Orlando City B vs. Richmond Kickers: Preview & How to Watch

Coming off its first win of the season, Orlando City B (1-5-2, 5 points) returns to Montverde Academy tonight as the Young Lions welcome the Richmond Kickers (3-3-2, 11 points).

After a rough start to the 2019 USL League One season, OCB claimed its first win Friday night with a 2-0 victory over Toronto FC II. Despite missing a penalty late in the first half that would’ve given the Young Lions a 2-0 lead, the team was able to achieve something it had been unable to in previous games: hold onto a one-goal lead.

The win saw two players, Matheus Silva and Thiago Souza, claim Team of the Week honors, while 17-year-old academy product Moises Tablante received a nomination for Goal of the Week. The clean sheet was welcome after the same back five conceded four goals to North Texas SC the previous weekend.

The Kickers come into this game sitting in third place with 11 points, though coming off a loss this past weekend. Prior to this weekend’s 1-0 loss against Greenville Triumph SC, the Kickers had only lost twice, both against Lansing Ignite FC. They had won three of their previous four games, including a draw with Lansing.

The Kickers are led offensively by two former Lions. Joe Gallardo, who played in the Orlando City Development Academy and for OCB, has scored four goals in eight appearances, while Dennis Chin, who played for the Lions from 2011 to 2014, has scored two goals in six games.

While OCB will be focused on building on its first win of the season, many will be focused on the return of several Lions. Former OCB defender Scott Thomsen returned to his former club after making 15 appearances for Orlando’s reserve side. The team also features Gallardo, who played in seven games for the Young Lions in 2017, and Eli Lockaby, who came out of the Orlando City Development Academy.

The big interest for Orlando City fans will be seeing the return of club legend Chin. The striker went to Rollins College before joining the Lions in their inaugural USL Pro season in 2011. Starting as a substitute, he soon became a regular starter. At the end of 2014, Chin left the club, having accumulated 103 appearances and as the club’s all-time leading goal scorer, with 32 goals.

Of the teams OCB will face this season, the Young Lions have more history against the Kickers than any other team in the league. When the first team was in USL Pro, it competed regularly with the Virginia-based club for the regular season title. When OCB was launched in 2016, it entered the same league as the Kickers, facing them five times in two years. The Young Lions went 2-2-1 in those five games.

An important note for OCB heading into this game is that the team didn’t suffer any additional injuries or suspensions after the last game — something that has plagued the team this season. That means that OCB Head Coach Fernando Jose De Argila Irurita will have the opportunity to send out the same squad once again, a team that he says he feels very confident in.

Most Recent Lineups

Orlando City B (5/17 vs Toronto FC II)

Juliano Chade; Randy Mendoza, Matheus Silva, Nathan Simeon, Leonardo Simas; Austin Amer; Thiago Souza, Rafael Santos, Serginho, Moises Tablante; William Bagrou.

Richmond Kickers (5/18 at Greenville Triumph SC)

Akira Fitzgerald; Scott Thomsen, Wahab Ackwei, Conor Shanosky, Eli Lockaby; Maximiliano Rodriguez; Dennis Chin, Joshua Hughes, Joe Gallardo, Mutaya Mwape; Daniel Jackson.

How to Watch

The 7:30 p.m. kickoff from Montverde Academy can be streamed on ESPN+ domestically or internationally on YouTube. For rapid reaction and live updates, follow @TheManeLand on Twitter.

The Mane Land has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though The Mane Land and SB Nation may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our guiding principles.