STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Columbus Crew – 04.10.2025

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THE LIONS ARE LOCKED IN!! 🦁🔒 For the sixth straight season, Orlando City SC have clinched their spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs – and there’s still plenty left to play for! A stoppage time header from Alex Freeman sealed a 1-1 draw at high-flying FC Cincinnati last Sunday – a result that keeps us right in the hunt for a top four finish. With just three games to go, every point is priceless.

Now back at Inter&Co Stadium for our penultimate home fixture of the regular season, the focus shifts to Columbus Crew. Sitting just two points and two places beneath us in ninth, Wilfried Nancy’s men arrive winless in three, reeling from a 2-0 defeat at Chicago Fire. Crucially, we hold a game in hand on almost all of the top six, making Saturday’s clash more than just a playoff preview. It’s a chance to draw closer to the top four and build momentum at just the right time. With nine Eastern teams now locked into the post-season, the only question left is who secures a top four spot and who gets pulled into the Wild Card fight. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Pumas UNAM vs Orlando City SC – 30.07.2025

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This Wednesday, Orlando City SC pause their MLS campaign to face Pumas UNAM in phase one of the 2025 Leagues Cup, beginning a break from league action that will last at least three games. Facing the seven-time Liga MX champions at Inter&Co Stadium, Efraín Juárez’s side are struggling and sit fifteenth in the 2025 Apertura table on just three points.

Nevertheless, Pumas bring plenty of pedigree and star power to the tournament, having added veterans Aaron Ramsey and Keylor Navas this month. City have faced Liga MX teams in the Leagues Cup before. But this marks Orlando’s first-ever clash with Pumas UNAM — the Mexico City giants famous for their distinctive puma-adorned jerseys. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Columbus Crew vs Orlando City SC – 25.07.2025

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After four games without a win, Orlando City SC finally bounced back with a gritty 1-2 road victory at New England Revolution. A much-needed lift for the squad, our social media admin joined in the fun, celebrating not just 3 points at the scene of the Coldplay incident, but an awkwardly-timed fireworks show too! Most importantly, the Lions responded when they needed to, and just in time.

Just before the 2025 Leagues Cup group stage kicks off, we now face our first and only Friday fixture of the regular season – a road trip to high-flying Columbus Crew. With the table tightening and just 9 regular season games remaining after this, there’s no better time to build momentum. So let’s make one last push before the break! With Martín Ojeda in red-hot form, we should visit Ohio with renewed hunger, confidence, and belief. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: FC Dallas vs Orlando City SC – 28.09.2024

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Last Saturday, Orlando City SC suffered a 4-3 defeat at Columbus Crew, ending the Lions’ three-game winning streak in dramatic fashion. Despite a spirited comeback from 3-0 down, individual errors proved costly, causing Oscar Pareja’s men to lose ground in our pursuit of a fifth consecutive MLS Cup Playoffs appearance.

The defeat means Orlando City SC remain on 43 points in a tightly congested Eastern Conference. Goals from Diego Rossi, Christian Ramirez, and Cucho Hernández put Crew 3-0 up at at Lower.com Field. Then late goals from Ramiro Enrique, Luis Muriel, AZ Jackson, and Muriel (again) saw City fall just short in Ohio.

Now visiting FC Dallas for the first time since September 2020, Orlando City SC will look to bounce back, knowing that a win will officially clinch our spot in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. With City currently fifth in the Eastern Conference, our push for a top four finish is still within reach too, though last weekend’s setback means the pressure is mounting.

As for FC Dallas, they are fighting for a playoff spot themselves in the Western Conference. Coming off a morale-boosting 3-1 victory over Los Angeles FC, who were gearing up for the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final, this win marked Toros’ first in their last four MLS fixtures (1-1-2). As such, this game promises to be another stern examination of Orlando City SC’s resilience and adaptability. Right now, every point is vital as we enter the final stretch of the MLS regular season. A strong performance in Frisco could be the catalyst needed to reignite our top four and post-season hopes.

