NYCFC

STATS PREVIEW: FC Cincinnati vs Orlando City SC – 28.09.2025

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THE CARDIAC CATS ARE BACK, BABY!! 🫀🦁 And just in the nick of time! Duncan McGuire’s last-gasp winner against Nashville SC wasn’t only massive for him personally. It could prove huge in our push for a top four home playoff spot. When Jacob Shaffelburg made it 2-2 after our hard-earned 2-0 lead, every Lion felt that familiar sinking feeling.

But credit to the boys – and to McGuire – for playing to the whistle, keeping the belief, and snatching what might be a season-defining goal. A trademark poacher’s finish, it was McGuire’s first City strike since May 24, and it keeps our playoff hopes alive heading into the final four games. Next up is a tough trip to TQL Stadium, where Pat Noonan’s FC Cincinnati are pushing hard in the 2025 Supporters’ Shield race. In our third ‘Sunday Night Soccer’ slot of the season, let’s hope we can make it back-to-back wins after busting our five-game winless slump. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Nashville SC – 20.09.2025

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We’re feeling the pressure, aren’t we? 😬 After a costly 1-1 draw at bottom-placed D.C. United, Orlando City SC return home for a massive showdown with Nashville SC. Winless since advancing past Toluca, the Lions must rediscover their form with the playoffs fast approaching – or at least we hope! Dropping points at Audi Field was criminal, and with only five regular season games left, the margin for error is now razor thin.

The stakes couldn’t be clearer. Orlando currently sit EIGHTH on 48 points but have one game in hand and trail fourth-placed Nashville by just two. A win at Inter&Co Stadium would put us right back in the top four fight. But Nashville have been a nightmare opponent this year, knocking us out of the U.S. Open Cup and hammering us 5-1 only two league games ago. Nothing less than three points will do if we’re serious about chasing a home playoff spot. No more excuses! Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: D.C. United vs Orlando City SC – 13.09.2025

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BACK TO BUSINESS, LIONS! 🦁 After a frustrating fourth place finish in the 2025 Leagues Cup, Orlando City SC are back in MLS action this Saturday. Visiting D.C. United, we desperately need three points and a return to form. The Galaxy defeat still stings, and the squad looked drained in Carson. But the international break gave most of our players a chance to rest, recover, and reset ahead of this must-win clash.

The East is still wide open, and with a game in hand on the current top four, this fixture is crucial if we want to secure a home playoff spot. D.C. United may be rock bottom, but they’ve picked up under new head coach René Weiler. Unbeaten in three (1-2-0), they pulled off a shock 1-2 win at New York City FC last time out, so they won’t be pushovers. Lose this one, and it’s panic stations. Win it, and we’re back on track, with belief and momentum heading down the stretch. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: New England Revolution vs Orlando City SC – 19.07.2025

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What on Earth has happened to our game management? 🤦🏽‍♂️ For the second straight match, Orlando City SC took a 1-0 lead… and threw it away. Last night’s 1-2 home loss to New York City FC was gutting. Not just because of the result, but because it followed a now-familiar script – take control, waste chances, and collapse late. Further evidence that we’re feeling the pressure, that’s now four games without a win and just two points from twelve. It’s hard to believe this is the same team that dismantled Inter Miami 0-3 back in May.

With our season slipping away, we need to respond and fast. Saturday sees the Lions travel to Gillette Stadium to face New England Revolution – a team sitting 11th but desperate to claw their way back into the playoff picture. We’ve only ever won ONCE in Foxborough (1-2-6), but that lone victory (1-3) came just a year ago. With the standings tightening, form slipping, and confidence clearly shaken, we need a repeat of that result… badly. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs New York City FC – 16.07.2025

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A 1-1 home draw against CF Montréal — really? 🤔 Winless against the bottom side this year? Not good enough. 😤 I was gutted by the full-time whistle on Saturday. Prince Owusu’s late penalty not only cost us a much-needed victory but worryingly stretched our winless run to three. Post-game, Ricardo Moreira captured the mood, tweeting: “We’re not here to settle for ‘enough’” – a clear sign of how costly these dropped points felt in the race for the Eastern Conference top four.

Now, Orlando City SC face New York City FC in a crucial midweek showdown at Inter&Co Stadium. Sitting just four points behind us and eager to close the gap, NYCFC are scarred from Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Charlotte FC. But The Pigeons are always a tough opponent, home or away. With our hopes of a top four finish fading fast, only a victory will do here. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Chicago Fire – 31.05.2025

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Nobody to blame but ourselves! 😡 Referee Filip Dujic may have made headlines in our 3-2 loss to Atlanta United. But César Araújo gave him a decision to make. Grabbing Mateusz Klich by the throat while leading 1-2 on the road? It was stupid, costly, and avoidable against a team we despise.

