Chicago Fire

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Chicago Fire – 31.05.2025

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Nobody to blame but ourselves! 😡 Referee Filip Dujic may have made headlines in our 3-2 loss to Atlanta United. But César Araújo gave him a decision to make. Raising his hand to Mateusz Klich while leading 1-2 on the road? It was stupid, costly, and avoidable against a team we despise.

Oscar Pareja said after the match that he had challenged Araújo’s red card before the referee sent him off. While the club plans to address Dujic’s officiating internally, I can’t say I have much sympathy. We’ve been here before – hot-headed, undisciplined, and beaten. We didn’t learn! In a game that mattered this much, in enemy territory, we handed Atlanta the upper hand. We imploded, plain and simple. Now, we must finish May with a win over Chicago Fire. It’s crucial that we head into the international break still in the hunt at the top of the East. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Portland Timbers – 24.05.2025

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Orlando City SC host Portland Timbers this Saturday in our second cross-conference MLS fixture of 2025. While we’ve faced Phil Neville before – going 4-2-1 against his Inter Miami side – this is our first meeting with him as Timbers boss.

Riding high off our stunning 0-3 win at Inter Miami, our momentum just took a big hit! Eliminated from the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup last night, losing 2-3 to Nashville SC in the Round of 16, fatigue and tired legs told. With Orlando squeezing NINE fixtures into May, this gruelling month is a real test of our fitness, mentality, and squad depth. Now, we must regroup and dig deep against talented opposition. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Charlotte FC – 14.05.2025

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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 more 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-Revs, this is the attacking version of Orlando “we want to see” going forward. Let’s just hope it’s the version that finishes more of its chances too. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs New England Revolution – 10.05.2025

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Back to Inter&Co Stadium we go – but after four 0-0 draws in our last five MLS outings, can someone please find the net? Orlando City SC extended their unbeaten league run to eight matches last weekend, but it was another frustrating stalemate at 10-man Chicago Fire. Thankfully, our I-4 Derby win (0-5) over Tampa Bay Rowdies in the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday served as a timely morale booster.

Now, it’s time to turn our resilience into results – but that’s easier said than done. New England Revolution visit Central Florida in red-hot form, riding a four-game winning streak. Moreover, both sides boast stingy defensive records too. City haven’t conceded in 530 minutes, while the Revs are on a 393-minute shutout streak – so something has to give. Let’s just hope it’s not another goalless grind! Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Tampa Bay Rowdies vs Orlando City SC – 07.05.2025

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ROWDIES, TELL ME HOW IT FEELS! 📢 You know the rest! 😉 A Florida feud reignites this Wednesday as Orlando City SC travel to Al Lang Stadium to face old USL rival Tampa Bay Rowdies in the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32. It’s a nostalgic return to the competition that delivered our first MLS-era silverware in 2022, and die-hard Lions couldn’t be happier to be back – especially after City were controversially excluded from last year’s diluted edition due to Leagues Cup scheduling.

Personally, I’m thrilled we’re back, having boycotted the 2024 Leagues Cup in protest. Even better, Orlando City SC have a real shot at lifting the cup this year. With just 16 MLS sides controversially included this time, the field is wide open. Especially with big boys Inter Miami, Los Angeles FC and Columbus Crew not taking part! Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Chicago Fire vs Orlando City SC – 03.05.2025

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Orlando, we’re coming to c̶o̶n̶q̶u̶e̶r̶ roll over! 😜 After a tough few weeks, Orlando City SC returned to winning ways with a commanding 3-0 derby victory over Atlanta United at Inter&Co Stadium. Piling the pressure on Ronny Deila, the result extended the Lions’ unbeaten run to seven games and restored some much-needed momentum heading into a busy stretch. Now, Oscar Pareja’s side will look to climb the Eastern Conference standings against Chicago Fire, who were just thumped 7-2 at Nashville SC. It was an embarrassing loss for Gregg Berhalter against his former USMNT assistant, B.J. Callaghan.

With confidence growing and key players finding form, City will now look to build on their fourth consecutive clean sheet. Another positive result on the road would keep the pressure on the teams above and further underline the Lions’ growing belief as the campaign hits its stride. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: CF Montréal vs Orlando City SC – 19.04.2025

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Orlando City SC just extended their unbeaten MLS streak to five matches (2-3-0), but we left last Saturday’s scrappy 0-0 draw with New York Red Bulls feeling frustrated. Still preserving a second successive shutout despite Rodrigo Schlegel’s red card, Oscar Pareja’s Lions now travel north of the border to face CF Montréal in chilly Quebec. Right now, Papi is at a tactical crossroads: stick with his cautious 3-4-2-1 or revert to our familiar 4-2-3-1? Either way, we must now cope with Rodrigo Schlegel’s one-game suspension.

CF Montréal enter this match scarred from a 0-1 defeat to Charlotte FC in their long-delayed 2025 home opener last Saturday. Winless in eight games and still bottom of the East, they’re continuing to adjust under interim head coach Marco Donadel, who stepped in following the dismissal of Laurent Courtois on March 25. This is just CF Montréal’s second home game at Stade Saputo in 2025, following seven straight on the road – a yearly tradition to avoid Quebec’s harsh winter. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs New York Red Bulls – 12.04.2025

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Orlando City SC showed grit and growth last Saturday, grinding out a hard-earned 0-0 draw at Philadelphia Union to claim our first clean sheet of 2025. Despite key midfielders César Araújo and Eduard Atuesta being unavailable, the Lions rallied to extend their unbeaten run to four games (2-2-0).

Now back on home turf and buoyed by a strong defensive display, City will look to keep the momentum rolling against familiar foes. Just four MLS games ago, Orlando City SC and New York Red Bulls played out a 2-2 draw in Harrison, New Jersey, and with last season’s bitter Eastern Conference Final loss still fresh, this one carries extra edge. Both sides come into the contest in good form. Red Bulls are fresh off a 2-1 win over in-form Chicago Fire, while City are looking more solid and settled with each passing game. Another step forward here could keep the Lions firmly in the playoff mix, albeit at this early stage of the season. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Real Salt Lake acquiring Mason Stajduhar from Orlando City SC

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Out of the blue, Orlando City SC traded longtime Lion Mason Stajduhar to Real Salt Lake yesterday in exchange for $50,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money (GAM), a second round draft pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft, and up to $150,000 in GAM based on performance metrics. With Carlos Mercado and now Mason Stajduhar having departed, only Pedro Gallese and the inexperienced Javier Otero remain, with the club likely to add another backup goalkeeper behind Gallese.

The longest-tenured player in club history, Stajduhar overcame a battle with Ewing sarcoma – inspiring us all when returning to the field in 2018. A bone cancer survivor and 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champion, Stajduhar set an Orlando City SC single-match club record with 11 saves against Chicago Fire in June 2024. He also made history as the first goalkeeper to record an assist for the Lions at Toronto FC on 2023 MLS Decision Day. Continue reading →

2025 MLS SuperDraft preview: Reviewing Orlando City SC’s 35 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 2025 MLS SuperDraft getting underway this Friday (December 20), 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 →