Orlando City SC prepare to take on Portland Timbers

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Bryce Brimhall / Valencia Voice

Cyle Larin could get the start at forward for Orlando City on Sunday against Portland.

Kaká and the rest of Orlando City SC will travel to Portland this weekend for a matchup against the Timbers at Providence Park on Sunday, April 12 at 2 p.m.

The Lions (1-2-2, 5 points) are coming off of a stoppage time loss to D.C. United last Friday where a late free kick gave United a 1-0 victory in a game where Orlando City controlled both possession and most of the chances on or around goal.

While the loss was painful for some players to stomach the coaching staff and players alike all understood there was much to be pleased about for a club that is only five games into their MLS life.

“We’re five games in, you are what you are,” said manager Adrian Heath earlier in the week following training. “But I know looking at the games that we’ve played, apart from maybe 25 minutes of Montreal, I’ve been delighted with the way we’ve played.”

Orlando City will be making the second-longest road trip in the MLS to take on the Timbers (1-1-3, 6 points), as only a future trip to Vancouver will log more miles than the trip to Portland.

Rookie Cyle Larin played well against D.C. last Friday and the first-year player out of UConn could be asked to play a bigger role moving forward with Pedro Ribeiro out for a few months after hurting his hamstring.

“I know I can go in the game and play with these guys at the MLS level,” Larin said during the week. “And I think we did well, just the ball didn’t go in the back of the net and I think we gave up a lot of chances. I got a few chances in that game and that’s very good for me and I know I can get chances.”

Orlando City wrapped up training in Sanford on Friday before taking off for Portland. The Lions will have their first meeting in franchise history against the Timbers on Sunday at 2 p.m. EST with the game being televised on ESPN2.

“They’re a possession-oriented team but they play direct at times too,” said midfielder Amobi Okugo after training on Friday. “We’re going to be prepared for them, they have a lot of good players and it’s going to be a tough environment, but we’ve done well on the road this year so hopefully we can do well again.”