STATS PREVIEW: FC Cincinnati vs Orlando City SC – 05.10.2024

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Orlando City SC are simply on fire right now! Extending our strong run of form last night, City secured a vital 2-1 victory over Philadelphia Union at Inter&Co Stadium. This win not only completed a 2024 season sweep over Jim Curtin’s Philadelphia Union, but also marked a milestone for Facundo Torres, who became Orlando City SC’s all-time leading goalscorer (45) across all competitions. Impressively, it was also our fourth consecutive home victory in the MLS regular season, extending our unbeaten run at home to 10 matches (7-3-0) across all competitions. With a top four finish still ours to lose, the Lions remain firmly in the hunt for home field advantage in the Round One Best-of-3 Series of the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Following yesterday’s win, Orlando City SC remain fourth in the Eastern Conference with 49 points from 32 games. In fact, no side has won more points (27) in MLS since the beginning of July than the Lions. But with New York City FC and New York Red Bulls just two points behind us, our lead is far from secure as all three teams get set to contest their final two MLS regular season fixtures. NYCFC’s 3-2 win over FC Cincinnati yesterday propelled them to 47 points, while Red Bulls matched that total by thrashing Toronto FC 1-4 at BMO Field. It was a strong way to bounce back from a humiliating 1-5 home defeat to New York City FC last weekend in the Hudson River Derby.

Given how tight the current standings are, this makes every remaining point crucial as Orlando City SC aim to secure a second successive top four seeding in the post-season. With last night’s 3-2 defeat at NYCFC, Saturday’s opponents FC Cincinnati (56 points) missed the chance to overtake Ohio rivals Columbus Crew (57 points), who slipped up with a 2-3 home defeat to Inter Miami. A victory that saw The Herons unfortunately crowned 2024 Supporters’ Shield champions, FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew are currently jockeying for second place. Despite goals from Luciano Acosta and Corey Baird, Pat Noonan’s FC Cincinnati fell short at NYCFC and they’ll be eager to respond against Orlando City SC at a boisterous TQL Stadium.

But under the pressure of securing a top four finish, City’s attack has thrived, with Facundo Torres, Martín Ojeda, and Ramiro Enrique making significant contributions since June. Despite Orlando City SC scoring just 17 goals in our first 17 MLS games of 2024, we’ve netted 38 in the last 15, matching 2016 and 2023’s joint club record of 55 goals in a single MLS regular season. With Orlando City SC now set to contest our final away fixture of the regular season, the Lions should be feeling mighty confident, especially given our ability to dominate or grind out results.

Oscar Pareja, the coaching staff, and players deserve massive credit for this tactical versatility and for peaking at the right time, much like we did last season. When you combine regular goalscoring with defensive discipline – as we are right now – this is the winning formula! With our post-season spot already secured, all eyes are on Orlando City SC to maintain our top four position and build momentum for what we hope is our deepest playoff run yet! And who knows, maybe, just maybe lifting the 2024 MLS Cup? Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Philadelphia Union vs Orlando City SC – 11.05.2024

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Pain. Misery. Embarrassment. These are all words that unfortunately sum up Orlando City SC’s current plight. After Oscar Pareja’s side suffered a 0-1 loss to FC Cincinnati last Saturday, the pressure is mounting in a 2024 season that is quickly spiralling into a nightmare.

Conceding in just 17 seconds in FC Cincinnati’s very first attack of the game, the 0-1 result marked our fifth defeat of the MLS season, our third loss at home already, and our second home defeat in as many weeks.

To make matters ten times worse, Rodrigo Schlegel‘s colossal error and subsequent red card on 20 minutes left Orlando City SC supporters teetering between laughter and tears – such was the ridiculousness of Schlegel’s latest kamikaze error.

Now visiting Chester, Pennsylvania to take on Philadelphia Union, Jim Curtin’s side rescued a 2-2 draw at D.C. United last Saturday, fighting back from 2-0 down to salvage a point through veteran Alejandro Bedoya and a MLS goal of the season contender from Jack McGlynn. Continue reading

2024 MLS SuperDraft preview: Reviewing Orlando City SC’s 31 draft picks since 2015

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The MLS SuperDraft is the most exciting event in the lives of every young North American college soccer player.

With Rounds 1, 2 and 3 of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft getting underway tomorrow, Orlando City UK took this moment to reflect on how Orlando City SC‘s annual picks have fared since our inaugural 2015 season. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Nashville SC – 01.04.2023

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What a difference a week makes for Orlando City SC who achieved a huge morale-boosting 1-2 victory at Philadelphia Union on Gameweek 5.

Inflicting Union’s first MLS regular season defeat at home since September 2021, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions bounced back from their disappointing 1-2 Charlotte FC defeat the best way possible in a game interrupted by several international call-ups. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Philadelphia Union vs Orlando City SC – 25.03.2023

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Gameweek 4 was one to forget, and fast, for Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC who suffered our first loss of the season – a bitterly disappointing 1-2 home defeat to bottom side Charlotte FC.

Coming just three days after our narrow 2023 CONCACAF Champions League elimination, there’s frustratingly more questions than answers right now, albeit at this early stage of the campaign. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Atlanta United – 14.09.2022

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After a heavy 5-1 defeat at Philadelphia Union, yet still buoyant after lifting the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy last week, Orlando City SC now face fierce rivals Atlanta United at home.

With just five MLS regular season games remaining, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions still have work to do to reach the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs and currently sit only two points above the red line. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Philadelphia Union vs Orlando City SC – 10.09.2022

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After the pure elation and ecstasy of winning four consecutive MLS games, not to mention lifting the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Orlando City SC are back in MLS action.

With no MLS game in nine days to accommodate for our cup final, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions now visit runaway Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia Union with just six regular season games remaining. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: D.C. United vs Orlando City SC – 31.07.2022

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After a tired 0-1 home loss to Philadelphia Union, but a triumphant 5-1 win over New York Red Bulls in the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semi-final, Orlando City SC now conclude a busy July by visiting D.C. United for Wayne Rooney’s first game in charge.

Currently fifth in the Eastern Conference but perilously just two points above the red line, Orlando City SC have failed to put winning streaks together all season long. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Philadelphia Union – 03.07.2019

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After recording a fantastic professional 0-2 win at Columbus Crew, Orlando City SC return to Exploria Stadium to face Philadelphia Union after a three-game road streak.

The final Eastern Conference opponent we are yet to face this season, this is the first of two back-to-back games against Jim Curtin’s table toppers who’ve taken everybody by surprise so far in 2019. Continue reading

PLAYER RATINGS: Orlando City SC vs Philadelphia Union – 18.03.2017

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Thought the 2017 Orlando City SC hype only surrounded the club’s fantastic new soccer-specific stadium downtown?

Think again because the Lions are toasting their brilliant new facility in the best way possible, earning a one-hundred per cent record from two games following a 2-1 win over Philadelphia Union last night. Continue reading