James O’Connor

STATS PREVIEW: Atlanta United vs Orlando City SC – 17.03.2024

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The MLS schedule makers certainly haven’t made it easy on Orlando City SC with Oscar Pareja‘s Lions now flying north above Interstate 75 to visit rivals Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in only our second away league fixture of 2024.

Embarrassingly humbled 5-0 at fellow rivals Inter Miami in our last MLS away fixture, City supporters are demanding a much more professional, committed, and gutsy performance this time around. But this will be anything but straightforward, not just because of The Five Stripes’ packed 40,000+ home crowd but because of our current state of mind.

City not only lost 2-3 to Minnesota United in MLS last Saturday but also got eliminated from the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup on Tuesday. Defeated 4-2 on aggregate by Tigres UANL in the Round of 16 stage, it’s truly been a miserable start to the year for Orlando City SC, whom much more was expected of, albeit facing a tough and unforgiving schedule to kick off our 2024 campaign. Continue reading →

2024 MLS SuperDraft preview: Reviewing Orlando City SC’s 31 draft picks since 2015

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The MLS SuperDraft is the most exciting event in the lives of every young North American college soccer player.

With Rounds 1, 2 and 3 of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft getting underway tomorrow, Orlando City UK took this moment to reflect on how Orlando City SC‘s annual picks have fared since our inaugural 2015 season. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Houston Dynamo – 18.06.2022

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After drawing 1-1 at New England Revolution, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC are now set to contest their only home MLS fixture in June.

Welcoming Houston Dynamo to Central Florida for only the third time in Major League Soccer, Orlando City UK will be attending the game at Exploria Stadium LIVE. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs FC Dallas – 28.05.2022

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After a simply horrible refereeing performance from Joe Dickerson at Austin FC (2-2), Orlando City SC are back at Exploria Stadium to face fellow Texan side FC Dallas.

Brandishing red cards to Rodrigo Schlegel and César Araújo at Q2 Stadium, the latter was understandable but Schlegel’s dismissal was really bad at best and grossly incompetent at worst. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC signing Jake Mulraney

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Receiving GAM as part of Chris Mueller’s Chicago Fire move, Orlando City SC immediately reinvested it by today announcing the signing of Irish winger Jake Mulraney from Major League Soccer rivals Atlanta United.

A deal completed before MLS’s Primary Transfer Window closed, the Lions have acquired Mulraney after trading $200,000 in General Allocation Money, $100,000 in 2022 and $100,000 in 2023, to The Five Stripes. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Tampa Bay Rowdies – 20.04.2022

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After a two-season absence due to COVID-19, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is back and so is the eagerly anticipated return of the I-4 Derby.

With Orlando City SC facing old minor league rivals Tampa Bay Rowdies competitively for the first time since 2014, this intriguing third round clash is dripping in nostalgia. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: LA Galaxy vs Orlando City SC – 19.03.2022

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After a humbling 1-2 home defeat to FC Cincinnati, it’s back to basics for Orlando City SC who are expected to achieve much more this season than last weekend’s result suggested.

Granted, nothing is decided in Gameweek 3, but the fact we’ve already surrendered a home loss, to lowly FC Cincinnati no less, this will sure be irking Orlando City SC players, management, and supporters. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: CF Montréal vs Orlando City SC – 07.11.2021

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After the high drama and high controversy of Orlando City SC‘s 1-1 draw with Nashville SC, the Lions head to CF Montréal to contest their final regular season fixture of the 2021 MLS season.

In stoppage time last Sunday, Alexandre Pato struck Joe Willis’ bar before Andrés Perea prodded home a game winner, only for referee Allen Chapman to incorrectly rule the goal out through VAR, and deny City a clinched spot in the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Columbus Crew vs Orlando City SC – 27.10.2021

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After a valiant, yet eventually painful 2-2 draw with leaders New England Revolution, Orlando City SC now visit Columbus Crew in their penultimate away game of the season.

Leading Revs 2-0 by the 80th minute on Sunday, two late Adam Buksa strikes broke the Lions’ hearts. With three regular season games remaining, City are four points clear of the red line. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: New England Revolution vs Orlando City SC – 25.09.2021

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Orlando City SC‘s 2021 campaign seems to be unravelling and at the worst possible time too. After a 3-1 loss at Philadelphia Union, qualification for the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs is no longer a sure thing.

Not only defeated at Subaru Park (3-1), Antônio Carlos‘ late sending off means another suspension ahead of two tough away games, first at New England Revolution, and then Nashville SC. Continue reading →