USL News Release
Saturday, August 27, 2011
TAMPA, Fla. – Orlando City will face the Harrisburg City Islanders for the USL PRO Championship after both sides advanced from their respective division finals this weekend. The Lions will host the contest at the Florida Citrus Bowl on Saturday night, with the game set to be aired by FOX Soccer at 7 p.m. EDT.
The City Islanders were the first side to book their place in the championship game with a 2-1 victory against the Rochester Rhinos in the National Division Final on Friday night at Sahlen’s Stadium. In a hard-fought affair, first-half goals by Stephen Basso and David Schofield were enough for Harrisburg to advance to its first USL championship game since 2007, their only prior trip to a title game.
The City Islanders won that contest in a penalty shootout, 8-7 against the Richmond Kickers after the two teams had played to a 1-1 draw through regulation and overtime.
The Lions reached the championship game with a 3-0 victory against the Kickers in the American Division Final on Saturday night in front of an electric crwod of 8,403 at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Luke Boden and Jerome Mecheck each scored in the first half for Orlando, which will be making its first appearance in a USL championship game.
The Lions, in their first season in Orlando, won the USL PRO regular season title by six points, and took a pair of victories against the City Islanders this season. The second of those came late in the USL PRO regular season, when Jamie Watson recorded a hat trick in a 4-0 victory. The Lions have only lost once this season at the Florida Citrus Bowl, going 9-1-4 this season.
The USL PRO Championship Game will be aired live by FOX Soccer, with Kenn Tomasch providing play-by-play and expert analysis coming from Keith Tabatznik. Jason Arnold will provide insight and news from the sideline.
USL PRO CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Saturday, September 3
Orlando City vs. Harrisburg City Islanders, 7 p.m., Florida Citrus Bowl