MATCH PREVIEW: New York Red Bulls vs. Orlando City

NEW YORK RED BULLS vs ORLANDO CITY SC

  • RED BULL ARENA, Harrison, N.J.
  • September 25, 2015 (WEEK 30, MLS Game #298)
  • 7 p.m. ET (UniMas)
  • #NYvORL


2015 records:

  • NY: 14-8-6; 9-2-2 at home
  • ORL: 9-13-8; 4-8-3 on the road


Last meeting: Red Bulls took inaugural matchup, 2-0, in July at Florida Citrus Bowl


The New York Red Bulls return home on Friday to begin a three-game homestand with a  match against Orlando City SC at Red Bull Arena. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., with coverage on Univision and Red Bulls Internet Radio. Sirius XM Channel 85 will also carry the Red Bulls English radio broadcast nationwide.


This will be Orlando City's first visit to Red Bull Arena. The teams have met once already in 2015, with the Red Bulls taking a 2-0 victory at the Florida Citrus Bowl in July.


New York enters at 14-8-6 after two games last week. The Red Bulls fell in New England last Wednesday, 2-1, but rebounded with a convincing 2-0 win in Portland on Sunday to become the first team to clinch a berth in the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs.


Felipe and Damien Perrinelle scored minutes apart at the end of the first half, while Luis Robles earned his ninth shutout of the season, and 28th of his MLS career, in his 100th consecutive league start for New York.


Mike Grella has two goals in his last two starts against Chicago and New England. Grella, who came off of the bench in Portland, has seven goals and seven assists this season, each tied for second-most on the team. Grella also scored a late goal in the first meeting with Orlando City. Sacha Kljestan, who scored the game winner at Orlando, has six goals and a team-high 10 assists this season.  


Orlando City currently sits in seventh place in the East, one point out of the final playoff spot with a 9-13-8 record.


Cyle Larin, the first overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, leads the Lions with 11 goals this season. Brazilian star Kaka is second on the team with nine goals, and tied for the team lead with four assists. Defender Luke Boden also has a share of the team lead with four helpers on the season.


Orlando City has won two straight, defeating Sporting Kansas City 3-1 before downing Chicago 1-0 last weekend. The wins snapped a seven game winless streak for Orlando. The club is 4-8-3 on the road in its first MLS season.


After Friday, the Red Bulls remain home for matches against Columbus on October 3 and Montreal on Wednesday, October 7.