Gameweek 4 was one to forget, and fast, for Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC who suffered our first loss of the season – a bitterly disappointing 1-2 home defeat to bottom side Charlotte FC.
Coming just three days after our narrow 2023 CONCACAF Champions League elimination, there’s frustratingly more questions than answers right now, albeit at this early stage of the campaign.
To put things bluntly, Orlando City SC are lacking composure, confidence, and any sense of ruthlessness at the minute.
Reflecting on last Saturday, the Lions were especially sloppy in a poor first-half with misplaced passes and defensive disaorganisation setting the tone.
In the early weeks of 2023, Pedro Gallese has simply been outstanding but only because he’s being worked way too much.
Heading into the game, Charlotte FC were pointless after three MLS games, scoring only one goal – at St. Louis CITY SC.
You’d never have guessed it though.
Christian Lattanzio’s side played protagonist with first-half Enzo Copetti and Kerwin Vargas goals stunning Exploria Stadium into sadness.
To his relief, Martín Ojeda grabbed his first City goal by 57 minutes, but we just couldn’t find a leveller.
Much like Wednesday night against Tigres, you knew Orlando City SC were up against it after conceding the first goal.
And that’s the problem, right there – just one goal currently feeling like a mountain to climb.
Despite a critically-acclaimed off-season of refreshment, City simply look devoid of any attacking flair or creativity right now.
Even Facundo Torres has been in his shell.
And this is difficult for City supporters to take, especially with the undoubted talent and quality on our 2023 roster.
Is it a coaching or tactical issue? Perhaps. Are many new faces still acclimating? For sure.
Oscar Pareja has to work these things out, and fast, in year four of his City tenure.
Despite triumphantly winning the 2022 U.S. Open Cup, many Lions fans believe this papered over the cracks of a far from perfect regular season.
Right now, Oscar Pareja is under pressure to deliver attractive, attacking, winning soccer – especially after being heavily backed financially by the Wilf family.
Now the honeymoon is over, tensions are starting to show.
In his Charlotte FC post-game press conference, Pareja said: “Seeing the two halves and the way the game turned, I’ve decided I’m very proud of these players.”
Protecting his players in public, I’m sure some hard truths would’ve been discussed within the confines of the locker room.
Elsewhere, some idiots (yes, idiots!) rudely interrupted Oscar’s post-game press conference with an expletive.
Completely out of line considering what Pareja has done for our club, these unsavoury undertones are growing louder.
Results on the field are what counts and nobody will be more aware of that than our coaching staff and first team right now.
Turning the current mood around won’t be easy though, far from it, with Philadelphia Union away up next.
One of the most consistently impressive sides of the last few years, Subaru Park is one of the toughest venues in all of MLS to get a result.
Jim Curtin’s side lost a crazy game 3-2 at CF Montréal last weekend, and you worry whether that will only serve to fire up a Philadelphia team who are typically formidable at home.
Let’s hope Union are feeling sorry for themselves, and that City start putting some continued wrongs right.
As one last footnote for this game, both Orlando City SC and Philadelphia Union will be missing significant members of their rosters due to injury, international call-ups, or suspension.
City are without Pedro Gallese, Michael Halliday, Alex Freeman, Thomas Williams, Wilder Cartagena, Favian Loyola, and Facundo Torres.
As for Union, they are without Andre Blake, Brandan Craig, Damion Lowe, José Martínez, Jack McGlynn, Dániel Gazdag, Quinn Sullivan, and Julián Carranza (red card suspension).
Therefore, former Lions Joe Bendik and Andrés Perea are likely to start against City.
Philadelphia Union vs Orlando City SC
Last 3 head-to-heads
- May 10, 2022: Orlando City SC 2 Philadelphia Union 1 (2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup)
- July 23, 2022: Orlando City SC 0 Philadelphia Union 1 (MLS)
- September 10, 2022: Philadelphia Union 5 Orlando City SC 1 (MLS)
2015/22 head-to-head stats
- It was 5-1 to Union the last time the sides met (September 2022)
- Played Union 16 times in MLS – Union 8, Draws 4, Orlando 4
- Dániel Gazdag has scored in the previous 2 MLS head-to-heads
- Union have won their last 13 home fixtures in MLS
- Orlando have been drawing 0-0 at half-time in 3 of their 4 MLS fixtures this season
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Watching the game
Philadelphia Union vs Orlando City SC will be shown live on Apple TV at 23:30 (GMT) on Saturday, March 25.
Remember, UK supporters can watch all of Orlando City SC‘s 2023 MLS regular season fixtures by subscribing to Apple TV’s “MLS Season Pass”.
Subscribe now by clicking here.
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