STATS PREVIEW: Atlanta United vs Orlando City SC – 28.05.2025

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Portland Timbers? Successfully chopped down! 🌲🪓🪵 Grinding out an important 1-0 win over Phil Neville’s side on Saturday, Duncan McGuire’s first goal of 2025 proved the difference. Now, the Lions fly north above Interstate 75 to face Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Despite just two wins in nine visits, Orlando City SC will head to Georgia full of belief, eager to take down our bitter rivals after matching our longest-ever MLS unbeaten streak (12 games).

Atlanta United’s 4-2 win over FC Cincinnati gives them hope. But if we bring our A-game in the A, we’re the better side. The biggest compliment Orlando can be paid right now? We’ve shown we can win in different ways! Our last two league matches prove it – a dominant 0-3 derby win in Fort Lauderdale, followed by a gritty home victory over a Portland side that had lost just once in 11 MLS games. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Portland Timbers – 24.05.2025

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Orlando City SC host Portland Timbers this Saturday in our second cross-conference MLS fixture of 2025. While we’ve faced Phil Neville before – going 4-2-1 against his Inter Miami side – this is our first meeting with him as Timbers boss.

Riding high off our stunning 0-3 win at Inter Miami, our momentum just took a big hit! Eliminated from the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup last night, losing 2-3 to Nashville SC in the Round of 16, fatigue and tired legs told. With Orlando squeezing NINE fixtures into May, this gruelling month is a real test of our fitness, mentality, and squad depth. Now, we must regroup and dig deep against talented opposition. Continue reading

Twitter reacts to… Zakaria Taifi signing a first team contract with Orlando City SC

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After progressing through our development pathway, Academy and Orlando City B product Zakaria Taifi has today signed a first team contract with Orlando City SC.

The 19-year-old defender has penned a deal through 2026, with club options for 2027, 2028, and 2029. Born and raised in Orlando, the American defender of Moroccan heritage is the latest in a long line of players to rise through the ranks at Orlando City SC.

A standout in MLS NEXT Pro, Taifi not only becomes our latest Homegrown Player. He’s also our eighth first team signing this year after Colin Guske, Nicolás Rodríguez, Carlos Mercado, Marco Pašalić, Eduard Atuesta, Joran Gerbet, and Gustavo Caraballo. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Inter Miami vs Orlando City SC – 18.05.2025

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TEN games unbeaten sounds much better after a win, right? Orlando City SC found their spark on Wednesday with a convincing 3-1 victory over Charlotte FC, snapping a frustrating run of five draws in six. It was the kind of complete display Oscar Pareja has been demanding — and just in time.

Because next up? It’s Inter Miami away in the first Sunshine Clásico of 2025! Not just any fixture, this is our first ‘Sunday Night Soccer’ appearance of the season, with all eyes on Chase Stadium. As painful as it is to recall, we were thrashed 5-0 there last March. So, this time, we have to do ourselves justice! At the end of the day, real heart, fight, and passion is non-negotiable in MLS Rivalry Week. Continue reading

Orlando City UK member Josh Keeble’s experience as Orlando City SC thrash Tampa Bay Rowdies 0-5

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

A few weeks ago, when Orlando City SC announced their 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup date with bitter I-4 Derby rivals Tampa Bay Rowdies, I knew there was absolutely no way I would let such an opportunity pass me by.

A gap in university deadlines, (relatively) affordable flights, and a first visit to Al Lang Stadium in eleven years all meant that, regardless of the result, the trip made complete sense. And then we went and beat them 0-5! Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs New England Revolution – 10.05.2025

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Back to Inter&Co Stadium we go – but after four 0-0 draws in our last five MLS outings, can someone please find the net? Orlando City SC extended their unbeaten league run to eight matches last weekend, but it was another frustrating stalemate at 10-man Chicago Fire. Thankfully, our I-4 Derby win (0-5) over Tampa Bay Rowdies in the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday served as a timely morale booster.

