STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Inter Miami – 15.05.2024

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After defeating Philadelphia Union 2-3 in a wild game on Saturday, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now contest one of the biggest fixtures on this year’s schedule – a grudge match at home against Florida rivals Inter Miami in MLS Rivalry Week.

A midweek game, potentially marking Lionel Messi’s first-ever visit to Inter&Co Stadium if he’s fit, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and his team-mates travel up Florida’s Turnpike in rampant mood. Winning their last five consecutive MLS games and having scored 35 goals this season, Inter Miami currently lead the Eastern Conference on 27 points – a bitter pill for Florida’s better half to swallow.

With The Herons defying the odds to rescue a 2-0 deficit and win 2-3 at CF Montréal on Saturday, Inter Miami will be the big favourites on Wednesday but Orlando City SC should feel buoyed after just clinching our third victory of the 2024 MLS season, taking us to double figures (12 points) in the process. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Atlanta United vs Orlando City SC – 17.03.2024

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The MLS schedule makers certainly haven’t made it easy on Orlando City SC with Oscar Pareja‘s Lions now flying north above Interstate 75 to visit rivals Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in only our second away league fixture of 2024.

Embarrassingly humbled 5-0 at fellow rivals Inter Miami in our last MLS away fixture, City supporters are demanding a much more professional, committed, and gutsy performance this time around. But this will be anything but straightforward, not just because of The Five Stripes’ packed 40,000+ home crowd but because of our current state of mind.

City not only lost 2-3 to Minnesota United in MLS last Saturday but also got eliminated from the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup on Tuesday. Defeated 4-2 on aggregate by Tigres UANL in the Round of 16 stage, it’s truly been a miserable start to the year for Orlando City SC, whom much more was expected of, albeit facing a tough and unforgiving schedule to kick off our 2024 campaign. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Minnesota United – 09.03.2024

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Suffering the embarrassment of a 5-0 defeat to Florida rivals Inter Miami last Saturday, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC return to Inter&Co Stadium to face Minnesota United in their first cross-conference fixture of 2024. Currently on just one point after two MLS games, the Lions are desperate to register not only their first league victory of the year but their first goal too.

This home game against Minnesota United is also the Lions’ 10 Year Anniversary Match, celebrating the 10th anniversary of Orlando City SC‘s first match in Major League Soccer. Instead of our home purple, City will suit up in The Legacy Kit to honour the occasion.

At this embryonic stage of 2024, we’ve had to juggle MLS exploits with our participation in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup – something that has posed many MLS sides difficulties in the past. On Tuesday night, Orlando City SC drew 0-0 with Mexican giants Tigres UANL in the first leg of our Round of 16 tie with the crucial second leg taking place next Tuesday. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Inter Miami vs Orlando City SC – 02.03.2024

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After a frustrating 0-0 draw against CF Montréal in our 2024 MLS home opener last Saturday, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now contest one of the biggest games on this year’s schedule – an away trip to Fort Lauderdale to face fierce Florida rivals Inter Miami.

This year’s Sunshine Clásico falls earlier than ever before with the Lions hoping to achieve the mouthwatering prospect of defeating Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and co in The Herons’ own backyard at Chase Stadium. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Chicago Fire vs Orlando City SC – 20.08.2023

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Eliminated from the 2023 Leagues Cup back on August 2, Orlando City SC return to MLS regular season action, travelling to the Windy City to take on Chicago Fire at Soldier Field.

Prior to the Leagues Cup break, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions climbed to fifth in the Eastern Conference – and just one point off fourth-placed Nashville SC – after an impressive run of three victories in four MLS fixtures. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Toronto FC – 17.09.2022

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After a bitterly disappointing 0-1 home defeat to fierce rivals Atlanta United on Wednesday, Orlando City SC now face Toronto FC in their penultimate home game of the 2022 MLS regular season.

Perilously sitting just two points above the red line as things stand, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions only have four nail-biting games left to seal a place in the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs New York City FC – 28.08.2022

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In a rollercoaster ride of a season for Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC, the Lions have started winning when it matters, achieving a much-needed 1-2 victory at Charlotte FC last Sunday.

Not only our second consecutive away win in MLS, our win at Bank of America Stadium is only the second time this season that City have achieved back-to-back league victories. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Colorado Rapids vs Orlando City SC – 13.07.2022

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Not only overcoming Florida rivals Inter Miami 1-0 on Saturday, Orlando City SC also overcame a rain delay of over two hours to arrest a two-game losing streak in MLS.

Kick-off was originally scheduled for 8:05pm. But the game started at 10:25pm local time, crazily spanning both Saturday evening and the early hours of Sunday morning. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs D.C. United – 04.07.2022

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After achieving our highest high of 2022, a 6-5 penalty shootout win over Nashville SC in the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarter-finals (1-1 A.E.T.), it’s now back to MLS action.

On July 4 weekend, Orlando City SC now welcome D.C. United to Exploria Stadium for the Eastern Conference duo’s first league meeting this year. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Toronto FC vs Orlando City SC – 14.05.2022

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Eager to erase memories of last weekend’s 4-1 defeat to CF Montréal, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now face fellow Canadians Toronto FC at BMO Field.

Desperately seeking some consistency right now, Orlando City SC‘s 2022 MLS campaign has looked convincing at times and not so convincing at times also. Continue reading