Facundo Torres

STATS PREVIEW: New York City FC vs Orlando City SC – 28.06.2024

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Just where had that performance been all season? Jubilant after defeating Chicago Fire 4-2 at Inter&Co Stadium last Saturday, City’s suffering fanbase was treated to a feel-good evening after finally achieving our second home win of the 2024 MLS regular season. Having only scored 19 league goals all year, we went and grabbed another four in just one night – our most in a single game this season.

A result and a performance we desperately needed, there was big pressure on Oscar Pareja and his Orlando City SC side to beat Fire. Racing into a 3-0 lead in just 29 first-half minutes, this victory was absolutely essential. It not only secured the three points we urgently needed but also prevented Chicago Fire from gaining any points, allowing us to leapfrog them and rise four places to tenth in the Eastern Conference.

Now visiting New York City FC in The Bronx, it’s the Lions’ first trip to Yankee Stadium since July 2021 after the last two away head-to-heads were hosted at Red Bull Arena in Harrison and Citi Field in Queens. Speaking of NYCFC, Nick Cushing’s side head into this game deflated after suffering a third consecutive MLS defeat at Nashville SC (1-0) last Saturday. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Chicago Fire – 22.06.2024

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Orlando City SC could only manage a 2-2 draw at Charlotte FC on Wednesday despite playing a man up for 57 minutes after Scott Arfield’s first-half red card. The Lions were even facing the prospect of a disastrous defeat when Brandt Bronico put Dean Smith’s 10-man side 2-1 ahead in the second-half. However, Facundo Torres‘ 81st minute equaliser saved Oscar Pareja’s Lions further embarrassment in what is turning out to be an awful outlier season.

Right now, City need wins, not draws to climb up from second bottom in the Eastern Conference. However, scoring two goals in a single game is a positive sign, something we haven’t accomplished since our 2-3 win against Philadelphia Union on May 11. Now contesting a must-win game against thirteenth-placed Chicago Fire at Inter&Co Stadium, we have a crucial opportunity to leapfrog the team directly ahead of us.

Speaking of Chicago Fire, they defeated Toronto FC 1-4 last Saturday, achieving back-to-back victories for the first time this season after a terrible nine-game winless streak. Entering this game fresher than Orlando City SC having not played in midweek, Frank Klopas’ side will be encouraged by the Lions’ poor home record (1-3-5) which is currently the joint-worst in Major League Soccer.

In Saturday’s game, City will be wearing rainbow jersey numbers instead of gold to commemorate Pride In Our City Night at Inter&Co Stadium. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Charlotte FC vs Orlando City SC – 19.06.2024

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In 2024, Orlando City SC continue to be a team that leaves you craving much, much more – especially at home in front of our own supporters at Inter&Co Stadium. Just when you thought our season couldn’t get more painful, it just did on Saturday when Los Angeles FC defeated the Lions 1-3 in Central Florida.

You have to laugh, otherwise you’ll cry, such is the dramatic nature of our 2024 demise. With our hopes of reaching the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs fading fast, there are no crumbs of comfort at the minute – and it hurts. At the end of the day, when you’re struggling to score goals, it’s pretty darn hard to win games of soccer!

With nowhere to hide right now, our inability to score is hurting us over and over again. Now winless in six games at Inter&Co Stadium with LAFC’s 1-3 win marking our fifth defeat in nine at home, Saturday’s result was a miserable way to mark the midway point of our sorry Major League Soccer season.

We now officially share the joint-worst home record this 2024 MLS regular season, matching Philadelphia Union’s tally of one win, three draws, and five defeats. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Los Angeles FC – 15.06.2024

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The melancholy feeling of disappointment lingers on and on for Orlando City SC who suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against New York Red Bulls back on June 1.

Frankly speaking, the small flickers of hope for sneaking into the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs continue to dwindle week by week.

Having had a whole fortnight to stew over our disappointing 1-0 defeat at New York Red Bulls, the Lions now return to Inter&Co Stadium for a cross-conference meeting with in form Los Angeles FC who have won five MLS games in a row, conceding ZERO goals in the process!

Things could certainly get worse before they get better for Oscar Pareja and his side. Seeing our five-game unbeaten road streak snapped at Red Bull Arena, we could’ve played until midnight and still not scored! Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: New York Red Bulls vs Orlando City SC – 01.06.2024

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After securing a 1-1 draw at Chicago Fire, Oscar Pareja’s Orlando City SC stay on the road to take on New York Red Bulls for the second and final time this MLS regular season.

