After four games without a win, Orlando City SC finally bounced back with a gritty 1-2 road victory at New England Revolution. A much-needed lift for the squad, our social media admin joined in the fun, celebrating not just 3 points at the scene of the Coldplay incident, but an awkwardly-timed fireworks show too! Most importantly, the Lions responded when they needed to, and just in time.
Just before the 2025 Leagues Cup group stage kicks off, we now face our first and only Friday fixture of the regular season – a road trip to high-flying Columbus Crew. With the table tightening and just 9 regular season games remaining after this, there’s no better time to build momentum. So let’s make one last push before the break! With Martín Ojeda in red-hot form, we should visit Ohio with renewed hunger, confidence, and belief.
Last time out
Last Saturday, Orlando City SC picked up a huge 1-2 road win at New England Revolution – snapping a four-game winless run and earning just our second-ever victory at Gillette Stadium. Once again it was Martín Ojeda stepping up in the big moments, scoring both goals in a standout performance that lifted the Lions to all three points. With his first goal – a composed finish on 18 minutes – Ojeda extended his club-record goal contribution streak to 9 matches – 3 more than the next-closest streak (6 matches). Ojeda then scored the match-winner on 58 minutes – just three minutes after Tomás Chancalay’s equaliser (1-1). Despite conceding possession and absorbing heavy pressure late on, the Lions finally showed resolve to see the game out – with Pedro Gallese and David Brekalo making key interventions to preserve the lead. Tincho’s brace took his season tally to 12 goals and 10 assists – underlining how vital he is to our playoff push.
Last head-to-head
On September 21, 2024, Orlando City SC fell 4-3 to Columbus Crew in a rollercoaster game at Lower.com Field. Ending our three-game winning streak, the Lions were left to rue costly defensive lapses despite a spirited second-half fightback. The reigning MLS Cup champions raced into a 3-0 lead through Diego Rossi, Christian Ramirez, and Cucho Hernández before Ramiro Enrique sparked a late rally. Luis Muriel converted a penalty to make it 3-2, but a defensive mix-up gifted Crew a fourth, with AZ Jackson finishing the chance. Muriel bagged a stunning second in stoppage time, but time ran out on City’s comeback. Despite outshooting the hosts 13-12, the Lions left Ohio empty-handed in a seven-goal thriller.
What’s at stake this time?
Orlando City SC remain sixth in the East with 38 points from 24 games, but the pressure is building. Charlotte FC’s 2-3 win at Atlanta United means they’re just three points behind in seventh. As for New York City FC, their 1-1 draw at Sporting Kansas City last weekend saw them drop valuable points in the playoff race. Inter Miami sit just three points above us in fifth (41 points), but still have three games in hand. Meanwhile, Friday’s opponents Columbus Crew sit fourth on 44 points and currently hold the last home playoff slot. Wilfried Nancy’s side are one of Major League Soccer’s top attacking threats, though they left it late to beat D.C. United last weekend (2-1). For Orlando, it’s Martín Ojeda putting the team on his shoulders. Overlooked for the 2025 MLS All-Star Game, the Argentine has stepped up massively this season, fully embracing the role of talisman following Facundo Torres’ winter exit. With 12 goals and 10 assists this season, Tincho now looks the MVP-calibre player we all thought he’d be. Speaking of the All-Star Game, Alex Freeman and Marco Pašalić both came through Wednesday’s match in Austin unscathed. But with such a short turnaround, they may not be ready to start against Crew. While Lower.com Field is one of the toughest away venues in MLS, Orlando may welcome another road trip. We’ve gone 1-1-1 in our last three visits to Crew, and are winless in four at Inter&Co Stadium (0-1-3), where home advantage has all but vanished. With the 2025 Leagues Cup approaching, let’s take all three points and head into the break in the best shape possible.
Opposition danger men
🇺🇾 Diego Rossi (11 goals, 4 assists – 2025 MLS)
🇨🇦 Jacen Russell-Rowe (7 goals, 2 assists – 2025 MLS)
🇺🇸 Max Arfsten (4 goals, 3 assists – 2025 MLS)
🇭🇺 Dániel Gazdag (1 goal, 2 assists – 2025 MLS)
New opposition faces
🇫🇮 Lassi Lappalainen (CF Montréal)
🇧🇾 Stanislav Lapkes (Columbus Crew 2)
🇩🇪 Amar Sejdić (Nashville SC)
🇺🇸 Cesar Ruvalcaba (2025 MLS SuperDraft)
🇭🇺 Dániel Gazdag (Philadelphia Union)
🇳🇬 Ibrahim Aliyu (Houston Dynamo)
🇺🇸 Tristan Brown (Columbus Crew 2)
🇫🇷 Hugo Picard (EA Guingamp)
Injuries
🇩🇰 Malte Amundsen (knee) – questionable
🇫🇷 Rudy Camacho (thigh) – out
🇬🇹 Nicholas Hagen (thigh) – out
🇩🇿 Mohamed Farsi (pelvis) – out
🇵🇪 Wilder Cartagena (right leg) – SEI
🇫🇷 Joran Gerbet (thigh) – out
🇺🇸 Duncan McGuire (shoulder) – out
🇯🇵 Yutaro Tsukada (knee) – SEI
*SEI – Season-Ending Injury List (Unavailable)
Suspensions
None
MLS All-Star Game minutes
🇺🇸 Max Arfsten (entered on 45′) – 31 minutes
🇺🇾 Diego Rossi (entered on 34′) – 28 minutes
🇺🇸 Alex Freeman (entered on 62′) – 31 minutes
🇭🇷 Marco Pašalić (entered on 34′) – 28 minutes
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Columbus Crew vs Orlando City SC
Last 3 head-to-heads
- November 25, 2023: Orlando City SC 0 Columbus Crew 2 (A.E.T.) (2023 MLS Cup Playoffs)
- May 25, 2024: Orlando City SC 0 Columbus Crew 2 (MLS)
- September 21, 2024: Columbus Crew 4 Orlando City SC 3 (MLS)
2015/24 head-to-head stats
- It was 4-3 to Crew the last time the sides met (September 2024)
- Played Crew 22 times in MLS – Crew 9, Draws 4, Orlando 9
- Crew won both MLS head-to-heads last season
- Crew have won their last 4 home fixtures in MLS
- Orlando have opened the scoring in their last 3 MLS fixtures
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Watching the game
Columbus Crew vs Orlando City SC will be shown live on Apple TV at 00:30 (GMT) on Saturday, July 26.
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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