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Orlando City vs. Philadelphia Union: Five Takeaways from a 2-1 Victory

Published

9 years ago

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I could get used to this kind of thing. Orlando City has two wins from two matches and you can see a new attitude of players playing for each other, helping one another, and a bit of a swagger on the offensive end. We’ve seen backheel flicks, double spins, and all manner of moves previously not put on display by the Lions.

It’s a very encouraging start, and if it continues, it’s going to be a fun season.

Last night, Orlando City (2-0-0, 6 points) won its second straight against Philadelphia (0-1-2, 2 points), in the type of game that would have been a draw in years past. The drive by Ilsinho that clanked off the left post would have bounced into the net the last two years, sucking the life out of the stadium and stealing two points from Orlando for the visitors, and may have been the two points that kept the Lions out of the postseason. But that never happened, and instead we go into the international break on a bit of a high.

Before we turn our attention to the USMNT and the Pride’s preseason, let’s look back at what stood out from last night’s match.

No Knockin’ Nocerino

Nobody took more abuse early in their Orlando City tenure than Italian midfielder Antonio Nocerino. Boy has Noce turned things around. The 31-year-old from Naples has a renewed spring in his step and a more confident all-around game. It started after Jason Kreis took over as head coach in Orlando and has progressed to the point where the Italian is earning his hefty salary. Last night, Nocerino added a new wrinkle to his game – getting forward into the box to add to the attack.

“I thought he was spectacular,” Head Coach Jason Kreis said after the match. “He in particular was breaking up a lot of plays and was in and around a lot of important possessions for us, found the right pass many, many times, and did get forward a little bit more than he has typically, and we’re going to need that.”

Antonio was on his game all night, stepping into passing lanes to nick the ball, directing his teammates where to go, sending ridiculous one-time passes up the field where they hit teammates perfectly in stride, and being a veteran leader. It was a knockout performance from someone fans can’t knock much anymore.

Larin on Fire

I’ll admit it was a little worrying to see Cyle Larin score only one goal in the last nine games of 2016, and only four in the 14 matches after Kreis became Orlando City’s coach. Could it be that Kid Fantastic wasn’t cut out for the Kreis system? It turns out, LOL, no.

“I think first and foremost it’s about the work rate and the commitment that Cyle has put in to take himself through a new fitness level, and he’s able to play a little bit different way than he did last year,” Kreis said. “I enjoy seeing people who work hard get some success and it’s really pleasing to see Cyle get a couple goals.

“Tonight [Larin] showed an ability to make runs into the corners. He showed an ability to turn on the ball and go at defenders 1-v-1, and also he played some very nice passes in combination with other players around him, so that’s what we want. We want him to become a more versatile striker — not just a box striker.”

Larin has stuffed the net three times in two matches and nearly netted a hat trick last night in a tour de force performance up top for Orlando. The Canadian international is passing at a much higher rate this season (83.3% last night, with two chances created), making more intelligent runs in a wider variety of directions, and partnering at the top of Orlando’s 4-4-2 in perfect balance with Colombian striker Carlos Rivas. It may be too early to start talking about the Golden Boot or the MVP race, but if this continues, both of those things will be in play and we’ll have to start worrying about European clubs swooping in to take Cyle away.

Jose Aja and C.J. Sapong Waged an Epic Battle

It’s difficult to know how much of it could be seen on television, but Orlando City center back Jose Aja and Union striker C.J. Sapong embarked on one of the most physical 90-minute on-field wars I’ve ever seen. The Uruguayan defender and Philadelphia’s forward were banging and grabbing nearly the entire match, trying to win the positional battle. Aja tossed Sapong to the ground a couple of times but also managed to muscle him quite legally much of the night. Sapong may have scored a goal — when he was able to go up and over Will Johnson instead of fighting for it against Aja — but he won’t soon forget how tough his night in Orlando was.

This Carlos Rivas is DP-Worthy

For two seasons, we’ve seen an inconsistent young man from Colombia bewilder us with stray shots, tantalize us with his speed, and generally fail to make a meaningful impact on Orlando City games. If he can continue to turn in performances like last night, those days would appear to be over. Carlos Rivas drove the Union insane last night with his speed, finesse, surprising amount of defensive tenacity, and inch-perfect passes.

