The Orlando City Cinematic Universe

SBNation’s Marvel Week has my husband and I wanting to watch all of the Marvel films again. When suggesting someone watch the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), do you suggest chronological order or release order? We’re trying to decide for our re-watch so let me know your thoughts.

Before you read any further, consider this your warning. This post contains spoilers. So, if you haven’t watched or don’t want to know, stop reading right now! I’ll be comparing some of the Orlando City soccer moments I’ve witnessed in the last couple of seasons to moments in the MCU.

Chris Mueller Goals

Pick almost any game with a goal scored by Mueller. It usually comes after dribbling through a crowd of defenders only to lose the ball in some unbelievable way. Does he make silly mistakes? Yes, but they usually motivate him to work twice as hard to make up for it by scoring.

While this isn’t a specific Mueller moment, he always reminds me of the scene in Captain America: Civil War when Spider-Man shows up to battle at the airport, talking the whole time while fighting Falcon and Bucky. After his perceived victory, Spidey says, “Guys, look. I’d love to keep this up, but I’ve only got one job here today and I’ve gotta impress Mr. Stark.” Am I alone in this? This whole scene just screams Mueller to me.

U.S. Open Cup Mayhem

You know the match — that beautiful, glorious night last summer when Orlando City played New York City FC in the U.S. Open Cup. A scoreless first half left the game wide open for anyone to take when Mueller scored in the 61st minute to give us all hope. The 90 minutes came and went, with Maxi Moralez scoring impossibly late in stoppage time to draw the clubs level. Only penalty kicks could separate the two sides and the energy in Exploria Stadium completely changed.

NYCFC chose the goal opposite The Wall, a closed section where supporters weren’t permitted. The Running of the Wall is one of those moments to which a video just can’t do justice. Everything changed in that moment. The Lions hear the unwavering support from The Wall every time they play at home, but that night the fans truly proved their loyalty. Orlando goalkeeper Adam Grinwis stood 10 feet tall, blocking two attempts to seal the win.

This was a defining moment that brought a club even closer together. It reminds me of the scene in Avengers: Endgame when the gang fights Thanos and Thor is up against a wall in serious trouble. At that moment Captain America picks up Thor’s hammer, not to Thor’s surprise, and knocks Thanos out.

Nani Becomes a Lion

Nani’s presence had an instant and noticeable impact on the team. Signing him to a three-year contract on a free transfer was a bit of a surprise. The captain works hard to keep the team motivated and he’s fun to watch.

It reminds me of the introduction of Black Panther to the MCU. He’s strong, motivational, and commanded his Wakandan warriors to fight against Thanos’ children in Avengers: Infinity War.

OCSC vs. Portland Timbers in 2018

In this match, the Lions were down 2-0 through the 79th minute. In true Cardiac Cats fashion, Mueller, Sacha Kljestan, and Dom Dwyer exploded, scoring three unanswered goals in an eight-minute span.

It reminds me of the scene in Infinity War where the battle is going awry in Wakanda and it’s not looking good for anyone. Then out of the blue, Thor, Groot, and Rocket show up and just start taking names, making us believe everything will be okay before things fall apart again.

Yoshi’s Last Home Game as a Lion

Yoshimar Yotún’s chip shot penalty on the Columbus Crew’s Zack Steffen in the last home match of the 2018 season put the Lions back in the game and helped lead the Lions to a final win at home after a season most of us tried very hard to forget. It was calm, cool, and hardly collected, as well as the last time we’d see it from him as a Lion at home. It’s like he knew we needed it — his swan song for the supporters if you will.

Okay, maybe that sounds a tad dramatic, but that leads me to the scene that connects this moment to the MCU. Tony Stark and Yotún are both flashy, funny (free kick to the back of the head and a shoulder shrug), and dependable. It’s a scene I don’t want to write about because I wasn’t prepared for it in real life. Yotún’s final game as a Lion mirrored the moment Tony Stark snapped his fingers to save the world, before he was gone forever.

That’s the way I see it, at least. Are there any other cinematic moments or changes you’d make? Let me know in the comments.