The Houston Dynamo are back on the road and continue their search for a first away win this Friday against Orlando City SC in a nationally-televised match on UniMás (7 p.m. CT). It's the Dynamo's first trip to Florida and Camping World Stadium, as Orlando visited Houston in their inaugural season, coming away with a 1-0 win in March 2015.
Orlando sits just outside the Eastern Conference playoff picture with a 4-4-8 record (20 points). The Lions will be coming off of short rest after traveling to Frisco for a 4-0 loss to FC Dallas on Independence Day, but have yet to lose at home this season (3-0-6).
However, Orlando announced on Wednesday evening that they agreed to part ways with head coach Adrian Heath, who had been with the club since its beginnings as the Austin Aztex in 2008. Assistant coach Bobby Murphy and Orlando City B assistant coach Anthony Pulis will lead the team on Friday night, and for the foreseeable future while the club searches for a new head coach.
The OCSC attack is led by 2015 MLS Rookie of the Year Cyle Larin, whose eight goals this year are tied for the fifth-most in the league. Trinidadian midfielder Kevin Molino has also contributed six goals and five assists this year after tearing his ACL in May 2015.
Orlando will be without Brazilian star Kaká, who has three goals and a team-leading five assists on the year, after he told reporters on Thursday that he won't play in Friday's game due to a leg injury. It was also announced on Tuesday that midfielder Adrian Winter's contract had been terminated as he returned to his native Switzerland. Winter had appeared in 13 games (12 starts) for OCSC and tallied three goals and two assists.
Orlando's offense has been one of the tops in the league with 28 goals scored, but their defense—which includes Bryan, Texas native Brek Shea—has given up 29 goals across 16 games, including two or more goals in each of their last five MLS games.