If Larin earned most people’s Man of the Match nods for his two goals, Rivas can’t have been far behind. His slick backheel on to Matias Perez Garcia’s onrushing foot helped set up the second goal, even as his fizzing cross permitted nothing other than the simplest of touches from Larin to help it across the line for Orlando’s first of the evening. He set up two other excellent opportunities that went wanting, but last night’s performance was reminiscent of – and possibly better than – Rivas’ masterful performance at Montreal late last season. This Carlos Rivas is an MLS DP, full stop.

After the match, Kreis talked about Rivas’s “willingness to work extremely hard” in the off-season and “give us something different with his running behind defenders.”

“[Rivas] deserves a couple [goals] as well,” Kreis said. “I wouldn’t want to say anything about the forwards without saying how important Carlos Rivas was to the performance tonight as well.”

He’s very succinct, too. When asked how his ailing hamstring felt after the game, he said, “muy bueno.”

Fortress

Orlando City Stadium is legit. It’s difficult to explain how moving into a new building has changed the feel of the team, but it just has. The press box was rumbling under my feet and I heard every chant and every song as the purple-clad masses willed their team on to another victory. This year’s Lions rarely seem nervy. This Orlando City team doesn’t appear to rattle. One expects good results rather than bad ones, even if a play breaks down the wrong way and you’re suddenly looking down the pitch to see an enemy striker bearing down on Joe Bendik.

“Another night where I’m really, really pleased with the effort and commitment, the work rate, the togetherness, the passion of the players. I think a lot of that is spurred on by our fantastic home fans,” Kreis said. “So, a really pleasing night for, I think, everybody involved.”

Just by moving into a more intimate venue a few blocks away from Camping World Stadium, the 2017 version of Orlando City seems much more likely to get positive results at home. The fans and the team are turning Orlando City Stadium into the kind of fortress the old Citrus Bowl never was. You now expect points rather than hope for them.

Those are the things I noticed in last night’s 2-1 win. What stood out to you? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Charlotte FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

The Lions look for healthy bodies on the roster and offense on the field as Charlotte FC visits.

Published

9 hours ago

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April 22, 2026

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Image of Robin Jansson defending for Orlando against Charlotte FC.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to your match preview and live thread for a midweek matchup between Orlando City (1-6-1, 4 points) and Charlotte FC (4-2-2, 14 points) at Inter&Co Stadium (7:30 p.m., Apple TV). This is the first of two games on the slate between the Eastern Conference rivals in 2026, with the return fixture in Charlotte scheduled for Oct. 31.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the match.

History

The Lions are 4-1-3 in the regular-season series and 6-3-3 in all competitions against Charlotte. Orlando City is 3-1-0 at home in the regular season and 5-1-0 in the City Beautiful across all competitions against the North Carolina-based side. These games are usually close, with all previous non-draws decided by one or two goals.

The teams last met on July 5, 2025, playing to a 2-2 draw at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The hosts took a 2-0 lead on goals by Pep Biel and Bill Tuiloma, but Ramiro Enrique and Marco Pasalic brought the Lions back to earn a point on the road.

Earlier in the 2025 campaign, the teams met on May 14 in Orlando, with Luis Muriel and Martin Ojeda giving the Lions a 2-0 lead inside the game’s first 25 minutes. Wilfried Zaha pulled the visitors within a goal before the break, making for a tight second half, but Enrique’s late goal put the game to bed in Orlando City’s 3-1 home win.

Prior to 2025, the teams met in the first round of the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs. Orlando City claimed two of the three matches, winning the first outright, dropping the second on penalties after a late goal was called offside in the buildup, and advancing after a penalty shootout win following the third match of the best-of-three series.

