FRISCO—North Texas SC looks to maintain its perfect record to start the season against Orlando City B on Saturday at Toyota Stadium. It’s the second time in three weeks the two clubs will face off in Frisco with North Texas winning the previous meeting 1-0 courtesy of an own goal by Orlando defender Matheus Silva. The match is also part of a doubleheader with FC Dallas vs. New York Red Bulls which kicks off at 1 PM with North Texas kicking off immediately after the conclusion of their game.
Current Form
North Texas won its fourth game of the season in its first-ever away match over the weekend. The three points propelled the club into first place in USL League One for the first time—and with two fewer games played than Tormenta FC and Richmond Kickers residing in second and third place respectively. Although North Texas has only scored a solitary goal in each of its last three games, its defense has stepped up and registered three shutouts in a row to keep the winning streak alive. With League One and North Texas' leading scorer Ricardo Pepi still away with the U-17 USMNT, head coach Eric Quill’s defense will again be crucial if the team is to maintain its 100% start to the season.
The Opponent
Bottom of the table Orlando City B is still searching for its first USL League One win. However, recent performances have shown that the team is more dangerous than its record would have you believe. In its last outing, Orlando City drew 0-0 with Chattanooga Red Wolves at home at Montverde Academy. Although unable to score, Orlando outshot the Red Wolves 21 to 12 and had the majority of possession. Similarly, in the first meeting between North Texas and Orlando, the Floridians proved a tough opponent to break down and the lone-goal of the game came through a fortunate own goal from a deflected corner kick. Although still winless, Orlando has been showing signs of improvement and it certainly won’t be long until the team’s performances earn them their first three points in USL League One.
The Matchup
This will be the first repeat opponent for both North Texas and Orlando City B having played each other just three weeks prior. With so little time in between games, it’s likely the game will play out in a similar manner to the previous fixture. In that game, North Texas enjoyed 56% possession but struggled to turn it into meaning goal-scoring chances. Eric Quill’s team will need to be more creative and incisive in the final third if they’re going to avoid the near-stalemate of the previous match. In April’s meeting, Orlando City was dangerous on the counterattack early on but were unable to maintain it throughout the match and resorted to ambitious shots from outside the box. Should Orlando get its first win of the season on Saturday, head coach Fernando Jose De Argila Irurita must find a more reliable source of attack to breakdown North Texas’ league-leading defense.
Players to Watch
Midfielder Alfusainey Jatta is North Texas’ player to watch. The Gambian is fresh off his second USL League One Team of the Week inclusion and is looking like one of the brightest young players in the league. While Jatta is a midfielder by trade, he lined up in the center of North Texas’ defense in its most recent game with Greenville Triumph. In his first game as a center back for the club, Jatta had a standout performance making four tackles, nine clearances and winning six of his nine aerial duels to help the team keep its third clean sheet on the bounce. Whether he starts in his favored midfield position or reprises his new center back role, Jatta is certainly the player the keep an eye on for North Texas SC.
The player to watch for Orlando City is Brazilian midfielder Serginho. Although he typically lines up at the base of midfield, Serginho isn’t afraid of surging forward to join the attack. The Brazilian leads his team in both shots (13) and shots on target (5), although he is yet to find the back of the net with his efforts. The midfielder also has the second most passes (270) for Orlando this season and is a crucial player for linking its midfield with the attack.
