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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. New England Revolution: Final Score 2-1 as Lions Drop Fourth Straight

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4 years ago

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When a team is struggling, every bounce matters and Orlando City isn’t getting any of them. The Lions (10-8-8, 38 points) scored their third own goal in the last five games and squandered yet another penalty kick in a 2-1 loss to the New England Revolution (19-4-5, 62 points) at Gillette Stadium. Adam Buksa’s early goal was canceled out by Daryl Dike, but a cross from Tajon Buchanan hit Rodrigo Schlegel’s leg and went in to provide the winning margin.

The Orlando losing streak grew to four straight matches and the Lions have still never won in New England (0-5-1). The loss could have become a draw had Nani scored on a penalty kick attempt late in the second half but he tried to go down the middle and Matt Turner was able to stop his movement to the right and get a shoulder on it.

“It’s painful to say that after playing a good game, we’re still leaving with disappointment in not getting the result,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “We did not want to come here and put eight or nine players in behind, but we wanted to come and fight our game.”

Pareja started Pedro Gallese in goal behind a back line of Joao Moutinho, Robin Jansson, Schlegel, and Ruan with Antonio Carlos suspended. Sebas Mendez returned to the central midfield alongside Junior Urso for the first time since July 17. Andres Perea and Mauricio Pereyra facilitated the attack forward to Benji Michel and Dike with team captain Nani on the bench.

It didn’t take long for New England to take the lead. After an opening spell of both teams playing it around the midfield, looking for an opening, the Revs struck first. A ball played down the left side found Gustavo Bou, who was left all alone when Ruan slipped on the artificial turf. Bou sent in a perfect cross for Buksa to tap home in the ninth minute to make it 1-0.

New England is lethal when scoring first and improved to 15-0-2 on the season when scoring the game’s first goal.

The Revs should have doubled the lead five minutes later. The ball came to DeJuan Jones down the left flank and Gallese came out of his goal to cut down his angle, but the New England fullback found Buksa in front with a quick pass and the forward skied his shot with the net completely empty.

Orlando withstood the Revs’ efforts at a second goal and equalized. Pereyra found Dike on the right. The Lions’ forward out-muscled his college teammate, Henry Kessler, then smashed a shot too hot for Matt Turner to handle, making it 1-1 in the 18th minute. It was Pereyra’s 10th assist on the season, tying a team single-season record shared by Nani, Yoshimar Yotún, and Kaká. As secondary assists are now counted, it’s important to note that seven of Pereyra’s 10 have been primary assists.

“It’s just like a position that I like to be in and, you know, Henry and I — obviously him and I are buddies and he’s a good defender,” Dike said. “For that moment I guess I just got the better of him and then I just kind of stick it in the back of the net. It was a good battle. I love competing with him. I think it’s always a pleasure and an honor to be able to fight against top players like that.”

The Lions had a couple of opportunities in the attack after that, with Dike trying to play in Pereyra first and then Michel, but neither teammate made a run, so those opportunities evaporated without incident. Dike also had a chance off a good cutback pass from Ruan in the 24th minute but he couldn’t hit the ball cleanly and it squirted well off to the right of goal. Three minutes later, Pereyra’s service on a set piece bounced to Perea, who sent a shot on target but Turner made a sprawling save to keep the game tied.

That was an important save, because the Revs regained the lead in the 35th minute. Buchanan made a couple of dazzling moves to free himself up on the right and sent in a cross that hit Schlegel and bounced in for an own goal. Buksa had given the Orlando defender two huge shoves just before the ball was crossed but those went uncalled and the hosts took a 2-1 lead.

That was the last good look for either side and the hosts took their one-goal lead to the locker room.

New England finished the half with more shots (5-3) but Orlando got more on target (2-1). The Revs held more possession (59.3%-40.7%) and were more accurate passers (84.1%-80.5%), while Orlando got the half’s only corner.

