STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs New England Revolution – 14.09.2024

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Before the international break, Orlando City SC bounced back from a disappointing performance at Sporting Kansas City with a decisive 3-0 victory over Nashville SC at Inter&Co Stadium. Iván Angulo opened the scoring, followed by a Facundo Torres brace, as the Lions secured their fifth consecutive shutout against Nashville SC – a team we’ve quite simply owned in recent times!

Now, with New England Revolution visiting Central Florida, Orlando City SC face the second of three consecutive home fixtures. At this late stage of the MLS regular season, this stretch is crucial, and we need to capitalise on our home advantage to secure as many points as possible.

Right now, the Lions are quietly going under the radar when it comes to climbing the Eastern Conference standings. As MLSsoccer.com’s Matt Doyle wrote recently, “the Lions and Oscar Pareja are doing that thing again” and “no one above them seems interested in doing much about it”. Indeed, Orlando City SC are currently just one point below sixth, two points below fifth, and six points below fourth. “There’s a world here where Orlando somehow end up hosting in Round One”, Doyle continued with City “salvaging a season that felt rough for a while”.

As for Saturday’s opponents, New England Revolution, Caleb Porter’s side currently sit twelfth in the Eastern Conference (27 points), only a point above joint-bottom sides Chicago Fire and Nashville SC (26 points). It’s been a challenging first season in charge for Porter, with the team coming off a 2-2 draw against St. Louis CITY SC last weekend during the international break. Porter will serve a one-match touchline ban at Inter&Co Stadium this Saturday after he called referee Timothy Ford “a complete coward” for consulting VAR but failing to award a penalty to the Revs in last weekend’s game against St. Louis CITY SC.

With just over 10 minutes left, the ball clearly struck Kyle Hiebert’s right arm as he contested a header with Nacho Gil, but referee Ford deemed his arm to be in a “justifiable position”, and play continued with the match tied 2-2. For what it’s worth, Timothy Ford is the same referee who had a mare of a performance during Orlando City SC’s 2-3 win at Philadelphia Union back on May 11. With Revs having only won one of their last seven MLS matches (1-2-4), this game is another big opportunity for City to pick up all three points. Continue reading

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: Sporting Kansas City vs Orlando City SC – 24.08.2024

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Back on August 9, Orlando City SC suffered their first-ever penalty shootout defeat as an MLS club to Cruz Azul (4-5 on penalties – 0-0 at full-time) in the Round of 32 stage of the 2024 Leagues Cup. Having previously won nine consecutive shootouts over a nine-year span, Oscar Pareja’s Orlando City SC have had two full weeks to stew over their elimination. But now, the Lions return to MLS action with a cross-conference trip to Sporting Kansas City.

Prior to the league’s controversial one-month hiatus, the Lions drew 1-1 with New York City FC. This left us seventh in the Eastern Conference with 34 points, hanging onto the final automatic qualification spot for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. Right now, we are just three points behind sixth-placed Charlotte FC (37 points) and four points clear of eighth-placed Toronto FC (30 points) who have played one more game (26) than City.

With only nine regular season fixtures remaining, Orlando City SC entered the Leagues Cup break full of momentum and confidence, riding a five-game unbeaten streak. It’s crucial for the team to pick up where they left off to increase our distance from the red line and aim for a position higher than seventh, securing a more favourable Round One Best-of-3 series in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.

In exceptional form since July, Ramiro Enrique’s goal against New York City FC marked his fourth consecutive MLS game with a goal. This was before grabbing two more consecutive goals in the 2024 Leagues Cup – a prolific 6 in 6 streak which is now a new club record. Grabbing his big opportunity with both hands, Enrique’s goals made up for the absence of first-choice striker Duncan McGuire who was away with the USMNT U-23 side at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

As for Saturday’s opponents Sporting Kansas City, Peter Vermes’ side also bowed out of the 2024 Leagues Cup at the Round of 32 stage, losing 4-0 at Columbus Crew. SKC went into the tournament break having gone 2-2-1 in their last five MLS games, drawing 1-1 against St. Louis CITY SC last time out in the league. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Chicago Fire vs Orlando City SC – 05.03.2022

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For only the second time in eight MLS seasons, Orlando City SC head into Gameweek 2 with three points already on the board.

Defeating CF Montréal 2-0 in our 2022 home opener, a much-improved second-half performance saw Oscar Pareja‘s side start the season with a super satisfying clean sheet. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs FC Cincinnati – 01.05.2021

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After scoring late to earn a deserved 1-1 draw at Sporting Kansas City, Orlando City SC return home to face FC Cincinnati.

With Nani‘s nonchalant back-heeled finish ensuring that Oscar Pareja‘s side remain unbeaten, this fixture provides a good chance to earn our first victory of 2021. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Sporting Kansas City vs Orlando City SC – 23.04.2021

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After drawing 0-0 with Atlanta United in our 2021 home opener, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now fly west to face Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park.

The first of just two regular season fixtures against Western Conference opposition, the Lions will be looking to maintain their unbeaten start. Continue reading

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC’s Dom Dwyer entering free agency

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In an action-packed first week of Orlando City SC‘s 2020/21 off-season, it was announced yesterday that longtime Lion Dom Dwyer is entering the free agency market.

With the 30-year-old’s contract expiring at the end of City’s 2020 campaign, the club legend departs Central Florida after a five-year association with the club, spread across two spells in USL (2013) and Major League Soccer (2017-2020). 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

STATS PREVIEW: Sporting Kansas City vs Orlando City SC – 23.09.2020

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After thrashing Chicago Fire 4-1, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC hit the road for the first time in four games to face Western Conference high-flyers Sporting Kansas City.

Going 1-1-2 in four away games so far this season, this midweek visit to Children’s Mercy Park comes just four days before a Pareja reunion at FC Dallas. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Sporting Kansas City – 14.08.2019

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Following Orlando City SC’s 1-1 draw at Toronto FC, more MLS action comes thick and fast with the Lions now facing their final double gameweek of 2019.

Now facing a must-win home test against Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday, another away day beckons at Adrian Heath‘s Minnesota United just three days later. Continue reading