Intelligence Report: Orlando City at New York Red Bulls

Let’s not beat around the bush. Orlando City needs a win. It doesn’t matter if it comes via a lucky bounce, an officiating mistake, an own-goal by the opposition, or — preferably — a complete 90-minute performance by the team on both ends of the field. That’s not going to be an easy thing to make happen at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, but that’s what the schedule says the Lions must do.

New York is a team on the rise in recent weeks, and the Red Bulls will be extra determined after a rivalry loss at New York City FC last weekend. Orlando City will be without Jonathan Spector thanks to a knee injury, as if Bradley Wright-Phillips wasn’t scary enough already. But hey, let’s all go into this with an open mind and see what happens. After all, a pretty bad Orlando City team went there in 2015 and came home with a 5-2 win, and Cyle Larin usually plays well in the New York metro area.

Here with some brief answers to our questions about the Red Bulls is Daniel Feuerstein from SB Nation’s New York blog, Once a Metro, and the Feuerstein’s Fire podcast.

Where does Jesse Marsch turn if Daniel Royer is unable to play on Saturday night? 

Daniel Feuerstein: I would already think Alex Muyl will be in Royer’s spot, but to be honest Gonzalo Veron should start.

How do you think New York will try to stop the tandem of Dom Dwyer and Cyle Larin at the top of Orlando City’s formation? 

DF: The defensive midfield tandem of Felipe and Tyler Adams will help the back line. I also can see Michael Murillo getting back in there with Sal Zizzo on red card suspension. We could see Aurelien Collin back with the starters.

What has to happen for Orlando City to come out of Red Bull Arena with a win? And what do the Red Bulls need to do to hold serve in their home stadium?

DF: Having Kaká on the field to feed Larin and Dwyer. The last couple of games Orlando was at Red Bull Arena, Kaká was injured and didn’t play.

For the Red Bulls, while they did score two goals on the road on Sunday, they looked fine without Royer, so they should be fine with who they put out there. Bradley Wright-Phillips is always dangerous.

Injuries?/Suspensions?/Projected starting XI?/Final score prediction?

DF: Injuries: Daniel Royer hyper extension of his right knee and is week-to-week.

Suspensions: Sal Zizzo picked up a second yellow/red card at NYCFC and is out.

Starting XI: Luis Robles; Michael Murillo, Aaron Long, Kemar Lawrence; Felipe; Tyler Adams, Sean Davis; Sacha Kljestan; Alex Muyl, Gonzalo Veron, Bradley Wright-Phillips.

Final Score: 3-1 New York.

Thanks to Daniel from Once a Metro for stopping by and giving his answers to our questions.