Enduring a forgettable season so far, the Lions are really struggling to propel themselves up the Eastern Conference. Currently five points adrift of seventh place and an automatic qualification spot for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, everything is proving to be a grind this year.

Actually earning more points on the road (11 points) than at home (6 points) so far this regular season, this gives City some hope heading to Red Bull Arena – but don’t get it twisted! Sandro Schwarz’s side currently sit fourth in the Eastern Conference and come into this game buoyed after a 3-1 home win against Charlotte FC yesterday – their third victory in four MLS games following a long rain delay. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Chicago Fire vs Orlando City SC – 29.05.2024

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After a disappointing 0-2 defeat to Columbus Crew, Oscar Pareja’s Orlando City SC hit the road to take on Chicago Fire for the first time this MLS season.

Eager to quickly erase our memories of the Crew loss, the Lions visit Soldier Field this Wednesday encouraged by the fact that Chicago Fire are winless in their last eight MLS fixtures.

On Saturday, Frank Klopas’ side rescued a 1-1 draw at D.C. United after trailing in the first-half. They currently sit fourteenth in the Eastern Conference with just 11 points from 15 games. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: San Jose Earthquakes vs Orlando City SC – 18.05.2024

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Battling hard to a 0-0 draw against Inter Miami on Wednesday, Oscar Pareja’s Orlando City SC now fly northwest to contest their furthest MLS away game of 2024 – San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park.

Our first MLS visit to Northern California since August 2019, Quakes have been resurgent in recent weeks, showing character to defeat Los Angeles FC (3-1) and Colorado Rapids (2-3) to arrest their horror start to the year in the Western Conference.

Nevertheless, Luchi Gonzalez’s side come into this game gutted and downbeat after painfully throwing away a 0-2 lead at Portland Timbers on Wednesday. Losing 4-2 in the end, the entire momentum of the game switched after Quakes centre back Bruno Wilson received a red card for a goal-line handball in his own box on 72 minutes, conceding an untimely penalty in turn.

From here, Timbers ruthlessly made their one-man advantage count with Evander’s resulting penalty (74), Jonathan Rodríguez (80), a Felipe Mora penalty (90), and a second goal of the night from Jonathan Rodríguez (90+10) stealing away all three points for Phil Neville’s men, breaking Quakes hearts in the process. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs FC Cincinnati – 04.05.2024

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May the fourth be with Orlando City SC this Saturday (Star Wars™ Night) because we’re going to need it!

After collapsing late on to somehow throw away all three points in a gutting 1-2 loss to Toronto FC, Oscar Pareja’s Lions now contest a second successive home game at Inter&Co Stadium, this time against high-flying FC Cincinnati.

Currently second in the Eastern Conference on 18 points, 2023 MLS Supporters’ Shield winners FC Cincinnati come into this game buoyed by a 2-1 home victory against Colorado Rapids last Saturday plus a 1-2 comeback win at Atlanta United the weekend prior. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Toronto FC – 27.04.2024

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After rescuing a 2-2 draw at CF Montréal last Saturday, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now face another Canadian opponent in Toronto FC but this time back in our familiar surroundings of Inter&Co Stadium.

Currently fifth in the Eastern Conference on 13 points, John Herdman’s TFC come into this game rejuvenated after a 1-0 win against New England Revolution last weekend plus a 5-0 2024 Canadian Championship preliminary round win over Simcoe County Rovers FC yesterday.

Speaking of TFC’s last league fixture, an incredible acrobatic goal from Prince Owusu helped The Reds to a 2024 sweep over Revs, ending their streak of three consecutive MLS defeats in turn. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: D.C. United vs Orlando City SC – 13.04.2024

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After lots of bye week deliberation time following our 1-1 draw with New York Red Bulls on March 30, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now visit the nation’s capital to take on D.C. United at Audi Field in our third away fixture of the 2024 MLS regular season.

Currently eighth in the Eastern Conference on 10 points, Troy Lesesne’s D.C. United come into this game somewhat disappointed after a late Aidan Morris equaliser (1-1) prevented them from a noteworthy victory at Columbus Crew last Saturday. Continue reading →