Frustrated after blowing a two-goal lead against Philadelphia Union (2-2) on Wednesday, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now fly northwest to contest their furthest MLS away game of 2023 – Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field.
With Duncan McGuire and Martín Ojeda scoring their sixth and fourth City goals in midweek, there was plenty to be proud of. Nevertheless, José Martínez’s 90th minute equaliser, albeit a goal-of-the-season contender, was painfully the THIRD equaliser the Lions have conceded at home after the 85th minute mark this year.
On a night where Roberto Carlos was in attendance at Exploria Stadium, Union’s José Martínez mimicked the legendary Brazilian with an unstoppable golazo from range.
Sweetly striking an Antônio Carlos clearance one-time on the half volley, the Venezuelan’s fearsome drive ripped past Mason Stajduhar with deadly accuracy.
Remarkably, in the seven stoppage time minutes thereafter, both teams struck the bar, inches away from snatching game winners!
But we’ll get to that.
Back in the first-half, Duncan McGuire is proving yet again how Orlando City SC have the knack of spotting huge goalscoring talent in the MLS SuperDraft.
Impressively taking his maiden MLS campaign goalscoring tally to six, the 22-year-old opened the scoring on 13 minutes.
This was after a wonderful back-heeled assist from Martín Ojeda.
On 54 minutes, former Lion Joe Bendik was beaten by Ojeda himself, with the aid of the slightest deflection off McGuire.
In command at 2-0 up, Oscar Pareja will be hugely frustrated with the way in which they handed Union a lifeline.
On 60 minutes, Jack McGlynn’s intended left-footed cross sailed over everybody and into City’s net.
With Mason Stajduhar getting his positioning all wrong, it was a cheap way to hand Jim Curtin’s side a route back into the game.
From here, anxiety filled Exploria Stadium yet again. Well, up until the 86th minute anyway!
After sub Ercan Kara muscled away José Martínez in central midfield, the Austrian set off on an unstoppable solo run forward.
Smartly cutting the ball back to Iván Angulo, the Colombian thought he’d tapped home Orlando City SC‘s third goal, only to be cruelly denied by VAR review.
With referee Alex Chilowicz correctly ruling that Kara fouled Martínez in the build-up, a tangle Martínez certainly made the most of, this goal would’ve sealed all three points.
From here, José Martínez ripped his unstoppable 90th minute equaliser before some more stoppage time madness!
On 94 minutes, sub Ramiro Enrique hit Union’s crossbar before Mikael Uhre hit City’s crossbar right at the death.
Yet another dramatic display of what Major League Soccer is all about, Orlando City SC had to be content with a point when it could’ve been so much more.
Now visiting Seattle Sounders for the first time since May 2019, Brian Schmetzer’s side sit third in the Western Conference.
That said, the Rave Green have been struggling of late and have only won one of their last seven MLS fixtures.
Conceding in the first minute and losing 1-0 at Los Angeles FC on Wednesday, Sounders have gone 8-4-7 so far this season.
With Orlando City SC more than capable away from home, this promises to be yet another engrossing MLS encounter.
Seattle Sounders vs Orlando City SC
Last 3 head-to-heads
- October 17, 2018: Orlando City SC 1 Seattle Sounders 2 (MLS)
- May 15, 2019: Seattle Sounders 2 Orlando City SC 1 (MLS)
- August 31, 2022: Orlando City SC 3 Seattle Sounders 2 (MLS)
2015/22 head-to-head stats
- It was 3-2 to Orlando the last time the sides met (August 2022)
- Played Sounders 6 times in MLS – Sounders 4, Draws 1, Orlando 1
- The last 3 MLS head-to-heads have all been separated by 1 goal
- Sounders have failed to score in 3 of their last 4 MLS fixtures
- Duncan McGuire has scored in Orlando’s last 2 MLS fixtures
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Watching the game
Seattle Sounders vs Orlando City SC will be shown live on Apple TV at 03:30 (GMT) on Sunday, June 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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