These are trying times for Orlando City for sure. The Lions are still clinging to hopes of getting into the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, but they're running out of time to change their standing in the bottom of the pack. Sunday's match against New York City FC looms large for sure, especially with new OCSC boss Jason Kreis going against the team that canned him after just one season a year ago.
This MLS duel will go down Sunday, August 28, 2016, at 7 p.m. ET at Camping World Stadium. The match will be televised live on FOX Sports 1.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Orlando City +115
New York City FC +240
Draw +230
Over/Under 3
Odds Analysis
Orlando City is favored in this match, but the margin isn't nearly as convincing as you might have thought earlier in the season. The Lions are +115 moneyline favorites, and it's hard to argue with that being the case knowing that home field advantage is worth a boatload in this league.
However, NYCFC has been the best road team in the MLS this season with a league-best six wins away from home, and that makes this test a truly trying one for the men in purple.
The total of 3 with -125 vig on the over is one of the highest you'll ever seen for an MLS match.
Key Injuries
Orlando City is hoping to have Kevin Molino on the pitch for this one. He's got a hamstring injury and is officially classified as day-to-day, and not having him in the midfield, especially with Pedro Ribeiro and Cristian Higuita both out with injuries could end up being a real hassle for Kaka and the rest of the Lions in the center of the pitch.
Part of NYCFC's success this season has stemmed from the good fortune of good health. The team only has Connor Brandt and Shannon Gomez on the injury report, and the team has known for quite some time that neither is coming back in 2016.
Recent Form
Orlando City took a big step in the wrong direction on Wednesday night when it was beaten by Toronto, and the last thing it can afford is a second straight home defeat in a span of just a few days. The Lions now have just two points to show for their last four matches, and that obviously won't get the job done.
New York City meanwhile, just continues to roll. The club was impressive in a 1-0 win over LA last weekend at Yankee Stadium, and that's now four straight matches with at least one point since getting whooped by the hated Red Bulls on July 24.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Between David Villa, Frank Lampard and Kaka, the stars will certainly be out in this match in Orlando, and that should make this a great game for the neutral observer.
Unfortunately for Orlando City though, these two teams aren't close to each other in terms of skill, especially if Molino doesn't end up playing as is feared to be the case.
New York City FC has really turned on the jets in Year 2 of its existence, leaving its fellow 2015 expansion club in the dust while it tries to pick up the pieces of a failed tenure at the top flight by beloved Adrian Heath. Kreis was canned from New York City FC for a reason, and one of those is the fact that his defense looked like Swiss cheese in the Bronx. Bad news. It's worse in Orlando.
If City can't figure out how to get its act together at the back, it isn't going to matter who is playing in the midfield. The Lions are in a lot of trouble, and we think they're going to be set to drop another one at home to fall potentially too far out of the playoff race with just a handful of matches left to play.
MLS Odds: New York City FC 3, Orlando City 1
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