Orlando City SC 1-1 New York City FC – as it happened

http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/mar/08/orlando-city-sc-vs-new-york-city-fc-live

Version 0 of 1.

7.14pm ET23:14

Final thoughts

Villa looking very frustrated on the sidelines after Kaka’s late intervention changed a game that looked to have drifted away from Orlando.

Overall a fair result over the course of the 90 minutes, though New York looked to have made their moves at the right time and will be annoyed to have let a lead against ten men slip.

Plenty of room for improvement from both teams however. Orlando’s defense remains a definite work-in-progress and it won’t be helped by Collin’s unnecessary suspension for that foul on Villa. But NYC’s defense too looked worryingly slow at times against the speed of Rivas in particular and if they’d had a weaker referee, more influenced by the crowd (they have been known in MLS...), they could have faced a couple of penalties.

Still, both teams can take something from this game and the league got their spectacle, if not a great showcase game. Still, as twitter puts it for the final word...

@KidWeil blood sweat toil and tears. That was enjoyable

Thanks for joining me. Good night.

7.08pm ET23:08

Final score: Orlando 1-1 NYCFC

Final thoughts in a moment

7.07pm ET23:07

90 mins+4: Official attendance of 62,510 confirmed. They still have a little more action to see here. Orlando playing keepball in the edge of the NYC box.

7.06pm ET23:06

90 mins+3: St.Ledger comes on for Rivas. now it’s Heath turn to try and hold what he has. Citrus Bowl in understandably more chipper mood right now.

7.05pm ET23:05

GOAL! ORLANDO 1-1 NYCFC (KAKA!)

About that Orlando folklore...Grabavoy commits a rash foul on Molino central and just under 25 yards out. Kaka’s free kick is headed towards one corner, but Brovsky’s touch on it gives it a huge deflection to the other side of the goal and Orlando are level!

We’ll have four minutes of stoppage time by the way. That took up the first one...

7.03pm ET23:03

90 mins: Shea is fouled wide left and Orlando have a free kick. Kaka sends it on low and Shea is called offside as he looks for a second decisive touch on it. Time running out for Orlando. Now Javier Calle is on for Nemec to further bolster Kreis’s midfield.

7.01pm ET23:01

88 mins: Diskerud comes out for Velasquez as Kreis makes his move for home.

7.00pm ET23:00

86 mins: Villa curls his free kick low and just wide. To the relief of Orlando fans, who must think the gods are against them. Expect the key moments of this game to enter Orlando fan folklore. But in truth they can have no complaints.

6.58pm ET22:58

Red Card for Orlando's Aurelien Collin!

Studs up challenge from Collin near the D, and he’s straight off. The partisan home crowd don’t like it, but that’s a good call from Alan Kelly, who’s been throughly unphased by the occasion.

Updated at 6.59pm ET

6.57pm ET22:57

84 mins: Diskerud had been a modest presence until the goal though there’d been signs just moments earlier that his reading of the game was going to pay dividends when he nearly played Shelton in. Very cool finish though.

Speaking of which, the immediate Orlando reaction has cooled again in this last couple of minutes. And now they’re in all sorts of trouble...

6.55pm ET22:55

82 mins: The free kick has Shea and Kaka over it. Kaka takes it and for a second the deflection off the wall looks to be playing in Rochez but Orlando have to settle for a corner. Saunders punches it clear. What do Orlando have left to save their big debut?

6.53pm ET22:53

80 mins: Ramos sprints forward down the right but his cross can’t find a purple shirt. Still Orlando press forward and Okugo picks up a free kick 25 yards out and central. They use the break to bring on their DP striker Rochez, who’ll replace Neal.

6.52pm ET22:52

78 mins: The bowl was silenced by the goal but now there are boos ringing out as Higuita goes tumbling in the box under pressure from Brovsky. And yet again, the referee gives not a penalty ut a yellow for embellishment.

6.50pm ET22:50

GOAL! ORLANDO 0-1 NYCFC (DISKERUD!)

Another short set piece, Villa picks it up on the left, drops his shoulder then slips the ball to Diskerud in space on the edge of the D. Diskerud looks up and curls a lovely shot around Ricketts and just inside the far post! NYC lead on the road!

