Chris Rindov

STATS PREVIEW: LA Galaxy vs Orlando City SC – 31.08.2025

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

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THEY GOT WHAT THEY WANTED, DIDN’T THEY? 🤬😤 Orlando City SC were kicked to the curb in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday. Ultimately, we were robbed of a Leagues Cup Final berth by decisions that only went one way. Just two games ago, we had a chance to reach third place in the East and the 2025 Leagues Cup Final. With both chances missed, we’re now clinging on to salvage at least a 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup spot in the Third Place Match. The game can be cruel and unrelenting, but we need to keep going. As Ricardo Moreira tweeted after our semi-final heartbreak: “Tomorrow is day one again.”

It’s a brutal turnaround, too. Having flown cross-country to Los Angeles on August 20, we’re back in Carson for the third time in 2025. This time not for silverware, but survival of sorts. A third place finish still gets us into continental football, and that has to be the focus. LA Galaxy may be a mess in MLS – rock bottom, with the worst title defence in league history. But don’t think for a second they won’t throw everything at this! Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Sporting Kansas City vs Orlando City SC – 24.08.2024

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Back on August 9, Orlando City SC suffered their first-ever penalty shootout defeat as an MLS club to Cruz Azul (4-5 on penalties – 0-0 at full-time) in the Round of 32 stage of the 2024 Leagues Cup. Having previously won nine consecutive shootouts over a nine-year span, Oscar Pareja’s Orlando City SC have had two full weeks to stew over their elimination. But now, the Lions return to MLS action with a cross-conference trip to Sporting Kansas City.

Prior to the league’s controversial one-month hiatus, the Lions drew 1-1 with New York City FC. This left us seventh in the Eastern Conference with 34 points, hanging onto the final automatic qualification spot for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. Right now, we are just three points behind sixth-placed Charlotte FC (37 points) and four points clear of eighth-placed Toronto FC (30 points) who have played one more game (26) than City.

With only nine regular season fixtures remaining, Orlando City SC entered the Leagues Cup break full of momentum and confidence, riding a five-game unbeaten streak. It’s crucial for the team to pick up where they left off to increase our distance from the red line and aim for a position higher than seventh, securing a more favourable Round One Best-of-3 series in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.

In exceptional form since July, Ramiro Enrique’s goal against New York City FC marked his fourth consecutive MLS game with a goal. This was before grabbing two more consecutive goals in the 2024 Leagues Cup – a prolific 6 in 6 streak which is now a new club record. Grabbing his big opportunity with both hands, Enrique’s goals made up for the absence of first-choice striker Duncan McGuire who was away with the USMNT U-23 side at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

As for Saturday’s opponents Sporting Kansas City, Peter Vermes’ side also bowed out of the 2024 Leagues Cup at the Round of 32 stage, losing 4-0 at Columbus Crew. SKC went into the tournament break having gone 2-2-1 in their last five MLS games, drawing 1-1 against St. Louis CITY SC last time out in the league. Continue reading →