Saturday’s dramatic 3-3 draw with New England Revolution had it all. Goals, rain, controversy, and a sparkling Martín Ojeda hat-trick! But while the attacking floodgates finally opened, defensive lapses cost the Lions two precious points. Twice ahead and in full control, City were ultimately undone by a late Carles Gil penalty. This halted what had looked like a statement win. Still, Tincho’s trio — the first Orlando City SC hat-trick in any competition since 2015 — reminded everyone what he’s capable of when firing on all cylinders.
Now, with Charlotte FC next up, the focus shifts to turning performances into points. Yes, we’re nine unbeaten in MLS — but only one win in our last six tells its own story. As Oscar Pareja put it post-match, this is the version of Orlando “we want to see” going forward. Let’s just hope it’s the version that finishes more of its chances too.
Last time out
On Saturday, Orlando City SC were left to rue missed chances and lapses in concentration, drawing 3-3 with New England Revolution in a rain-soaked thriller at Inter&Co Stadium. Despite leading 2-0 and 3-2, the Lions couldn’t hold on, with Carles Gil’s late penalty denying us all three points. The night belonged to marvellous Martín Ojeda, who bagged his first professional hat-trick – Orlando’s first in any competition for a decade and the first since Cyle Larin netted three in a 2-5 win at New York Red Bulls in September 2015. Tincho’s opener, smashed in off the underside of the crossbar, was his fifth of the campaign — already one more than he managed in all of 2024, and matching his 2023 output. The result also brought Pedro Gallese’s impressive 563-minute shutout streak to an end – the sixth-longest streak by a goalkeeper in MLS history. While frustrated by the defensive lapses, Oscar Pareja praised our attacking intent, describing it as the version of Orlando “we want to see”.
Last head-to-head
On November 9, 2024, Orlando City SC triumphed 4-1 on penalties (1-1 at full-time) against Charlotte FC in the decisive game three in Round One of the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. The victory set up City’s third-ever Eastern Conference Semi-Final. Facundo Torres led the charge, hitting the post and crossbar in the first-half, while Orlando City SC’s defence remained resolute, having already kept CLTFC scoreless in games one and two. With game three tied 0-0 in the second-half, tension mounted when Charlotte’s Karol Świderski broke the deadlock on 82 minutes. However, Duncan McGuire won a last-minute penalty, and Torres sealed the equaliser in the dying seconds. In the shootout, City capitalised. Pedro Gallese saved two penalties while all four of City’s takers converted confidently to secure progression. Still sore from this exit, The Crown will be out for revenge this week!
What’s at stake this time?
With a third of the 2025 MLS season in the books, Orlando City SC sit eighth in the Eastern Conference — seven points behind leaders FC Cincinnati. While the Lions are now unbeaten in nine league games, five draws in our last six — including four goalless stalemates — have fans craving more cutting edge. One bright spot? Martín Ojeda’s thunderous response to being benched for Atlanta United and Chicago Fire. Back in the starting XI on Saturday, he tore into Revs with a sensational hat-trick. Now our leading man for combined goals and assists (7+3), every Orlando supporter wants to see Tincho locked into that starting role. Papi also returned to our tried-and-tested 4-2-3-1 against Revs, ditching the 4-4-2 that misfired in Chicago. The hope now is that this shape — and Ojeda’s form — brings consistency at home. Dean Smith’s Charlotte FC arrive reeling from three straight MLS defeats, most recently a 2-1 loss at Nashville SC. They’re just two spots and one point above us, so this is one of those six-pointers. Orlando looked lethal against a Revs side that hadn’t conceded in 393 minutes — but let’s be honest, we should’ve hit five or six. Clinical finishing must be the priority now.
Opposition danger men
🇮🇱 Liel Abada (4 goals, 0 assists – 2025 MLS)
🇪🇸 Pep Biel (3 goals, 6 assists – 2025 MLS)
🇨🇮 Wilfried Zaha (3 goals, 0 assists – 2025 MLS)
🇺🇸 Patrick Agyemang (2 goals, 0 assists – 2025 MLS)
New opposition faces
🇺🇸 Eryk Williamson (Portland Timbers)
🇨🇮 Wilfried Zaha (on loan from Galatasaray)
🇺🇸 Mikah Thomas (2025 MLS SuperDraft)
🇨🇮 Souleyman Doumbia (on loan from Standard Liège)
🇨🇦 Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty (on loan from CF Montréal)
Injuries
🇨🇴 Eduard Atuesta (neck) – out
🇵🇪 Wilder Cartagena (right leg) – SEI
🇨🇱 Favian Loyola (thigh) – questionable
🇯🇵 Yutaro Tsukada (knee) – SEI
🇺🇸 Nimfasha Berchimas (foot) – out
🏴 Nathan Byrne (neck) – out
🇨🇦 Brandon Cambridge (thigh) – out
🇨🇮 Souleyman Doumbia (hamstring) – out
🇺🇸 Jahlane Forbes (thigh) – out
🏴 Tyger Smalls (knee) – questionable
*SEI – Season-Ending Injury List (Unavailable)
Suspensions
None
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Orlando City SC vs Charlotte FC
Last 3 head-to-heads
- October 27, 2024: Orlando City SC 2 Charlotte FC 0 (2024 MLS Cup Playoffs)
- November 1, 2024: Charlotte FC 0 Orlando City SC 0 (3-1 on penalties) (2024 MLS Cup Playoffs)
- November 9, 2024: Charlotte FC 1 Orlando City SC 1 (4-1 on penalties) (2024 MLS Cup Playoffs)
2015/24 head-to-head stats
- It was 1-1 (4-1 on penalties) to Orlando the last time the sides met (November 2024)
- Played Charlotte 9 times in MLS – Orlando 5, Draws 2, Charlotte 2
- Charlotte have only scored 1 goal in the last 4 MLS head-to-heads
- Orlando have scored 2 or more goals in 5 of our 6 MLS fixtures at home
- Liel Abada has scored in 3 of Charlotte’s last 4 MLS fixtures (3 goals)
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Watching the game
Orlando City SC vs Charlotte FC will be shown live on Apple TV at 00:30 (GMT) on Thursday, May 15.
Remember, UK supporters can watch all of Orlando City SC’s 2025 MLS regular season fixtures by subscribing to Apple TV’s “MLS Season Pass”.
Subscribe now by clicking here.
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