On Nov. 9, 2024, Facundo Torres’ penalty late in stoppage time canceled out a Karol Swiderski goal and sent the deciding third match to penalties with a 1-1 score. Pedro Gallese made two saves and Orlando City won the shootout 4-1, advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The teams played eight days before that in Charlotte, without either side scoring in normal time, as Torres’ strike was disallowed for offside on Nico Lodeiro on Muriel’s through ball. Charlotte won the ensuing penalty shootout 3-1 after the scoreless draw to tie the series at 1-1. That followed Orlando City’s 2-0 home win the previous Sunday. Torres and Ojeda scored the goals on either side of halftime to lead the Lions to the Game 1 win. It was the first time Orlando scored more than one goal in an MLS playoff game.

The teams met a month and a half prior to their first playoff meeting on Sept. 18 in Orlando. The Lions got second-half goals from Torres and Duncan McGuire to win 2-0, claiming the first multiple-goal win in the series. The teams also met on June 19, 2024, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte and played to a 2-2 draw. The hosts struck first with an early Kerwin Vargas goal and the Lions pulled one back through McGuire in the second half. But despite Charlotte going down a man on Scott Arfield’s red card, Brandt Bronico restored the hosts’ lead shortly after McGuire’s strike. Torres struck back moments later but the Lions could not find a winner on the road.

The previous match was also a draw at Bank of America Stadium, finishing 1-1 on Aug. 30, 2023. Enzo Copetti’s late penalty appeared to wrap things up for the hosts on a rainy night in Charlotte, but Ojeda’s seeing-eye set piece equalized just before stoppage time as the teams split the points.

Charlotte claimed a 1-0 “home” victory in U.S. Open Cup play on May 9 of that year. That game took place at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex in Matthews, NC, rather than at the club’s regular stadium. The first matchup of the 2023 season didn’t go any better for Orlando City, finishing as a 2-1 Charlotte win at Exploria Stadium on March 18. Copetti and Vargas put Charlotte up 2-0 by halftime. Ojeda pulled one back, but the Lions were wasteful in front of goal and couldn’t pull level.

In 2022, the teams met at Bank of America Stadium on Aug. 21. After a scoreless first half, Ercan Kara put the Lions ahead on the road, only to see McKinze Gaines equalize just four minutes later. Tesho Akindele’s late goal lifted Orlando to a 2-1 victory.

Orlando City won the first-ever meeting between the sides on April 30, 2022, at Exploria Stadium. Ruan scored the opening goal and set up Torres on the counter for the second as the Lions took a 2-0 lead into the locker room. Christian Fuchs scored from the spot after Rodrigo Schlegel was called for a foul in the box in the second half, but that was as close as Charlotte got in what was ultimately a 2-1 Orlando victory.

Overview

Orlando City enters the match adrift in 2026, having won only one time in eight league matches to start the season — easily the worst start to any season in OCSC history. The Lions have managed only one draw to go with the win and are coming off a 1-0 home loss to the Houston Dynamo, squandering a handful of good scoring chances and giving up a late goal to a team that had previously not won on the road in 2026 and had never won in Orlando. The lads in purple are just 1-3-0 at home this season and Orlando City has scored just six goals on the year while conceding a league-worst 25. While the defense has been better the last couple of games since captain Robin Jansson returned, those came against teams not high in the standings.

Charlotte is 1-1-1 on the road this season after beating New York City FC at Citi Field — the Pigeons’ other baseball stadium — on Saturday. Tonight’s visitors have won four of their last five games in all competitions. Biel is off to a hot start with four goals and three assists, while Zaha has added two goals and four assists. Idan Toklomati and Archie Goodwin have three goals apiece, giving Charlotte three players with more goals than Orlando co-leaders Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic, who have each scored twice. Kristijan Kahlina is one of the league’s top goalkeepers, and Orlando City won’t have an easy time against the club that has conceded the fourth-fewest goals in the Eastern Conference.

Orlando City will need to be patient to avoid giving up dangerous counterattacks, as they’ve struggled to defend them all year, but the Lions must also try to build a volume of shots against a stout defense led by Kahlina and usually anchored by USMNT center back Tim Ream. However, Ream will miss the match per the latest MLS availability report with a lower body injury.

