ESPN will kick off its coverage of Major League Soccer’s 20th season with live presentation Orlando City SC vs. New York City FC, two highly anticipated expansion teams playing their first league match, on Sunday, March 8, at 5 p.m. ET, from Orlando’s Citrus Bowl on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN. It is the first of 34 matches primarily on Sunday at 5 p.m. each season – through a new eight-year rights agreement ending in 2022. (The complete MLS on ESPN schedule for 2015 season will be announced at a later date.)
The match will feature two FIFA World Cup champions – Orlando City SC’s Kaká (2002 with Brazil) vs. New York City FC’s David Villa (Spain in 2010). With Kaká, Villa and legendary former England National Team player Frank Lampard (New York City FC player on loan to Premier League champions Manchester City), the two teams boast the best rosters ever for an expansion team in Major League Soccer.
Orlando City SC vs. New York City FC highlights (via ESPN Stats & Information):
- With the addition of New York City FC and Orlando City SC, the 20th MLS season begins with a record 20 teams;
- Villa is Spain’s career scoring leader with 59 goals in 97 national team games, including nine FIFA World Cup goals. He won three La Liga titles with Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, and the 2010-11 Champions League title with Barcelona;
- Kaká, who won the 2007 Ballon d’Or as the world’s best soccer player, will be the third Ballon d’Or winner to play in MLS – former Bulgarian international Hristo Stoichkov (1994) and German international Lothar Matthäus (1990). He scored 29 goals in 89 games for Brazil;
- As of today, Kaká and Villa will be the only two FIFA World Cup winners playing in Major League Soccer. Other World Cup winners in the league’s 20-year history: Lothar Matthäus (1990), Branco (1994), Youri Djorkaeff (1998), Thierry Henry (1998), Kleberson (2002), Denilson (2002) and Alessandro Nesta (2006);
- Lampard is Chelsea FC’s career scoring leader with 211 goals. He has six goals in 14 matches while on loan from the New York City FC with Manchester City in the current English Premier League season. He retired from international soccer after the 2014 FIFA World Cup, with 106 matches and 29 goals for England.
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