6.49pm ET22:49

76 mins: Higuita tangles awkwardly with Brovsky and is left writhing on the turf as play moves forward.

Now we see the value of Diskerud as he launches a perfectly paced ball forward for Shelton to race onto, but he can’t quite shake off attention to get a clear shot. Still NYC have a corner...

6.47pm ET22:47

74 mins: Collin looked to misread the ball horribly on the edge of the box there, as Villa span off him and tried to pick up a lobbed pass forward from Brovsky. Villa couldn’t control the ball off the turf though and looks suitably disgusted with himself.

6.45pm ET22:45

72 mins: Awkward clearance by Wingert as a Shea cross causes some havoc in the NYC box. Now Neal steps up from midfield and drives a shot goalwards but it’s blocked. Still orlando press. Kaka’s in the mix on the edge of the box (he’s been quiet since early in the half) but the attack breaks down for a goal kick.

6.43pm ET22:43

70 mins: Shelton has begin to alter the dynamic of the game with those wide runs down the right — there’s a little space appearing for NYC’s attackers now.

6.43pm ET22:43

68 mins: Nemec should have done way better there. Acres of space for him as he picks up a pass from Shelton on the edge of the box, but with time to spare he blazes over.

6.42pm ET22:42

66 mins: Shea picks up the ball and tries to get a run going but immediately runs into traffic inside.

Game being played back in NYC’s half right now and it’s their turn to be pinned back by the opposition. The pace of Rivas still looks like it might be decisive difference between sides but...just as I type that NYC counter, Villa slips the ball out to the right and Shelton drives a low ball to the back post that’s just in front of Nemec and juuuuuust past said post. Orlando were off balance when they lost the ball.

6.38pm ET22:38

64 mins: Rivas caught offside again as he sprints clear, but not before he’s followed in and clattered Saunders who’d raced out to meet the danger. Now the game is stopped for Saunders to receive treatment again, as he’s bleeding from the spot where he was caught earlier in the game. He’s being cleaned up now, possibly with a copy of the MLS concussion protocol to wipe up the blood. Reserve keeper Akira Fitzgerald warming up, but doesn’t look like he’s coming in.

6.35pm ET22:35

62 mins: Kaka touches a little backheel from the free kick to give Rivas the angle for a shot. It’s a thunderous one that crashes low into the side netting. Saunders looked like he had it covered but a lot of fans in the crowd are cheering in the belief that went in. In the wake of that set piece Shelton just come on for Ballouchy for NYC’s first substitution.

6.34pm ET22:34

60 mins: Another short NYC free kick in the Orlando half, but perhaps a little more dynamism in their approach play now. They hold possession on the edge of the Orlando box looking for an opening and for a moment Orlando are pinned back. Finally Molino gets free down the right to release the pressure and feeds Higuita inside him. Brovsky swipes at him awkwardly just outside the right corner of the box and concedes a dangerous looking free kick, while picking up a yellow card.

6.31pm ET22:31

58 mins: Grabavoy barged off the ball in his own half, but no foul and now Orlando are attacking down the other flank. Shea drives a dangerous looking ball across goal, but Molino can’t get a decisive touch on it.

6.29pm ET22:29

56 mins: Nemec is wincing after a collision with Collin. NYC work the free kick to the left where Grabavoy and Brovsky combine, but the former loses the ball as he tries to skip to the byline. Goal kick. But NYC looking much more in this game right now.

6.28pm ET22:28

54 mins: We’ve seen more touches for Villa in the last couple of minutes than we have in the first half — a function of his team mates committing in support and giving the Orlando defense more to think about. His latest touch, a reverse pass behind Orlando lines, is just too strong for Brovsky’s foray forward.

NYC continuing to press now, but Orlando break suddenyl and Hernandez picks up a yellow for wrestling Rivas back when the Orlando man looked to have lost him on the turn. Cross is floated into the box and Seb Hines loops a header over the bar.

