June 24, 2021 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Orlando City SC News Release
A Cash Club-Record
With the assist on Benji Michel’s first goal of the evening on Tuesday night, Chris Mueller tied former Lions’ captain Kaká for the Club’s all-time assist record, tallying the 22nd helper of his professional career. Mueller has now tallied 41 goal contributions since being drafted sixth-overall at the 2018 MLS SuperDraft with 19 goals to add, currently tied for the team lead with four assists this campaign.
Another Tesho Tally
Lions forward Tesho Akindele tallied his sixth goal contribution in seven matches for City on Tuesday night, recording his fourth assist of the year on Benji Michel’s 90th-minute finish to match his career high set in the 2016 MLS season. Akindele trails only Nani on the team in goals scored this year with three finishes, including two game-winners, thus far this season.
He’s Back…
Daryl Dike recorded his first start on Tuesday night since his loan spell at Barnsley FC, tallying a brace in the contest with a goal on each side of the break. Dike first took a through ball from Nani around Earthquakes’ goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski to slot in the finish, before getting his head on the end of a cross from the Lions’ captain in the 49th to secure a brace on the evening. Dike now has 10 goals to his credit since being drafted fifth-overall at the 2020 MLS SuperDraft.
On the Board
Homegrown forward Benji Michel found the back of the net for the first time this year on Tuesday night against San Jose, tallying the first multi-goal performance of his professional career with a brace in the match. Michel now has 14 goals in three seasons as a professional, with four assists to add to that total.
Captain of Efficiency
Nani extended his team lead to five goals this season on Tuesday night, converting from the penalty spot in the seventh minute of play to open the scoring in the match. The Lions’ captain now has seven total goal contributions in seven appearances this season, with two assists in addition to his five finishes, both of which came on Tuesday. With his goal on Tuesday, Nani took sole possession of second in Club-history with 26 goals as a Lion, passing former Lions’ captain Kaká, while joining both Kaká and Chris Mueller as the only members in Club-history to reach 20 assists as a Lion.
Against Miami
Orlando City and Inter Miami split the series a year ago, each totaling a pair of victories through four contests in 2020. The Lions took both victories in Central Florida, the first of which came in the MLS is Back Tournament opener and the inaugural match between the two clubs, thanks to a 97th-minute game-winner from Nani. The latter came on Sept. 12 in Inter Miami’s first visit to Exploria Stadium, another 2-1 victory for Orlando City by way of a Mauricio Pereyra game-winner.
Milestone Tracker
Chris Mueller is four appearances away from tying Cristian Higuita for the most in club history in all competitions (108).
Uri Rosell is six appearances away from 100 in his MLS career, not including playoffs. Rosell has appeared in 51 regular-season games for Orlando City and 43 for Sporting Kansas City.
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