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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Atlanta United: Final Score 2-1 as Lions Pull Off Comeback Road Victory

Antonio Carlos and Duncan McGuire led the Lions to a comeback victory in Atlanta.

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3 years ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City conceded first but goals by Antonio Carlos and Duncan McGuire brought the Lions back for a 2-1 win over Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Caleb Wiley put the hosts ahead but Orlando City (10-6-7, 37 points) showed resiliency to come from behind and then hold off a furious rally attempt late by Atlanta (9-7-8, 35 points).

It was just Orlando’s second road win in the all-time series and paid the Five Stripes back for them stealing a late point at Exploria Stadium back in May. The Lions leapfrogged Atlanta in the Eastern Conference standings and hold a game in hand.

“I saw today a lot of character on the field with a team that had a tough experience over the past weekend,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “And today coming to Atlanta this game was important for our confidence. It was important for the standings but for our confidence too.”

Pareja kept the same lineup from the last couple of games, with Pedro Gallese in goal behind a back line of Rafael Santos, Robin Jansson, Carlos, and Kyle Smith. Cesar Araujo and Wilder Cartagena played central midfield behind an attacking line of Ivan Angulo, Mauricio Pereyra, and Facundo Torres, with McGuire up top.

The Lions started quickly and created a good chance in the first minute. McGuire slipped Pereyra in behind the defense but the captain’s first touch was poor on the carpet and that allowed Brad Guzan to come off his line and challenge the shot. He was able to make the save from close range.

Torres tried a shot from distance but leaned back and got well under it in the fifth minute. McGuire and Araujo sent soft shots at Guzan in the sixth and eighth minutes, respectively.

Santos’ long ball for McGuire looked to put the rookie in behind the defense but he was called for a foul when Juan Jose Purata went down easily, baiting the referee into a call.

Orlando relaxed its pressure after the quick start and Atlanta held more possession and got some rhythm, but mistakes by the Lions created their own biggest problems. A poor pass by Smith was easily blocked by a defender right in front of him and it ignited the break in the 17th minute. Brooks Lennon sent in a dangerous cross through the six but none of his teammates could get onto it.

“It was hard to keep (the press) there all the time, but we really wanted to set the tone of the game in the beginning,” Pareja said.

The hosts took the lead five minutes later on a comedy of errors by Orlando. A poor throw-in play turned the ball over deep in the Lions’ end and when the ball got away, it appeared multiple Orlando players could have intervened and taken possession but no one did. Atlanta retained possession and a shot dribbled through Gallese. Carlos cleared it off the line but it went to Wiley who fired it home in the 22nd minute. Smith was caught ball watching on the play as Wiley was the only dangerous player in his area but he paid him no attention.

The Lions managed a quick response. Pereyra stood over a free kick from the left side and sent a good cross into the box. Carlos was headed toward goal, but changed directions and attacked the ball in the air, winning his battle and powering a header into the back of the net in the 25th minute. It was a rare set piece goal for the 2023 Lions and the first goal by an Orlando City center back this season.

“I am really happy to have scored that goal. It’s a goal that I’ve been after all season for quite some time,” Carlos said through a club interpreter. “I’ve come really close. Some other goalkeepers have made some really incredible saves to deny that goal, but finally it went in. I’m very happy to not only have scored, but to help the team defensively as well. And I’m just thrilled that we were able to pick up all three points.”

The goal seemed to give Orlando confidence. McGuire tried to catch Guzan off his line in the 33rd minute but the rookie’s shot was well off target. Two minutes later, a nice give-and-go ended with a blast by Angulo that skipped just inches wide of the left post.

Smith tried a shot from outside the area in the 42nd minute but it was just over the bar and Guzan let it go when he saw it was rising. That was the last look of the half but Orlando picked up two late yellow cards to Cartagena and Jansson — the latter after the halftime whistle.

Atlanta finished the half with more possession (52.1%-47.9%) and corners (2-0), while Orlando City had more shots (7-5) and shots on target (3-2) and passed more accurately (81.3%-78.2%).