Now, it’s time to turn our resilience into results – but that’s easier said than done. New England Revolution visit Central Florida in red-hot form, riding a four-game winning streak. Moreover, both sides boast stingy defensive records too. City haven’t conceded in 530 minutes, while the Revs are on a 393-minute shutout streak – so something has to give. Let’s just hope it’s not another goalless grind! Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Tampa Bay Rowdies vs Orlando City SC – 07.05.2025

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ROWDIES, TELL ME HOW IT FEELS! 📢 You know the rest! 😉 A Florida feud reignites this Wednesday as Orlando City SC travel to Al Lang Stadium to face old USL rival Tampa Bay Rowdies in the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32. It’s a nostalgic return to the competition that delivered our first MLS-era silverware in 2022, and die-hard Lions couldn’t be happier to be back – especially after City were controversially excluded from last year’s diluted edition due to Leagues Cup scheduling.

Personally, I’m thrilled we’re back, having boycotted the 2024 Leagues Cup in protest. Even better, Orlando City SC have a real shot at lifting the cup this year. With just 16 MLS sides controversially included this time, the field is wide open. Especially with big boys Inter Miami, Los Angeles FC and Columbus Crew not taking part! Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Chicago Fire vs Orlando City SC – 03.05.2025

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Orlando, we’re coming to c̶o̶n̶q̶u̶e̶r̶ roll over! 😜 After a tough few weeks, Orlando City SC returned to winning ways with a commanding 3-0 derby victory over Atlanta United at Inter&Co Stadium. Piling the pressure on Ronny Deila, the result extended the Lions’ unbeaten run to seven games and restored some much-needed momentum heading into a busy stretch. Now, Oscar Pareja’s side will look to climb the Eastern Conference standings against Chicago Fire, who were just thumped 7-2 at Nashville SC. It was an embarrassing loss for Gregg Berhalter against his former USMNT assistant, B.J. Callaghan.

With confidence growing and key players finding form, City will now look to build on their fourth consecutive clean sheet. Another positive result on the road would keep the pressure on the teams above and further underline the Lions’ growing belief as the campaign hits its stride. Continue reading

Twitter reacts to… Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira’s Orlando City SC promotions

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Just eight days after Oscar Pareja signed a new three-year deal as Orlando City SC head coach, yesterday saw Luiz Muzzi promoted to Senior Advisor to Ownership, Global Soccer Ventures and Ricardo Moreira to the role of General Manager & Sporting Director.

Luiz Muzzi, formerly Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations & General Manager, and Ricardo Moreira, formerly Vice President of Soccer Operations & Technical Director, received their most recent promotions in February 2024.

In short, this dynamic Brazilian duo have played a pivotal role in driving City’s player recruitment and propelling the club’s upward trajectory since they joined ahead of the 2019 season. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: CF Montréal vs Orlando City SC – 19.04.2025

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Orlando City SC just extended their unbeaten MLS streak to five matches (2-3-0), but we left last Saturday’s scrappy 0-0 draw with New York Red Bulls feeling frustrated. Still preserving a second successive shutout despite Rodrigo Schlegel’s red card, Oscar Pareja’s Lions now travel north of the border to face CF Montréal in chilly Quebec. Right now, Papi is at a tactical crossroads: stick with his cautious 3-4-2-1 or revert to our familiar 4-2-3-1? Either way, we must now cope with Rodrigo Schlegel’s one-game suspension.

CF Montréal enter this match scarred from a 0-1 defeat to Charlotte FC in their long-delayed 2025 home opener last Saturday. Winless in eight games and still bottom of the East, they’re continuing to adjust under interim head coach Marco Donadel, who stepped in following the dismissal of Laurent Courtois on March 25. This is just CF Montréal’s second home game at Stade Saputo in 2025, following seven straight on the road – a yearly tradition to avoid Quebec’s harsh winter. Continue reading