Martín Ojeda

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs CF Montréal – 30.09.2023

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Embed from Getty Images

Rescuing a one-goal deficit to draw 1-1 with Florida rivals Inter Miami, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now face CF Montréal in our penultimate home fixture of the 2023 MLS regular season.

In a passionate Sunshine Clásico full of aggression and needle, a scrappy derby had flashes of promise but ultimately ended even. Admittedly a fair result on the balance of play, the Lions were very wasteful in front of goal despite Duncan McGuire‘s 66th minute equaliser – a goal that ensured Inter Miami have still never won at Exploria Stadium. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Inter Miami – 24.09.2023

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Embed from Getty Images

Mission accomplished! Despite suffering a 2-0 defeat at New York City FC last night, a favourable 1-1 draw between D.C. United and Atlanta United elsewhere saw Orlando City SC clinch their spot in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs with five games to spare. Reaching the promised land of the MLS post-season earlier than ever before, Oscar Pareja has now impressively steered the City ship into the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.

In a mouth-watering prospect, Orlando City SC and Inter Miami now meet in MLS for the first time since the Lions’ highly controversial 2023 Leagues Cup Round of 32 defeat (3-1) at DRV PNK Stadium back on August 2.

With Lionel Messi’s brace helping steer The Herons towards what proved to be their first major title in club history, the injustice of several incidences against City has undoubtedly lit the touch paper for this eagerly anticipated rematch. Revenge will most certainly be on the minds of Orlando City SC players and supporters as the Lions aim to derail Inter Miami’s late push to reach the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.

In huge news, seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi WILL NOT visit Exploria Stadium for the very first time however. After The Herons’ 4-0 win over Toronto FC yesterday, Tata Martino ruled both Messi and Jordi Alba out of Sunday’s Sunshine Clásico after they were both subbed off with suspected first-half injuries in that game. Whether this is managerial mind games or not remains to be seen. Continue reading →

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

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Embed from Getty Images

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: FC Cincinnati vs Orlando City SC – 02.09.2023

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Embed from Getty Images

Rescuing a 1-1 draw at Charlotte FC on Wednesday, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now visit TQL Stadium to complete a quick-fire two-game streak against runaway Supporters’ Shield contenders FC Cincinnati.

Unrecognisable from being former wooden spoon whipping boys, Pat Noonan’s formidable side have lost just three regular season fixtures so far. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC re-signing Júnior Urso

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Embed from Getty Images

Exactly a week since Orlando City SC supporters were treated to clips of Júnior Urso revisiting Osceola Heritage Park and embracing Oscar Pareja, the Lions yesterday announced the re-signing of the 34-year-old fan favourite on a contract through the end of the 2023 season – with a club option in 2024.

A surprise, yet hugely popular mid-season addition to our 2023 roster, it’s been 251 days since Júnior Urso mutually terminated his contract with City, reluctantly returning to Brazil – and Coritiba – due to personal reasons. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Real Salt Lake vs Orlando City SC – 08.07.2023

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Embed from Getty Images

Even before the post-match Exploria Stadium fireworks show to commemorate July 4, Orlando City SC celebrated Independence Day with a bang by emphatically defeating Toronto FC 4-0.

Registering two home victories in a row and only losing one of our last eleven MLS fixtures, Oscar Pareja‘s upwardly mobile Lions now face a tough three-game road streak in MLS, sandwiched by at least two ties in the 2023 Leagues Cup. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Seattle Sounders vs Orlando City SC – 24.06.2023

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Embed from Getty Images

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: Orlando City SC vs Philadelphia Union – 21.06.2023

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Embed from Getty Images

Defeated 3-1 at New England Revolution, the hectic mid-season schedule heats up with Orlando City SC returning home to face Philadelphia Union at Exploria Stadium this Wednesday.

Comfortably beaten by the better side in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the Revs are now undefeated in their last 10 MLS head-to-heads with City who saw their six-game unbeaten streak ended by well-taken Emmanuel Boateng, Gustavo Bou and Carles Gil second-half goals. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: New England Revolution vs Orlando City SC – 17.06.2023

/ Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Embed from Getty Images

After defeating nine-man Colorado Rapids 2-0 at Exploria Stadium, Orlando City SC now hit the road to face 2021 MLS Supporters’ Shield winners New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium.

Our first 2023 regular season meeting with Revs, the Foxborough team are quite simply a bogey side to the Lions. After registering our current joint-highest MLS win against Revs (6-1) in September 2017, they’ve gone unbeaten against City in the nine MLS head-to-heads ever since (5-4-0). Continue reading →