6.25pm ET22:25

52 mins: Out of nothing NYC force a chance, as Williams flashes a low cross across the NYC box and for once Villa loses Collin, but can’t quite reach the ball in the six yard box for the tap-in. Now it’s Orlando’s return to look rattled as there’s another sloppy giveaway that almost gifts Nemec a shot, but he looks as surprised as anyone to see the ball arrive at his feet on the edge of the box and can’t control it.

6.23pm ET22:23

50 mins: Clever, clever attempt by Molino, who looks to be screened on the edge of the box, but uses that situation to his advantage to trundle a deceptive shot goalwards. It has Saunders scrambling late to tip it round at full stretch when it was headed for the corner. NYC reeling right now and they need a goal line clearance to get the corner away too, as Orlando press hard.

6.21pm ET22:21

48 mins: Orlando straight on the attack to start the second half and they earn an early free kick with a foul on Rivas by Hernandez 35 yards out. It’s taken quickly and Higuita disguises a great little pass behind the NYC defense to Kaka in space on the left of the box. His cross is charged down for a corner, that in turn is punched clear by Saunders, but Orlando staring the second half promisingly.

6.19pm ET22:19

Start of second half

Peep! We’re off again. First ever second half played in a second era of Florida MLS, and first ever second half played in a first era of two New York MLS sides etc etc.

6.14pm ET22:14

More ennui from the beauty-seeking classes

Another email, from Dave Hill, who grows weary of this life:

“As much as I’m thinking how uninspiring this match is, I am reminded of the dire Liverpool/Blackburn match I watched this morning, and then I don’t feel so bad”

It’s not been great so far — fair to say these are two teams still learning their lines

Updated at 6.15pm ET

6.11pm ET22:11

An email on aesthetics

Mark Judd writes in from his salon:

“It’s a bit confusing that the TV coverage shows the score caption in the top left corner as both ORL and NYC as a light blue, therefore making it hard to work out which team is which. Would it be so difficult to show ORL in purple and NYC in light blue given they are the colours they are playing in.”

Perhaps both teams could play the second half in Mauve.

Updated at 6.15pm ET

6.09pm ET22:09

Half-time thoughts

Adrian Heath will be the happier manager at the half, with New York City rarely threatening his team’s goal and Villa effectively nullified by Collin’s reading of the game. In attack Kaka has looked lively and Rivas, had he timed his runs a little better, could well have opened Orlando’s MLS goals account already.

New York actually came out in more of a 4-2-3-1 than the diamond we’d expected, with Diskerud sitting deep, and as yet not turning that vantage point into any sort of platform to control the game from. Nemec has been the lone occasional outlet as a threat up front for Jason Kreis’s team, and with his team playing so narrow and the tempo so slow in the first half, Orlando have always been comfortably positioned to pick off most threats.

Perhaps NYC will play higher up the field in the second half, just as Toronto did in turning the game against Vancouver yesterday. They need to do something to bring Villa into the game, and offer another dimension, if they want to take more than a draw from their first ever MLS game.

And we neutrals would like a goal, so we can use our bold type and exclamation marks.

6.02pm ET22:02

Half-time: Orlando 0-0 NYCFC

Half-time thoughts in a moment

6.02pm ET22:02

45 mins +4: Make that one more chance. Orlando have a corner...nope, there’s an infringement in the box as it comes in and that’ll be that for the half.

6.00pm ET22:00

45 mins+3: Molino tries to cross from the right, but Jacobson blocks it and it loops back to Saunders.

NYC try an attack of their own, but not for the first time in this half Villa is closed down by Collin before he can turn for goal.

Still time for one more decent chance for Orlando as Kaka runs at the center of the box and the ball squirms free for Rivas on the left of the box, but he blazes his shot over.

5.58pm ET21:58

45 mins+1: The game is drifting towards the half with few standout moments to recommend it so far. Will we get one now? Wingert fouls Kaka 35 yards out. Chance for a delivery into the box. Kaka tries to knuckle one in, but it bounces tamely wide rather than trouble Saunders. Three minutes added on, by the way.

5.55pm ET21:55

44 mins: Some rare NYC pressing high up the field sees Jacobson winning the ball, stepping forward and hitting a shot high over the bar. A lot more direct than most of the team’s play so far in this half.

