STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Nashville SC – 31.08.2024

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After a month without MLS, Orlando City SC’s return to league action was bitterly disappointing with the Lions comprehensively defeated 3-0 at Sporting Kansas City. Now returning home to face Nashville SC at Inter&Co Stadium, the Lions have just eight regular season fixtures remaining to seal a place in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.

At SKC, the Lions had a one-man advantage for the final 23 + 12 minutes, but failed to create any real attacking threat throughout the game, missing a key opportunity to gain points against a low-ranking Western Conference opponent. Poor finishing and defensive lapses allowed Sporting Kansas City to capitalise in one of Orlando City SC’s worst performances of 2024.

As for Saturday’s opponents Nashville SC, they are in free fall having just suffered their seventh consecutive MLS defeat. Beaten 0-2 at home by Austin FC last Saturday, this was B. J. Callaghan’s first MLS game in charge of the Music City side after he took over during the 2024 Leagues Cup. A rare penalty miss by Hany Mukhtar in the first-half paved the way for Jon Gallagher and Osman Bukari to seize all three points at GEODIS Park. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Nashville SC vs Orlando City SC – 17.07.2024

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Our Gillette Stadium curse is over! Failing to win any of our previous eight MLS games in Foxborough, Orlando City SC have now finally defeated New England Revolution away after securing a 1-3 comeback victory on Saturday night. Our fourth win in five MLS games and the first time we’ve achieved three consecutive victories since September / October 2023, the Lions appear to be coming good when it matters!

After a lacklustre first-half performance at Revs, whatever Oscar Pareja said at half-time had the desired effect! With Orlando City SC coming out re-energised, refocused, and determined to leave Massachusetts with all three points, we laughed in the face of the artificial turf and hit back three times after entering the break 1-0 down.

Staying on the road, City now visit Tennessee for a Wednesday night showdown with Nashville SC at GEODIS Park. The clubs’ first MLS meeting since the Lions dumped Nashville SC out of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, the Music City side will be out for revenge. That said, Nashville SC are on the slide having lost their last four consecutive MLS fixtures, including a 2-1 defeat at D.C. United on Saturday night.

As for Orlando City SC, we’re not only craving a fourth straight victory. We’re now looking for as much momentum as possible as we look to reel in sixth-placed Charlotte FC while solidifying our place in the automatic qualification spots for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Columbus Crew – 25.11.2023

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Impressively only requiring two games, not three, to overcome Nashville SC in the Round One Best-of-3 series in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC are now set to contest their second ever Eastern Conference Semi-Final. Now reverting back to a single elimination format, just two games separate the Lions from 2023 MLS Cup itself, the holy grail fixture that may yet be hosted at Exploria Stadium, barring overall number one seed FC Cincinnati reaching this stage of course.

Now hosting overall number three seed Columbus Crew, qualifying from their own Best-of-3 series after a game three win (4-2) over Atlanta United on November 12, Orlando City SC drew 1-1 and won 4-3 against Wilfried Nancy’s Crew side in the MLS regular season. Considering the Ohio side had to contest a third game in Round One compared to the Lions, City have enjoyed more rest regardless of the recent international break, something that we hope provides us some form of advantage in our biggest MLS game since our Eastern Conference Semi-Final defeat to New England Revolution (1-3) back in November 2020. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs New York Red Bulls – 27.07.2022

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After an incredible 6-5 sudden death penalty shootout victory over Nashville SC (1-1 A.E.T.) in the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarter-finals, Orlando City SC now host New York Red Bulls in the semi-finals.

Hosting a U.S. Open Cup semi-final for the second successive tournament, City are just 90+ minutes away from hosting a potential final and 180+ minutes away from lifting their first trophy in the Major League Soccer era. 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: New York Red Bulls vs Orlando City SC – 28.10.2018

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After the pick me up of a dramatic 2-1 victory over Columbus Crew and our first Major League Soccer win since July 14, Orlando City SC now travel to New York Red Bulls on MLS Decision Day 2018.

The final fixture of a campaign to forget, this fixture has massive implications for who is crowned 2018 Eastern Conference champions with just one point separating first-placed Atlanta United and second-placed New York Red Bulls heading into game 34. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs New York Red Bulls – 31.03.2018

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After a hugely exciting off-season with multiple new arrivals at Orlando City Stadium, heads are down at Orlando City SC right now.

Winless in our first three fixtures of the 2018 Major League Soccer season, early pressure is mounting on Jason Kreis with the Lions only earning a single point with plenty of work to do. Continue reading