Leagues Cup

STATS PREVIEW: Sporting Kansas City vs Orlando City SC – 24.08.2024

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Back on August 9, Orlando City SC suffered their first-ever penalty shootout defeat as an MLS club to Cruz Azul (4-5 on penalties – 0-0 at full-time) in the Round of 32 stage of the 2024 Leagues Cup. Having previously won nine consecutive shootouts over a nine-year span, Oscar Pareja’s Orlando City SC have had two full weeks to stew over their elimination. But now, the Lions return to MLS action with a cross-conference trip to Sporting Kansas City.

Prior to the league’s controversial one-month hiatus, the Lions drew 1-1 with New York City FC. This left us seventh in the Eastern Conference with 34 points, hanging onto the final automatic qualification spot for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. Right now, we are just three points behind sixth-placed Charlotte FC (37 points) and four points clear of eighth-placed Toronto FC (30 points) who have played one more game (26) than City.

With only nine regular season fixtures remaining, Orlando City SC entered the Leagues Cup break full of momentum and confidence, riding a five-game unbeaten streak. It’s crucial for the team to pick up where they left off to increase our distance from the red line and aim for a position higher than seventh, securing a more favourable Round One Best-of-3 series in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.

In exceptional form since July, Ramiro Enrique’s goal against New York City FC marked his fourth consecutive MLS game with a goal. This was before grabbing two more consecutive goals in the 2024 Leagues Cup – a prolific 6 in 6 streak which is now a new club record. Grabbing his big opportunity with both hands, Enrique’s goals made up for the absence of first-choice striker Duncan McGuire who was away with the USMNT U-23 side at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

As for Saturday’s opponents Sporting Kansas City, Peter Vermes’ side also bowed out of the 2024 Leagues Cup at the Round of 32 stage, losing 4-0 at Columbus Crew. SKC went into the tournament break having gone 2-2-1 in their last five MLS games, drawing 1-1 against St. Louis CITY SC last time out in the league. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Yutaro Tsukada signing a first team contract with Orlando City SC

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In news first broken by Manuel Veth back on August 8, the Lions officially announced today that Orlando City B winger Yutaro Tsukada has signed a first team contract with Orlando City SC through 2025 with club options in 2026 and 2027.

The first ‘new’ signing Orlando City SC have completed during the MLS Secondary Transfer Window, things have been super quiet prior to Tsukada’s first team arrival. But Tsukada will soon be joined by Norway Under-21 international Heine Gikling Bruseth after City agreed a €1.7 million deal for the Kristiansund midfielder. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs New York City FC – 20.07.2024

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Our foot is on the gas and we ain’t letting go! Comprehensively defeating Nashville SC 0-3 last night, Orlando City SC have now won four MLS games in a row with three of these wins coming away from home. Solidifying our seventh-placed position in the Eastern Conference, Oscar Pareja’s Lions have surged from 21 points to 33 points in only a fortnight. Talk about a turnaround!

Currently six points ahead of both Toronto FC (eighth place) and CF Montréal (ninth place), the Canadian sides each share 27 points. Significantly, TFC have played one game more (25) than City (24) and were defeated 3-1 at Inter Miami last night – their seventh loss in eight MLS games.

Having built up a fantastic head of steam prior to the 2024 Leagues Cup break, Orlando City SC now host New York City FC at Inter&Co Stadium in our final game before Major League Soccer’s controversial one-month hiatus. Nick Cushing’s NYCFC rescued a 2-0 deficit to draw 2-2 at Atlanta United last night and are currently placed fifth in the East on 37 points.

In many ways, the 2024 Leagues Cup falls at the worst possible time for Orlando City SC, especially considering our forward momentum in the Eastern Conference. The Leagues Cup is not only a massive inconvenience but also lacks integrity, as it effectively replaced a legitimate 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. But we’ll be sharing our passionate thoughts on this subject next week, so stay tuned! Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Chicago Fire vs Orlando City SC – 29.05.2024

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After a disappointing 0-2 defeat to Columbus Crew, Oscar Pareja’s Orlando City SC hit the road to take on Chicago Fire for the first time this MLS season.

Eager to quickly erase our memories of the Crew loss, the Lions visit Soldier Field this Wednesday encouraged by the fact that Chicago Fire are winless in their last eight MLS fixtures.

On Saturday, Frank Klopas’ side rescued a 1-1 draw at D.C. United after trailing in the first-half. They currently sit fourteenth in the Eastern Conference with just 11 points from 15 games. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Inter Miami – 15.05.2024

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After defeating Philadelphia Union 2-3 in a wild game on Saturday, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now contest one of the biggest fixtures on this year’s schedule – a grudge match at home against Florida rivals Inter Miami in MLS Rivalry Week.

A midweek game, potentially marking Lionel Messi’s first-ever visit to Inter&Co Stadium if he’s fit, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and his team-mates travel up Florida’s Turnpike in rampant mood. Winning their last five consecutive MLS games and having scored 35 goals this season, Inter Miami currently lead the Eastern Conference on 27 points – a bitter pill for Florida’s better half to swallow.

With The Herons defying the odds to rescue a 2-0 deficit and win 2-3 at CF Montréal on Saturday, Inter Miami will be the big favourites on Wednesday but Orlando City SC should feel buoyed after just clinching our third victory of the 2024 MLS season, taking us to double figures (12 points) in the process. Continue reading →

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 →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Minnesota United – 09.03.2024

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Suffering the embarrassment of a 5-0 defeat to Florida rivals Inter Miami last Saturday, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC return to Inter&Co Stadium to face Minnesota United in their first cross-conference fixture of 2024. Currently on just one point after two MLS games, the Lions are desperate to register not only their first league victory of the year but their first goal too.

This home game against Minnesota United is also the Lions’ 10 Year Anniversary Match, celebrating the 10th anniversary of Orlando City SC‘s first match in Major League Soccer. Instead of our home purple, City will suit up in The Legacy Kit to honour the occasion.

At this embryonic stage of 2024, we’ve had to juggle MLS exploits with our participation in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup – something that has posed many MLS sides difficulties in the past. On Tuesday night, Orlando City SC drew 0-0 with Mexican giants Tigres UANL in the first leg of our Round of 16 tie with the crucial second leg taking place next Tuesday. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Inter Miami vs Orlando City SC – 02.03.2024

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After a frustrating 0-0 draw against CF Montréal in our 2024 MLS home opener last Saturday, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now contest one of the biggest games on this year’s schedule – an away trip to Fort Lauderdale to face fierce Florida rivals Inter Miami.

This year’s Sunshine Clásico falls earlier than ever before with the Lions hoping to achieve the mouthwatering prospect of defeating Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and co in The Herons’ own backyard at Chase Stadium. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs CF Montréal – 24.02.2024

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After a short, breathless, and exciting off-season of refreshment, anticipation fills the air as Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC kick off the 2024 Major League Soccer campaign.

Starting at home for a tenth consecutive MLS season, City open against CF Montréal (just like we did in 2022) after our crushing 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs defeat to Columbus Crew back in November. Continue reading →