After making a huge statement with a 0-1 win at Eastern Conference topping FC Cincinnati on September 2, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now face Wilfried Nancy’s Columbus Crew back at Exploria Stadium.
With FC Cincinnati going 20 consecutive home games unbeaten at TQL Stadium prior to City’s visit, not to mention being MLS Supporters’ Shield winners elect, snapping this streak with a gritty 0-1 result was mightily impressive.
The Lions currently sit third in the Eastern Conference on 47 points with just seven MLS regular season fixtures remaining
City are seven points clear of seventh place and thirteen points clear of ninth place.
As for this weekend’s opponents Columbus Crew, the Ohio side sit fifth in the Eastern Conference on 45 points.
Crew are just two points behind City having played the same number of games (27) as the Lions.
Last meeting each other back on May 13, Orlando City SC pulled a rabbit out of the hat to achieve an unlikely 2-2 comeback draw at Lower.com Field.
Trailing 2-0 after a gutless first-half performance, the Lions looked uncomfortable and out of sorts in a 3-4-2-1 formation with Iván Angulo and Gastón González starting as wing backs.
With Columbus Crew dominating every aspect of a poor first-half, it was a really difficult watch from a City perspective.
City frustratingly didn’t get the basics right in regards to tracking runners and showing genuine fight.
On the night, Darlington Nagbe and Jacen Russell-Rowe’s first-half goals cruelly punished a careless City display.
At half-time, Orlando City SC supporters were simply calling for passion, heart and pride as supporter pressure mounted on Oscar Pareja to keep his job.
When Orlando City SC supporters may have doubted their side, the Lions duly responded, answering their second-half assignment.
On 49 minutes, Ercan Kara‘s calm finish off Facundo Torres‘ first 2023 assist was just the reply we needed.
Sure, from here, we admittedly rode our luck on numerous occasions.
Especially when Cucho Hernández saw Drew Fischer correctly rule out his narrowly offside goal (after VAR review) to make it 3-1.
Nevertheless, Orlando City SC stuck at it, battling through adversity.
Entering six minutes of second-half stoppage time, the 92nd minute provided sheer joy!
Firing through a crowded Crew penalty area, sub Duncan McGuire grabbed what was his fourth goal of the season.
A natural born finisher – as we’ve all come to realise in a standout rookie campaign – our 2023 MLS SuperDraft pick is currently Orlando City SC‘s second top scorer with eight MLS goals.
Our 2-2 result at Crew in May was a big relief for an Orlando City SC side who flattered to deceive early on this MLS regular season.
Pedro Gallese also deserves an honourable mention from that night at Lower.com Field.
Making the most outrageous point-blank save to preserve a point on 95 minutes, thank heavens for his dependable outstretched tentacles!
In a pressure situation at 2-0 down, to steal a road point at the death was very sweet.
That said, Crew will be kicking themselves.
The home side should’ve really ran up the scoreline, when it looked likely, much earlier in the game.
Most recently, Columbus Crew won 2-4 against CF Montréal at Stade Saputo back on September 2.
As one final footnote, Orlando City SC will be without Wilder Cartagena who is suspended for this home game against Crew.
Harshly red carded in a stoppage time tussle at FC Cincinnati, the tireless Peruvian’s absence is a big loss in midfield.
Orlando City SC vs Columbus Crew
Last 3 head-to-heads
- April 16, 2022: Columbus Crew 0 Orlando City SC 2 (MLS)
- October 9, 2022: Orlando City SC 2 Columbus Crew 1 (2022 MLS Decision Day)
- May 13, 2023: Columbus Crew 2 Orlando City SC 2 (MLS)
2019/23 head-to-head stats
- It was 2-2 the last time the sides met (May 2023)
- Played Crew 18 times in MLS – Orlando 8, Draws 4, Crew 6
- Orlando have won 7 of the last 9 MLS head-to-heads
- Orlando are unbeaten in their last 8 home fixtures in MLS
- Crew have scored at least 2 goals in 4 of their last 5 MLS fixtures
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Watching the game
Orlando City SC vs Columbus Crew will be shown live on Apple TV at 00:30 (GMT) on Sunday, September 17.
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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