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

STATS PREVIEW: LA Galaxy vs Orlando City SC – 29.03.2025

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Are you not entertained? Recency bias aside, I think we just witnessed one of Orlando City SC’s most complete MLS performances, dismantling an unbeaten D.C. United side (1-3-0) with a dominant 4-1 victory at Inter&Co Stadium. On Javier Otero’s first MLS career start, the Lions were ruthless in attack, with Luis Muriel, Martín Ojeda, and Marco Pašalić continuing their fine form. For the first time in club history, all three of our Designated Players scored in the same game – making Facundo Torres’ absence feel surprisingly manageable. What is this sorcery? Am I dreaming?

Having scored the most goals (13), yet conceded the second-most goals (11) across MLS this season, City now head cross-country to face defending MLS champions LA Galaxy in Carson, California. This is a matchup that could have been the 2024 MLS Cup Final! But Greg Vanney’s side are experiencing a shocking title defence. Galaxy are winless (0-2-3) this season, holding the worst-ever record for a defending MLS champion through five games. Most recently, they salvaged a late 2-2 draw at Minnesota United, but the Lions will be looking to capitalise on their shaky form. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs D.C. United – 22.03.2025

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Orlando City SC’s defensive struggles continued last time out, as the Lions let two leads slip in a frustrating 2-2 draw at New York Red Bulls. While Martín Ojeda and Marco Pašalić produced moments of brilliance, soft goals at the other end proved costly once again. On a positive note, Luis Muriel has been more effective this season, helping the Lions adopt a more direct attacking style under Oscar Pareja.

Now, City return home to Inter&Co Stadium, facing Troy Lesesne’s unbeaten D.C. United side (1-3-0) who drew 0-0 with CF Montréal last weekend. With Pedro Gallese away on international duty, young keeper Javier Otero is set for a big opportunity, while Duncan McGuire’s return from injury offers us a timely boost. Continue reading

Twitter reacts to… Gustavo Caraballo signing a first team contract with Orlando City SC

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After progressing through our development pathway, Academy and Orlando City B product Gustavo Caraballo has today signed a first team contract with Orlando City SC.

The 16-year-old Venezuelan forward has put pen to paper on a deal through 2027, with a club option for 2028. In doing so, he becomes the youngest player in Orlando City SC history to sign a first team contract at just 16 years and 198 days old.

Not only our latest Homegrown Player, Gustavo Caraballo becomes our seventh winter arrival after Colin Guske, Nicolás Rodríguez, Carlos Mercado, Marco Pašalić, Eduard Atuesta, and Joran Gerbet. Continue reading

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC signing Eduard Atuesta

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16 days after Wilder Cartagena suffered a long-term Achilles tendon injury against Atlético Mineiro, Orlando City SC have today announced the signing of 27-year-old Colombian international Eduard Atuesta. Bringing trophy-winning experience to Inter&Co Stadium, the deep-lying playmaker adds much-needed quality and depth to our central midfield position.

Atuesta joins the Lions on a suspected free transfer after terminating his contract with Palmeiras. The transaction details are so secret that even Tom Bogert and Fabrizio Romano haven’t reported on them! Considering we sold Facundo Torres to Palmeiras for a club record $14 million back on December 20, Verdão have now paid us a big favour in return. Having signed a contract through 2025, with a club option in 2026, Atuesta becomes our fifth 2024/25 off-season arrival after Colin Guske, Nicolás Rodríguez, Carlos Mercado, and Marco Pasǎlić. Continue reading

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC signing Marco Pašalić

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47 days after the club record $14 million sale of Facundo Torres to Palmeiras, Orlando City SC have today announced the signing of 24-year-old Croatian international Marco Pašalić, adding some much-needed quality to our right wing position.

Joining the Lions as a Designated Player (our sixteenth in club history), Pašalić arrives from HNK Rijeka for a fee reportedly worth €5 million plus add-ons. Having signed a three-year contract through 2027, with a club option in 2028, Pašalić becomes our fourth 2024/25 off-season arrival after Colin Guske, Nicolás Rodríguez, and Carlos Mercado. Continue reading

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC signing Nicolás Rodríguez

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28 days after the club record $14 million sale of Facundo Torres to Palmeiras, Orlando City SC have today announced the signing of 20-year-old Colombian forward Nicolás Rodríguez, adding some crucial depth to our right wing position.

Joining the Lions as an U22 Initiative player, Rodríguez arrives from Fortaleza CEIF for a fee reportedly worth $1 million. Having signed a contract through 2027, with a club option in 2028, the young Colombian becomes our second 2024/25 off-season arrival after Colin Guske. Continue reading

Who is Orlando City SC’s incoming signing Nicolás Rodríguez?

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After a very slow start, the Lions’ winter recruitment drive is finally gathering momentum. Thank heavens! In the early hours of this morning, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano tweeted that Orlando City SC are “closing in on deal for Colombian 20-year-old talent Nicolás Rodríguez from Fortaleza”.

Shortly after Romano’s tweet, Tom Bogert corroborated the news, tweeting “Orlando City finalizing deal to sign Colombia winger Nico Rodríguez from Fortaleza” while confirming that Rodríguez will join via Major League Soccer’s U22 Initiative.

Bogert also mentioned that Colombian journalist Pipe Sierra (@PSierraR) was the first to break the news. Sierra cited himself that Orlando City SC had beat off competition from Colombian side Millonarios to sign Nicolás Rodríguez. Not only them but also New York Red Bulls with Tiago Brandão (@Tiagobrandao_8) confirming that our 2024 Eastern Conference Final conquerers tried to sign Rodríguez too. Continue reading