STATS PREVIEW: FC Cincinnati vs Orlando City SC – 05.10.2024

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Orlando City SC are simply on fire right now! Extending our strong run of form last night, City secured a vital 2-1 victory over Philadelphia Union at Inter&Co Stadium. This win not only completed a 2024 season sweep over Jim Curtin’s Philadelphia Union, but also marked a milestone for Facundo Torres, who became Orlando City SC’s all-time leading goalscorer (45) across all competitions. Impressively, it was also our fourth consecutive home victory in the MLS regular season, extending our unbeaten run at home to 10 matches (7-3-0) across all competitions. With a top four finish still ours to lose, the Lions remain firmly in the hunt for home field advantage in the Round One Best-of-3 Series of the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Following yesterday’s win, Orlando City SC remain fourth in the Eastern Conference with 49 points from 32 games. In fact, no side has won more points (27) in MLS since the beginning of July than the Lions. But with New York City FC and New York Red Bulls just two points behind us, our lead is far from secure as all three teams get set to contest their final two MLS regular season fixtures. NYCFC’s 3-2 win over FC Cincinnati yesterday propelled them to 47 points, while Red Bulls matched that total by thrashing Toronto FC 1-4 at BMO Field. It was a strong way to bounce back from a humiliating 1-5 home defeat to New York City FC last weekend in the Hudson River Derby.

Given how tight the current standings are, this makes every remaining point crucial as Orlando City SC aim to secure a second successive top four seeding in the post-season. With last night’s 3-2 defeat at NYCFC, Saturday’s opponents FC Cincinnati (56 points) missed the chance to overtake Ohio rivals Columbus Crew (57 points), who slipped up with a 2-3 home defeat to Inter Miami. A victory that saw The Herons unfortunately crowned 2024 Supporters’ Shield champions, FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew are currently jockeying for second place. Despite goals from Luciano Acosta and Corey Baird, Pat Noonan’s FC Cincinnati fell short at NYCFC and they’ll be eager to respond against Orlando City SC at a boisterous TQL Stadium.

But under the pressure of securing a top four finish, City’s attack has thrived, with Facundo Torres, Martín Ojeda, and Ramiro Enrique making significant contributions since June. Despite Orlando City SC scoring just 17 goals in our first 17 MLS games of 2024, we’ve netted 38 in the last 15, matching 2016 and 2023’s joint club record of 55 goals in a single MLS regular season. With Orlando City SC now set to contest our final away fixture of the regular season, the Lions should be feeling mighty confident, especially given our ability to dominate or grind out results.

Oscar Pareja, the coaching staff, and players deserve massive credit for this tactical versatility and for peaking at the right time, much like we did last season. When you combine regular goalscoring with defensive discipline – as we are right now – this is the winning formula! With our post-season spot already secured, all eyes are on Orlando City SC to maintain our top four position and build momentum for what we hope is our deepest playoff run yet! And who knows, maybe, just maybe lifting the 2024 MLS Cup? 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

STATS PREVIEW: Nashville SC vs Orlando City SC – 29.09.2021

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After a valiant yet painful 2-1 defeat at leaders New England Revolution, Orlando City SC now visit Nashville SC looking to end a four-game losing streak.

With our hopes of qualifying for the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs now hanging in the balance, the Lions need to stop the rot. Continue reading

Sky Sports televising Orlando City SC’s July fixture against Philadelphia Union

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With only one Orlando City SC fixture televised live on Sky Sports this season, we finally have another 14 games into 2021.

Sky Sports Football will have LIVE coverage of Orlando City SC‘s home fixture against Philadelphia Union in the early hours of Friday, July 23 (00:30 GMT). Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Toronto FC – 22.05.2021

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After a conservative, yet professional winning performance at D.C. United (0-1), Orlando City SC return home to face temporary Exploria Stadium tenants Toronto FC.

Unbeaten in five MLS games and conceding just two goals so far, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions ended Gameweek 5 second in the Eastern Conference and just two points behind leaders New England Revolution with a game in hand. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: FC Dallas vs Orlando City SC – 27.09.2020

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After a fantastic 1-2 win at Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC face another quick turnaround as they head to FC Dallas on Sunday.

Revisiting his beloved Frisco, Texas, Papi is a legend at Toyota Stadium after a glorious 19-year association with FC Dallas as a player then head coach. Continue reading

Orlando City UK visiting Orlando for a fifth successive year this February

Orlando City UK on Exploria Stadium Turf

Most definitely a yearly ritual for us, Orlando City UK are thrilled to announce we are visiting Orlando for a fifth successive year next month.

A much shorter trip for us this time round, I’ll be making the two-and-a-half hour flight down from Toronto, Canada to experience Orlando City SC‘s 2020 home opener against Real Salt Lake on February 29. Continue reading

Orlando City UK celebrates our fourth birthday: 2019 round-up

Orlando City UK celebrates our second birthday

Here at Orlando City UK, we’re wondering where the past few years have gone. Today, we’re celebrating our fourth birthday with our Official International Fan Club of Orlando City SC established four years ago.

Despite 2019 being another disappointing campaign for the Lions on the pitch, Orlando City UK thoroughly enjoyed another year of covering and supporting Orlando City SC while growing the club’s presence in the United Kingdom. Continue reading

Calculating Orlando City SC’s LIVE televised fixtures in 2019

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As Orlando City SC fans, we’re entitled to moan about failed playoff bids, referees and rain delays but one thing UK supporters can’t complain about is live televised games.

With a disappointing 2019 Major League Soccer campaign now over, Orlando City UK took this moment to reflect on how many Lions fixtures have been televised live in Great Britain this year. Continue reading

Sky Sports televising Orlando City SC’s September fixture against Los Angeles FC

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With no Orlando City SC fixture aired live on Sky Sports since the Lions’ 0-3 triumph at Montreal Impact on June 1, we finally have another.

Sky Sports Football will be televising Orlando City SC’s first ever home fixture against Los Angeles FC in the early hours of Sunday, 8 September (00:30 GMT). Continue reading