Our prediction for this MLS match:
Sporting Kansas City will be looking to build on a 2-1 win over New York Red Bulls when they take on Orlando City at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday. The Wizards kicked off the 2021 MLS campaign in style, and given the number of absentees in the away team, home win should be considered. Sporting Kansas City boss Peter Vermes should have a full squad to choose from for the first home game of the season.
The Lions, on the other hand, failed to impress in a goalless draw with Atlanta United, and seeing that all Jansson, Moutinho, and Rosell are sidelined with injuries, we believe that there is a big value in betting on the home team. You should bear in mind that Orlando City emerged triumphant in each of the previous two meetings with Orlando City in the Major League Soccer.
Highlighted Player (Felipe Gutierrez):
Filipe Gutierrez is a Spanish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for La Liga side Real Betis. The Chilean international is capable of playing as both attacking and left midfielder as well and he started his senior career at Universidad Catolica.
He scored 19 goals in 65 appearances for los Cruzados, but in 2012 he decided to move to Europe. Gutierrez signed a deal with Eredivisie side Twente in June 2012 for a fee of $4 million. After making 94 league appearances for Twente he joined La Liga team Real Betis on 6 July, 2016. Felipe Gutierrez won Copa America with Chile in 2015 as La Roja defeated star-studded Argentina in the title game. Speaking of his club honours, Gutierrez won the 2010 Primera division de Chile trophy with Universidad Catolica.
It has to be noted that he was named Most Valuable Player of the Eredivisie for the 2013/2014 campaign. Felipe Gutierrez earned his 27th cap for Chile in a 4-1 win over Venezuela in the World Cup qualifiers in March 2016.
Highlighted Team (Orlando City):
Orlando City are a member of the Eastern Conference in Major League Soccer. The Lions have been participating in the major league since 2015 and they host their rivals at Orlando City Stadium. The venue was opened in February, 2017 and the construction of the stadium cost $155 million. Orlando City finished the 2015 MLS season in seventh place in the Eastern Conference and they failed to make it to the play-offs in the 2016 season as well (8th place).
Brazilian ace Kaka is undisputedly the club’s most famous player and the former Real Madrid and Milan man became the highest-paid player in MLS history. His base salary was $6.6 million per year and it has to be noted that the Brazilian superstar found the net on his Orlando City debut against FC Dallas (friendly). Orlando City’s home kit is violet, while they wear white and violet shirts and white socks on the travels. The club’s official mascot is Kingston the Lion.