MINNESOTA CONNECTIONS
- Adrian Heath coached Orlando City SC from 2011 to 2016, leading the club to two USL titles and three Commissioner’s Cups. Minnesota Assistant Coach Ian Fuller was on Heath’s Orlando staff from 2011 to 2015 before joining the Loons.
- Minnesota United Assistant Coach Sean McAuley came from Orlando City SC, where he was an assistant coach in 2018 and 2019.
- Kevin Molino played for Orlando from 2011 to 2016. He won two USL MVP awards (2012, 2014) with the Lions.
- Greg Ranjitsingh played for Orlando City SC in 2019.
- Jose Aja spent 2017 with Orlando City SC.
- Brian Rowe and Chase Gasper both played for UCLA in college. Dom Dwyer and Ike Opara were teammates on Sporting Kansas City in 2013 and 2014.
- Mauricio Pereyra and Jose Aja are both from Montevideo, Uruguay, and both made their professional debuts for Club Nacional de Football. Pereyra was there from 2009–2011 while Aja was there from 2014–2017.
- Joao Moutinho and Tyler Miller both played for LAFC in the club’s inaugural season in 2018.
- Jacori Hayes overlapped with Tesho Akindele at FC Dallas. Hayes was with the club from 2017–2020 while Akindele was there from 2014–2018. Both players were at FC Dallas under now-Orlando Head Coach Oscar Pareja, who was there from 2014–2018.
MATCHUP QUICK FACTS
- When Adrian Heath was head coach of Orlando City Soccer Club — the USL Pro precursor to the MLS franchise — the team played their 2014 home games at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex where the MLS Is Back Tournament is being held.
- Two Loons opened their scoring accounts with the club in the last game against San Jose: Jacori Hayes (21’) and Marlon Hairston (86’).
- Hassani Dotson’s two assists against the Quakes were his first two in MLS competition. Last season, he tallied two assists in U.S. Open Cup play against Sporting Kansas City and New Mexico United.
- This will be the fourth meeting between these teams, none of them having been played in the same venue (TCF Bank Stadium, Orlando City Stadium, Allianz Field, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex).
- Minnesota United has never lost to Orlando City SC in MLS competition (2-0-1).
- Orlando hosted the 2019 MLS All-Star Game. The Loons’ Romain Metanire took part in the game, facing off against Atletico Madrid at Exploria Stadium.
