Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs – Round One
Orlando City SC vs. New York City FC
Exploria Stadium – Orlando
November 21 – 12:00 PM ET
TV: UniMás, TUDN, TSN 1/4, TVA Sports
STREAMING:LIVE STREAM
Orlando City SC and New York City FC entered Major League Soccer as fellow expansion teams in 2015. Their first regular season game was against each other and on Nov. 21, the teams will meet for the first time in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs with a Round One Match at Exploria Stadium.
In his first season as head coach, Oscar Pareja has changed the culture in Orlando and had the Lions as one of the best and most consistent teams throughout the season. Their "we have arrived moment" came at the MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando, where the Lions played for a final for the first time in club history. They challenged for the Supporters' Shield until late in the season, when a loss to Inter Miami CF snapped a remarkable 12-match unbeaten run.
Like Orlando, NYCFC dealt with an offseason coaching change and it took the Cityzens a bit longer to adjust under Ronny Deila. But once they did in late August, NYCFC lost just three times over the course of their final 17 matches, ending the regular season on a four-match winning streak. That despite losing Heber and James Sands to season-ending injuries and missing Maxi Moralez for long stretches due to injury.
The teams met twice this season, with the Lions riding an early Chris Mueller brace to cruise to a 3-1 victory at the MLS is Back Tournament before the teams shared the points in a 1-1 draw at Exploria Stadium last month. There's been one knockout match between the teams, with Orlando City SC prevailing in a penalty kick shootout to advance to the 2019 U.S. Open Cup semifinals.
- How a meeting with Ronny Deila turned Taty Castellanos' season around
- NYCFC ink forward to Homegrown deal
- If your club's season is over, there's room on these bandwagons
- NYCFC sporting director reflects on season of change, offseason ahead
- Seltzer: Seven players primed to break out in the playoffs
- SeanJohn: Past playoff failure can fuel NYCFC this postseason
- MLSsoccer personalities pick Cup winner
- Doyle: One worry for each playoff team
- Bogert: Ceiling nowhere in sight for Sands with Europe likely soon in his future
- Seltzer: The one key player for every playoff team
- Bogert: The biggest contract, loan decisions to watch for this winter
- Zakuani: Top 5 players at each position
Orlando City SC
After three consecutive wins, Orlando City SC ended the regular season with a 3-2 loss to Nashville SC, their first defeat at Exploria Stadium this season. A stunning free kick by Nani put the Lions in front just past the hour mark, but the hosts conceded twice at the death to go into the playoffs on a sour note.
“Indeed it was a game that brought moments where we were frustrated, especially the way it ended, but we can’t forget what the boys have done during this year," Pareja said after the match. "They qualified in the playoffs, they qualified in the best four in a tough conference and they’ll be ready for playoffs."
Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese will be available for selection after returning from international duty with Peru on a charter flight. MLS, in accordance with its medical experts, approved international players traveling back to their clubs via charter flights. After traveling in the controlled environment and regularly testing while on international duty, players can rejoin their MLS club team on U.S. soil and avoid quarantining as long as they test negative for COVID-19.
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Dom Dwyer (F) - knee injury
- OUT: Sebastián Méndez (M) - undisclosed injury
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
New York City FC
NYCFC enter the postseason as one of the hottest teams, beating Chicago Fire FC 4-3 at Soldier Field on Decision Day. Taty Castellanos and Jesus Medina continued their fine run of form — Castellanos has four goals in his last two games, while Medina has struck for three in his last four matches —and while there were some uncharacteristically poor moments defensively, Deila likes where his side are in their quest to play for MLS Cup on Dec. 12.
The genesis of Castellanos' breakout is rooted in a one-on-one meeting with NYCFC coach Ronny Deila three months ago.
“We spoke about many different things,” Castellanos said through a translator in a video conference call with reporters Wednesday. “I wasn’t playing a lot, I wasn’t in a very good mood, I was a little bit down because I wasn’t playing. Both of us worked on a board where Ronnie explained what he was asking of me, what he was feeling, where I was doing things properly. That helped me a lot. I’m thankful for that opportunity.”
On Thursday, NYCFC announced the signing of 18-year-old forward Andres Jasson to a Homegrown contract. He is the club's fifth Homegrown signing. Jasson is a decorated member of the club's academy, winning three trophies on the youth circuit, including the 2017 Generation Adidas Cup and back-to-back US Soccer Development Academy U-19 national championships. He was also one of four former NYCFC academy players to represent the United States during the 2019 U-17 World Cup along with Joe Scally, Tayvon Gray and Gio Reyna.
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Gedion Zelalem (M) - knee injury
- OUT: Heber (F) - ACL injury
- OUT: James Sands (M) - fractured right foot
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
Series Matchup at Orlando City SC
- Orlando City SC: 3 wins, 10 goals
- NYCFC: 2 wins, 11 goals
- 3 draws
MLS Cup Playoffs
- This is the first-ever MLS Cup Playoffs meeting between Orlando City SC and New York City FC
Officials
- Referee: Allen Chapman
- Assistant Referees: Logan Brown, Nick Uranga
- 4th Official: Marcos de Oliveira
- VAR: Guido Gonzales Jr.
