Photo: Kevin Krause

ORLANDO, Fla.—After a two-week pause in USL PRO regular season action, Orlando City SC (12-2-6, 42 points) plays host to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (7-6-7, 28 points) on Saturday, August 3, at Fifth Third Bank Field at the Florida Citrus Bowl, before traveling down I-4 for a match against VSI Tampa FC on Sunday, August 4. The VSI match will be held at Plant City Stadium in Plant City, Fla.

“I think the two-week break has done us well, managed to get a bit of rest and recovery,” said Orlando City Head Coach Adrian Heath. “We’re looking forward to the two games-they are not going to be easy. (Pittsburgh) is playing well at this moment in time and players are going to have to step up over the weekend.”

Orlando enters the final month of play in an unfamiliar position, sitting second in the league table behind the first-place Richmond Kickers. The Lions have yet to enter the month of August outside the top spot in the league table, making the final six games crucial as the club attempts to capture their third-straight USL PRO Regular Season Championship and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

A welcome boost to Heath’s side will be 2012 USL PRO MVP Kevin Molino, who returns after appearing in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup for his country of Trinidad & Tobago. Molino plays a key role on the squad and will be a much-needed addition as the club enters the final month of play.

Saturday’s match kicks off a six game in 15 days span, ending on August 17 with the Charlotte Eagles visiting Orlando for the regular season finale. The Lions also play VSI Tampa Bay twice, Seattle Sounders Reserves, and league-leading Richmond over the next two weeks. The game is set for kickoff at 7:30 p.m. EST. with gates opening an hour beforehand at 6:30 p.m. A win over Pittsburgh will guarantee Orlando a spot in the 2013 postseason, which begins the weekend of August 23-25.

Orlando and Pittsburgh recently squared off, with an impressive performance by Sporting Kansas City loanee and Goalkeeper Jon Kempin holding the Riverhounds scoreless in a 0-0 draw in Pittsburgh. The Lions hold a 2-0-3 (W-L-T) advantage over the Riverhounds in five meetings over the past three seasons.

Pittsburgh is led by Forward Jose Angulo, who was a consistent threat in Orlando’s last meeting with the Riverhounds. Angulo has 11 goals on the year, tied for most among active players in USL PRO.

The Lions then quickly turn around for a match the following day against in-state VSI Tampa Bay FC. Sunday’s game in Plant City will be the first time the two clubs meet in 2013, with the previous game in Orlando postponed due to severe weather.

Tampa, who currently sits eighth in the league table, are led by Forward Mauricio Salles De Allencar- scoring a team-high eight goals in 17 games played. Sunday’s game is set to kickoff at 7 p.m., with tickets available by visiting www.vsi-fc.com.