For the first time since 1998, a Major League Soccer expansion club plays their first-ever match against a fellow expansion side.
At 5 p.m. ET today, New York City FC kicks off against Orlando City SC in front of a sold-out crowd of 60,000 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla. The match will be televised nationally on ESPN2 and broadcast on 970AM and WQBU 92.7 FM.
The last time two expansion clubs squared off in their inaugural MLS matches was when the Chicago Fire played the Miami Fusion on March 21, 1998. The Fire won the match 2-0, becoming the only expansion side to win their first-ever match on the road.
Here's how MLS clubs have faired in their inaugural matches:
<strong>DATE</strong> |
<strong>EXPANSION CLUB</strong> |
<strong>OPPONENT</strong> |
<strong>VENUE</strong> |
<strong>RESULT</strong> |
3/15/98 |
Miami Fusion |
D.C. United |
Home |
2-0 loss |
3/21/98 |
Chicago Fire |
Miami Fusion |
Away |
2-0 win |
4/2/05 |
Real Salt Lake |
New York Red Bulls |
Away |
0-0 draw |
4/2/05 |
Chivas USA |
D.C. United |
Home |
2-0 loss |
4/2/06 |
Houston Dynamo |
Colorado Rapids |
Home |
5-2 win |
4/7/07 |
Toronto FC |
Chivas USA |
Away |
2-0 loss |
4/4/08 |
San Jose Earthquakes |
Los Angeles Galaxy |
Away |
2-0 loss |
3/20/09 |
Seattle Sounders |
New York Red Bulls |
Home |
3-0 win |
3/26/10 |
Philadelphia Union |
Seattle Sounders |
Away |
2-0 loss |
3/19/11 |
Vancouver Whitecaps |
Toronto FC |
Home |
4-2 win |
3/20/11 |
Portland Timbers |
Colorado Rapids |
Away |
3-1 loss |
3/10/12 |
Montreal Impact |
Vancouver Whitecaps |
Away |
2-0 loss |
Expansion sides are 4-7-1 in their MLS debut since 1998. Clubs playing their inaugural match at home are 3-2, but a perfect 3-0 since Houston's win in 2006.
Vancouver is the only expansion side to win their league debut in the last five years. Philadelphia Union (2010), Portland Timbers (2011) and Montreal Impact (2012) all lost their inaugural league match by two goals.
World Cup winners
This afternoon's match features a pair of World Cup winners.
New York City FC forward David Villa hoisted the 2010 World Cup with Spain, while Orlando City SC midfielder Kaka won the trophy in 2002 with Brazil.
The duo join a select list of former World Cup winners to play in MLS:
<strong>PLAYER</strong> |
<strong>WORLD CUP</strong> |
<strong>MLS CLUB</strong> |
<strong>DEBUT SEASON</strong> |
<strong>APPEARANCES</strong> |
<strong>MLS GOALS</strong> |
Branco |
Brazil (1994) |
MetroStars |
1997 |
11 |
1 |
Lothar Matthaus |
West Germany (1990) |
MetroStars |
2000 |
16 |
0 |
Youri Djorkaeff |
France (1998) |
N.Y. Red Bulls |
2005 |
40 |
10 |
Denilson |
Brazil (2002) |
FC Dallas |
2007 |
8 |
1 |
Thierry Henry |
France (1998) |
N.Y. Red Bulls |
2010 |
135 |
52 |
Alessandro Nesta |
Italy (2006) |
Montreal Impact |
2012 |
31 |
0 |
Kleberson |
Brazil (2002) |
Philadelphia Union |
2013 |
11 |
1 |