Oscar Pareja said after the match that he had challenged Araújo’s red card before the referee sent him off. While the club plans to address Dujic’s officiating internally, I can’t say I have much sympathy. We’ve been here before – hot-headed, undisciplined, and beaten. We didn’t learn! In a game that mattered this much, in enemy territory, we handed Atlanta the upper hand. We imploded, plain and simple. Now, we must finish May with a win over Chicago Fire. It’s crucial that we head into the international break still in the hunt at the top of the East. Continue reading →

Orlando City UK member Josh Keeble’s experience as Orlando City SC fall 2-1 at New York City FC

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Follow City Away!
By Orlando City UK member, Josh Keeble

On Saturday, March 8, I travelled Stateside to watch Orlando City SC suffer another Yankee Stadium defeat against New York City FC. The result did little to ease concerns about another slow start to the Major League Soccer season.

A fine counter-attack involving Alex Freeman, Marco Pašalić, and goalscorer Luis Muriel was ultimately overshadowed by goals from Alonso Martínez and Hannes Wolf. Both New York City FC strikes were aided by some questionable goalkeeping from Pedro Gallese. Still, those who follow the Lions know that away days aren’t really about the result – they’re about having a great time. And what better place than the Big Apple? Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: New York City FC vs Orlando City SC – 08.03.2025

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The sun always shines after the storm, right? Orlando City SC flipped the script last Saturday, securing their first MLS win of 2025 with a commanding 4-2 victory over Toronto FC at Inter&Co Stadium. After falling by the same scoreline a week prior, the Lions got that monkey off their back at the second time of asking, proving that a week is a long time in soccer!

Now, City hit the road for the first time this MLS regular season, facing New York City FC at Yankee Stadium – a tough test that kicks off a stretch of four away games in our next five. This game is NYCFC’s 2025 MLS home opener, but The Pigeons come into it scarred after losing 1-0 at Los Angeles FC on Matchday 2. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs New York Red Bulls – 30.11.2024

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Drink it in and savour the moment, folks! Orlando City SC have reached their first-ever Eastern Conference Final. This is all thanks to last Sunday’s well-deserved 1-0 victory over fierce rivals Atlanta United. On a historic night to remember at Inter&Co Stadium, the Lions needed no luck to send The Five Stripes packing. Holding our nerve, we delivered a statement performance that put the ‘L’ in Atlanta. It was a landmark triumph that sent a clear message to the rest of Major League Soccer – “We ready”! Bless Atlanta United’s hearts because deep down, they know we are the true football kings of the Southeastern United States!

The type of night that doesn’t come around too often, last Sunday helped cap what was undoubtedly the best-ever weekend in Orlando’s sporting legacy. Last Saturday, Orlando Pride made history, triumphantly winning the 2024 NWSL Championship with a gritty 1-0 victory over Washington Spirit in Kansas City. This followed their 2024 NWSL Shield win just 48 days earlier. Being the first professional team to win a major league title for The City Beautiful, the Pride set the tone for Orlando City SC’s own historic 1-0 victory the next evening. Considering Barbra Banda (37 minutes) and Ramiro Enrique’s (39 minutes) goals were just two minutes apart – across the same weekend – perhaps the stars are truly aligning? Could 2024 be the year where Orlando Pride and Orlando City SC BOTH win U.S. Soccer’s biggest domestic prizes? We sure hope it pans out this way!

While City’s 1-0 scoreline over Atlanta United may not sound commanding, the Lions’ performance was super mature. We were hungry, controlled, and virtually untroubled throughout the entire 90+7 minutes. Orlando City SC were so composed and determined that you had to wonder: was this really the team that had just eliminated Lionel Messi and Inter Miami? As you know, Orlando always welcomes tourists, and for the travelling Atlanta United supporters scattered around Inter&Co Stadium, we hope they enjoyed their latest visit to the Sunshine State! Now, having finally won an Eastern Conference Semi-Final at the third attempt, Orlando City SC are just 180+ minutes away from the ultimate prize: 2024 MLS Cup glory!

With Inter Miami (#1 in East), defending MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew (#2 in East), and Los Angeles FC (#1 in West) already eliminated, we’ll never have a better opportunity to win MLS Cup – plain and simple! It truly has been one of, if not the most unpredictable MLS Cup Playoffs of all-time. Next up though, the Lions face Sandro Schwarz’s New York Red Bulls. While many favourites have already fallen, Red Bulls are still a top-quality, tough opponent, and can never be taken lightly. Playing the gritty Red Bulls way, their super high press, aggression, and intensity make them a dangerous opponent, season in and season out. Should we prevail, the reward is monumental – a trip out west to battle either LA Galaxy or Seattle Sounders in 2024 MLS Cup itself! Having now gone further than any Orlando City SC side has before, this is the moment we’ve all been waiting for – so let’s make it count! Continue reading →

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 →