Joe Bendik

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: Seattle Sounders vs Orlando City SC – 24.06.2023

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Frustrated after blowing a two-goal lead against Philadelphia Union (2-2) on Wednesday, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now fly northwest to contest their furthest MLS away game of 2023 – Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field.

With Duncan McGuire and Martín Ojeda scoring their sixth and fourth City goals in midweek, there was plenty to be proud of. Nevertheless, José Martínez’s 90th minute equaliser, albeit a goal of the season contender, was painfully the THIRD equaliser the Lions have conceded at home after the 85th minute mark this year. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Philadelphia Union vs Orlando City SC – 25.03.2023

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Gameweek 4 was one to forget, and fast, for Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC who suffered our first loss of the season – a bitterly disappointing 1-2 home defeat to bottom side Charlotte FC.

Coming just three days after our narrow 2023 CONCACAF Champions League elimination, there’s frustratingly more questions than answers right now, albeit at this early stage of the campaign. Continue reading →

INTERVIEW: Orlando City UK chats to former Orlando City SC player Luke Boden

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Four years on from his final game as an Orlando City SC player, Orlando City UK caught up with longtime Lion Luke Boden.

Still Orlando City SC‘s record all-time appearance holder with 87 appearances in USL and 45 in MLS (132 overall), the Englishman spoke about life in Florida, making the transition to MLS, and his memories following his time at the club. Continue reading →

Are these Orlando City SC’s 10 best goals in MLS so far?

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With the COVID-19 outbreak causing chaos worldwide, Major League Soccer today extended the suspension of league play until May.

With no Orlando City SC fixture scheduled until May 10th at the very earliest, Orlando City UK used this self-isolation period to compile what we think are the Lions’ 10 best goals in MLS to date. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC signing Pedro Gallese

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Orlando City SC‘s off-season recruitment drive currently stands at eight new first team players after the Lions officially announced the signing of goalkeeper Pedro Gallese today.

City’s highest profile signing of the winter so far, the 29-year-old Peruvian international number one becomes Orlando City SC‘s most established stopper in Major League Soccer to date. Continue reading →

Who is Orlando City SC transfer target Pedro Gallese?

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The number of Orlando City SC off-season additions currently stands at five and there could well be a significant sixth joining very soon.

According to a report from Peruvian source Trome yesterday, Peruvian international goalkeeper Pedro Gallese has all but signed for Oscar Pareja‘s Lions. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC signing Robinho (no, not that one!)

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Just as you thought Orlando City SC were content with all the cards in their deck at the midpoint of the season, the Lions added a brand new signing to their 2019 roster today – Robinho.

Not to be confused with his more famous Brazilian namesake who the Lions were linked with back in November 2017, this Robinho joins from Columbus Crew in a trade in exchange for $50,000 in Targeted Allocation Money. Continue reading →

14 bargain buys Orlando City SC should be closely monitoring this off-season

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Orlando City SC endured their worst season in MLS in 2018 and will be looking at the transfer window to at the very least continue the rebuild that began under Jason Kreis last off-season, and at most, completely start over again.

Last week we discovered who had been retained by the club and who is exiting Orlando City Stadium with gaps appearing in certain positions, particularly at goalkeeper and right back. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC’s 2018 end-of-season roster update

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This evening (UK time), Orlando City SC officially announced their updated first team roster following the end of the 2018 Major League Soccer campaign.

The first comprehensive evidence as to who is staying, potentially remaining and departing Orlando City Stadium before 2019, there were a few surprise names in the ‘option not exercised’ column. Continue reading →