Orlando City vs New York City FC: Orlando City Set Sights on Playoff Spots

• Orlando City have picked up 15 points from 11 games and are placed 11th on the Eastern Conference table
• New York City FC have the same number of points but have played a game more and are 10th in the same division
• Last season, both sides capitalized on home advantage and nabbed wins over the other at their own respective home grounds

Orlando City vs New York City FC Odds

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Orlando City vs New York City FC Pick

Pick: Orlando City to win (+115)

Orlando City vs New York City FC Predictions

In the last five MLS games, Orlando City have won two, lost two, and drawn one. They sneaked into the playoffs last season, which will also be the goal this season. Moving toward the top of the table seems like a far-fetched dream for a team that is struggling to nab wins. Two weeks ago, they lost against CF Montreal and were on the verge of losing again last weekend before Duncan McGuire’s 92nd-minute equalizer secured a point against Columbus Crew.

New York City FC have their own problems. Their record coming into this game is worse than the hosts’. In the last five, the 2021 MLS champions have won two and lost three. However, all three losses have come in a row, with the third one coming against their arch-rivals New York Red Bulls last weekend. The club will be eager to bounce back from that disappointment with nothing less than a win.

In this encounter, where the team with the worst home record in the division hosts a team with the worst away record, it will be tricky to predict the winner. The odds favor the hosts, and so do the recent form and history books. The problem pile could rise for the visitors again this weekend.

Previous Meetings

The head-to-head records show that Orlando City have a slightly better record than New York City FC in this fixture. In 21 MLS encounters, Orlando City have won eight times, while New York City FC have come out on top in seven games. Six encounters have ended in draws.

However, there has only been one stalemate between these two clubs in the last five matches. Last season, Orlando City beat New York City FC 2-1 at the Exploria Stadium thanks to a 96th-minute winner from Tesho Akindele.

In the reverse fixture, New York City came from a goal down to win 2-1 at home after Alexander Callens’ 66th-minute equalizer and Talles Magno’s 81st-minute winner. Orlando City have hosted New York City FC 11 times. The visitors have only won twice.

New York City FC’s last win in Orlando City’s backyard came in the 2018 MLS season. The hosts have won five times, and four matches have ended in draws. The last draw between the two clubs at this venue came in the 2021 MLS season.

 Orlando City Set Sights on Playoff Spots 

Last season, Orlando City managed to sneak into the playoffs after nabbing the final playoff qualification spot in the Eastern Conference. This season, the club's primary aim will be to do the same, but preferably in a better way.

As things stand, Orlando City are two spots off the final qualification spot but are level on points with the two teams ahead of them. One of them is their next opponent – New York City FC – and the other is DC United, who are occupying the final playoff spot.

The advantage is with Orlando City because they have a game in hand, and a win in the next game could lift them into the playoff spots. Favorable results in the other games could see them rise further up on the table.

Worst Home Record in the Division 

The majority of clubs prefer playing at home on familiar territory. That has not been the case for Orlando City this season. At home, the side have picked up just seven points from six games. They have lost three, won two, and drawn one.

The only positive they can count on in this aspect is that they were victorious in their last home game against strugglers LA Galaxy. Their only other home win this season came in February against New York City FC’s rivals New York Red Bulls.

Struggle Without Pereira Continues in Midfield 

In July this year, Mauricio Pereira will complete four years with Orlando City. The 33-year-old has been an essential figure in the team’s midfield. Last season, apart from being robust in midfield, he provided eight assists and scored one goal.

A thigh injury has placed him on the sidelines for a few weeks. He has already missed the last three matches, of which Orlando City won one and lost two. On-loan midfielder Wilder Cartagena has replaced him but looks shaky in that position. 

New York City FC Eager o Bounce Back After Derby Defeat  

Last weekend, spectators watched the season’s first Hudson River Derby at the Red Bull Arena. There is a lot at stake in every derby apart from the three points. A win would have been a great morale booster for New York City FC, but they ended up on the wrong side of a 1-0 result.

Not only did it end New York Red Bulls’ seven-game winless streak in the MLS, but it also extended New York City FC’s losing streak in the MLS to three games. In all competitions, the 2021 MLS champions have now lost four games in a row.

Drastic measures will be needed to improve their on-pitch performance. The club has failed to score in three of the last four games across all competitions. The defense is also shaky, as they have not kept a clean sheet in the last nine MLS games.

Three Defeats on the Bounce Could Crush the Morale 

Towards the end of April, New York City FC suffered a 1-0 defeat against Toronto FC. A week later, Richard Ledezma’s 74th-minute own goal allowed Charlotte FC to clinch a 3-2 win. Last week, the club suffered a narrow 1-0 derby day defeat.

Amidst all this, New York City FC were also eliminated from the US Open Cup when they were beaten 1-0 by FC Cincinnati. All losses and no points in the last four games could have significantly dropped the team’s morale.

Worst Away Record in the Division

Visiting a venue where the hosts possess the worst home record in the division this season could have been an advantageous statistic for New York City FC, but they have their own problems on the road this season.

In the seven away games the side has played, they have lost five and drawn two. Possessing the worst away record in the Eastern Conference, New York City FC are still waiting for their first away win of the season.

How to Watch Orlando City vs New York City FC

• Teams: Orlando City vs New York City FC
• Location: Exploria Stadium
• Time: Wednesday, May 17 at 7:30 pm ET
• How to watch: Univision networks TUDN and UniMas, ESPN Deportes, Telemundo and Fox Deportes