Iván Angulo

STATS PREVIEW: Chicago Fire vs Orlando City SC – 03.05.2025

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Orlando, we’re coming to c̶o̶n̶q̶u̶e̶r̶ roll over! 😜 After a tough few weeks, Orlando City SC returned to winning ways with a commanding 3-0 derby victory over Atlanta United at Inter&Co Stadium. Piling the pressure on Ronny Deila, the result extended the Lions’ unbeaten run to seven games and restored some much-needed momentum heading into a busy stretch. Now, Oscar Pareja’s side will look to climb the Eastern Conference standings against Chicago Fire, who were just thumped 7-2 at Nashville SC. It was an embarrassing loss for Gregg Berhalter against his former USMNT assistant, B.J. Callaghan.

With confidence growing and key players finding form, City will now look to build on their fourth consecutive clean sheet. Another positive result on the road would keep the pressure on the teams above and further underline the Lions’ growing belief as the campaign hits its stride. 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 →

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 →

Who is Orlando City SC transfer target Eduard Atuesta?

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As the MLS off-season continues, Orlando City SC are working hard to strengthen the squad ahead of our 2025 campaign. Yesterday, North American transfer expert Tom Bogert tweeted that the Lions “are nearing a deal to sign Colombian midfielder Eduard Atuesta from Palmeiras.”

If Orlando City SC finalise this deal, it will be a significant reinforcement. Eduard Atuesta is a proven MLS talent who knows the league inside out, making him a strong addition to the Lions’ midfield, especially considering Wilder Cartagena’s untimely Achilles tendon injury. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC signing Nicolás Rodríguez

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(Credit: Transfermarkt)

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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(Credit: Transfermarkt)

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 →

Orlando City SC announce 19 players on 2024 MLS Expansion Draft protected list

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When new clubs join Major League Soccer, the league requests that existing clubs release protected player lists at the end of each campaign, and Orlando City SC did just that today.

With the 2024 MLS Expansion Draft taking place tomorrow (December 11), new boys San Diego FC start construction of their inaugural 2025 roster, but the Southern California franchise will not be able to sign these 19 Lions. Continue reading →

Winners revealed in Orlando City UK’s 2024 end-of-season awards

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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 →