5.54pm ET21:54

42 mins: Molino goes down under pressure from Brovsky and again, the benefit of the doubt goes to the defender as Molino gets booked for simulation. That looked a little contentious. Perhaps by way of make up Mehdi Balluchy cheerfully upends Higuita for a rather more clear cut yellow card a moment later.

5.52pm ET21:52

40 mins: Collin has to be careful in dealing with an awkwardly bouncing ball as Villa follows in on his shoulder. He gets it safely back to Ricketts and Orlando attack again. Neal and Molino combine on the edge of the box and touch a perfect set up inside for Kaka who batters a swerving shot that Saunders barely has time to react to but forces away. That was traveling. Still Orlando 0-0 NYCFC

5.49pm ET21:49

38 mins: Shea cuts inside at pace and slips a sweet little ball behind the defense that has Saunders diving to smother it before Kaka can pounce. Nice little surge by Shea.

5.48pm ET21:48

36 mins: The pace has been fairly fitful so far, with Orlando showing the greater dynamism and New York seeming to conserve their energy in the heat and on the artificial turf magnifying said heat.

5.47pm ET21:47

34 mins: Ambling run by Diskerud takes him into traffic at the edge of the box, on one of the few occasions so far he’s been given a chance to get his head up. The attack broke down, but that was promising from the NYC man.

At the other end Kaka picks up a free kick central and some 35 yards out after deceiving Jacobson with a sharp turn. Rivas drives his free kick into the wall.

5.44pm ET21:44

32 mins: Villa crowded off ball on edge of Orlando box and Orlando try to break at speed again. But Rivas is offside again as he tries to beat the trap.

5.43pm ET21:43

30 mins: Diskerud sprays a ball out wide looking for Williams but the offisde whistle has gone.

5.42pm ET21:42

28 mins: Orlando’s turn to try some intricate approach play and it ends with a whipped Rivas shot from outside the box that takes a wicked deflection. Saunders is beaten but relieved to see the ball fly just over. From the corner some space opens up for Shea down the left and he surges past Jacobson then straight to the floor, where he’s greeted back up by an angry Jacobson and a yellow card for embellishment from the referee.

5.38pm ET21:38

26 mins: Nemec makes a neat little disguised pass for Grabavoy in space on the right of the box, yet despite a couple of chances at putting in dangerous balls, the attack ends with a tame Williams cross straight to Ricketts.

At the other end Kaka moves to the left of the field to try some interplay with Shea, that ends in a low angled shot from the Brazilian that’s easy for Saunders to claim.

5.36pm ET21:36

24 mins: Shea ends another Orlando attack by sending in a deflected cross that floats dangerously just over the bar with Saunders seeing it over. Corner...

...sent in head height at the near post where Nemec heads clear.

5.35pm ET21:35

22 mins: New York stroke the ball around at the back a bit, then try to ease forward patiently, ultimately earning a free kick after Diskerud is fouled some 45 yards out.

Again it’s played short and when Diskerud eventually tries to pick out Nemec over the top, Collin reads it well and loops a defensive header back to Ricketts. Nemec has been the best of a limited number of outlets up top for New York so far, with the Orlando midfield cutting the supply lines to Villa so far.

5.32pm ET21:32

20 mins: Orlando swarm forward as Higuita wins the ball in midfield and immediately tries to feed Rivas, who races clear, only to be flagged for offside. Another warning of what his pace can do however. Still Orlando 0-0 NYCFC but the home side just beginning to send out some warnings.

5.31pm ET21:31

18 mins: There’s a nasty looking lump on the back of Saunders head. You do have to wonder how his continuing squares with the concussion policies in the league. NYC not having a lot of luck with keepers so far — Ryan Meara got injured in pre-season.

5.29pm ET21:29

16 mins: ...and that looks nasty...Lewis Neal launches a very deep cross to the back post and as Josh Saunders backpedals to catch it, he’s caught by the onrushing Seb Hines who clatters into him and sends him crashing into the post, where he strikes the back of his head. He’s back on his feet after treatment now, but that looked very rough.

