ORLANDO, Florida (September 3, 2021) – Orlando City SC (9-4-8, 35 points) will face Columbus Crew (7-9-6, 27 points) in the final game of a three-game home game on Saturday, September 4th at Exploria Stadium. . Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET with coverage scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. ET on FOX35 PLUS.
Presented by Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, the game will kick off Major League Soccer’s Kick Childhood Cancer Month. In addition to being broadcast locally on FOX35 PLUS, Saturday’s game will also be streamed on LionNation TV, while on Real Radio 104.1 it will be broadcast in English and Acción 97.9FM, 810AM in Spanish. Cards are available here or by calling (855) ORL-CITY.
“Columbus is a rival who has been struggling lately, but we only see this as data and we know we need to prepare as well as we can. Knowing the rival, we haven’t played against him this year, but last year as one of the best teams in Major League Soccer to win the championship, ”said head coach Oscar Pareja. “That should be an additional motivation for everyone. The importance of the game, the rival, there is a need to just get points. I’m happy to play against Columbus here. As always, the boys trained hard and prepared as well as possible. “
City will be on the lookout for the seventh result in a row on Saturday night while also achieving a winning streak of four games against the crew that goes back to 2018. The last time the two teams competed against each other on November 4, 2020, a game in which Benji Michel scored a late game winner in the 84th minute despite the home side losing a man.
The Lions come into play after a goalless draw with Inter Miami CF last Friday. Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese scored two saves on his return to the line-up to mark his fifth shutout of the season and seventh overall for the club this year.
Nani leads the Lions with nine goals this season, followed by Michel with four. Mauricio Pereyra holds the team up with eight assists, Nani follows with six.
Columbus heads into the weekend after beating rivals FC Cincinnati in his last game. A brace from Miguel Berry in the 81st and 82nd minutes respectively led the crew to a home win at Lower.com Field.
Lucas Zelarayan leads the crew this year with seven goals, followed by Gyasi Zardes with four. Zelarayan is also level with Pedro Santos for the team with three assists a year.
After Saturday’s game, the Lions will head out against Atlanta United FC on Friday, September 10 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium at 7 p.m. ET.
