Orlando City Soccer Hosts Charleston Battery in USL PRO Semi-Final Tonight
Orlando City SC (16-4-6, 54 points, No. 2 seed) hosts Charleston Battery (13-7-6, 45 points, No. 3 seed) tonight in the USL PRO Semifinals at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Kickoff for the game is set for 7:30 p.m. as the Lions look to get back to the USL PRO Championship for the first time since 2011.
“It is win or go home,” said Orlando City Head Coach Adrian Heath. “Charleston has enough weapons on their team to make it difficult for us. But as I’ve said on numerous occasions, I’m more concerned with how we approach the game.”
The Lions enter tonight’s semi-finals after thrashing Pittsburgh Riverhounds 5-0 last Saturday as Forward Long Tan scored his first brace of the season.
Orlando and Charleston have met twice this season, with the Lions holding a 1-0-1 (W-L-T) advantage. During their two meetings in July, Orlando drew 1-1 at Blackbaud Stadium before topping Charleston 1-1 in front of 8,729 supporters in Central Florida just a week later.
Charleston advanced past the Quarterfinal round of the postseason by knocking out the LA Blues 2-1. Forward Dane Kelly and Midfielder Michael Azira put the 2012 USL PRO Champions up 2-0 in the early stages of the game and they held firm despite a late rally by the Blues.
Counting Saturday’s victory, the Lions are 4-1-0 in postseason play in franchise history. The sole loss came last season in the Semifinals to the Wilmington Hammerheads, with Orlando falling 4-3 to the visiting side. The Lions won the 2011 USL PRO Championship on penalty kicks over the Harrisburg City Islanders.
Tickets for the playoff game are still available by calling (855) ORL-CITY. For more information on Friday’s Semifinal match, stay tuned to OrlandoCitySoccer.com.
