Wild Card match

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: Orlando City SC vs Chicago Fire – 22.06.2024

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Orlando City SC could only manage a 2-2 draw at Charlotte FC on Wednesday despite playing a man up for 57 minutes after Scott Arfield’s first-half red card. The Lions were even facing the prospect of a disastrous defeat when Brandt Bronico put Dean Smith’s 10-man side 2-1 ahead in the second-half. However, Facundo Torres‘ 81st minute equaliser saved Oscar Pareja’s Lions further embarrassment in what is turning out to be an awful outlier season.

Right now, City need wins, not draws to climb up from second bottom in the Eastern Conference. However, scoring two goals in a single game is a positive sign, something we haven’t accomplished since our 2-3 win against Philadelphia Union on May 11. Now contesting a must-win game against thirteenth-placed Chicago Fire at Inter&Co Stadium, we have a crucial opportunity to leapfrog the team directly ahead of us.

Speaking of Chicago Fire, they defeated Toronto FC 1-4 last Saturday, achieving back-to-back victories for the first time this season after a terrible nine-game winless streak. Entering this game fresher than Orlando City SC having not played in midweek, Frank Klopas’ side will be encouraged by the Lions’ poor home record (1-3-5) which is currently the joint-worst in Major League Soccer.

In Saturday’s game, City will be wearing rainbow jersey numbers instead of gold to commemorate Pride In Our City Night at Inter&Co Stadium. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: New York Red Bulls vs Orlando City SC – 01.06.2024

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After securing a 1-1 draw at Chicago Fire, Oscar Pareja’s Orlando City SC stay on the road to take on New York Red Bulls for the second and final time this MLS regular season.

Enduring a forgettable season so far, the Lions are really struggling to propel themselves up the Eastern Conference. Currently five points adrift of seventh place and an automatic qualification spot for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, everything is proving to be a grind this year.

Actually earning more points on the road (11 points) than at home (6 points) so far this regular season, this gives City some hope heading to Red Bull Arena – but don’t get it twisted! Sandro Schwarz’s side currently sit fourth in the Eastern Conference and come into this game buoyed after a 3-1 home win against Charlotte FC yesterday – their third victory in four MLS games following a long rain delay. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Chicago Fire vs Orlando City SC – 29.05.2024

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After a disappointing 0-2 defeat to Columbus Crew, Oscar Pareja’s Orlando City SC hit the road to take on Chicago Fire for the first time this MLS season.

Eager to quickly erase our memories of the Crew loss, the Lions visit Soldier Field this Wednesday encouraged by the fact that Chicago Fire are winless in their last eight MLS fixtures.

On Saturday, Frank Klopas’ side rescued a 1-1 draw at D.C. United after trailing in the first-half. They currently sit fourteenth in the Eastern Conference with just 11 points from 15 games. Continue reading →

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 →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Toronto FC – 27.04.2024

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After rescuing a 2-2 draw at CF Montréal last Saturday, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now face another Canadian opponent in Toronto FC but this time back in our familiar surroundings of Inter&Co Stadium.

Currently fifth in the Eastern Conference on 13 points, John Herdman’s TFC come into this game rejuvenated after a 1-0 win against New England Revolution last weekend plus a 5-0 2024 Canadian Championship preliminary round win over Simcoe County Rovers FC yesterday.

Speaking of TFC’s last league fixture, an incredible acrobatic goal from Prince Owusu helped The Reds to a 2024 sweep over Revs, ending their streak of three consecutive MLS defeats in turn. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs CF Montréal – 24.02.2024

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After a short, breathless, and exciting off-season of refreshment, anticipation fills the air as Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC kick off the 2024 Major League Soccer campaign.

Starting at home for a tenth consecutive MLS season, City open against CF Montréal (just like we did in 2022) after our crushing 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs defeat to Columbus Crew back in November. Continue reading →

The revamped 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs explained: Orlando City SC edition

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If you didn’t know already, the Major League Soccer post-season will work a little differently than we’re all used to this year.

Join us as we simplify the revamped 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, its format changes, and how Orlando City SC can plot their quest to MLS Cup glory. Continue reading →