Orlando City at New York City FC: Three Keys to Victory

Orlando City travels to Yankee Stadium to take on New York City FC in an Eastern Conference showdown. The Lions have climbed within striking distance of the playoff line after the last two matches and need to keep things going in the right direction against the Pigeons. Since I’m not going to be in attendance, Orlando City will need to find another good luck charm.

What does Orlando City need to do to earn all three points on the road against NYCFC?

Keep Torres Hot

Facundo Torres has three goals and an assist in the last two matches, including his brace against the Chicago Fire. I’m not sure if it was the international duty snub by the Uruguayan National Team that prompted him to find the back of the net, but he needs to keep doing it. Prior to the four-goal explosion last match, the Lions have had trouble finishing the chances they have created. Even in that match there were some wasted opportunities with some shots that went wildly wrong. If Torres can put on the same scoring boots he’s had the last two matches, and if Luis Muriel’s penalty kick kicked-starts his scoring, then the Lions have a good chance against NYCFC.

Passing in Limited Space

The Lions are headed to the — in my opinion — worst soccer venue in all of Major League Soccer. Yankee Stadium is historic but for baseball, not soccer. The dimensions of the pitch are significantly smaller than any other place Orlando City has to play. The fact that NYCFC is used to the conditions and plays on that foosball table regularly gives the Pigeons a big advantage over the visitors.

Orlando City needs to be precise passing in such conditions. The passing windows are much smaller because the players are more bunched together. Additionally, the Lions tend to be too cute by half, often making too many passes in their buildup, looking for the perfect rather than accepting the good. That can result in giveaways Orlando City cannot afford. Sometimes it’s better to take a shot rather than make the extra pass. It’s a reverse Jamie Tartt.

Shore up the Defense

Recently, Orlando City’s defense has been a bit more porous than it was last year. Goals are hard to come by, and the defense — not just the back line, but everyone — needs to do better about closing those gaps. Players who normally make the right decisions have had mental lapses that have led to goals for the opposition. That has to stop.

The tighter confines of the pitch may help out a little on the defensive end, but again, NYCFC is used to playing there. Communication, positioning, and awareness need to be top of the mind for Orlando City’s defense. It would help if Mason Stajduhar followed up his record-tying performance from last match with another great game. Or, better yet, the defense makes it so he doesn’t have to.

That is what I will be looking for Friday night. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!