Orlando City not slowing down
Lions to face Philadelphia Union, with focus on clinching top seed.
Orlando City earned a spot in the knockout round with a win over New York City FC last week, but the team doesn’t plan to slow down entering its final match of the MLS is Back Tournament group stage.
As the Lions prepare to face Philadelphia Union on Monday, the team is focused on finishing with another victory to clinch the top seed in Group A.
Both teams won their opening matches of the group stage over New York City FC and Inter Miami. With a one-point edge in goal differential, the Lions can take the group with a triumph over Philadelphia or a draw.
“We would love to have that top spot,” Orlando City’s Benji Michel said. “That’s
what we’re fighting for. It’s very important for us to stay dialed in and continue doing what we’re doing and stick to the process so that we can be a part of that first spot in the bracket.”
Coach Oscar Pareja said the Lions’ training sessions throughout the past week have been filled with joy, an energy he’s been trying to support as the team approaches the game.
It’s not just the two-game win streak boosting player morale. Striker Chris Mueller says it’s the way the Lions are winning. A pair of high-scoring matches punctuated by late goals have given Orlando City a feeling of confidence as it prepares to face its toughest opponent of Group A.
“It’s such a great feeling,” Mueller said. “I think it’s just a tribute to the character and the new identity that Oscar’s kind of brought to the team and what we can see and look for moving forward.”
The Union have played loose and open on the attack during their first two matches of the tournament, with their three goals coming from three different players. Anchored by captain Alejandro Bedoya, the team is fueled by a young group of players such as 19-year-old homegrown star Brenden Aaronson, who assisted the team’s highlightworthy end-to-end goal against Miami.
Philadelphia will recalibrate its strategy against Orlando City after the suspension of midfielder José Martínez following a dangerous play in the box in the 40th minute of the team’s win over Inter Miami.
Although he hasn’t made the stat sheet with an assist or goal, the young Venezuelan added another layer to the Union’s midfield. His loss will be noticeable for Philadelphia as it battles for the top seed in the group.
Pareja noted that he has gone against Philadelphia coach Jim Curtin for many seasons in MLS, both as players and as coaches. He praised the way Curtin’s team has steadily improved, building around a young core that is well-organized and aggressive in transition.
“Jim has done a great job with Philadelphia and last season was very strong for them,” Pareja said. “I saw them in the last couple of matches, and I think the most challenging things for them is the organization they have as a group. They have an energy; they’re a young group. We’ll need to face [them] with the same level of energy and with the same level of concentration.”