Timbers

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Columbus Crew – 25.05.2024

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After substitute Jack Lynn scored very late on to help Orlando City SC secure a precious 0-1 win at San Jose Earthquakes, Oscar Pareja’s Lions now return to Inter&Co Stadium to take on 2023 MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew.

The clubs’ first meeting since Crew painfully eliminated the Lions from the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, Wilfried Nancy’s side are currently placed seventh in the Eastern Conference with 21 points from 13 games played.

The 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup finalists come into this game upbeat after securing two back-to-back 1-3 MLS victories on the road, most recently at traditional rivals Chicago Fire last Saturday.

By the banks of Lake Michigan at Soldier Field, goals from Diego Rossi, Christian Ramirez, and Jacen Russell-Rowe sealed another away day victory for Crew after their 1-3 win at CF Montréal a game prior. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: San Jose Earthquakes vs Orlando City SC – 18.05.2024

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Battling hard to a 0-0 draw against Inter Miami on Wednesday, Oscar Pareja’s Orlando City SC now fly northwest to contest their furthest MLS away game of 2024 – San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park.

Our first MLS visit to Northern California since August 2019, Quakes have been resurgent in recent weeks, showing character to defeat Los Angeles FC (3-1) and Colorado Rapids (2-3) to arrest their horror start to the year in the Western Conference.

Nevertheless, Luchi Gonzalez’s side come into this game gutted and downbeat after painfully throwing away a 0-2 lead at Portland Timbers on Wednesday. Losing 4-2 in the end, the entire momentum of the game switched after Quakes centre back Bruno Wilson received a red card for a goal-line handball in his own box on 72 minutes, conceding an untimely penalty in turn.

From here, Timbers ruthlessly made their one-man advantage count with Evander’s resulting penalty (74), Jonathan Rodríguez (80), a Felipe Mora penalty (90), and a second goal of the night from Jonathan Rodríguez (90+10) stealing away all three points for Phil Neville’s men, breaking Quakes hearts in the process. Continue reading →

Who is Orlando City SC transfer target David Brekalo?

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Orlando City SC‘s winter transfer business shows no signs of slowing down as they actively hunt a replacement for Antônio Carlos. Today, Norwegian football journalist Stian André de Wahl tweeted that Orlando City SC have submitted a bid of around $2 million to Viking Stavanger for centre back David Brekalo.

In a follow-up tweet by @NorwayFooty, they claim that Viking Stavanger “does not seem interested in accepting the deal” although the 25-year-old Slovenian international centre back “seems to want to leave the club” this winter. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Oscar Pareja’s new Orlando City SC contract through 2025

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“It’s done” as Frodo Baggins famously said in the Lord of the Rings! After guiding Orlando City SC to the MLS Cup Playoffs for four consecutive seasons, the hugely popular Oscar Pareja has now signed a new two-year deal, keeping our winningest head coach in club history at Exploria Stadium until at least the end of 2025.

During his four-year tenure in Central Florida, the 55-year-old Colombian has successfully turned around the Lions’ losing culture in Major League Soccer, so much so that City broke their own regular season records this year to finish runners-up to FC Cincinnati in the 2023 Supporters’ Shield despite having the lowest salary spend of all – a hugely impressive feat.

So far, the man affectionately known as Papi has built a genuine brotherhood in the City locker room, one that yielded silverware last year when Orlando City SC defeated Sacramento Republic 3-0 to win the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final at Exploria Stadium – our first major title as an MLS club. Continue reading →

Who is Orlando City SC’s incoming signing Ramiro Enrique?

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Orlando City SC certainly aren’t wasting time this off-season! Yesterday, journalists César Luis Merlo and Tom Bogert confirmed that City are close to signing Ramiro Enrique from Banfield for around $2 million plus add-ons.

So far, Michael Petrasso, Felipe Martins, Rafael Santos and Martín Ojeda have been recruited this winter. With news of Enrique now too, it’s shaping up to be a super exciting transfer window for Lions supporters. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Portland Timbers vs Orlando City SC – 27.03.2022

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How good does it feel to get back to winning ways? Especially when you achieve a 0-1 shutout victory over 2,500 away from home at LA Galaxy.

With Orlando City SC achieving their first ever MLS win in Carson, Oscar Pareja‘s side are bouncing into their second West Coast game in just two weekends – this time at Portland Timbers. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Portland Timbers vs Orlando City SC – 11.08.2020

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Pinch us because we’re in dreamland! That’s right – Orlando City SC are just 90 minutes away from their first major honour in the Major League Soccer era.

After defeating Minnesota United 3-1 in the semi-finals, Oscar Pareja‘s now face Portland Timbers in the #MLSisBack Tournament Final on Tuesday, August 11. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Portland Timbers vs Orlando City SC – 18.07.2019

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Following Orlando City SC‘s 1-o win against Columbus Crew, James O’Connor‘s Lions now face their second furthest road trip of the 2019 MLS season at Portland Timbers.

Travelling just over 3,060 miles from the Florida peninsula up to the Pacific Northwest, Orlando City SC are visiting Providence Park for only the third time in Major League Soccer. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs San Jose Earthquakes – 21.04.2018

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What a difference a few weeks makes for Orlando City SC! Following a slow start to 2018, Jason Kreis‘ Lions have now won three consecutive fixtures to propel them to fifth in the Eastern Conference following Gameweek 7.

Now facing San Jose Earthquakes of the Western Conference, this home fixture provides the perfect opportunity to carry on the feel-good factor with forward momentum in the overall standings. Continue reading →