“I think both teams know each other really well. They have done a good job over the last year,” Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman said ahead of the match. “We respect them like we respect every opponent, and we will have our plan and our strategy. We will be at home with the energy and attitude we want to have. Hopefully we can give the fans some joy and happiness with a result, for our people and for us as well, because we are the first ones who need and want to win. Hopefully we can do it this game, but the attitude will be there.”

The Lions will be without Wilder Cartagena (thigh), Griffin Dorsey (thigh), Joran Gerbet (knee),
Duncan McGuire (lower leg), and Pasalic (thigh). Eduard Atuesta (shoulder) and David Brekalo (lower Leg) are listed as questionable. Charlotte will be without Ream (lower body), while Henry Kessler (lower body) is questionable.

Match Content

Official Lineups

Orlando City (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Maxime Crepeau.

Defenders: Adrian Marin, Robin Jansson, Iago, Zakaria Taifi.

Midfielders: Ivan Angulo, Braian Ojeda, Luis Otavio, Tiago.

Forwards: Martin Ojeda, Justin Ellis.

Bench: Javier Otero, Tahir Reid-Brown, Nolan Miller, Bernardo Rhein, Colin Guske, Ignacio Gomez, Yutaro Tsukada, Gustavo Caraballo, Harvey Sarajian.

Charlotte FC (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Kristijan Kahlina.

Defenders: Harry Toffolo, Andrew Privett, Morrison Agyemang, Nathan Byrne.

Midfielders: Pep Biel, Ashley Westwood, Luca de la Torre.

Forwards: Wilfried Zaha, Idan Toklomati, Rodolfo Aloko.

Bench: Tyler Miller, Jack Neeley, Djibril Diani, Brandt Bronico, Tyger Smalls, Archie Goodwin, David Schnegg, Liel Abada, Kerwin Vargas.

Referees

REF: Filip Dujic.
AR1: Corey Rockwell.
AR2: Justin Howard.
4TH: Lorenzo Hernandez.
VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero.
AVAR: Joshua Patlak.

How to Watch

Match Time: 7:30 p.m.

Venue: Inter&Co Stadium  — Orlando.

TV/Live Stream: Apple TV.

Radio: AM 810 FOX Sports Radio Orlando (English), Mega 97.1 FM (Spanish), Nossa Rádio 1160 AM-WRLZ (Portuguese).

Social Media: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow us on Bluesky Social at @themaneland.bsky.social or follow Orlando City’s official Twitter (@OrlandoCitySC) or Bluesky (@OrlandoCitySC) feed.

Enjoy the match. Go City!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/22/26

Orlando City hosts Charlotte tonight, the Orlando Pride prep for Louisville trip, NWSL expansion coming to Columbus, and more.

Published

13 hours ago

on

April 22, 2026

By

Image of Kaka celebrating a goal.
Nick Leyva, The Mane Land

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s match day for Orlando City. That’s as much a warning for your mental health as it is a notification if you decide to watch the match tonight. Perhaps you could catch up on Pluribus, or rewatch Ted Lasso. I’m simply saying you have options that might not raise your blood pressure. On a brighter note, join me in wishing Orlando City legend Kaká a very happy birthday. More on him below. Let’s get to the links.

Lions Host Charlotte Tonight

Orlando City is looking to rebound against Charlotte FC tonight at Inter&Co Stadium. It’s no secret that the Lions are having a rough time of it so far this season, and with Charlotte sitting in third place in the Eastern Conference, it doesn’t get any easier. That doesn’t stop Martin Perelman and the players from thinking they are getting better and having a plan for the match tonight. What was it Mike Tyson said about everyone having a plan? Can the Lions turn things around on short rest?

Orlando Pride Return to NWSL Play Friday

The Orlando Pride return to action Friday against Racing Louisville FC. The match is at Louisville where the Pride have yet to win. Despite that, the players are ready to pick up where they left off before the international break. The break provided much-needed rest for many of the players. The Pride will play six matches during the month of May before the league takes a break for the World Cup.

