STATS PREVIEW: Toronto FC vs Orlando City SC – 03.07.2024

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Before we get into this preview, Orlando City UK wants to send our love and support to Mason Stajduhar who suffered a gruesome leg break in Friday’s game at New York City FC. Fracturing his tibia and fibula in his right leg, Mason will now be placed on Orlando City SC’s Season-Ending Injury List. We’re wishing both Stajduhar and NYCFC’s Malachi Jones the speediest of recoveries following their awful collision that hopefully doesn’t jeopardise their careers.

Defeated 4-2 at Yankee Stadium, Orlando City SC are still waiting to achieve back-to-back MLS victories for the first time this season. Surrendering the chance to temporarily leapfrog our rivals Atlanta United into ninth place and the final MLS Wild Card match slot, the Lions now visit eighth-placed Toronto FC.

A second successive road game for Oscar Pareja’s Lions, Orlando City SC will be looking for a quick response following the NYCFC loss in order to get our flimsy bid to reach the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs back up and running. But having only won one of our last seven MLS fixtures (1-4-2), we need a dramatic upturn in form to save our season from being a complete disaster.

John Herdman’s Toronto FC enter this game still reeling from an embarrassing 97th minute defeat at Atlanta United (2-1) on Saturday. In a dramatic turn of events, TFC goalkeeper Luka Gavran was completely unaware of Jamal Thiaré lurking menacingly on the goal line behind him when preparing for a last-minute goal kick. Seizing the opportunity, Thiaré appeared on Gavran’s blind side as he laid the ball down. Thiaré then stole the ball, rounded Gavran, and effortlessly tapped the ball into an empty net. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Toronto FC vs Orlando City SC – 21.10.2023

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A TOP TWO seed for the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, subsequent home field advantage in the post-season, and 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup qualification have now all been clinched! Indeed, the Lions achieved these fantastic feats after defeating New England Revolution 3-2 in our final home game of the 2023 MLS regular season. With City’s victory and a 0-0 tie between Philadelphia Union and Nashville SC sealing our top two status, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now visit BMO Field to face Eastern Conference whipping boys Toronto FC on 2023 MLS Decision Day.

Sealing our ninth home victory of the MLS season back on October 7, a result that saw us reach 60 points in the East, a first-half Mauricio Pereyra masterclass helped the Lions on their way to another morale-boosting win – our first MLS victory over bogey opponent Revs in 11 league meetings.

In all my years watching the team, the last month or so has seen Orlando City SC produce the most convincing and consistent soccer we’ve ever played in MLS. Already clinching our spot in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs back on September 20 – earlier than ever before with five games to spare – this MLS Decision Day is refreshingly stress-free for City supporters.

Indeed, on MLS Decision Day in both 2021 and 2022, Orlando City SC agonisingly went into the final day of the regular season knowing that by full-time, they could be in or out of the post-season. Fortunately making it on both occasions, 2023 MLS Decision Day is excitingly all about extending our fine form into the post-season. Successfully securing our top two seeding prior to the international break, City can now look forward to hosting two home games in the newly revamped Round One Best-of-3 series of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs. The icing on the cake, the Lions can also look forward to appearing in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup too, qualifying for the tournament for a second successive season courtesy of having secured a top two Eastern Conference finish.

All that’s left for Orlando City SC to find out on 2023 MLS Decision Day is whether they will be facing Atlanta United, Nashville SC or New England Revolution in Round One of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Toronto FC – 04.07.2023

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After beating Chicago Fire 3-1, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC stay at Exploria Stadium for a July 4 Independence Day showdown with Toronto FC.

Recently relieving Bob Bradley of his duties on June 26, Terry Dunfield is now interim head coach of TFC who face a Lions side placed seventh in the Eastern Conference, currently just three points behind fourth-placed Columbus Crew. Continue reading

Who is Orlando City SC’s new signing Luca Petrasso?

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Orlando City SC‘s 2023 recruitment drive is already underway with the Lions announcing the signing of Toronto FC defender Luca Petrasso yesterday.

Trading $300,000 in 2023 General Allocation Money to TFC, Luca Petrasso joins City as a Homegrown Player and is automatically protected in Friday’s 2022 MLS Expansion Draft. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Toronto FC – 17.09.2022

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After a bitterly disappointing 0-1 home defeat to fierce rivals Atlanta United on Wednesday, Orlando City SC now face Toronto FC in their penultimate home game of the 2022 MLS regular season.

Perilously sitting just two points above the red line as things stand, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions only have four nail-biting games left to seal a place in the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Austin FC vs Orlando City SC – 22.05.2022

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After Kyle Smith‘s buzzer beater header in stoppage time at Toronto FC (0-1), Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now head to Texas for their inaugural MLS fixture with Austin FC.

With no meeting between the sides in Austin FC’s inaugural 2021 MLS season, this is City’s first taste of the atmospheric Q2 Stadium as we look to maintain our positive league campaign so far. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Toronto FC vs Orlando City SC – 14.05.2022

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Eager to erase memories of last weekend’s 4-1 defeat to CF Montréal, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now face fellow Canadians Toronto FC at BMO Field.

Desperately seeking some consistency right now, Orlando City SC‘s 2022 MLS campaign has looked convincing at times and not so convincing at times also. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Los Angeles FC – 02.04.2022

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Just 10+ minutes away from snatching a 0-1 win at Portland Timbers, Orlando City SC had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Providence Park last Sunday.

Conceding a late Cristhian Paredes penalty, Oscar Pareja‘s side emerged from two quick-fire West Coast trips undefeated – something to take great heart from. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Los Angeles FC – 31.07.2020

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Into the #MLSisBack Tournament quarter-finals after beating Montreal Impact 1-0, Orlando City SC now face their toughest test yet. Western Conference champions Los Angeles FC await in the last eight after beating Seattle Sounders 1-4.

Bob Bradley’s side are favourites to win this tournament but after encouraging performances under Oscar Pareja, this game will prove how far the Lions have come. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Los Angeles FC – 07.09.2019

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After a miserable 3-0 thumping at San Jose Earthquakes, Orlando City SC have just five regular season fixtures left to try and clinch a spot in the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Achieving that objective looks a tall order right now, especially considering they now face runaway Western Conference leaders and arguably the best MLS regular season side of all-time, Los Angeles FC. Continue reading