STATS PREVIEW: Charlotte FC vs Orlando City SC – 30.08.2023

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After a statement 2-1 victory over St. Louis CITY SC, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC hit the road for a quick-fire two-game road streak, starting with a visit to North Carolina to face Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium.

With just nine MLS regular season fixtures remaining, the Lions currently sit fourth in the Eastern Conference, five points clear of seventh place and eleven points clear of ninth place. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs St. Louis CITY SC – 26.08.2023

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Having had 17 days to stew on our disappointing 3-1 loss at Inter Miami in the 2023 Leagues Cup, Orlando City SC returned to MLS action the best way possible, defeating Chicago Fire 1-3 away to extend our fantastic form on the road.

Now rising to fourth in the Eastern Conference, City currently sit within the coveted home seeding spots for the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs – the positions we hope to end up in once our 10 remaining regular season fixtures are complete. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Chicago Fire vs Orlando City SC – 20.08.2023

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Eliminated from the 2023 Leagues Cup back on August 2, Orlando City SC return to MLS regular season action, travelling to the Windy City to take on Chicago Fire at Soldier Field.

Prior to the Leagues Cup break, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions climbed to fifth in the Eastern Conference – and just one point off fourth-placed Nashville SC – after an impressive run of three victories in four MLS fixtures. Continue reading

A quick word on *that* Inter Miami defeat before we all move on…

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Before we begin, Orlando City SC‘s 3-1 defeat to Inter Miami in the 2023 Leagues Cup on Wednesday evening was bitterly disappointing for players and supporters alike. Disappointing because ever since our 2011 founding, the club have long enjoyed a love affair with cup competitions, none greater than last season’s victorious 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup triumph – our first title in our MLS era.

A rivalry fixture – with state bragging rights at stake – it’s always gutting losing , especially in knockout competition in enemy territory, but genuine supporters accept these highs and lows as part and parcel of The Beautiful Game.

What I must admit though – and I reiterate that these opinions are the thoughts of Orlando City UK (Taylor Williams), not Orlando City SC – is that I had cynical feelings that our Inter Miami defeat would play out the way it did – and so it proved on a controversial night at DRV PNK Stadium. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Real Salt Lake vs Orlando City SC – 08.07.2023

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Even before the post-match Exploria Stadium fireworks show to commemorate July 4, Orlando City SC celebrated Independence Day with a bang by emphatically defeating Toronto FC 4-0.

Registering two home victories in a row and only losing one of our last eleven MLS fixtures, Oscar Pareja‘s upwardly mobile Lions now face a tough three-game road streak in MLS, sandwiched by at least two ties in the 2023 Leagues Cup. 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

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Chicago Fire – 01.07.2023

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Drawing 0-0 at Seattle Sounders on a long-haul cross-country road trip, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now return to Central Florida to contest two consecutive home fixtures at Exploria Stadium – starting with Chicago Fire.

The Lions are currently seventh in the Eastern Conference on 28 points. They sit two points above both the red and Wild Card match lines, and look much steadier, if not spectacular, in pursuit of clinching a place in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: New England Revolution vs Orlando City SC – 17.06.2023

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After defeating nine-man Colorado Rapids 2-0 at Exploria Stadium, Orlando City SC now hit the road to face 2021 MLS Supporters’ Shield winners New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium.

Our first 2023 regular season meeting with Revs, the Foxborough team are quite simply a bogey side to the Lions. After registering our current joint-highest MLS win against Revs (6-1) in September 2017, they’ve gone unbeaten against City in the nine MLS head-to-heads ever since (5-4-0). Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Atlanta United – 27.05.2023

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Boy, that Inter Miami victory was sweet, right? Producing a much improved display to deservedly defeat Florida rivals Inter Miami 1-3, MLS Rivalry Week was one to remember. Especially for our loyal travelling band of City supporters at DRV PNK Stadium.

Rivalry victories hit different and Orlando City SC now have another great opportunity to help our supporters forget our early season struggles. With fellow fierce rivals Atlanta United in town, City should now be relishing the visit of The Five Stripes. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Minnesota United vs Orlando City SC – 15.04.2023

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Suffering a second successive home defeat to Nashville SC (0-2) back on April 1, Orlando City SC have had an entire fortnight to stew on that disappointing result.

Now visiting Minnesota United and legendary former City head coach Adrian Heath, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions have been unconvincing and inconsistent this year, going 2-2-2 in six MLS regular season games so far. Continue reading