STATS PREVIEW: Toronto FC vs Orlando City SC – 03.07.2024

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Before we get into this preview, Orlando City UK wants to send our love and support to Mason Stajduhar who suffered a gruesome leg break in Friday’s game at New York City FC. Fracturing his tibia and fibula in his right leg, Mason will now be placed on Orlando City SC’s Season-Ending Injury List. We’re wishing both Stajduhar and NYCFC’s Malachi Jones the speediest of recoveries following their awful collision that hopefully doesn’t jeopardise their careers.

Defeated 4-2 at Yankee Stadium, Orlando City SC are still waiting to achieve back-to-back MLS victories for the first time this season. Surrendering the chance to temporarily leapfrog our rivals Atlanta United into ninth place and the final MLS Wild Card match slot, the Lions now visit eighth-placed Toronto FC.

A second successive road game for Oscar Pareja’s Lions, Orlando City SC will be looking for a quick response following the NYCFC loss in order to get our flimsy bid to reach the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs back up and running. But having only won one of our last seven MLS fixtures (1-4-2), we need a dramatic upturn in form to save our season from being a complete disaster.

John Herdman’s Toronto FC enter this game still reeling from an embarrassing 97th minute defeat at Atlanta United (2-1) on Saturday. In a dramatic turn of events, TFC goalkeeper Luka Gavran was completely unaware of Jamal Thiaré lurking menacingly on the goal line behind him when preparing for a last-minute goal kick. Seizing the opportunity, Thiaré appeared on Gavran’s blind side as he laid the ball down. Thiaré then stole the ball, rounded Gavran, and effortlessly tapped the ball into an empty net. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: New York City FC vs Orlando City SC – 28.06.2024

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Just where had that performance been all season? Jubilant after defeating Chicago Fire 4-2 at Inter&Co Stadium last Saturday, City’s suffering fanbase was treated to a feel-good evening after finally achieving our second home win of the 2024 MLS regular season. Having only scored 19 league goals all year, we went and grabbed another four in just one night – our most in a single game this season.

A result and a performance we desperately needed, there was big pressure on Oscar Pareja and his Orlando City SC side to beat Fire. Racing into a 3-0 lead in just 29 first-half minutes, this victory was absolutely essential. It not only secured the three points we urgently needed but also prevented Chicago Fire from gaining any points, allowing us to leapfrog them and rise four places to tenth in the Eastern Conference.

Now visiting New York City FC in The Bronx, it’s the Lions’ first trip to Yankee Stadium since July 2021 after the last two away head-to-heads were hosted at Red Bull Arena in Harrison and Citi Field in Queens. Speaking of NYCFC, Nick Cushing’s side head into this game deflated after suffering a third consecutive MLS defeat at Nashville SC (1-0) last Saturday. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: New York City FC vs Orlando City SC – 20.09.2023

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After defeating Columbus Crew 4-3 in a quite remarkable three-goal comeback victory, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now visit Queens, not The Bronx, for a Wednesday night showdown with 2015 MLS expansion rivals New York City FC at Citi Field.

With City players and supporters running on adrenaline after Ramiro Enrique‘s buzzer beater against Crew, the Lions left everything on the field against quality opposition in undoubtedly one of the craziest and most exciting games of the entire Major League Soccer season so far – a game that’ll live long in the memory. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: New York City FC vs Orlando City SC – 25.07.2021

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After a huge morale-boosting 2-1 win over Philadelphia Union, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now fly north to face New York City FC at Yankee Stadium.

NYCFC’s first game back in The Bronx after a five-game home streak at Red Bull Arena, the Lions are aiming for back-to-back victories to put pressure on first-placed New England Revolution. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs New York City FC – 21.11.2020

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So this is it folks – the big one! The City Beautiful is set to host an MLS Cup Playoffs game for the first ever time with Orlando City SC facing familiar foes New York City FC.

An occasion we’ve never experienced before, tension is set to reach fever-pitch in this single-elimination knockout game scheduled for high noon at Exploria Stadium. Are you ready to #LightItPurple? Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: New York City FC vs Orlando City SC – 14.07.2020

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After a rousing 2-1 win against Inter Miami in the #MLSisBack Tournament, Orlando City SC face their next Group A game against 2015 MLS expansion rivals New York City FC.

A familiar foe to Lions supporters everywhere, The Pigeons hit the turf at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex after losing 0-1 against Philadelphia Union in their first group game. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs New York City FC – 10.07.2019

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Requiring extra-time to finally overcome New England Revolution 2-1 in the Round of Last 16, Orlando City SC now host 2015 expansion rivals New York City FC in the quarter-final stage of the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

This is the fourth time the Lions have reached the last eight since first being established as a USL side in 2011 and this game represents a huge opportunity to reach a first ever semi-final. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: New York City FC vs Orlando City SC – 27.04.2019

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Following the euphoria of an 88th minute game winner against Vancouver Whitecaps (1-0) last weekend, James O’Connor‘s Lions head up the Eastern Seaboard to face New York City FC at Yankee Stadium.

Securing three victories, two draws and three defeats so far, it’s safe to say Orlando City SC are an improving side following a nightmare 2018. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: New York City FC vs Orlando City SC – 02.06.2018

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Orlando City SC‘s six-game winning streak is now a distant memory having suffered our third consecutive loss against Chicago Fire (1-2) last weekend.

A late Alan Gordon screamer settled a game that Orlando City SC had actually dominated with the Lions squandering numerous second-half plays to find no way beyond Patrick McLain. Continue reading

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs New York City FC – 21.05.2017

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After grabbing a 1-1 draw in Northern California at San Jose Earthquakes in midweek, Orlando City SC are back at Orlando City Stadium to take on New York City FC on Sunday.

The third and final meeting between the 2015 expansion rivals this season, Orlando City SC just love facing the men from the Empire State. Continue reading