The teams traded a couple of half-chances in the opening minutes of the second half and Orlando fashioned the first good look. Moutinho sent in a great cross into the area for Perea, who had a free header but he missed badly and sent it well off target in the 63rd minute. Six minutes later, Urso had his shot from the top of the area deflected by a defender. It fell for Moutinho but the Portuguese left back badly misfired and sent a weak shot well wide of the target.

Pareja sent Nani, Silvester van der Water, and Tesho Akindele on to try to go for the equalizer and the opportunity came when Dike was fouled in the area by Andrew Farrell with a quarter of an hour to go. Nani took the spot kick and tried to go down the middle. Turner started to dive to his right but stopped himself, and was crouched on the ground. He managed to throw a shoulder up to deflect the penalty out of harm’s way. The Lions continue to fail miserably from the spot, regardless of who takes them.

Whether it’s been Nani, Pereyra, or Akindele, penalties have not been a good source of offense for the Lions in 2021.

“It is my responsibility,” Pareja said after the match about who can take penalties. “(The players) work (at penalties) because it’s part of our training. And then that selection is my responsibility. I’m the head coach and I take that.”

Van der Water had a late chance blocked by a defender and nobody could get on a set piece pinging around in the area late, allowing the Revs to hang on for the 2-1 win.

Shots finished even at 13-13 but Orlando got more on target (3-1) and ended up as the more accurate passing team (83.8%-83.5%). The Revs held more possession (54.1%-45.9%) and won more corners (4-3).

“We’ve got to look at ourselves,” Dike said. “Obviously, we don’t want to concede. Obviously, we don’t want to give them chances. We’ve got to look at the chances we created for ourselves. Are we playing our principles? Are we playing the way Oscar wants us to play and enjoying our freedom? I think at some points in the game we were able to do that. We were able to be the imposing factor and play our game, and impose ourselves on the other team.

“I think, in other games recently, we might not have been able to, and it’s just another step in the right direction. I think, even though we lost, even though we want a better result, I think it’s a step that we need to do.”

The Lions’ schedule becomes more congested now with a trip to Nashville coming up on Wednesday and a visit from D.C. United to Exploria Stadium next Saturday. Orlando City will be without Robin Jansson Wednesday due to a suspension for yellow card accumulation after he took one tonight.

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Opinion

Likes and Dislikes from the Fifth Week of Orlando City Preseason

Let’s examine some good and some bad from this week of Orlando City’s preseason preparations.

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5 hours ago

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February 13, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

We’ve (almost) made it to the end of another week, with Orlando City’s final preseason match against the Colorado Rapids looming large Saturday night. The season opener will be here before you know it, and things will only speed up from there. For the final time this preseason, let’s take a look back at the week that was and talk about what I liked, and what I didn’t.

Likes

A New Signing

Orlando City announced the long-awaited signing of Brazilian center back Iago on Saturday, making him the third and presumably final MLS U22 Initiative arrival of the off-season. While he’s only 20 years old, he’s likely to be one of the two starting center backs on opening day alongside David Brekalo, so him getting a couple weeks of preseason to get settled in is vital. It of course would have been ideal for him to have even more time, but transfer dealings with Brazilian clubs rarely seem to be straightforward affairs, and two weeks is better than none at all. Crucially, Iago played over 5,000 minutes for Flamengo’s senior and U-20 sides, so he’s no stranger to the professional game, and hopefully that helps him to hit the ground running as a Lion.

A New Kit

Continuing the trend of shiny new things, the Lions unveiled their new away kit on Tuesday. It’s a gold jersey with purple shorts that’s been dubbed the ‘Sunken Treasure’ kit, and it’s the club’s first jersey to heavily use the team’s secondary color of gold. All things considered, I quite like the new threads. As with a lot of jerseys these days, the finer details like the Lion in the background of the front and the two patches, won’t be visible unless you’re up close to it. That being said, those details look pretty nice in the close-up shots of the jersey that the club provided, and when viewed from a distance, the shirt is striking. I also like the decision to go with purple shorts, as I think going with gold all the way would be a bit too much.

