STATS PREVIEW: Toronto FC vs Orlando City SC – 21.10.2023

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A TOP TWO seed for the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, subsequent home field advantage in the post-season, and 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup qualification have now all been clinched! Indeed, the Lions achieved these fantastic feats after defeating New England Revolution 3-2 in our final home game of the 2023 MLS regular season. With City’s victory and a 0-0 tie between Philadelphia Union and Nashville SC sealing our top two status, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now visit BMO Field to face Eastern Conference whipping boys Toronto FC on 2023 MLS Decision Day.

Sealing our ninth home victory of the MLS season back on October 7, a result that saw us reach 60 points in the East, a first-half Mauricio Pereyra masterclass helped the Lions on their way to another morale-boosting win – our first MLS victory over bogey opponent Revs in 11 league meetings.

In all my years watching the team, the last month or so has seen Orlando City SC produce the most convincing and consistent soccer we’ve ever played in MLS. Already clinching our spot in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs back on September 20 – earlier than ever before with five games to spare – this MLS Decision Day is refreshingly stress-free for City supporters.

Indeed, on MLS Decision Day in both 2021 and 2022, Orlando City SC agonisingly went into the final day of the regular season knowing that by full-time, they could be in or out of the post-season. Fortunately making it on both occasions, 2023 MLS Decision Day is excitingly all about extending our fine form into the post-season. Successfully securing our top two seeding prior to the international break, City can now look forward to hosting two home games in the newly revamped Round One Best-of-3 series of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs. The icing on the cake, the Lions can also look forward to appearing in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup too, qualifying for the tournament for a second successive season courtesy of having secured a top two Eastern Conference finish.

All that’s left for Orlando City SC to find out on 2023 MLS Decision Day is whether they will be facing Atlanta United, Nashville SC or New England Revolution in Round One of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs New England Revolution – 07.10.2023

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Defeating one bogey opponent – Nashville SC (0-1) – in another statement road win last night, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now face another – New England Revolution – in our final home fixture of the 2023 MLS regular season. Just our second win over the Music City side in nine league meetings, yesterday’s victory means City are now the outright best team on their travels in MLS. Indeed, we’ve earned eight wins and four draws (28 points) across 16 away fixtures this season – a mightily impressive tally that is just one point fewer than the 29 points we’ve collected at Exploria Stadium.

Also conceding the joint second fewest amount of goals (37) in the Eastern Conference, the Lions are full of hope, optimism, and belief ahead of the post-season, and are hitting form at exactly the right time. While the wind is firmly in City’s sails, a top four seed isn’t clinched just yet. Despite Atlanta United losing 3-2 at Philadelphia Union, Columbus Crew’s late 1-2 victory at New England Revolution means we are still patiently waiting to lock in the hosting of two home games in the Round One Best-of-3 series of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Nashville SC vs Orlando City SC – 04.10.2023

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After defeating CF Montréal 3-0 in a professional, impressive, and dominant performance, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now visit GEODIS Park for the very first time to face Nashville SC in our penultimate away fixture of the 2023 MLS regular season.

With City having just set a club record for our most ever Major League Soccer regular season victories (15) and points (54), everything seems to be clicking for the Lions right now. Preparing for the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs the best way possible, we’re not only hitting our stride with consistent performances but positive results to match. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Philadelphia Union – 21.06.2023

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Defeated 3-1 at New England Revolution, the hectic mid-season schedule heats up with Orlando City SC returning home to face Philadelphia Union at Exploria Stadium this Wednesday.

Comfortably beaten by the better side in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the Revs are now undefeated in their last 10 MLS head-to-heads with City who saw their six-game unbeaten streak ended by well-taken Emmanuel Boateng, Gustavo Bou and Carles Gil second-half goals. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: New England Revolution vs Orlando City SC – 17.06.2023

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After defeating nine-man Colorado Rapids 2-0 at Exploria Stadium, Orlando City SC now hit the road to face 2021 MLS Supporters’ Shield winners New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium.

Our first 2023 regular season meeting with Revs, the Foxborough team are quite simply a bogey side to the Lions. After registering our current joint-highest MLS win against Revs (6-1) in September 2017, they’ve gone unbeaten against City in the nine MLS head-to-heads ever since (5-4-0). Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: New York Red Bulls vs Orlando City SC – 13.08.2022

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Orlando City SC‘s 2022 MLS regular season seems to be unravelling fast after a bitterly disappointing 0-3 home loss to New England Revolution.

With only one win in eight MLS games, the Lions have been flirting with the red line in recent weeks and now find themselves beneath it with a huge turnaround in form required to reach the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs New England Revolution – 06.08.2022

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There would’ve been a lot of head scratching on Orlando City SC‘s flight back from Dulles to McCoy after the Lions conceded two late stoppage time goals to fall 2-1 at D.C. United.

Now facing New England Revolution at Exploria Stadium, City have now only won one of their last 7 MLS games, perilously sitting above the red line by just a single point. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: New England Revolution vs Orlando City SC – 15.06.2022

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Losing 1-3 at home to FC Dallas prior to the league break, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now visit New England Revolution as we edge towards the halfway point of the 2022 MLS regular season.

2021 Supporters’ Shield winners of course, Revs were a formidable opponent last season. However, they’ve surprisingly struggled this season, going 5-4-5 under Bruce Arena. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Nashville SC vs Orlando City SC – 23.11.2021

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We made it folks! On a tense 2021 MLS Decision Day, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC finally punched their ticket to the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Reaching the post-season for the second successive season, the Lions now visit Nissan Stadium to face familiar foes Nashville SC. Just 360+ minutes separate Orlando City SC from 2021 MLS Cup glory! Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs New England Revolution – 24.10.2021

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Drawing 1-1 with CF Montréal on Wednesday, Orlando City SC now face New England Revolution in their penultimate home game of the season.

Five points clear of the red line right now, Oscar Pareja‘s side have just four regular season games to seal a 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs spot and a home game seeding. Continue reading