Welcome to your match thread for this afternoon’s match-up between Orlando City (2-1-0, 6 points) and the New York Red Bulls (2-2-1, 7 points). This is the first of two scheduled meetings between the Eastern Conference rivals in 2017. The return leg takes place at Red Bull Arena on Saturday, Aug. 12.
Orlando City is coming off its first loss of 2017, a 2-0 decision against the Columbus Crew at Mapfre Stadium last Saturday. The Red Bulls are 0-2-1 in their last three matches after winning their first two games of the season.
The Lions were 0-2-1 against New York in 2016 and are just 1-3-1 in five meetings across their first two seasons in Major League Soccer, including 0-1-1 at home, although both games came in the club’s former home stadium.