Orlando City SC have waited a long time for a game like this, and their supporters plan on it honoring the occasion with a special gesture.
Ahead of Tuesday's MLS is Back Tournament Final against the Portland Timbers (8:30 pm ET | ESPN, ESPN Deportes in US; TSN in Canada), Lions supporters are reportedly having a banner flown above the field reading "The Wall will shoulder you" — lyrics to one of the longstanding chants from the club's supporters group. The plan was revealed by diehard Orlando supporter Julian Rios in a Tuesday interview with Julia Poe of the Orlando Sentinel.
“The Wall is the heart of the game, the heart of the stadium,” Rios told Poe. “Each and every game, even if it’s 0-5, everybody’s still there just cheering until the clock stops. You don’t hear us quiet.
“It’s just kind of saying, ‘Hey, we believe in you and we have your back. We’re here. We’re not going to stop. ... That little message when they look in the sky, I hope that’s just the extra push for them to win.”
A different banner was flying above the field an hour prior to the match.
Orlando City are looking for their first major trophy after missing the MLS Cup Playoffs in each of their first five seasons.
