On Thursday night, Orlando City B will host the Tampa Bay Rowdies for their second matchup of the 2017 USL season. Everyone knows that there is bad blood between the two local rivals: the Lions will be playing for pride and for points when they take the pitch Thursday night.
“It’s a huge game. Obviously there is more at stake than points, it’s local pride,” Head Coach Anthony Pulis said in training this week. “We know how much this means to the supporters, the hardcore supporters who have been here since Day One.”
The rivalry between Tampa and Orlando has always been important, going back to the days before Orlando City joined MLS.