Torres poised to lead new attack in MLS opener
Orlando City may be entering the 2023 season with its most robust roster in recent memory, but it’s also entering its most grueling year.
On Saturday, the prolonged competitions begin when the New York Red Bulls visit Exploria Stadium for the opening day of the 28th Major League Soccer season.
Facundo Torres, a breakout star player from the 2022 season, has noticed a particular detail in the Lions’ attack this year — versatility with the plethora of options it gives them up top.
“It’s great that we have a younger team and that gives us a lot of energy,” Torres said in Spanish earlier this week. “But for this season, this team is a lot more vertical up top; it allows us to attack more continuously up top. In the last scrimmage that we had in the preseason, we fell a little bit short on defense and we’ve been working on shorting that up this week to start the season.”
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and will stream live on Apple TV.
Torres posted 13 goals and 10 assists in 29 appearances last season and said earlier in the week that he’s looking to improve his numbers.
“Those types of things motivate me; always bettering my statistics is always an objective,” Torres said.
This year apart from the MLS regular season, Orlando will compete in the CONCACAF Champions League as well as in the extended Leagues Cup tournament with Liga MX teams.
The Lions also will look to retain the U.S. Open Cup.
And should Orlando secure a fourth consecutive MLS playoff berth, more competition is expected with a wild-card game
added and a first-round best-of-3 series leading up to the conference finals and cup final.
Robin Jansson, who missed the final games of the regular season because of a lower-body injury, has returned to full training and participated recently in last weekend’s scrimmage against the New England Revolution.
The Swedish defender reflected on his road to recovery, which required surgery in Orlando and was followed by a detailed rehabilitation plan in Sweden.
As far as being close to 100%, Jansson said he’s able to contribute to the small details and nuances of the games.
“It takes some time to get everything back, but I’ve got a couple of 90 minutes in the body, and I think that’s most important for me to get the body going again. Being ready for that, then everything will come with time. But I feel I feel like I’m close to getting there at 100%.”
Saturday’s availability report has Brazilian centerback Antonio Carlos listed as questionable with a lower-right leg injury. Forward Jack Lynn and midfielder Favian Loyola are also listed as questionable with left thigh injuries.
The projected starting XI are goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, Lucas Petrasso, Rodrigo Schlegel, Jansson, Michael Halliday, Cesar Araujo, Ivan Angulo, Mauricio Pereyra, Torres, Martin Ojeda and Ercan Kara.