ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando City Soccer Club begins a three game home stand tomorrow as they welcome rivals Charleston Battery to the Citrus Bowl.  The match is a battle for first place in USL PRO as only two points separate Orlando and Charleston in the standings.  Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

The Lions come into the match in an unfamiliar position, recovering from a loss.  Last week City dropped their first match of the 2012 season, 3-1 to Wilmington Hammerheads.  The team, finally with it’s first full week of training in nearly a month, is rested up and ready to rebound.

“When we’re in this cluster of games that we’ve just finished, what with the travel, players don’t get enough time to rest and recover sufficiently,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath.  “We’ll be much better for Saturday.”

Helping the Lions rebound will be new loan signing Jean Alexandre.  The Haitian international midfielder was brought in for a two game stint from Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes.  He will start tonight, but his position has not been determined.

“What I like about Jean is his physical ability,” said Heath.  “He can play two, three positions.  He’s going to be a really big boost for us.”

Saturday’s match is the first of three meetings between Orlando and Charleston, but the two clubs are more than familiar with each other.  The Lions and Battery faced off five times last season throughout the regular season, playoffs, and US Open Cup.  Orlando won the season series 4-1, including wins that knocked Charleston out of both the Open Cup and the 2011 USL PRO playoffs.  The rivalry between the two clubs will make this one of the most spirited matches the Citrus Bowl will see all season.

Aside from the rivalry, part of what makes Saturday so spirited is it pits the two best offenses in USL PRO against each other.  Orlando City leads the league with 18 goals scored.  Charleston is right behind City with 16 goals.  The difference between the two offenses is where the goals come from.  The majority of Charleston’s goals come from the combination of Jose Cuevas (four) and Nicholas Paterson (five).  Only one other player has more than one, Dane Kelly (two).  By contrast, City has five players with at least two goals.  Dennis Chin leads Orlando with four on the year.

Orlando City and Charleston also have two of the best defensives in USL PRO.  City ranks fifth with nine goals allowed, while Charleston is tied for first with five.  In the five previous meetings between the two clubs, the Lions’ offense has overcome the strong Battery defense, outscoring Charleston 7-3.

Tomorrow’s game is Orlando City’s 2012 television debut.  The match will be broadcast on Brighthouse Sports Network.  Outside of the Orlando area, it will be shown on USLNation.com.  Jeff Radcliffe will handle play-by-play with color commentary from Eddie Rodriguez.

Tickets are still available, and start at just $15.  To order tickets or for more information, call 855-ORL-CITY or email [email protected] today!

Player to Watch - Jean Alexandre:

Alexandre comes into the match with just two training sessions with the Lions, but he is no stranger to Adrian Heath’s attacking philosophy.  Alexandre spent nine games under Heath while on loan with the Austin Aztex in 2009.  In those nine games, he scored four goals.

Look for Alexandre to play multiple roles throughout the match.  He is capable of playing both in the central midfield and out wide.  He’s also seen time up top during his days at Real Salt Lake.  The combination of his physical strength and attacking ability should produce dividends quickly for the Lions.

Available Roster:

Jean Alexandre, Wes Allen, Kieron Bernard, Luke Boden, Charlie Campbell, Dennis Chin, Kyle Davies, Ian Fuller, Miguel Gallardo, Sean Kelley, Jerome Mechack, Kevin Molino, James O’Connor, John Rooney, Erik Ustruck, Rob Valentino, Jamie Watson