Twitter reacts to… Oscar Pareja’s new Orlando City SC contract through 2025

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“It’s done” as Frodo Baggins famously said in the Lord of the Rings! After guiding Orlando City SC to the MLS Cup Playoffs for four consecutive seasons, the hugely popular Oscar Pareja has now signed a new two-year deal, keeping our winningest head coach in club history at Exploria Stadium until at least the end of 2025.

During his four-year tenure in Central Florida, the 55-year-old Colombian has successfully turned around the Lions’ losing culture in Major League Soccer, so much so that City broke their own regular season records this year to finish runners-up to FC Cincinnati in the 2023 Supporters’ Shield despite having the lowest salary spend of all – a hugely impressive feat.

So far, the man affectionately known as Papi has built a genuine brotherhood in the City locker room, one that yielded silverware last year when Orlando City SC defeated Sacramento Republic 3-0 to win the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final at Exploria Stadium – our first major title as an MLS club. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Nashville SC – 30.10.2023

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After all the thrills and spills of a MLS regular season that saw Orlando City SC win more games than ever before (18) and achieve their highest all-time single-season points tally (63) – finishing a mightily impressive second in the 2023 Supporters’ Shield despite having the lowest salary spend of all – it’s now time for the agony and the ecstasy of the post-season.

City now face the side that finished seventh in the East, Nashville SC, at Exploria Stadium in game one of the newly revamped Round One Best-of-3 series of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs. The Lions have crucially secured home field advantage in this round courtesy of our Eastern Conference top four seeding (number two overall in MLS). Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Nashville SC vs Orlando City SC – 04.10.2023

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After defeating CF Montréal 3-0 in a professional, impressive, and dominant performance, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now visit GEODIS Park for the very first time to face Nashville SC in our penultimate away fixture of the 2023 MLS regular season.

With City having just set a club record for our most ever Major League Soccer regular season victories (15) and points (54), everything seems to be clicking for the Lions right now. Preparing for the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs the best way possible, we’re not only hitting our stride with consistent performances but positive results to match. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Colorado Rapids – 10.06.2023

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With the soccer world digesting Wednesday’s seismic and historic news that Lionel Messi is joining Inter Miami, Florida rivals Orlando City SC are back at Exploria Stadium to face a cross-conference opponent in Colorado Rapids.

After emphatically defeating New York Red Bulls 0-3 at Red Bull Arena, City have now gone five MLS games unbeaten. They now face Robin Fraser’s struggling Rapids side who failed to reach the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs, and this year, currently languish thirteenth in the Western Conference. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: CF Montréal vs Orlando City SC – 16.10.2022

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After the agony and ecstasy of a 2022 MLS regular season that had more twists and turns than the VelociCoaster at Universal Studios, Orlando City SC have finally qualified for the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs!

Finishing seventh in the East and clinching our spot by virtue of a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Columbus Crew on 2022 MLS Decision Day, Oscar Pareja has successfully guided City to the playoffs for all three of his seasons in charge. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Nashville SC – 29.06.2022

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After the thrill of defeating Florida rivals Inter Miami 4-2 on penalties (1-1 A.E.T.) in the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16, Orlando City SC now face Nashville SC in the quarter-finals.

With Nashville SC switching from Eastern to Western Conference in 2022, this is the clubs’ only scheduled meeting this year, and City will be out to avenge their 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs elimination. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: New England Revolution vs Orlando City SC – 15.06.2022

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Losing 1-3 at home to FC Dallas prior to the league break, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now visit New England Revolution as we edge towards the halfway point of the 2022 MLS regular season.

2021 Supporters’ Shield winners of course, Revs were a formidable opponent last season. However, they’ve surprisingly struggled this season, going 5-4-5 under Bruce Arena. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: CF Montréal vs Orlando City SC – 07.05.2022

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Erasing memories of that 0-3 loss to New York Red Bulls with a 2-1 win over MLS new boys Charlotte FC, Orlando City SC now start a three-game away MLS streak at CF Montréal.

With this Stade Saputo visit preceding two more MLS away games at Toronto FC and Austin FC, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions currently sit third in the Eastern Conference. Continue reading

Two live Orlando City SC games on Premier Sports 2 and FreeSports this May

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With Premier Sports 2 and FreeSports each showing one live Orlando City SC fixture in April, two more Lions games will be broadcast in the UK in May.

Premier Sports 2 will have live coverage of CF Montréal vs Orlando City SC on May 7. FreeSports has live coverage of Toronto FC vs Orlando City SC on May 14. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Columbus Crew vs Orlando City SC – 16.04.2022

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A week after losing 2-4 to Los Angeles FC, Orlando City SC bounced back with a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over Chicago Fire, inflicting Fire’s first loss of the season.

With Ercan Kara‘s first City goal proving the difference, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions now visit Columbus Crew for their fourth road trip of the 2022 season. Continue reading