STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Toronto FC – 27.04.2024

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After rescuing a 2-2 draw at CF Montréal last Saturday, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now face another Canadian opponent in Toronto FC but this time back in our familiar surroundings of Inter&Co Stadium.

Currently fifth in the Eastern Conference on 13 points, John Herdman’s TFC come into this game rejuvenated after a 1-0 win against New England Revolution last weekend plus a 5-0 2024 Canadian Championship preliminary round win over Simcoe County Rovers FC yesterday.

Speaking of TFC’s last league fixture, an incredible acrobatic goal from Prince Owusu helped The Reds to a 2024 sweep over Revs, ending their streak of three consecutive MLS defeats in turn. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Nashville SC – 30.10.2023

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After all the thrills and spills of a MLS regular season that saw Orlando City SC win more games than ever before (18) and achieve their highest all-time single-season points tally (63) – finishing a mightily impressive second in the 2023 Supporters’ Shield despite having the lowest salary spend of all – it’s now time for the agony and the ecstasy of the post-season.

City now face the side that finished seventh in the East, Nashville SC, at Exploria Stadium in game one of the newly revamped Round One Best-of-3 series of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs. The Lions have crucially secured home field advantage in this round courtesy of our Eastern Conference top four seeding (number two overall in MLS). Continue reading

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: Real Salt Lake vs Orlando City SC – 08.07.2023

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Even before the post-match Exploria Stadium fireworks show to commemorate July 4, Orlando City SC celebrated Independence Day with a bang by emphatically defeating Toronto FC 4-0.

Registering two home victories in a row and only losing one of our last eleven MLS fixtures, Oscar Pareja‘s upwardly mobile Lions now face a tough three-game road streak in MLS, sandwiched by at least two ties in the 2023 Leagues Cup. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Toronto FC – 04.07.2023

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After beating Chicago Fire 3-1, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC stay at Exploria Stadium for a July 4 Independence Day showdown with Toronto FC.

Recently relieving Bob Bradley of his duties on June 26, Terry Dunfield is now interim head coach of TFC who face a Lions side placed seventh in the Eastern Conference, currently just three points behind fourth-placed Columbus Crew. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Toronto FC – 17.09.2022

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After a bitterly disappointing 0-1 home defeat to fierce rivals Atlanta United on Wednesday, Orlando City SC now face Toronto FC in their penultimate home game of the 2022 MLS regular season.

Perilously sitting just two points above the red line as things stand, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions only have four nail-biting games left to seal a place in the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Toronto FC vs Orlando City SC – 14.05.2022

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Eager to erase memories of last weekend’s 4-1 defeat to CF Montréal, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now face fellow Canadians Toronto FC at BMO Field.

Desperately seeking some consistency right now, Orlando City SC‘s 2022 MLS campaign has looked convincing at times and not so convincing at times also. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Toronto FC vs Orlando City SC – 17.07.2021

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After losing 3-1 at Chicago Fire, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC fly north of the border to face Toronto FC for a third and final time this 2021 MLS regular season.

This is TFC’s first game at BMO Field this season following COVID-19 travel restrictions. That said, the Lions defeated their temporary Exploria Stadium tenants twice in both May (1-0) and June (2-3). Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Toronto FC vs Orlando City SC – 19.06.2021

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After our 2-1 loss at New York Red Bulls and a 21-day break, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC return to Exploria Stadium to play an away game, only by name, behind closed doors, against temporary tenants Toronto FC.

Despite surrendering our unbeaten start, the international break perhaps came at the right time for City. In short, we’ve performed solidly to earn 12 points from our first seven games this season. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Toronto FC – 22.05.2021

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After a conservative, yet professional winning performance at D.C. United (0-1), Orlando City SC return home to face temporary Exploria Stadium tenants Toronto FC.

Unbeaten in five MLS games and conceding just two goals so far, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions ended Gameweek 5 second in the Eastern Conference and just two points behind leaders New England Revolution with a game in hand. Continue reading