Suffering the embarrassment of a 5-0 defeat to Florida rivals Inter Miami last Saturday, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC return to Inter&Co Stadium to face Minnesota United in their first cross-conference fixture of 2024. Currently on just one point after two MLS games, the Lions are desperate to register not only their first league victory of the year but their first goal too.
This home game against Minnesota United is also the Lions’ 10 Year Anniversary Match, celebrating the 10th anniversary of Orlando City SC‘s first match in Major League Soccer. Instead of our home purple, City will suit up in The Legacy Kit to honour the occasion.
At this embryonic stage of 2024, we’ve had to juggle MLS exploits with our participation in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup – something that has posed many MLS sides difficulties in the past. On Tuesday night, Orlando City SC drew 0-0 with Mexican giants Tigres UANL in the first leg of our Round of 16 tie with the crucial second leg taking place next Tuesday.
Last time out
Speaking of Tuesday’s game, Orlando City SC defended valiantly, pushed and pushed, but just couldn’t break Tigres UANL down.
Welcoming the Monterrey side to Central Florida for a second successive season, César Araújo and Luis Muriel had City’s best chances but nothing got past Nahuel Guzmán on the night.
Oscar Pareja‘s side remains very much alive in this tie because the CONCACAF Champions Cup still uses the away goals rule as the first tiebreaker.
Orlando City SC head to Monterrey knowing that for every goal they score, it counts as double, giving their Mexican hosts a mountain to climb in order to progress.
Obviously, we need to keep them out, and sure, we’re the underdogs but hopefully we can achieve a historic victory next Tuesday.
But reflecting on Inter Miami away last weekend, Orlando City SC really let themselves down badly in the first Sunshine Clásico of 2024.
To be truthful, it was downright embarrassing.
Going 2-0 down within just 11 first-half minutes, ill-discipline and individual errors ruthlessly took the game away from us before it ever really began.
In only the fourth minute, César Araújo sloppily surrendered possession in his own half, needlessly passing straight to Lionel Messi.
This is something you can ill afford against any calibre of opposition, let alone the attacking quality that Inter Miami possess.
From here, Messi laid in Julian Gressel who cut in a cross from the right wing to the onrushing Luis Suárez who clinically punished this awful error (1-0).
Suárez’s first ever MLS goal for The Herons, the Uruguayan veteran grabbed his second just seven minutes later after another sloppy City giveaway – this time from Martín Ojeda.
On 11 minutes, it was that man Julian Gressel providing yet another assist.
Teeing up Suárez, the Uruguayan went on a one-man slaloming run through the heart of City’s defence like they weren’t even there.
This was before firing devastatingly past Pedro Gallese into the bottom right hand corner (2-0).
After Suárez breezed past Wilder Cartagena all too easily, Rodrigo Schlegel carelessly stepped out from centre back, got nowhere near the ball, and left a gaping hole for the Uruguayan to set himself and pick his spot.
An awful afternoon got even worse on 29 minutes when Robert Taylor tapped into an empty net (3-0) after Luis Suárez unselfishly squared the ball to him despite being on for a hat-trick.
Granted, Orlando City SC‘s display was a complete mess but it was Rodrigo Schlegel who made yet another huge error – standing way too deep behind the Lions’ defensive line to play Taylor onside.
A liability to many City fans, Schlegel is now 26-years-old but hasn’t eradicated these key lapses in judgement that continue to undermine his game – costing us dearly time and time again.
On the day, I felt incredibly sorry for the travelling Ruckus and Iron Lion Firm.
After all, this so-called ‘performance’ fell shockingly short of what was required – especially in a Florida rivalry fixture.
Although Inter Miami eliminated us from the 2023 Leagues Cup last August (3-1), we at least gave it our all that night.
Even Lionel Messi received his first ever Inter Miami yellow card after City got under his skin.
Last Saturday however, we were painfully abject, sloppy, and indisciplined in a self-inflicted disaster of a game.
For a team that many have tipped to be near the top of the Eastern Conference for a second successive season, it wasn’t a good look.
In the hours leading up to kick-off, Jaime Herrera had to replace referee Guilherme Ceretta in a farcical turn of events on matchday itself.
This was after eagle-eyed Orlando City SC supporters clamoured together on social media to uncover that Ceretta had recently been wearing an Inter Miami jersey off the field – a huge conflict of interest.
I mean, how are things like this not pre-vetted?
Singling out such blatant favouritism in an embarrassing lack of integrity from MLS, it made it all the more painful that City followed this up with an embarrassing performance on the field.
In the 44th minute, Luis Suárez could have made it 4-0.
But he was narrowly flagged offside, denying him a first-half hat-trick.
Furiously following referee Jaime Herrera around the pitch thereafter, the Uruguayan was adamant he was onside.
There was even clips of Suárez and City sub Mason Stajduhar engaging in a heated exchange at the break – such was the Uruguayan’s burning desire to win.
