A Look Ahead to Orlando City’s October Schedule

Want to talk about ending the season with a bang? The Lions are staring down the face of a month with three matches on the road, one short week, and ending the season with a match that could help to decide the Supporters’ Shield, away. I’ve sat down, used some Windex and newspaper on the old crystal ball, and am staring deep into the fog while sipping some whiskey to see what the final month of 2018 will hold for the Lions.

Oct. 6 at FC Dallas

Currently in first place in the Western Conference on 53 points, 10 points behind the current Supporters’ Shield leader, Atlanta United, with a game in hand, FC Dallas will be a very tall task. Only dropping points once at home this season, and still looking at an outside chance of a catching Atlanta and the Red Bulls, you can expect Dallas to want to take home-field advantage and three points from the match. Considering the Lions’ run of play lately, the outlook does not look good.

Prediction: 2-0 Dallas.

Oct. 13 at New England Revolution

Having just played the Revs in August, Orlando City will again be facing a team above it in the standings, although this time against a New England squad trying to scramble to get above the red line in the East. If this match was being played at home, the crystal ball would predict a fairly different answer. This might be the last chance for a road win for the club this season.

Prediction: 3-1 City.

Oct. 17 vs. Seattle Sounders

Both teams will be looking at short weeks, but only one of them is racing for a playoff spot. What is a bit more concerning is the second half form of the Sounders. Since the mid point of the season, the Sounders are 9-2-1, including a draw against Atlanta and wins against New York City FC and FC Dallas. The Lions drew against Seattle last year on the road, but that was last year.

Prediction: 1-1 draw.

Oct. 21 vs. Columbus Crew

This one is going to be rough as Justin Meram returns to Orlando after his trade back to the Crew. I am sure the fans will have plenty to say to Meram when he takes the pitch. This match also stands as the last home game of the 2018 season. I cannot imagine the Lions doing anything other than winning this match, for both story lines mentioned. The crystal ball agrees, seeing the Lions giving the fans something to cheer about as they end 2018 at home with a bang.

Prediction: 3-2 City, and a lovely tifo.

Oct. 28 at New York Red Bulls

I am almost afraid to peer into the swirling sphere to see this prediction, as though Cthulhu is waiting to for me to embrace the insanity that has already leaked from this orb of chaos and…sorry, everyone, but let’s be a bit realistic in this one.

This isn’t going to be anything like the Week 4 match-up, a classic Cardiac Cats match. This time around, we could be looking at a match-up that has no significance to some, but massive implications for others. I will leave you to decide which is which and exactly what that means, because it could honestly go both ways.

Prediction: 2-0 RBNY.

This is how I see October panning out. Not the best month ever, but certainly not the worst. What do you think will happen next month? Let us know in the comments.