ORLANDO, Fla. -- For a team still without a home win this season, Orlando City SC believe they have discovered that elusive, all-important quality – momentum.
Despite picking up just one point from their first three games at the Citrus Bowl, the Lions have claimed seven of nine on the road, hence the players believe they can consolidate their position in the Eastern Conference’s top three as they take on Columbus Crew on Saturday in Ohio (7:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE).
“In any sport you need momentum to be at the top,” insisted center back Seb Hines. “And if we can get the win at Columbus, that will build momentum for the rest of the season.
“We are going into the game very positive on the back of a good win at Portland and we will certainly go to Columbus full of confidence like we did last week, even though we are relatively new and still learning about this league.”
Trinidadian midfielder Kevin Molino is equally convinced Orlando have quickly built up some significant road mojo, despite their tribulations at home.
“We had a magnificent win at Portland and it is definitely a question of, keep working hard and keeping the momentum going,” he confirmed. “We have had a great attitude and mindset from every player in our away games and if we keep the same mentality we will come out victorious.
“We know we have given up some points we shouldn’t have at home, but we just have to make up for it on the road.”
Adrian Heath’s outfit are quickly earning a reputation as road warriors and the City head coach has also shown he is not afraid to think outside the box in setting up his lineup away from Florida.
He has used three completely different formations in their road games and insists Crew SC represents a different challenge that will deter him from using his favored 4-2-3-1 system.
“Columbus probably play as close to us more than any other team in the league,” he said before taking the team flight to Ohio. “They have a really good shape and everyone knows their roles and responsibilities, so it’s going to be a difficult evening for us.
“But, if that means changing our system as a result, then I am open to that. Every decision you make should be for one aim – to win the next game.”
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Heath deployed all three of his defensive midfielders against the Timbers, albeit with Darwin Ceren in a more advanced position, and he has the opportunity to field the same starting XI for the first time this season.
However, City will want to get skipper Kaká in more central positions than they did at Portland, where he was a peripheral figure for long stretches. Hence Heath could well tinker with the formation yet again, pushing his Brazilian ace closer to rookie forward Cyle Larin, who will be making his second start after his full goalscoring debut at Portland.
The only other question centers around left back Brek Shea, who will be evaluated for a starting role after his midweek outing for the US national team in their big 2-0 win over Mexico. If Heath and his coaches decide two and a half games in the space of seven days is too much even for Shea, Luke Boden will make his second start of the season.