At half-time, the away locker room must’ve been a lonely, solemn place for Orlando City SC to be.
Subbing in Nicolás Lodeiro and Luis Muriel for the second-half, we were looking for any shreds of pride in South Florida.
Martín Ojeda had the ball in The Herons’ net on 47 minutes.
However, Iván Angulo was flagged offside in the build-up.
Just nothing was going our way.
Zilch. Nada!
A goal we really needed to stand to make a game of it, 3-0 became 4-0 on 57 minutes.
Not to be denied, Lionel Messi grabbed his first goal of the game with a tap-in (4-0) after Robin Jansson desperately deflected a Jordi Alba shot up onto his own crossbar.
The 60th minute then saw Martín Ojeda sting Drake Callender’s palms for Orlando City SC‘s FIRST shot on target in the entire match – a hard truth to accept.
Then, on 62 minutes, with absolutely no pressure on the ball, Luis Suárez crossed for Lionel Messi to head home (yes, a header!) his second goal with deadly accuracy (5-0).
A soul destroying display for Orlando City SC supporters, we really needed to get out of Chase Stadium – and fast.
On 75 minutes, sub Ramiro Enrique almost grabbed a consolation but Drake Callender denied the Argentine with a fine save to his left.
With just one minute of second-half stoppage time called, this tells you everything you need to know about this embarrassingly one-sided Sunshine Clásico.
Even the officials let Orlando City SC out of their misery on a truly awful afternoon – one of our worst displays in our MLS history and a game we must forget fast!
In his post-match interview with Apple TV’s Diego Valeri, Lionel Messi said: “It was an easier game than we initially expected.”
Again, this tells you all you need to know about how careless and poor our display was, hopelessly crumbling under pressure in the cauldron of enemy territory.
The manner of this 5-0 victory was a big statement for Inter Miami.
And for us?
Well, it’s soberingly back to square one as we attempt to get our 2024 Major League Soccer campaign off the ground.
Last head-to-head
Last meeting in MLS at Allianz Field back in April 2023, Orlando City SC grabbed their second away win of the season after defeating Minnesota United 1-2 in a dramatic second-half comeback victory.
This win was very timely, especially after lots of bye week deliberation time following a disappointing 1-2 home defeat to Nashville SC on April 1.
Defeating legendary former City head coach Adrian Heath on the night, second-half goals from Iván Angulo and Duncan McGuire sealed a super satisfying away day win.
Starting with a 3-5-2 / 5-3-2 formation with Iván Angulo and Gastón González as wing backs, Oscar Pareja put pragmatism first as he always does on the road.
However, the first-half saw Orlando City SC really struggle to get to grips with a relatively new formation.
With City learning on the job, Ménder García, Bongokuhle Hlongwane, and Jeong Sang-bin were all particularly menacing.
Despite a flurry of early pressure from the Loons, City battled hard, admittedly rode their luck, and survived through to half-time at 0-0.
However, by 58 minutes, the Loons opened the scoring.
With Hassani Dotson doing well to get to the byline, he cut the ball back across City’s penalty area for the dangerous Bongokuhle Hlongwane who dispatched a simple tap-in past Pedro Gallese (1-0).
Just when you wondered whether this City side might crumble, up stepped Iván Angulo.
On 67 minutes, the right wing back rushed towards the Loons’ back post at breakneck speed before sending a deadly accurate strike past Dayne St. Clair into the top left hand corner.
Striking Gastón González‘s cross one-time, Angulo had a lot to do, and this equaliser was just the tonic Orlando City SC needed.
Then on 88 minutes, following an incredible Pedro Gallese save on Franco Fragapane just a minute earlier, pure bedlam.
Entering for Ramiro Enrique as a sub in the 78th minute, rookie Duncan McGuire scored his second ever City goal and his second on the road.
Heading home a delicately dinked shot from Iván Angulo that agonisingly hit the crossbar, McGuire wheeled away inside a silently stunned Allianz Field.
An incredibly sweet strike, especially amid mounting pressure on Oscar Pareja and Orlando City SC to get results, it was away day delight in a very well managed second-half.
What’s at stake this time?
Sure, it’s still very early in the 2024 MLS regular season but Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC are desperate to earn their first victory of the year.
Hell, we’re still waiting for our first MLS goal of 2024 too!
Following an exciting and ambitious off-season of refreshment, expectations have certainly been raised within Central Florida.
Surprising many to finish runners-up in the 2023 MLS Supporters’ Shield, we have good reason to strive for greatness this year.
But while Orlando City SC went under the radar last season, we’re under the microscope this time around.
And this brings its own type of pressure.
Even MLS pundits and analysts have spent the off-season tipping Orlando City SC as an outside bet to win MLS Cup – given our impressive 2024 roster build.
As we mentioned at the outset, juggling MLS and the CONCACAF Champions Cup at the start of a new year is tough, but Orlando City SC constructed a deep roster for this exact reason.