The second half started more cautiously than the first but several of Orlando’s attacks broke down because Smith kept trying to pass the ball through opponents or left crosses short. It was a night of struggles in the attack for the veteran fullback.

The first chance of the second period came off Orlando’s first corner kick of the game, won by Angulo. Pereyra’s ball in hit off of McGuire, took a deflection, and then dribbled slowly toward goal and went inches wide of the right post in the 51st minute.

Just after that chance, Gallese bowled the ball to Smith, who seemed to see Wiley coming up behind him but lost the ball in his own end anyway. Orlando survived the turnover. Atlanta then won a corner and although the Lions cleared the initial danger, Santiago Sosa chipped a ball onto the roof of the net in the 55th minute.

The Lions took the lead at the hour mark. Pereyra sent in a gorgeous ball to send McGuire behind the back line. The rookie held off a defender while slotting home his team-leading eighth goal past Guzan to make it 2-1.

Derrick Etienne Jr. tried to pull McGuire’s goal right back but sent his effort over Gallese’s crossbar.

The Lions came within inches of an insurance goal in the 68th minute. Torres was sent down the right side and used his weaker right foot to send an excellent cross to the top of the six. Substitute Ramiro Enrique got his head to it but smashed it off the left post.

Matheus Rossetto had a go from distance in the 70th minute when Orlando gave him space but his blast was over the bar.

Pareja changed formations to try to see out the game, sending on Rodrigo Schlegel, Martin Ojeda, and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson for Pereyra, Torres, and Smith. The hosts, needing a goal, brought on Edwin Mosquera and Designated Player Giorgos Giakoumakis.

Playing a five-man back line, Orlando got pinned back over the final 20 minutes of the game, plus an extreme amount of stoppage time from referee Victor Rivas. The defensive block was pushed too deep but Araujo and Cartagena did a good job of maintaining their concentration whenever league MVP candidate Thiago Almada tried to play the ball into dangerous areas or came forward himself, looking for a shot.

The Five Stripes were able to pile up lots of set pieces down the stretch but the Lions defended them much better than the ones a week ago at Real Salt Lake.

Just past the 80th minute, Atlanta got a couple of looks but Orlando defenders were there to block them and clean up the rebounds. Almada tried to tie the game himself in the 88th minute, working his way inside the top of the box but his shot took a deflection and bounced weakly to Gallese. Rossetto again found some space outside the area in the 90th minute but hit his shot similarly over the bar.

Time wound down and five minuts of injury time were added but Rivas allowed nearly double that amount in the end, despite only one sub being made and a fairly normal amount of time-wasting gamesmanship. That was nearly enough time to allow Atlanta to tie the match.

Although Gallese had little to do in the game but a foul against Almada gave Atlanta a free kick from a dangerous area. Almada went for goal and fired a good shot on target, but Gallese made a huge diving save going to his left to preserve the lead in the 99th minute.

Rivas then allowed Atlanta to take the ensuing corner but Orlando was able to clear it wide and the final whistle mercifully came at last.

The late spell of attacking pressure helped Atlanta take a commanding lead in possession (59.2%-40.8%), corners (7-1), and shot attempts (17-10), but the Lions equaled the hosts’ four shots on target for the match. Atlanta was also able to build an advantage in passing accuracy (84%-76.3%) as the Lions lumped the ball into space rather than trying to pick each other out in traffic.

“We knew that this was going to be a tough game. We knew that after the goal that Atlanta were going to go after the game. They were going to attack. They were going to go all in on the game,” Carlos said. “

“Obviously in the last 15 minutes we defended more than we wanted,” Pareja said. “All the credit for the players. They showed character. I’m very proud.”

The Lions get a break from MLS play until Aug. 20, when they’ll visit the Chicago Fire. However, Orlando City will be back in action on Friday night at home against the Houston Dynamo in Leagues Cup group stage play. Game time is 8 p.m.

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Orlando City

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

The Lions welcome San Diego FC to Orlando for the first meeting ever between the two clubs.

