Storylines | Orlando City vs. Sporting KC

1 - Three Points Apiece

Orlando City and Sporting KC have split the all-time series with a home win apiece. On Sept. 13, 2015, Orlando City defeated Kansas City, 3-1, at home with help from an Adrian Winter brace and Bryan Róchez’s first career goal. The win kicked off City’s five-game winning streak, which is the longest such streak in the Club’s MLS era. 

Then on May 15, 2016, the Lions traveled to Children’s Mercy Park and grabbed the opening goal but fell, 2-1. Joe Bendik set the franchise single-game saves record with 10 and earned MLS Save of the Year for his back-to-back stops on Dom Dwyer and Graham Zusi. 

2 - There’s No Place Like Home

Orlando City set an MLS record when the Lions beat LA Galaxy 2-1 at home to become the first MLS team to open up a new stadium with four straight wins. Orlando City extended that record with a 2-0 defeat over Colorado. In five games at home this season, Orlando City has scored eight goals while conceding just two and has earned three clean sheets. Sporting KC, meanwhile, is just 1-2-2 away from home. 

3 - Sutter-Day Birthday

Scott Sutter is celebrating his 31st birthday on Saturday. Sutter has played every minute since making his Orlando City debut in Columbus on April 1. The English-born right back has two assists and has contributed to two of City’s three clean sheets this season. Sutter made the MLS Team of the Week bench in Week 9 after City’s 2-0 win over Colorado. 

Also celebrating a birthday this week was José Aja, who turned 24 on Wednesday. 

4 - Floridian Connection

Orlando City and Sporting Kansas City share several personnel connections. Servando Carrasco played nine games with Kansas City in 2015 before being acquired via trade in July 2015. Orlando City goalkeeper coach Tim Mulqueen is also familiar with Kansas City, having served as goalkeeper coach for the Wizards from 2000 to 2004. Additionally, Sporting KC mid elder Graham Zusi is from Longwood, Fla., and graduated from Lake Brantley HS. 

5 - Memory Lane

In addition to the shared personnel, Orlando City and Sporting Kansas City also share a club connection. In January 2013, City and Sporting entered into two-year partnership, making Orlando City the of cial USL PRO affiliate of SKC. The agreement brought players such as C.J. Sapong, Jon Kempin and Dom Dwyer to the City Beautiful and set the Lions up for the most successful year in Club history. 

City finished 2013 in second place, one point behind rst- place Richmond and nine points clear of third. The Lions routed Pittsburgh, 5-0, in the first round of the playoffs, and defeated Charleston to reach their second Final in three years. Dwyer returned on loan to Orlando for the title game and etched his name into Club history with four goals to capture the championship. Dwyer is unavailable for Saturday’s match due to yellow card accumulation. 

6 - For Club And Country

Orlando City will be without defender Tommy Redding, who was called up to the U.S. U-20 national team ahead of the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Korea Republic. The Oviedo, Fla., native has earned 15 caps for the U-20s and captained the squad at the 2016 Four Nations tournament in Manchester, England. 

Redding has made six starts among seven appearances for Orlando City in 2017 and has contributed to two clean sheets. Redding has started 23 matches for the Lions since making his debut on Aug. 8, 2015. Redding became Orlando City’s first Homegrown signing in March 2014. 

7 - First To Five

Toronto FC put together a five-game winning streak with its 2-1 win over Columbus Wednesday, which is the first streak since Orlando City’s five-game winning streak from September to October of 2015. The Lions made a fervent push for the playoffs in their inaugural season, beginning the streak with a 3-1 win over Sporting KC and then over the Chicago Fire, NY Red Bulls, Montreal Impact and NYCFC.