We must now successfully handle both and show everybody that we will be near the top of the Eastern Conference summit come October.
Opposition danger men
Fortunately for Orlando City SC, Emanuel Reynoso (left knee injury) will be unavailable for Minnesota United this weekend.
Having tallied 22 goals and 33 assists in his MLS career to date, the Argentine is undoubtedly the Loons’ most talented player.
Minnesota United still have several danger men fit and available however – especially striker Teemu Pukki.
Just ask Norwich City supporters who know all about the Finland international’s clinical goalscoring.
Taking to Major League Soccer like a duck to water, the 33-year-old already has 10 goals and one assist after joining the Loons last June.
Elsewhere, winger Bongokuhle Hlongwane and midfielder Robin Lod are very dynamic and chip in with their fair share of goals too.
In 2023, South African international Hlongwane emerged as one of Minnesota United’s stars, scoring eight goals and tallying five assists in MLS.
As for Robin Lod, the Finland international has been a Loon since 2019, scoring 23 goals and tallying 14 assists in MLS to date.
New opposition faces
As for Minnesota United new boys, this match has come just too soon for Eric Ramsay.
The 32-year-old is the Loons’ second permanent head coach in MLS, succeeding Adrian Heath, who was dismissed back in October 2023.
With Ramsay appointed back on February 22, the Welshman is still awaiting the approval of his work visa.
That means interim head coach Cameron Knowles remains in charge for this game after achieving a 1-2 win at Austin FC in the Loons’ 2024 opener.
Knowles impressively followed this up with a 1-1 home draw against Columbus Crew last Saturday.
After Cucho Hernández gave the 2023 MLS Cup champions the lead (1-0), a stoppage time Tani Oluwaseyi stunner from a really acute angle (1-1) ensured that the Loons are still unbeaten after Gameweek 2.
Despite only being in interim charge, Cameron Knowles has gotten a tune out of the Loons in challenging circumstances, especially after former Lions assistant Sean McAuley was initially named interim head coach before resigning in January following Adrian Heath‘s October 2023 dismissal.
It’s safe to say that Eric Ramsay’s Minnesota United appointment has raised eyebrows, especially considering the 32-year-old is the youngest head coach in MLS by seven years.
Speaking after his appointment, MNUFC Sporting Director Khaled El-Ahmad said: “I don’t see him being too young. It’s a great opportunity for him to put in place all the things he has experienced and learned.”
No doubt a huge opportunity in his first head coaching role, Eric Ramsay was initially a player development and set-piece coach under Ole Gunnar Solskjær at Manchester United.
Since working as an assistant coach under Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag for the Red Devils, Ramsay also became an assistant coach to Rob Page for the Wales national team.
Very highly rated in the UK coaching sphere, Eric Ramsay will soon cut his teeth as a number one for the very first time.
Player-wise, the Loons have brought Caden Clark back to his native Minnesota for 2024.
Previously one of the hottest USMNT prospects, Clark’s star has fallen somewhat after failing to make the grade at RB Leipzig.
Nevertheless, at just 20-years-old, the attacking midfielder still has time on his side as he looks to re-build his young reputation in MLS after bursting onto the scene with New York Red Bulls in 2020.
Minnesota United also have a former Lion in their ranks for 2024 – Derek Dodson.
Despite being on Orlando City SC‘s roster in 2021, Dodson never made a first team appearance for the Lions.
Dodson, previously a striker during his time at City, has now transitioned into an attack-minded right back after spending 2023 with Charleston Battery in the USL Championship.
Injuries and suspensions
Heading into this game, Jack Lynn (right lower leg) and Facundo Torres (right upper extremity) are questionable for Orlando City SC.
As for Minnesota United, Franco Fragapane (thigh) and Emanuel Reynoso (left knee) are unlikely to feature for the Western Conference side.
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Orlando City SC vs Minnesota United
Last 3 head-to-heads
- August 17, 2019: Minnesota United 1 Orlando City SC 1 (MLS)
- August 6, 2020: Orlando City SC 3 Minnesota United 1 (MLS is Back Tournament)
- April 15, 2023: Minnesota United 1 Orlando City SC 2 (MLS)
2017/23 head-to-head stats
- It was 1-2 to Orlando the last time the sides met (April 2023)
- Played Minnesota 5 times in MLS – Orlando 2, Draws 1, Minnesota 2
- Both sides have scored in 4 of the 5 MLS head-to-heads so far
- Orlando’s last 6 MLS fixtures all have finished ‘to nil’
- Minnesota have scored in stoppage time in their first 2 MLS games of 2024
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Watching the game
Orlando City SC vs Minnesota United will be shown live on Apple TV at 00:30 (GMT) on Sunday, March 10.
Remember, UK supporters can watch all of Orlando City SC‘s 2024 MLS regular season fixtures by subscribing to Apple TV’s “MLS Season Pass”.
Subscribe now by clicking here.
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