FC Cincinnati

STATS PREVIEW: Philadelphia Union vs Orlando City SC – 11.05.2024

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Pain. Misery. Embarrassment. These are all words that unfortunately sum up Orlando City SC’s current plight. After Oscar Pareja’s side suffered a 0-1 loss to FC Cincinnati last Saturday, the pressure is mounting in a 2024 season that is quickly spiralling into a nightmare.

Conceding in just 17 seconds in FC Cincinnati’s very first attack of the game, the 0-1 result marked our fifth defeat of the MLS season, our third loss at home already, and our second home defeat in as many weeks.

To make matters ten times worse, Rodrigo Schlegel‘s colossal error and subsequent red card on 20 minutes left Orlando City SC supporters teetering between laughter and tears – such was the ridiculousness of Schlegel’s latest kamikaze error.

Now visiting Chester, Pennsylvania to take on Philadelphia Union, Jim Curtin’s side rescued a 2-2 draw at D.C. United last Saturday, fighting back from 2-0 down to salvage a point through veteran Alejandro Bedoya and a MLS goal of the season contender from Jack McGlynn. 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: CF Montréal vs Orlando City SC – 20.04.2024

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The Cardiac Cats are back, baby! Banishing Audi Field ghosts of the past, David Brekalo‘s first ever City goal and Duncan McGuire‘s 91st minute game winner dramatically sealed a morale-boosting and much-needed 2-3 comeback win at D.C. United in stoppage time.

After experiencing this high in the nation’s capital, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now fly north to face CF Montréal in our second Canadian road trip of the year.

Currently eighth in the Eastern Conference on 10 points, Laurent Courtois’ CF Montréal side come into this game re-energised after a 2-1 victory against FC Cincinnati last weekend. A game that was actually CF Montréal’s 2024 home opener following six road fixtures, this win ended their streak of three consecutive MLS defeats. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Cavalry FC vs Orlando City SC – 21.02.2024

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Just three days before our 2024 Major League Soccer campaign gets underway, Orlando City SC are set to experience a super unique away day as they visit Langford, British Columbia to take on Cavalry FC of the Canadian Premier League in Round One of the newly rebranded 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

The first of two legs to determine who will face Tigres UANL in the Round of 16, this is City’s second successive appearance in North America’s premier club competition. This time, the Lions have been spared the brutal sub-zero February temperatures of Calgary, Alberta with the game being moved from ATCO Field to Starlight Stadium due to understandable pitch concerns. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Oscar Pareja’s new Orlando City SC contract through 2025

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“It’s done” as Frodo Baggins famously said in the Lord of the Rings! After guiding Orlando City SC to the MLS Cup Playoffs for four consecutive seasons, the hugely popular Oscar Pareja has now signed a new two-year deal, keeping our winningest head coach in club history at Exploria Stadium until at least the end of 2025.

During his four-year tenure in Central Florida, the 55-year-old Colombian has successfully turned around the Lions’ losing culture in Major League Soccer, so much so that City broke their own regular season records this year to finish runners-up to FC Cincinnati in the 2023 Supporters’ Shield despite having the lowest salary spend of all – a hugely impressive feat.

So far, the man affectionately known as Papi has built a genuine brotherhood in the City locker room, one that yielded silverware last year when Orlando City SC defeated Sacramento Republic 3-0 to win the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final at Exploria Stadium – our first major title as an MLS club. Continue reading →

5 things you need to know about our 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup opponents Cavalry FC

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*Article updated on December 15 after the Round One (first leg) venue change

Yesterday, Orlando City SC were drawn against Canadian opponents Cavalry FC in the two-legged Round One stage of the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, formerly known as the CONCACAF Champions League.

With City participating in the competition for the second successive season, Oscar Pareja‘s side are joining North America’s elite by virtue of being the next-best club in the 2023 MLS Supporters’ Shield behind winners FC Cincinnati. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC’s crushing 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs defeat to Columbus Crew

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⚠️ Warning; this blog comes with a disclaimer. ⚠️ Before you read any further, we’d like to warn you that there is a high probability that you risk upsetting yourself all over again as we delve deep into Orlando City SC‘s crushing 0-2 home defeat to Columbus Crew last night in the Eastern Conference Semi-Final stage of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.

With #HuntingSeason now officially over, our crushing defeat stings on so many levels and not just for the simple fact that we had Crew’s number during the regular season, yet fell to the Ohio side in the post-season when it truly mattered most. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Columbus Crew – 25.11.2023

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Impressively only requiring two games, not three, to overcome Nashville SC in the Round One Best-of-3 series in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC are now set to contest their second ever Eastern Conference Semi-Final. Now reverting back to a single elimination format, just two games separate the Lions from 2023 MLS Cup itself, the holy grail fixture that may yet be hosted at Exploria Stadium, barring overall number one seed FC Cincinnati reaching this stage of course.

Now hosting overall number three seed Columbus Crew, qualifying from their own Best-of-3 series after a game three win (4-2) over Atlanta United on November 12, Orlando City SC drew 1-1 and won 4-3 against Wilfried Nancy’s Crew side in the MLS regular season. Considering the Ohio side had to contest a third game in Round One compared to the Lions, City have enjoyed more rest regardless of the recent international break, something that we hope provides us some form of advantage in our biggest MLS game since our Eastern Conference Semi-Final defeat to New England Revolution (1-3) back in November 2020. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Nashville SC – 30.10.2023

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After all the thrills and spills of a MLS regular season that saw Orlando City SC win more games than ever before (18) and achieve their highest all-time single-season points tally (63) – finishing a mightily impressive second in the 2023 Supporters’ Shield despite having the lowest salary spend of all – it’s now time for the agony and the ecstasy of the post-season.

City now face the side that finished seventh in the East, Nashville SC, at Exploria Stadium in game one of the newly revamped Round One Best-of-3 series of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs. The Lions have crucially secured home field advantage in this round courtesy of our Eastern Conference top four seeding (number two overall in MLS). Continue reading →

The revamped 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs explained: Orlando City SC edition

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If you didn’t know already, the Major League Soccer post-season will work a little differently than we’re all used to this year.

Join us as we simplify the revamped 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, its format changes, and how Orlando City SC can plot their quest to MLS Cup glory. Continue reading →