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Seattle-Orlando City Preview

Orlando City is looking to build off last week's impressive performance in new coach Jason Kreis' debut, when the Seattle Sounders, who also are adjusting to a new coach, visit for a nationally televised Sunday matinee at Camping World Stadium.

Kreis, in his return to MLS, saw his Lions come from behind to beat the New England Revolution 3-1 last Sunday. Orlando midfielder Kevin Molino had two goals in the second half and assisted on Cyle Larin's goal at the end of the first half to fuel the victory.

"The objective at home is always going to be three points, but more important than that is the performance. Can we improve over the performance we had last week?" Kreis told the team's website.

Kreis spent last season leading New York City FC in its inaugural campaign. He was let go at the end of the season and was hired by Orlando City in July.

Kreis has emphasized defense since taking over for Adrian Heath. He liked what he saw against New England, but said Seattle presents another big challenge.

"Seattle has very gifted attacking players with the addition of their No. 10 1/8Nicolas 3/8 Lodeiro," Kreis told the team's website. "We know Clint Dempsey, he's dangerous every time he's on the ball. Then you've got a player like Jordan Morris who is looking to stretch the field. There are very, very dangerous attacking players and very, very hungry team with the removal of their head coach."

Seattle named Brian Schmetzer as interim coach after longtime Sounders frontman Sigi Schmid was let go in late July. Schmid was the only coach the Seattle franchise had ever had.

Schmetzer employed a new 4-2-3-1 formation in a 1-1 draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy last Sunday. The Sounders were buoyed by a 90-minute performance from new acquisition Nico Lodeiro, who came over from Argentina in late July and made an immediate impact with 124 touches, fourth-most in MLS this season.

Orlando City (5-5-11) enters Sunday's match in sixth place just below the red line on the Eastern Conference table with 26 points. Seattle (6-12-3) is in ninth place in the Western Conference with 21 points.

This will be the second meeting between the two franchises. The Sounders hammered Orlando City 4-0 last season in the Lions' inaugural season.

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