MLS Orlando City SC

Orlando City Returns Home to Face Columbus Crew SC

Published on November 3, 2020 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Orlando City SC News Release


ORLANDO, Fla. - Orlando City SC (10-3-8, 38 points) returns to Exploria Stadium on Wednesday, Nov. 4 to host Columbus Crew SC (11-5-5, 38 points) for its first of two home matches to close out regular season play. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET with a limited number of tickets available to purchase here.

The match will be locally broadcast on Fox 35 Plus, while being transmitted on 96.9 The Game in English and Acción 97.9FM, 810AM in Spanish.

"It seems like it was yesterday when we were preparing for the match against Columbus [on Oct. 11] when they postponed it. But then we moved on and now we are here again with the joy of getting three points [against Montreal on Sunday] and the need to keep adding points in order for us to secure our spot in this position in the East, against a very good team in Columbus who has been consistent during the season," Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said. "I expect a team who is still looking out for the Supporters' Shield and, obviously with the same points as we have, thinking broadly with the same objective to position [themselves] in the best they can before the playoffs."

Wednesday's match will see the third and fourth-seeded sides in the Eastern Conference square off, with the Crew sitting in front of the Lions in the table due to the total number of wins-per-match tiebreaker. The contest serves as a rescheduled fixture against the Crew, originally slated for Sunday Oct. 11 at Exploria Stadium. That match was postponed however due to confirmed cases of COVID-19 among the Columbus staff.

City enters the midweek after earning a 1-0 shutout victory on the road this past Sunday against the Montreal Impact at Red Bull Arena. Daryl Dike scored the eventual game-winner in the 39th minute of play, while Pedro Gallese registered five saves to maintain the clean sheet for the Lions for the fourth time this year and the third for the Peruvian international.

Chris Mueller leads the Lions with nine goals this season, followed by Dike with seven. Mueller also sits tied for the team-high in assists with Mauricio Pereyra, who recorded the assist on Dike's game-winner on Sunday night.

Columbus comes into Wednesday's match following a 2-1 victory at home over the Philadelphia Union on Sunday. Artur opened the scoring in the 37th minute for the Crew, but the visitors answered in the 57th with Jamiro Monteiro converting from the penalty spot. Krisztián Németh would score the eventual game-winner for Columbus however in the 84th minute to take all three points on the afternoon.

Gyasi Zardes leads the Crew with 11 goals this season, followed by Pedro Santos with six. Santos holds the team-high in assists with seven, with Zardes and Lucas Zelarayan following suit with four apiece.

Following Wednesday's fixture, City will turn its attention to Decision Day presented by AT&T, set to host Nashville SC on Sunday, Nov. 8 to close its regular season campaign. Kickoff for that match is set for 3:30 p.m. ET at Exploria Stadium, with tickets available.

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