Last Sunday, a new era for Orlando sports began when the Orlando City Lions walked out onto the Citrus Bowl field for the franchise’s inaugural match as a Major League Soccer team. 62,500 fans, clad in purple and gold, filled the stadium to capacity as the Lions took on New York City Football Club.
It has been years since Orlando sports fans have been this excited. The city’s only other major sports franchise, the NBA’s Orlando Magic, has not been competitive for three years, and it was a breath of fresh air to root for a team with immediate playoff aspirations.
The Lions battled hard but found themselves down 1-0 with four minutes left to play. Just as Orlando fans were preparing for what they were most used to from sports – a loss – Midfielder Kaka scored a goal off of a free kick in the 90th minute. The game ended in a tie at 1-1, and Orlando City’s debut was not spoiled. Now, the Lions are heading to Houston and hope to secure their first win in franchise history.
For those who are not familiar with MLS, a game can end in a win, loss, or tie. The standings are determined by a point system, with a win being worth three points, a tie being worth one, and a loss being worth none. Orlando City’s tie earned them one point and a spot as the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference. This puts the Lions in the playoff picture at this very, very early point in the season.
Thanks to Kaka, the team’s designated player, Orlando City has a real shot at becoming only the third team in MLS history to make the playoffs in the team’s first season. The team also recently announced that they had increased capacity for their next home game to 23,000 due to popular demand. With interest in the club this high, it is very important that the team gets a win against Houston Dynamo.
In 1989, when the Magic joined the NBA as an expansion franchise, the team earned its first win quickly, defeating the New York Knicks in their second game. With every match that doesn’t result in a win for the Lions, pressure will build and fan interest will wane. Hopefully, the Lions will deliver on Friday in Houston.