Two teams at opposite ends of the standings meet this Saturday, with Eastern Conference leaders Orlando City SC hosting the Colorado Rapids, the team currently bottom of the West.
And this week's Tale of the Tape looks at two players who will be at opposite ends of the field - Orlando's Joe Bendik, and Zac MacMath of the Rapids.
MacMath is the younger of the two keepers, and yet he has more MLS experience. His time in between the sticks has been limited, though, since the arrival last summer of Tim Howard. This will be a third game in a row for the 25-year-old, due to the suspension being served by Howard. MacMath is no stranger to central Florida. He was born in St. Petersburg, before attending the IMG Soccer Academy in Bradenton.
Bendik, meanwhile, has firmly cemented his spot as Orlando's first-choice keeper, having been discarded by Toronto FC at the end of the 2015 season. Despite a rough 2016, Bendik proved his worth on numerous occasions. He made 114 saves last year, including one which was voted number one in all of MLS. His debut in MLS came five years ago this week, on April 28, 2012. He was initially understudy to Troy Perkins and then Donovan Ricketts at Portland Timbers, before gaining momentum at Toronto, and now Orlando.
<img alt="" src="https://colorado-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/Zac MacMath.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 200px;"> |
<p align="center"><br><br><br><br><br><strong>vs.</strong></p> |
<img alt="" src="https://colorado-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/OCSC-1-JoeBendik.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 200px;"> |
<p align="center">Zac MacMath</p> |
<strong>Name</strong> |
<p align="center">Joe Bendik</p> |
<p align="center">18</p> |
<strong>No.</strong> |
<p align="center">1</p> |
<p align="center">Goalkeeper</p> |
<strong>Position</strong> |
<p align="center">Goalkeeper</p> |
<p align="center">25</p> |
<strong>Age</strong> |
<p align="center">28</p> |
<p align="center">6’2"</p> |
<strong>Height</strong> |
<p align="center">6'2"</p> |
<p align="center">194lbs</p> |
<strong>Weight</strong> |
<p align="center">217lbs</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://colorado-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/USA flag.jpg" style="opacity: 0.9; text-align: -webkit-center; width: 75px; height: 50px;"> |
<strong>Nationality</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://colorado-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/USA flag.jpg" style="width: 75px; height: 50px;"> |
<p align="center">2011</p> |
<strong>Joined MLS</strong> |
<p align="center">2012</p> |
<p align="center">7th season</p> |
<strong>MLS Experience</strong> |
<p align="center">6th season</p> |
<p align="center">126</p> |
<strong>Appearances</strong> |
<p align="center">118</p> |
<p align="center">Philadelphia Union</p> |
<strong>Previous clubs</strong> |
<p align="center">Portland Timbers, Toronto FC</p> |
<p align="center">Despite his age, MacMath is an experienced MLS goalkeeper. He lost his starting job with the arrival of Tim Howard but his shot-stopping was fantastic in the first half of 2016.</p> |
<strong>What they say …</strong> |
<p align="center">Played every minute in a tough 2016 for the Lions, with them conceding 60 goals. Not missed a minute in 2017, has a MLS Save of the Week to his name, and kept two shutouts in six games.</p> |
