ORLANDO CITY SC vs ROCHESTER RHINOS
SAHLEN’S STADIUM, Rochester, NY
July 27, 2014 (Week 19)
4:05 p.m. ET (live-streamed via YouTube.com/RocRhinos)

Orlando City SC travels to New York for the second time this season as the Lions prepare for another encounter with the Rochester Rhinos. Currently sitting comfortably atop the USL PRO standings, Orlando aims to extend its unbeaten run, not only in USL PRO, but also in Rochester as well. In five games played at Sahlen’s Stadium since 2011, City has held a 3-0-2 record.

The Rhinos are currently holding on to the fifth seed in the chase for a playoff berth. Only six points separate the New York based club from ninth place, which would put them out of contention for the post-season.

Orlando City

The Lions saw its club-record eight game win streak snapped during a scoreless draw against Sacramento Republic FC last week. However, City was able to continue its impressive unbeaten run through 18 league games this season.

Last Match

• Orlando nearly jumped on the score-sheet early on in the match when Midfielder Adama Mbengue was played into the box with ample space. Mbenuge produced a strong effort but ended up pulling it just wide of the target.

• Later in the half, Sacramento’s Max Alvarez had a good chance from inside the penalty area, forcing ‘keeper Miguel Gallardo to make a remarkable save to keep the match level.

• In the 79th minute, Alvarez was given a red card for a high arm on Aodhan Quinn. Despite a late push to get forward, City was unable to take advantage of the opposition playing a man down.

• Lineup (4-2-3-1): Miguel Gallardo – Luke Boden, Tommy Redding, Rob Valentino, Tyler Turner – Darwin Ceren, Aodhan Quinn – Brian Span, Kevin Molino, Adama Mbengue (Austin da Luz 74) – Dennis Chin (Giuseppi Gentile 77)

Team News

• The match against Sacramento was the first time that the Lions have been held scoreless this season.

• Gallardo recorded his fourth consecutive clean-sheet and eighth during the current campaign.

• New signing Giuseppe Gentile made his second consecutive appearance for the Lions since joining the team days before the match against the Wilmington Hammerheads on 7/12.

• City has struggled to keep veteran defenders Brad Rusin and Rob Valentino on the field together as both center-halves have only appeared in seven games together.

• Prior to the match against the Republic, the Club signed Adrian Heath’s son, Harrison Heath, to a contract through the end of the USL PRO season. He was available for selection against Sacramento, but has yet to make his league debut for the Lions.

Rochester Rhinos

Currently on a five-game home stand at Sahlen’s Stadium, the Rhinos lost their last match against Wilmington 1-0. Rochester has 27 points, which has the Rhinos sitting in fifth place in the USL PRO.

Last Match

• Neither side could create a quality chance in the first half with only one on target.

• Early in the second half, Rochester’s Johnny Mendoza had an opportunity to put his side ahead when Jimmy Banks played a through ball into the box for Mendoza, but his attempt went wide of the target.

• Wilmington’s Jordan Hamilton scored the deciding goal in the 77th minute after collecting his own rebound and tapping it past the opposing ‘keeper, Luis Soffner.

• Lineup (4-4-2): Luis Soffner – Babacar Diallo, Kyle Hoffer (Matt Luzunaris 81), Johnny Mendoza (Levi Houapeu 82), Tony Walls – Patrick McMahon, Tyler Rosenlund, Donnie Smith, Alec Sundly (Mike Garzi 69) – Jimmy Banks (Minh Alva Vu 73), Colin Rolfe

Team News

• In the club’s last four games, Rochester has gone 1-3-0 with its lone win coming against the FC Dallas Reserves.

• Only three of the club’s 18 goals scored in 2014 have been scored by someone not listed as a forward on their roster.

• The Rhinos have been held scoreless eight times this season.

Head-to-Head

All-Time (9 meetings): Lions 7 wins, 16 goals … Rhinos 0 wins, 4 goals … 2 Ties
AT ROCHESTER (5 meetings): Lions 3 wins, 4 goals … Rhinos 0 wins, 1 goal … 2 Ties

2014 (USL PRO):

4/5: ORL 3, ROC 1 (Molino 3; Valentino 35; Chin 75 – Banks 54)
5/10: ORL 1, ROC 1 (Boden 64 – Rosenlund 34)

• City went down in the first half behind a goal by Tyler Rosenlund after Jimmy Banks delivered a cross into box, allowing Rosenlund to head it past Carl Woszczynski.

• The Lions were forced to rally in the second half, Defender Luke Boden pounced on a loose ball after the Rhinos failed to clear it cleanly for his second goal of the season.

• Orlando’s date with Rochester was part of a rare double header with games coming on back-to-back nights.

• The draw on 5/10 also snapped the Lions six-game winning streak.