5.26pm ET21:26

14 mins: Kaka is first to a poorly cleared cross on the edge of the NYC box, but hooks his shot weakly wide.

Meanwhile the New York SoccerWarz rumbles on on Twitter, after someone takes exception to the description of an overcrowded NY soccer landscape:

@KidWeil some of that overcrowding could be alleviated if the Red Bulls changed their name to the NJ Red Bulls to reflect where they play

More as we get it. Orlando have a free kick out wide left...

5.24pm ET21:24

12 mins: Okugo is almost villain and hero in consecutive moments, but ends up as neither. A poor clearance almost gives a goalscoring chance to New York, then his better second threaded clearance almost sends Kaka away, but for a poor touch from the Brazilian (it happens).

5.23pm ET21:23

10 mins: ooooh, that was a decent chance for NYC — out of nothing. Some decent interplay higher up the field for once from NYC’s midfield, ends in Williams dinking in a floating ball into the box that finds Nemec onside and free to head on goal from distance. He can’t get his dropping header to drop on target though. He should have done better, but that was a well-worked chance from New York, who are settling now. Still 0-0 though.

5.21pm ET21:21

8 mins: NYC play their way out of trouble again, though they’re still looking a little fussy in the way they’re trying to inch up the field, and one unfortunate turnover could put them in a lot of trouble.

Still, they have a free kick in the Orlando half after Collin runs into the back of a deep-lying Villa. Again they take the lateral rather than direct route to goal, though, and the chance has gone.

5.18pm ET21:18

6 mins: Kaka barrels diagonally across midfield then drives forward into space, before slipping a ball through to the offside Rivas, who’s caught out by Hernandez and Wingert stepping up. A warning for NYC though, who are still being pinned, though not unduly stretched right now.

5.16pm ET21:16

4 mins: Orlando camped in the NYC half for the moment, though New York have the ball back and are trying to play their way out. Diskerud drops deep to pick up the ball and prods the ball forward towards Grabavoy, who’s clattered by Ramos for a free kick. Nothing comes of it though.

5.14pm ET21:14

2 mins: Immediate free kick for Orlando in the NYC half, which will allow Kaka to serve one in from the right. It was decent enough, but the subsequent header from Rivas was nothing to write home about.

5.13pm ET21:13

Kick Off

PEEP! Right we’re off. MLS is back in Florida, there are two MLS sides in New York, and a new era, and paragraph, is underway.

5.11pm ET21:11

National anthems

Sadly for Kaka, and the rest of us, the Brazilian anthem isn’t played so we don’t see 2014 style emotional patriotism spilling all over the field. Instead we see a close up of Mix Diskerud lost in a reverie to the Star Spangled Banner, though having seen his Twitter account, he may be hearing the complete works of Sun Ra with lyrics by Nietzsche.

Rather nice giant tifo of a lion rolls out at one end of the stadium.

5.06pm ET21:06

Inchy inches out

Adrian Heath has just strolled out onto the field, just beaming. Rather heartwarming to see. Players following now, with Villa and Kaka leading the respective teams. Fireworks, obligatory purple streamers and just the faintest line of pale blue in the middle of it all.

5.03pm ET21:03

More frank concern from Twitter

@KidWeil Starting Brek Shea at LB is truly baffling to me. It's a very Tony Pulisesque decision.

Surely the question is, can he do it on a sunny afternoon in Florida?

(subs ambling out now, featuring Sebastian Velasquez and his disappointingly modest hair — thought the move from RSL to New York would have really let him fly his freak flag)

5.00pm ET21:00

There’s always one on Twitter

New York SoccerWarz are go!

@KidWeil my thoughts are, #NYCOSMOS.

It’s got kind of crowded in New York this past couple of years... Red Bulls kicking off in Kansas City straight after this game and if today’s news is to be believed the Cosmos kicking off in...Cuba?

4.56pm ET20:56

Soon be underway...

Looks like standing room only at Citrus Bowl at the moment. This looks like it’s going to be the projected 62000 sell out that would make it the second-highest attended debut game in league history. Some 69000 were at the Galaxy’s first ever game at the Rose Bowl.

And there’s a lot of purple...

