ORLANDO, Fla. (FOX 35 ORLANDO) - Orlando City SC (9-13-9, 36 points) heads back out on the road to face the Houston Dynamo (10-16-4, 34 points) on Saturday, Sept. 21. Kickoff is slated for 8:30 p.m. ET at BBVA Stadium.
Saturday's match will be locally televised on FOX35 Plus and available on YouTube TV and ESPN+ while being transmitted on Real Radio 104.1 FM in English and Acción 97.9 FM, 810 AM in Spanish.
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"I think we need to focus on performance. We aren't in a position now to be able to fully control our own destiny, so I think what we need to do is make sure that we get a strong performance in Houston, try to get three points in Houston and then see what happens after that," Head Coach James O'Connor said. "Houston I'm sure at home will be desperate to win the game as well, so we understand it's going to be a very tough game, tough conditions. It's a game where again we're excited and looking forward to."
The Lions enter Saturday's match following a 3-3 draw to New England Revolution last Saturday at Exploria Stadium. The Revs opened the scoring in the 15th minute of play off an own goal from Tesho Akindele, the first conceded by the Lions this year, only to be answered by a finish from the head of Nani seven minutes later. New England would then go on to score two unanswered before the break in the 35th and 41st minutes respectively. City responded in the second half with a finish off the head of Dom Dwyer in the 47th minute followed by Nani's second goal of the night in the 54th to secure a point from the match.
Nani now leads the Lions with 12 goals this season, coming off his third multi-goal performance of the year. The City captain also extended his team lead in assists to nine, earning the assist on Dwyer's finish in the 47th minute.
Houston comes into this weekend's matchup fresh off a 2-1 loss in Vancouver this past Saturday. Hwang In-Beom converted from the spot in the 54th minute to give the Whitecaps the lead, but the Dynamo answered in the 78th with a finish from Mauro Manotas. Vancouver found the game-winner however in the 90th minute with a goal from Fredy Montero to take all three points at home.
Manotas leads the Dynamo with 13 goals in 2019, followed by Alberth Elis with seven. Elis leads Houston in assists this season, having registered eight thus far.
Following Saturday's match, the Lions will remain on the road to face FC Cincinnati on Sunday, Sept. 29 before returning home to Exploria Stadium for their regular-season home finale on Sunday, Oct. 6 against the Chicago Fire.