Dislikes

All Quiet on the Rumor Front

Things have gone a little quiet when it comes to transfer rumors regarding Orlando City. The club still has a Designated Player slot that it intends to use on an attacker, but we haven’t seen any hints as far as who the brass might be looking at. It’s not necessarily a reason to panic, as the team has made it a habit to be methodical in the transfer window and hasn’t been afraid to take its time pursuing players it thinks will be the right fit, rather than rushing business and potentially making an unwise signing as a result. All the same, it’s always nice to hear that a specific name is being pursued, particularly when OCSC still has a DP slot burning a hole in its proverbial pocket in addition to some areas of the field that need to be strengthened with additional depth. I trust the business to get done and done well, but I’m also not going to pretend I wouldn’t love a juicy signing rumor or two right about now.

With a little luck, next week will bring a couple of positive transfer rumors and three points to start the season off on a strong note. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 2/13/26

Hannah Anderson challenging herself in Orlando, Luana called up by Brazil, broadcasting changes ahead of MLS season, and more.

Published

9 hours ago

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February 13, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Today is Friday the 13th, so make sure to steer clear of black cats, ladders, and any other bad omens out there. Orlando City’s season opener is next weekend and the last thing we need to do is accumulate bad luck before the Lions take the field. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and dive into today’s links!

Hannah Anderson Prepares for First Season in Orlando

Defender Hannah Anderson was drafted by the Chicago Stars in the third round of the 2024 NWSL Draft and spent two seasons there before the Pride traded for her in January for $70,000 in intraleague funds. Chicago conceded twice as many goals as Orlando last season, and now Anderson is challenging herself with an opportunity to improve as a defender with the Pride.

“I don’t really look at it as pressure, I think it’s an opportunity,” she said. “The challenge is what’s going to help me grow. When you’re never challenged, you can’t grow. It’s kind of like how you see that challenge. Yeah, it could be pressure, but I also think it’s exciting to be a part of a group that’s been there, because the experience will help you get there again.”

The 24-year-old also spoke on what it’s like to go up against Orlando’s attacking stars in training, as well as her decision to join the Pride while engaged to Chicago Cubs pitcher Jack Neely. With Emily Sams on the other side of the country, hopefully Anderson can have a breakout year to help fill the void.

Luana Returns to Brazil National Team

Orlando Pride midfielder Luana was called up for Brazil’s friendlies against Costa Rica, Venezuela, and Mexico in a few weeks. It’s great to see her back with the national team after all she’s been through and Head Coach Arthur Elias spoke on her return.

“Calling up Luana is a joy, but the greater joy was when she overcame cancer, a disease diagnosed during a period with the National Team. It was a huge shock for all of us. Luana has an incredible history in football, she is a woman of great strength, who showed this and set many examples for those around her,” he celebrated.

She will bring some experience to a Brazil roster that doesn’t include any other Pride players, although former Pride player Adriana was called up. Brazil has already secured qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup as its host, so the focus will be on playing quality opponents until then.

Getting Ready for More MLS on Apple TV

We’re gearing up for the fourth MLS season streamed through Apple TV and the biggest difference this time around is that MLS Season Pass is a thing of the past. It’s a major boon for fans, as all games will be through an Apple TV subscription rather than a separate platform at an additional cost. For those of us who like to watch MLS games at our favorite bar, an agreement with EverPass Media should increase the reach of the league in commercial venues. Saturday night matches with increased production value, announcers returning to the actual stadiums to call games, and the removal of the Spanish version of MLS 360 are some of the other notable changes heading into this season.

Nottingham Forest Fires Manager…Again

Just a day after Thomas Franks was fired by Tottenham, Nottingham Forest sacked Sean Dyche following the club’s scoreless draw with Wolverhampton this week. Dyche joined the club in October and was just nominated for Manager of the Month for his team’s results in January. However, Forest is just three points above the relegation zone and has now fired its third coach of the season. Vitor Pereira will reportedly replace Dyche as the club’s fourth coach of the season, which would be a league record. ESPN dove into how English Premier League teams that made multiple firings in the same season performed and it’s grim news for Forest.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau went under the microscope to field a variety of questions. I’m pretty interested in why Duncan McGuire would be the first person he’d call if he found a dead body in his hotel room.
  • Construction is underway at Camping World Stadium as it begins its $400 million renovation to expand seating and improve the facilities.