4.52pm ET20:52

Team News:

Orlando City: Ricketts; Ramos, Seb Hines, Collin, Shea; Okugo, Neal, Higuita, Kaka, Molino; Rivas

New York City: Saunders; Williams, Hernandez, Wingert, Brovsky; Jacobson, Ballouchy, Grabavoy, Diskerud; Nemec, Villa

4-2-3-1 for Orlando then, with the ageless Donovan Ricketts propping it all up at the back, and Brek Shea trying to rehabilitate his once promising career with the Orlando team. For NYC, it’s a very Jason Kreis midfield diamond headed by Mix Diskerud, and with Andrew Jacobson doing a (very loose) Kyle Beckerman approximation. Little and large up front with Villa and Nemec.

4.47pm ET20:47

Glad to be here...

Instead of a big purple party, this could all have been a very big embarrassment for MLS of course, with many players set on strike action, were not some version of free agency achieved in the collective bargaining agreement negotiations this week. Up until Tuesday night it looked like there was no resolution in sight, and there was a very real possibility of a work stoppage that could have wiped out the opening weekend.

With brand new TV deals in play (including what will now be the regular ESPN TV slot this game will be played in — followed by a Fox doubleheader), and frankly a never-ending battle of competing against the blanket coverage of the big European leagues, MLS could ill-afford to concede any ground on that front, so the owners ended up blinking first. They didn’t concede a huge amount financially, but the principle of free agency is here now and the next CBA could be a very interesting one indeed.

4.39pm ET20:39

The second most remarkable MLS event this weekend

The opening weekend of this 20th MLS season was always set to be dominated by this showcase event at the Citrus Bowl, but for longstanding followers of the fortunes of Jozy Altidore, Sunderland and Toronto FC, the following event from yesterday’s clash between Vancouver and Toronto is possibly deserving of its own banner headline, possibly on Ripley’s Believe it or Not...

4.29pm ET20:29

Preamble

Welcome to the largest mass sing along of “You ain’t got no history” in the world, as Orlando City and New York City FC treat the Citrus Bowl to the mother of all MLS expansions.

Two new MLS sides, 62,000 fans, Kaka, David Villa, and the most purple this side of group of bank robbers who’ve just opened one of those exploding dye money boxes at a Prince convention staging a revival of “The Color Purple” — this could be rather fun.

In the, er, purple corner, Orlando City. The 2013 USL Pro champs are relative veterans compared to the true neophytes from New York, but MLS expansion being what it is their team bears little resemblance to said title-winning team, with 23 new players to integrate over the past few months, including a certain ballon d’or variety newcomer by the name of Kaka.

It’s not been without its logistical challenges along the way, but it’s likely that Orlando coach Adrian Heath, who infamously buttonholed Orlando part-owner and then Stoke director Phil Rawlins with a “Gissa job” appeal in a pub one night, is not complaining about today’s spectacle.

And in the blue corner, Jason Kreis and New York City FC. It’s been a troubled birth for New York City, with a stadium deal still looking a long way off on the horizon and a rather embarrassing situation with Frank Lampard’s delayed arrival, but you can’t deny that some of their personnel decisions, starting with Kreis himself, have looked spot on. Pre-season results were mixed but the abiding impression was what we might have expected from a Jason Kreis team — smart, versatile players working hard for each other. And a certain David Villa got their first ever goal, which was nice.

Anyway, I’ll be back shortly, with a little more team news and build up. In the meantime get your tweets and pithy insults coming in to @KidWeil or email your more expansive theories on the diamond midfield to graham.parker@theguardian.com

4.00pm ET20:00

Graham will be here shortly. In the meantime why not check out his preview of New York City FC ...

New York City FC

One of the most pleasantly surprising impressions from NYC’s first ever game against St Mirren in Manchester, was how, even in their rudimentary form, the expansion side looked like a Jason Kreis team.

Doubtless some of that was down to the limited quality of the opposition, but the impression of hard-working runners attempting intelligent possession play was genuine enough – and not only that there was little discernible drop-off in standards when the subs began coming on, adding weight to Kreis’s belief that even in this first year form, NYC will turn out to be the deepest squad in terms of talent and experience, that he has ever coached in MLS.

