This past week, we asked Orlando City SC supporters on X to select their Orlando City SC Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year for 2024 as part of our annual Orlando City UK end-of-season awards.
A public vote designed to recognise the standout Orlando City SC players in our promising, yet ultimately unfruitful 2024 campaign, we can now proudly reveal the winners as voted by you! Continue reading
It’s crunch time, Orlando! The 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs are in full swing, and our season all comes down to this – game three. The stakes couldn’t be higher as Orlando City SC prepare to battle Charlotte FC one final time in our Round One Best-of-3 Series. With everything riding on a victory at Inter&Co Stadium, this is our moment to rally and remind the league who we are.
Last Friday’s penalty shootout defeat in Charlotte was a tough pill to swallow. A 40,000-strong crowd at Bank of America Stadium roared on the home team as they narrowly escaped with their first-ever MLS playoff win. Despite a hard-fought 90+11 minutes, our Lions couldn’t find the net, and the shootout heroics we’d relied on for years failed to materialise. Charlotte FC’s goalkeeper, Kristijan Kahlina, was the hero of the night, denying us twice from the spot with The Crown winning 3-1 from 12 yards.
But what’s done is done, and it’s all eyes on the present. Ultimately, Orlando City SC now have the chance to flip the script and seal our third-ever appearance in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. We expect a larger crowd to pack out Inter&Co Stadium compared to game one, and in a high-stakes atmosphere, our Lions need to come out firing. On a do or die night, there’s no room for passive play, like in game two! It’s time to be bold and take the game to Charlotte FC, leaving no doubt about our intent to advance.
We secured home advantage for moments just like this, and having broken our club record for single-season goals (59), we have the firepower to make it count. With the roar of our people behind us in the 407, there’s no room for anything less than a full team effort. Let’s show we’re #AllTeeth and ready to go all the way. Vamos Orlando! 😈 Continue reading
It’s time to turn the page, Lions! After a mature and dominant 2-0 home win over Charlotte FC last Sunday, Orlando City SC have put themselves on the brink of advancing in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. Now visiting Charlotte FC in game two of the Round One Best-of-3 Series, Oscar Pareja’s men have the chance to clinch progression with a win at Bank of America Stadium. This isn’t just another match; it’s a pivotal moment for a squad that’s shown resilience, determination, and a clear desire to right the wrongs of past playoff campaigns.
Having only ever contested one MLS Wild Card match (2023) before, game one was Charlotte FC’s first playoff game proper, with the Lions capitalising on their home advantage. For me, our performance was nothing short of a statement. Facundo Torres broke Orlando City SC’s club record for single-season goals (19) with a brilliant opener, and Martín Ojeda added a second to seal a victory that showcased Orlando City SC’s hunger and grit. Despite last Sunday’s success, the team knows the job isn’t finished yet. It’s all about the next challenge.
As we prepare for this crucial clash, the atmosphere in Charlotte will be electric, and the stakes are high. In fact, it will actually be Charlotte, North Carolina’s first major playoff game in any sport since 2016. A City win in game two not only sends us through to the Eastern Conference Semi-Final stage but also allows us to build on the momentum we’ve generated in the playoffs thus far. With our eyes set on avoiding a third game, the message is clear: finish the job and show that we mean business!
Despite their struggles in game one, let’s not forget that Charlotte FC are capable of rising to the occasion, particularly on their home turf at the 74,867 capacity Bank of America Stadium where the Upper Bowl will be open. The Crown will be eager to bounce back, but with the confidence taken from our last outing and the support of our loyal travelling fans, we have every reason to believe we can finish the job. It’s time for Orlando City SC to show the league that they’re not just a contender but a true force to be reckoned with. Vamos Orlando! 😈 Continue reading
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
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
