Top Five Candidates to Become Orlando’s MLS Rival

Orlando City takes the field in MLS in 2015 and, over time, a team will emerge that will infuriate our fan base and become the most hated team in all the land. Rivalries are forged over time, owing to on-field incidents, displays of poor sportsmanship, injuries or some other unexpected flashpoint.

Whether through a nasty challenge leading to a red card, a team-vs.-team brawl, or some other unforeseen event, Orlando City will develop a hated rival—some team that our fans will come to detest above all others. Which team that might be—and it’s possible that team isn’t even in MLS as of yet—remains to be seen. But why wait? Let’s talk about the top candidates before a single ball has even been kicked, because it’s fun and that’s all we can do at this point.

NYCFC

There are multiple reasons why New York City FC might become the most hated team among Lions fans. First of all, they’re from New York. Everyone outside of the greater New York area tends to detest New York teams. Call it a media bias toward the East Coast, the New York market itself, or a city-to-city inferiority complex, other towns tend to resent New York. This alone could build animosity.

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The Weekend in Soccer…(11/10/14)

It was a quiet weekend for Orlando City news. The club held its Play Bingo Ladies Luncheon, presented by Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, on Saturday at the Rosen Plaza Hotel—providing a day of bingo, champagne, mimosas and prizes from Tiffany’s for those in attendance.

The Orlando City Foundation is doing good work in the Orlando area, making the world a better place for the children of Central Florida.

In other news, Tommy Redding and Tyler Turner left to join the U.S. U-20 team on its trip to Spain, in preparation for U-20 FIFA World Cup qualifying in January 2015. The U-20 team will compete in three matches in Marbella while overseas. The U.S. will take on Russia (U-21), the Republic of Ireland and Canada.

MLS Playoffs Week 2: What to Watch For

I’ve always enjoyed the pageantry of the home and away playoff format. The first week is cautious, guarded, conservative. The visiting team often playing for a tie from the opening whistle. The hosts, wanting to win, but knowing that conceding even a single goal could doom their chances from the start.

The second leg flips that all on it’s head. It’s frantic. It’s do or die. There’s no ambiguity on what result is needed. Restraint is gone in favor of the relentless pursuit of the result that the team needs to advance. And that’s why this may well be one of the most exciting weekends of the year in MLS.

We’ve put together a preview with our predictions for the matches here, but by all means, check out SB Nation’s awesome MLS Cup Playoffs Guide as well.