Orlando City B vs. Toronto FC II: Preview and How to Watch

Orlando City B (4-4-4, 16 points) will begin a three-game road trip this afternoon with a lunchtime affair against Toronto FC II (1-7-5, 8 points). This is the second meeting of the United Soccer League season for the two sides. In the first meeting, the young Lions won, 3-1, at Orlando City Stadium. The goal scorers for OCB were Paul Clowes, Lewis Neal, and Hadji Barry. Malik Johnson scored for Toronto.

Entering this week, OCB is eighth in the Eastern Conference table, however, the team is tied on points with four other clubs in the conference. Toronto has been struggling since winning its home opener. The young Reds are bottom of the conference table and have a -12 goal differential.

“When I look at Toronto, I see a really, really good team,” OCB Head Coach Anthony Pulis said. “They’ve got some talented young players who are very, very dangerous, especially in attacking areas. We know we had a good performance against them last time, but what happened at Orlando City Stadium a couple months ago is going to have no bearing whatsoever on Wednesday afternoon.”

OCB is 2-1-0 in the series vs. TFCII after splitting last year’s series. Both teams won at home. The young Lions won, 2-1, last August at Titan Soccer Complex on Michael Cox’s late goal in stoppage, just moments after TFCII had tied the game at 1-1. Lewis Neal opened the scoring for OCB but Mitchell Taintor leveled the game in the 90th.

The young Reds got their revenge by the same 2-1 score line in Toronto last Sept. 11. Cox opened the scoring, but the hosts came back through goals by Shaan Hundal and Ricardo John. The loss temporarily kept OCB from clinching a playoff spot.

Last time out, OCB drew level, 1-1, with the Rochester Rhinos at Orlando City Stadium. Barry scored the lone goal for the home side. Josh Saunders got the start in net against the Rhinos as he made his debut for the club. Earl Edwards Jr. has the second most saves in the USL with 37, he made two saves in the week four meeting against Toronto.

Toronto also earned a point in its last match, drawing the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 1-1. Tsubasa Endoh scored for the Reds.

Most Recent Lineups

Orlando City B (June 7 vs. Rochester Rhinos): Josh Saunders; Zachary Ellis-Hayden, Seb Hines, Zach Carroll, Scott Thomsen; Austin Martz, Jordan Schweitzer, Lewis Neal (C), Danny Deakin; Richie Laryea, Hadji Barry.

Toronto FC II (June 10 vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds): Angelo Cavalluzzo; Mitchell Taintor (C), Brandon Aubrey, Robert Boskovic; Oyvind Alseth, Brian James, Luis Pereira, Ashtone Morgan; Tsubasa Endoh, Ben Spencer, Jay Chapman.

The 12 p.m. kickoff can be watched on the USL Youtube channel.