Eastern Conference

STATS PREVIEW: Atlanta United vs Orlando City SC – 28.05.2025

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Portland Timbers? Successfully chopped down! 🌲🪓🪵 Grinding out an important 1-0 win over Phil Neville’s side on Saturday, Duncan McGuire’s first goal of 2025 proved the difference. Now, the Lions fly north above Interstate 75 to face Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Despite just two wins in nine visits, Orlando City SC will head to Georgia full of belief, eager to take down our bitter rivals after matching our longest-ever MLS unbeaten streak (12 games).

Atlanta United’s 4-2 win over FC Cincinnati gives them hope. But if we bring our A-game in the A, we’re the better side. The biggest compliment Orlando can be paid right now? We’ve shown we can win in different ways! Our last two league matches prove it – a dominant 0-3 derby win in Fort Lauderdale, followed by a gritty home victory over a Portland side that had lost just once in 11 MLS games. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Inter Miami vs Orlando City SC – 18.05.2025

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TEN games unbeaten sounds much better after a win, right? Orlando City SC found their spark on Wednesday with a convincing 3-1 victory over Charlotte FC, snapping a frustrating run of five draws in six. It was the kind of complete display Oscar Pareja has been demanding — and just in time.

Because next up? It’s Inter Miami away in the first Sunshine Clásico of 2025! Not just any fixture, this is our first ‘Sunday Night Soccer’ appearance of the season, with all eyes on Chase Stadium. As painful as it is to recall, we were thrashed 5-0 there last March. So, this time, we have to do ourselves justice! At the end of the day, real heart, fight, and passion is non-negotiable in MLS Rivalry Week. 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: Orlando City SC vs Atlanta United – 26.04.2025

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We couldn’t stop scoring in our first six MLS games – now it’s three without a goal. Football’s a funny old game! Orlando City SC may have extended their unbeaten streak to six matches (2-4-0), but last Saturday’s 0-0 draw at CF Montréal felt just as frustrating as our stalemate against New York Red Bulls. Following our third straight scoreless outing and Rafael Santos’ red card, Oscar Pareja’s Lions return to Inter&Co Stadium to face fierce rivals Atlanta United in a matchup that’s always action-packed.

Still reeling from last Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at 10-man Philadelphia Union – and last season’s Eastern Conference Semi-Final exit at our hands – Atlanta will be out for revenge. But while they’ve spent big – dropping a league-record $22 million on Emmanuel Latte Lath – their results have fallen well short of expectations. With both teams desperate for goals and momentum, another fiery edition of this Florida-Georgia feud awaits. 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 →

Twitter reacts to… Oscar Pareja’s new Orlando City SC contract through 2028

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After guiding Orlando City SC to the MLS Cup Playoffs for five consecutive seasons, the hugely popular Oscar Pareja signed a new three-year deal yesterday. Penning his last contract extension in December 2023, this new deal keeps our winningest head coach in club history at Inter&Co Stadium until at least the end of 2028.

Over his five-and-a-bit years in Central Florida, the 56-year-old Colombian has successfully turned around the Lions’ losing culture in Major League Soccer. His impact was clear last season, when City reached their first-ever Eastern Conference Final. Although we suffered a heartbreaking 0-1 loss to New York Red Bulls, we came within touching distance of our first-ever MLS Cup. That narrow defeat has only fuelled our hunger and determination to go one better this year – and bring the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy home.

So far, the man affectionately known as Papi has built a genuine brotherhood in the City locker room. That bond paid off three years ago when Orlando City SC defeated Sacramento Republic 3-0 at Inter&Co Stadium to win the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final – our first major title as an MLS club. 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 →

STATS PREVIEW: Philadelphia Union vs Orlando City SC – 05.04.2025

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Orlando City SC’s flair for the dramatic was on full display last Saturday. And given the venue, it was truly a Hollywood ending! On the night, a late surge saw the Lions secure a 1-2 comeback win at LA Galaxy – marking Oscar Pareja’s 200th match in charge and City’s second straight victory at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Having just achieved back-to-back MLS victories, the Lions now head to Subaru Park with revenge on their minds. Philadelphia Union’s 2-4 win on opening night remains Orlando City SC’s only home loss of 2025, but with City’s attack firing on all cylinders and confidence soaring after our first road win of the season, there’s no reason to fear this challenge. Meanwhile, Union are looking to bounce back after a 2-1 loss at Inter Miami, setting the stage for another intense Eastern Conference clash. 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 →