That’s all I have for you on this fine Friday. I hope you all have a lucky day and that all of your Valentine’s Day plans this weekend go off without a hitch!

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Orlando City

Ranking Orlando City’s MLS Away Kits

Where does the new Sunken Treasure kit rank all time?

Published

1 day ago

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February 12, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

With the release of Orlando City’s newest away kit, I thought it appropriate to rank all of the Lions’ MLS-era away kits to see how the new “Sunken Treasure” kit stacks up against those from the past. As I said last year regarding the home kit rankings, I’m no fashion guru, but I do know what I like.

I welcome everyone’s opinions on this topic, but since I’m writing the article, I get final say. Let’s rank Orlando City’s away kits.

Seventh Place

The Heart and Soul kit has the misfortune of coming in last place in the rankings. It is not a bad or ugly kit, I just think the others are better. For me, it’s the stark shoulder separation that I don’t like. It feels disjointed, like the color on the front was an add-on or that someone forgot to extend it up to the rest of the kit. While I don’t mind the three stripes being oriented front to back on just one side, I like the more traditional two-sided Adidas stripes formation.

Sixth Place

The look of the second-ever away kit was so close to being fantastic. First the good. The purple sleeves look great, especially with the gold ring near the cuff. And seeing the original Orlando Health logo certainly brings back memories. Now the not so good. I always prefer to have the Adidas stripes on the shoulder, though they’re not horrible running down the sides. The faux collar is the downfall of this kit. If it had a real collar it would be much higher up the rankings.

Fifth Place

The Sunshine Kit brought the first splash of color other than purple to the away kit. The way it blended into — or more accurately out of — the purple shorts looked very good. It also didn’t have the cutoff shoulder feel of the Heart and Soul kit. In fact, we get the traditional stripes with a ringer around the collar. It’s a nice touch.

Fourth Place

There is definitely something to be said about an almost completely white kit. The Origin Kit was so clean that it only needed two colors. Even the crest is monochromatic purple rather than the usual gold, purple, and white. Purple-accented Adidas stripes, cuff rings and a thin ringer at the V-neck are the only splashes of color to be found. It’s the type of kit you can wear out to a nice dinner. Just don’t order the spaghetti.

Third Place

You never forget your first…away kit. The amount of thought that went into the Inaugural City kit is impressive. It is seemingly simple and straightforward but full of little details. I love the overlapping collar with just a bit of gold. The Adidas stripes in the proper place and the original Orlando Health logo make this the classic it deserves to be. It might be at third place in the rankings, but it will always be the first.

Second Place

The new Sunken Treasure kit is striking. It is the first kit that uses gold as the primary color. The sublimated lion head is picturesque in detail. The Adidas stripes are in the right place, and the triple stripe at the cuffs and neckline are a nice touch. Paired with the purple shirts, I know that this is going to be a sought-after jersey for years to come. My only personal issue is I don’t look good in yellow. However, as I said on The Mane Land PawedCast, I will reserve final judgment on my potential purchase of the kit until I see it in person. I also want to add that the social media release of the kit was very well done.

https://twitter.com/OrlandoCitySC/status/2021252822549807290

First Place

As much as I like the new kit, it will be hard to ever top the Legacy Kit. We have the return of the Three Lions crest and the red color from the USL days. The very light purple used as the primary color is subtle, original, and looks really good. I like the three-color combo and button on the collar. The matching shorts bring the whole thing together like The Dude’s rug. This is such a departure from normal away kits that I literally have it framed on my wall.

There you have it. As for the kits, I’d love to hear how you rank them in the comments below. For now, you can select the spot where you’d place the Sunken Treasure kit in the poll below. Vamos Orlando!

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