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MLS Orlando City SC

Orlando City to Host FC Cincinnati on Saturday

April 30, 2021 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Orlando City SC News Release


ORLANDO, Fla. - Orlando City SC (0-0-2, 2 points) returns home to face FC Cincinnati (0-1-1, 1 point) on Saturday, May 1 at Exploria Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET.

The match, presented by Janney Roofing, will be locally broadcast on FOX35 PLUS while being transmitted on Real Radio 104.1 in English and Acción 97.9FM, 810AM in Spanish. Fans will also be able to tune into the contest on LionNation TV, now available to LionNation Free members via the LionNation app and the LionNation portal.

Individual tickets for Saturday's match are unavailable, however a limited amount of inventory for the Lions' three May home matches remains for those looking to become ticket plan holders. For more information on ticket plans, call 855-ORL-CITY or click here.

"For Cincinnati, we obviously have seen their games and we have information about their behaviors tactically and how they perform. I always think that you have to build your own presence," Head Coach Oscar Pareja said. "We expect a game that is going to be full of energy from a team that wants to bounce back and get points here. We're approaching it with a lot of responsibility in that this game is like any other of ours. We have to get ready and try to do our best."

Saturday will mark the first time the Lions will face off against their visitors from the Queen City since the end of 2019, holding a 1-0-1 record against the weekend's opposition through two matches in their history.

City comes into the weekend following a 1-1 draw at Sporting Kansas City last Friday. Gianluca Busio gave the home side the lead entering the halftime break as both sides saw a goal waved off in the first 45. After the Lions looked to have equalized off the foot of Andrés Perea in the 49th but were again denied by Video Review, it was Nani who forced the two sides to split the points on the evening in the end. The captain flicked in his finish with a backheel for the visiting City side in the 79th minute.

FC Cincinnati enters Saturday's fixture looking to bounce back from a 5-0 route at the hands of New York City FC this past weekend. A brace from Jesús Medina, along with finishes from Gudmundur Thórarinsson, Valentín Castellanos and an own goal from Cincinnati's Nick Hagglund gave the Pigeons the victory on the day.

Two of Cincy's most notable newcomers each found the back of the net in the club's season opener at Nashville, with former D.C. United midfielder Luciano Acosta scoring his first goal for his new club, along with young Designated Player Brenner, who was acquired for a club-record fee from Brazilian side São Paulo FC.

Following Saturday's match, the Lions will host New York City FC on Saturday, May 8 at Exploria Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. ET in what will mark the first matchup between the two sides since City's historic playoff victory over the Pigeons on Nov. 21, 2020.

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