Orlando City vs Cruz Azul Prediction: Orlando City is favored to win 1-1 (advancing on penalties) against Cruz Azul in this Leagues Cup Round of 32 match, leveraging their home advantage and recent form despite Cruz Azul’s resilience.
The Leagues Cup heats up as Orlando City prepares to host Cruz Azul in a crucial Round of 32 matchup at Inter & Co Stadium. Both teams will be eager to advance in this intriguing cross-league competition between MLS and Liga MX sides.
Match Details
Date: August 10, 2024
Time: 12:30 AM ET
Venue: Inter & Co Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Match Preview
This Round of 32 clash promises to be a tightly contested affair. Orlando City will look to leverage their home advantage and recent good form to progress in the tournament. However, they’ll need to be wary of Cruz Azul’s resilience and ability to grind out results in high-pressure situations.
Orlando’s attack, led by the likes of McGuire and Facundo Torres, will aim to break down a Cruz Azul defense that has proven difficult to penetrate. On the other hand, Cruz Azul’s counter-attacking prowess could pose problems for Orlando’s backline.
The midfield battle will be crucial, with Orlando’s Araujo and Cartagena facing off against Cruz Azul’s experienced duo of Romo and Rivero. Whichever team can control the tempo and create more chances for their forwards is likely to have the upper hand.
Recent Form
Orlando City
Orlando City enters this match in solid form, unbeaten in their last seven matches across all competitions. Their group stage performance was impressive, finishing top of East 2 with 5 points. However, they’ve struggled to secure victories in regulation time recently, with their last group match against Atlético San Luis ending in a penalty shootout win after a 1-1 draw.
Cruz Azul
Cruz Azul had a more challenging group stage, finishing second in East 4. They’ve shown resilience, going undefeated in their last few matches, but have relied on penalty shootouts to advance. Their most recent Leagues Cup match saw them overcome Philadelphia Union on penalties after a hard-fought 0-0 draw.
Head-to-Head
This will be the first-ever meeting between Orlando City and Cruz Azul, adding an element of unpredictability to the encounter.
Injury Updates
Orlando City
- Michael Halliday: Still recovering from a knee injury
- Mason Stajduhar: Out for the season
- Kyle Smith: Suspended due to a red card in the previous match
Cruz Azul
- Carlos Vargas: Questionable with a foot injury, but may be available for selection
Orlando City vs Cruz Azul Lineups and Formation
Orlando City Lineup (4-2-3-1): Torres, Araujo, Thorhallsson, Lodeiro, McGuire, Brekalo, Cartagena, Santos, Gallese, Ojeda, Jansson
Cruz Azul Lineup (4-4-2): Faravelli, Rivero, Sanchez, Romo, Piovi, Sepulveda, Mier, Ditta, Giakoumakis, Guerrero, Rotondi
Key Players to Watch
Orlando City
Duncan McGuire: The young forward returned from Olympic duty with the U.S. team and could play a crucial role in Orlando’s attack.
Pedro Gallese: The experienced goalkeeper’s penalty-saving heroics in the group stage could prove vital if the match goes to a shootout.
Cruz Azul
Carlos Rotondi: Scored Cruz Azul’s only goal in their previous match and will be a threat going forward.
Kevin Mier: The goalkeeper’s crucial save in the penalty shootout against Philadelphia Union showcased his ability to perform under pressure.
Where to Watch?
Fans can catch all the action live on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Orlando City vs Cruz Azul Live Streaming and TV Schedule for Countries
- USA: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
- Mexico: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
- UK: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
- Canada: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
- Germany: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
- France: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
- Spain: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
- Italy: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
- Australia: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
- Japan: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Who Will Win?
Given Orlando City’s home advantage and slightly better form, they might edge this encounter. However, Cruz Azul’s tournament experience and resilience can’t be underestimated.
Predicted Score: Orlando City 1-1 Cruz Azul (Orlando City to advance on penalties)
This match has all the ingredients for an exciting Leagues Cup knockout clash, with both teams eager to progress to the next round. Football fans should expect a closely fought battle with moments of individual brilliance potentially deciding the outcome.
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