Osceola Heritage Park Expansion Funding Moves Forward

Osceola County leaders have agreed to have Orlando City expand the club’s footprint at Osceola Heritage Park. Orlando Sports Enterprises (OSE a.k.a. the Wilf family) will match the $25 million that the county is putting up for the project. OSE will assume repair, maintenance, and operating costs for the facility. A hotel and free-standing restaurant are also in the plans. This is a good investment for the club’s future in the arms race that is professional sports.

NWSL Coming to Columbus

The owners of the Columbus Crew have been awarded an NWSL franchise. The Haslam Sports Group paid a record $205 million expansion fee to obtain the 18th NWSL club. The new club will renovate and play at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field downtown. The organization will also build a training center at McCoy Park that had previously been slated to be renovated for local residents, including features that would enable physically disabled people to use the park.

The NWSL called and Columbus answered 📞 Columbus joins the league as team No. 18!

— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) 2026-04-21T19:44:42.987Z

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That will do it for today. Check back later today for our coverage of the Orlando City match this evening. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/21/26

Takeaways from MLS matchday eight, USWNT stock watch, transfer rumor roundup, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

April 21, 2026

By

Image of Ignacio Gomez making his MLS debut with Orlando City vs. Houston.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone. It was a frustrating weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams, as Orlando City lost a close game to the Houston Dynamo, and Orlando City B blew a two-goal lead against Carolina Core FC, and had to settle for the two points that come with a shootout victory after a draw. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on your viewpoint), OCSC will have a chance to get right back on the horse when Charlotte FC comes to town on Wednesday. We’ve got lots to talk about this morning, so let’s have a look at the links.

MLS Matchday Eight Takeaways

Major League Soccer’s eighth round of matches is in the books, and there are plenty of talking points to go over. The San Jose Earthquakes ended the weekend on an emphatic note by dismantling LAFC 4-1 on the road, adding to an impressive list of scalps that also includes the Vancouver Whitecaps and San Diego FC. They’re tied with Vancouver atop the Western Conference and continue to look like one of the league’s best teams. Meanwhile, Charlotte FC, Orlando City’s next opponent, kept things organized in a 4-4-2 block and scored from two of its three shots on goal to take down NYCFC 2-1. That result puts the club in third place in the Eastern Conference.

USWNT Stock Watch

The United States Women’s National Team wrapped up its three game slate against Japan over the weekend, so let’s check in on how the matches affected the standing of several players. Lindsey Heaps was name-dropped by Emma Hayes as having had a great run of three matches, while 20-year-old Claire Hutton wore the captain’s armband during the series and looked far more poised and ready than one would expect given her age. At the opposite end of the spectrum, winger Emma Sears struggled to make an impact in the final third, and while her speed makes her a tempting option to have in the squad, the depth at her position means she’s always going to face a battle for a place.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

The summer transfer window will be here before we know it, and that means the rumors are already flying thick and fast. We begin with Arsenal, which is said to be interested in signing Julian Alvarez this summer, but will likely face competition from Barcelona. Speaking of Barcelona, club president Joan Laporta has reportedly held talks with Robert Lewandowski about extending his stay with the team, while the Chicago Fire also interested and reportedly having submitted a bid to the striker’s representatives. Liverpool is said to be ready to spend in excess of  €100 million to sign Red Bull Leipzig forward Yan Diomande as a replacement for the outgoing Mohamed Salah. Finally, center backs Hiroki Ito and Min-Jae-Kim could both reportedly leave Bayern Munich this summer if interested teams are willing to meet the German club’s valuations of them.

Jonathan Klinsmann Suffers Broken Neck

American goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann suffered a broken neck while playing for Serie B side Cesena on Saturday. The son of former United States Men’s National Team manager Jurgen Klinsmann, the shot stopper was stretchered off the field after colliding with a Palermo player and was diagnosed with a fractured first cervical vertebra after being taken to the hospital. Klinsmann confirmed on social media that his season is over, which will leave him unavailable for Cesena’s promotion push. The team is currently eighth in the second division, which is the final playoff promotion spot.

Free Kicks

That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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