Rapids-Orlando City Preview
Although Orlando City had a five-game unbeaten streak snapped its last time out, the surprising club still has a four-game run without a loss at home.
Orlando City looks to resume its rise in the Eastern Conference when it hosts the last-place Colorado Rapids on Wednesday night.
A 2-0 loss to Montreal on Saturday stopped Orlando City's 3-0-2 streak, as the club was shut out for fifth time in 2015 after scoring 11 goals in the previous five games.
"We have to get over this past weekend. We take any positives that we can after the game, and there were a couple," coach Adrian Heath told the team's official website. "The most important thing now is that we're trying to maintain the confidence of the group and go into another game positively."
Orlando City (5-6-5) has reason to feel optimistic as it returns home. The club's four-game unbeaten run there consists of victories over defending champion Los Angeles and East-leading D.C. along with ties against New England and Columbus - both of which were the result of Orlando rallies.
Orlando City trailed 1-0 on Saturday until the Impact added a goal in stoppage time. The Lions were also playing for the third time in seven days, including a U.S. Open Cup game in Charleston, S.C. last Wednesday.
"I thought our two central midfield players were excellent," Heath said. "I thought at times (Rafael Ramos) did some really good stuff. I thought Sean St. Ledger was outstanding."
A victory over Colorado would provide a nice bounce-back result as Orlando City heads into a five-day break. The club has moved into third in the East with its recent strong play.
"It's a big game for us to get three points and not drop in the table. If we win this game, we'll just get closer to first place in the standings and just progress as the season goes on," said rookie forward Cyle Larin, second on the team with five goals.
The Rapids (2-4-9) have fewer losses than all but one club in the West but their conference-high draw total has left them five points behind Houston, the second-to-last team in the standings.
Colorado was happy to earn a tie Friday as Dillon Serna scored in the 88th minute for a 1-all home draw with FC Dallas. The Rapids, though, have gone 0-2-2 in their last four and have one win in 10 games.
They've scored no more than one goal in all but one match this year.
"Midweek you saw a guy that was goal-dangerous and hungry," coach Pablo Mastroeni said of Serna. "I think those two things are what we need right now. Tonight Dillon did a really good job of that. Hopefully it becomes contagious, and we get that going."
Colorado and Orlando City have never met. The Lions are 3-1-1 against the West.