Saturday’s visit to Toyota Stadium will also be a reunion for both Oscar Pareja and Luiz Muzzi. Both are very familiar with the venue after many successful years working together at the Texan club. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Columbus Crew vs Orlando City SC – 21.09.2024

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Last night, Orlando City SC earned yet another important victory, defeating Charlotte FC 2-0 at Inter&Co Stadium to continue our impressive form with a third consecutive home shutout. This crucial win propelled the Lions into fourth place in the Eastern Conference – our highest position all season – and extended our hopes of home field advantage in the Round One Best-of-3 Series of the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Building on the momentum from recent home wins over Nashville SC (3-0) and New England Revolution (3-0), Facundo Torres netted his 12th goal of the MLS regular season with a sublime finish early in the second-half, followed by a composed chip from Duncan McGuire in the dying minutes. The match marked Orlando City SC’s first victory over Charlotte FC in five meetings and showcased the Lions’ growing defensive resilience and attacking precision.

Orlando City SC head into Saturday’s clash with 2023 MLS Cup and 2024 Leagues Cup champions Columbus Crew full of confidence, having leapfrogged New York Red Bulls into fourth place, though level on points (43) with the New Jersey side. However, the road trip to Lower.com Field won’t be easy. Facing Wilfried Nancy’s formidable side, widely regarded as the best-coached team in MLS, Oscar Pareja’s Lions will be without the suspended César Araújo.

With both teams in strong form with playoff positions at stake, this encounter promises to be a significant test of Orlando City SC’s late-season push. Right now, Lower.com Field is THE ultimate acid test among MLS fortresses and this game will examine how City might fare against top-quality opposition in the post-season. Crew enter this game fresh off a 0-2 win at Toronto FC last night, though they lost their last home match 0-4 to Seattle Sounders on September 7. That result, however, came with an asterisk. Crew were shorthanded due to international call-ups and with no goalkeeper on the bench, Sean Zawadzki had to play in net for the entire second-half after Abraham Romero’s red card in first-half stoppage time. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Columbus Crew – 25.05.2024

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After substitute Jack Lynn scored very late on to help Orlando City SC secure a precious 0-1 win at San Jose Earthquakes, Oscar Pareja’s Lions now return to Inter&Co Stadium to take on 2023 MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew.

The clubs’ first meeting since Crew painfully eliminated the Lions from the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, Wilfried Nancy’s side are currently placed seventh in the Eastern Conference with 21 points from 13 games played.

The 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup finalists come into this game upbeat after securing two back-to-back 1-3 MLS victories on the road, most recently at traditional rivals Chicago Fire last Saturday.

By the banks of Lake Michigan at Soldier Field, goals from Diego Rossi, Christian Ramirez, and Jacen Russell-Rowe sealed another away day victory for Crew after their 1-3 win at CF Montréal a game prior. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: New York City FC vs Orlando City SC – 20.09.2023

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After defeating Columbus Crew 4-3 in a quite remarkable three-goal comeback victory, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now visit Queens, not The Bronx, for a Wednesday night showdown with 2015 MLS expansion rivals New York City FC at Citi Field.

With City players and supporters running on adrenaline after Ramiro Enrique‘s buzzer beater against Crew, the Lions left everything on the field against quality opposition in undoubtedly one of the craziest and most exciting games of the entire Major League Soccer season so far – a game that’ll live long in the memory. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Columbus Crew – 16.09.2023

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After making a huge statement with a 0-1 win at Eastern Conference topping FC Cincinnati on September 2, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now face Wilfried Nancy’s Columbus Crew back at Exploria Stadium.

With FC Cincinnati going 20 consecutive home games unbeaten at TQL Stadium prior to City’s visit, not to mention being MLS Supporters’ Shield winners elect, snapping this streak with a gritty 0-1 result was mightily impressive. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs New York City FC – 17.05.2023

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After disappointing back-to-back away defeats to CF Montréal (MLS) and Charlotte FC (U.S. Open Cup), stopping the rot was key against Columbus Crew. Fortunately, Orlando City SC rallied to achieve an unlikely 2-2 comeback draw at Lower.com Field.

With two more MLS games coming fast, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions now face New York City FC at Exploria Stadium after a tough three-game road streak, buoyed by Duncan McGuire‘s stoppage time leveller from 2-0 down in Ohio. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Columbus Crew vs Orlando City SC – 13.05.2023

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Failing at the first hurdle to defend our 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title, Tuesday’s really poor 1-0 cup elimination to Charlotte FC compounded already strong feelings of Orlando City SC downheartedness.

Also defeated 2-0 at CF Montréal last Saturday, the Lions have now lost four of their eight MLS fixtures. Each loss has been followed by a win in a super inconsistent run under Oscar Pareja who is now fighting to keep his job. Continue reading