel Gallardo with no chance to stop the ensuing shot. The Lions do catch a break in that 2010 MLS MVP David Ferreira will miss the match. He is still recovering from a broken ankle suffered in early May. Ferreira was a consistent presence in the midfield, driving the Dallas attack in the Lions last encounter with the Columbian midfielder.
If Orlando City wins tomorrow’s match, two scenarios are possible. If Real Salt Lake wins their third round match against the Wilmington Hammerheads, the Lions will travel to Salt Lake City on July 12th. If Wilmington defeats Salt Lake, City will host the match at the Citrus Bowl on July 12th.
After Tuesday’s match, the Lions stay on the road for a two-game swing through the Northeast. On Friday, July 1st, Orlando travels to the Steel City for a rematch against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. The Lions defeated the Riverhounds 1-0 in their previous meeting on May 14th at the Citrus Bowl. From Pittsburgh, the Lions head to Rochester to face the Rhinos on Sunday, July 3rd.
Proposed Line-up (unofficial)
GK: Miguel Gallardo
DF: Erik Ustruck, Demar Stewart, Rob Valentino, Jack Traynor
MF: Jamie Watson, Yordany Alvarez, Lawrence Olum, Lewis Neal
FW: Kevin Molino, Max Griffin
Substitutes
Sean Kelley, Kieron Bernard, Mechack Jerome, Charlie Campbell, Justin Fojo, Luke Boden, Dennis Chin