New York City FC Vs Orlando City: 3 things we learned – Chris Mueller shines
New York City FC and Orlando City SC played an entertaining match on Tuesday night, with the Lions coming away with all three points. Here are three things we learned from the 3-1 Orlando win.
On Tuesday night, New York City FC and Orlando City both met in the MLS is Back Tournament. Going into the game, NYCFC were looking for their first points of the 2020 season, while Orlando are set to play the favorites of Group A, the Philadelphia Union, next week and needed to win to keep pace with Jim Curtin’s side. After a thrilling and physical match, the Lions came out on top.
For Orlando, the 3-1 win displayed their capability. The team mostly performed cohesively. Players liked Chris Mueller and Pedro Gallese shined. With six points from six, the Lions will move on into the knockout round. Unfortunately for NYCFC, this loss leaves them in a bad spot, both in the tournament and league overall. With zero points, the chance of moving on is slim to none.
Here are three things we learned from the matchup.
3. Chris Mueller is proving his worth
When Chris Mueller was drafted and signed by Orlando City in 2018, the club knew they were getting a scoring forward. But no one knew how the former Wisconsin Badger, who was the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in 2017, would fair as a professional. Since his signing, he has made over 60 appearances, and last year scored a career-high five goals. As a player, it was obvious Mueller still had to develop, but the potential of greatness was there.
Then enter the MLS is Back Tournament. So far, Mueller has demonstrated his potential. He has scored three goals, including his brace against New York City FC. He scored both goals within the first ten minutes. He also came close to a hat-trick in the 44th minute but the ball soared off the crossbar. His scoring ability, though, indicates how talented a forward he is.
Additionally, Mueller was not selfish and constantly looked for other players to pass to. More positively, he did not become complacent and refused to reduce his attacking aggression. This illuminates his diligence and commitment. Until he had to come off due to a knock in the second half, the 23-year-old refused to back down. This is the type of player Orlando invested in, and they were wise to do so. And so, with three goals so far in this tournament, Orlando City fans can look forward to seeing what Mueller will do next.