It’s not entirely starting from scratch – Kreis has brought a trio of his former RSL players with him and Chris Wingert, Ned Grabavoy and Sebastian Velasquez collectively represent the kinds of honest professionals whose willingness to work hard for the team will be emphasized by Kreis as an exemplary quality for the New York City blueprint.

It’s going to take a while, and promising cameos up front by Tony Taylor, or in midfield by the likes of Poku, have to be taken for what they are – glimpses rather than solutions. David Villa may find himself coming deeper than he’s ever had to before to get the ball to try and make something happen, at least until Frank Lampard turns up, and however intelligent and versatile the players in the new roster are, it’ll take time until they approach the level of institutional knowledge that was the hallmark of Kreis’s later RSL sides.

But the very fact that we’re framing the team in that way bodes well. Rather than being blown off course when the Lampard saga threatened to badly undermine the new team, Kreis and director of football Claudio Reyna simply maintained their primary focus and waited for the storm to blow over. Mix Diskerud was added into the team, and those outside were reminded that Lampard apart (and in truth once he gets here, Lampard especially), each signing including that of Kreis and Reyna has been eminently solid and in keeping with a vision for the club.

Will it work though? Well, you wouldn’t bet against Kreis and co, but to take a club from zero to competitive speed takes time, no matter how smart your players or coach. MLS is forgiving of slow starts though and by the end of the season NYC might be backing up Kreis’s claims of unprecedented depth.

... and Simon Veness’ preview of Orlando City:

Orlando City SC

The league’s other newcomers (with New York City), the Lions have set lofty goals for their debut season, insisting it is playoffs or bust. That ambition is based on Brazilian designated player Kaka being at the centre of Adrian Heath’s fluid 4-2-3-1 formation, with plenty of attacking intent from the midfield and even the full-backs.

With just eight holdovers from their final USL Pro season, Heath has had barely five weeks to integrate practically a whole new squad, hence there are bound to be growing pains from trying to get everyone in sync around the former World Player of the Year, who has full license to attack from the centre of the midfield trio.

While City boasts the league’s highest-paid DP in Kaka, at a reported $7.2m a year, it also features one of the youngest in Honduran international Bryan Rochez, just 20 but likely to lead the line ahead of Northern Ireland’s Martin Paterson, with No1 draft pick Cyle Larin waiting in the wings.

Around Kaka, Heath has assembled a cast of proven MLS veterans – Briton and ex-DC United stalwart Lewis Neal, who started his US career with Orlando, Colorado and Houston’s Tony Cascio and five-year Philadelphia linchpin Amobi Okugo – and promising young talent, notably Trinidadian Kevin Molino, who bagged 20 goals at USL level last year, and Colombian imports Cristian Higuita and Carlos Rivas, the latter of whom might just be the speediest player in the league.

It is in defense, though, the Lions might struggle, with a back four that is a distinct work in progress. Former Kansas City standout Aurelien Collin has been recruited as the cornerstone at center-back, and his pre-season partners have been a mixture of free agents – Sean St Ledger and Seb Hines, both fresh from Championship spells with Ipswich and Middlesbrough – and untried hopefuls in second-round draft pick Conor Donovan and homegrown US youth international Tommy Redding.

US international Brek Shea has been reclaimed from a fruitless spell with Stoke City and is the designated left-back – continuing Jurgen Klinsmann’s experiment to convert him from the left wing – which adds to the learning-as-they-go theme, while right-back is another young prospect in Benfica 20-year-old Rafael Ramos, who has impressed throughout the pre-season.

Goalkeeping duties will be handled initially by Jamaican veteran Donovan Ricketts, with ex-Houston capture Tally Hall still recovering from ACL surgery last season.

Much will depend, though, on Kaka’s 32-year-old body standing up to the weekly demands of carrying the load – and being the target for teams bidding to take him out of the equation. Sunday’s big kick-off against New York City also promises to be the biggest sports event in Orlando since the 1994 World Cup, with a Citrus Bowl sellout crowd of 60,000 anticipated.