Published

12 hours ago

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September 5, 2026

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Image of Joran Gerbet playing against Minnesota United.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to your match preview and live thread for a Saturday night matchup between Orlando City (7-11-4, 25 points) and San Diego FC (8-8-6, 30 points) at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando (7:30 p.m., Apple TV). It’s the first-ever meeting between these two teams from different conferences

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

History

As mentioned above, tonight’s meeting between the Lions and San Diego is the first in the series history, so there is no history. The Lions are 2-2-1 against Western Conference teams this season, which means little to nothing in this particular match, and San Diego is going to be Orlando City’s final opponent from the opposite conference in MLS regular-season play this season.

Overview

The Lions are coming off a wild 3-3 road draw at Minnesota United a week ago, in which Daryl Dike and Antoine Griezmann scored on either side of halftime on Orlando’s first two shot attempts to put their team up 2-0 in the 64th minute. Minnesota stormed back with three goals off defensive errors in a four-minute span to take a late 3-2 lead. Just when the Loons appeared to be headed for all three points, Tyrese Spicer scored in stoppage time, forcing Minnesota to split the points. Orlando has a modest 1-0-1 unbeaten streak entering tonight, and the Lions are 5-4-2 at home in 2026.

San Diego is coming off a 3-1 home win over the LA Galaxy despite having Jeppe Tverskov sent off. Tonight’s visitors have won two straight games, but both were at home. They lost their last home game 3-1 at Portland on Aug. 19 and are 2-5-3 away from home this season.

The key for Orlando City tonight will be to mark Anders Dreyer, which is far easier said than done, as he has emerged as one of the league’s best playmakers. His eight goals and 11 assists give him 19 total goal contributions to lead his team. Marcus Ingvartsen is Dreyer’s favorite teammate to combine with, as the Danish forward has converted 11 times, leading San Diego in goals, and has added five assists. However, Ingvartsen is listed as out with a lower body injury. Midfielder Onni Valakari has chipped in four goals and seven assists.

“We respect San Diego, but as well we prepare our game,” Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman said ahead of the match. “We know how strong we are, especially at home, so now we go.”

Orlando City will be without Braian Ojeda (foot) and Adrian Marin (thigh), while Bernardo Rhein (thigh), has been upgraded to questionable. San Diego will be without the aforementioned Ingvartsen (lower body) and Tverskov (suspension).

Match Content

Official Lineups:

Orlando City (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Maxime Crepeau.

Defenders: Bernardo Rhein, Robin Jansson, David Brekalo, Griffin Dorsey.

Midfielders: Ivan Angulo, Joran Gerbet, Eduard Atuesta, Justin Ellis.

Forwards: Antoine Griezmann, Daryl Dike.

Bench: Javier Otero, Zakaria Taifi, Iago, Wilder Cartagena, Luis Otavio, Tiago, Marco Pasalic, Martin Ojeda, Tyrese Spicer.

San Diego FC (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: C.J. dos Santos.

Defenders: Kieran Sargeant, Ian Murphy, Manu Duah, Oscar Verhoeven.

Midfielders: Gabriel Pirani, Anibal Godoy, Alejandro Alvarado.

Forwards: Elias Achouri, Onni Valakari, Anders Dreyer.

Bench: Duran Ferree, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson, Christopher McVey, Bryan Zamble, David Vazquez, Ian Pilcher, Alex Mighten, Bryce Duke, Amahl Pellegrino.

Referees:

REF: Joe Dickerson.
AR1: Corey Parker.
AR2: Justin Howard.
4TH: Rodrigo Albuquerque.
VAR: Daniel Radford.
AVAR: Jeff Muschik.

How to Watch

Match Time: 7:30 p.m.

Venue: Inter.co Stadium — Orlando.

TV/Streaming: 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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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. San Diego FC: Three Keys to Victory

Here’s what Orlando needs to do in order to return to winning ways against San Diego.

Published

1 day ago

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September 4, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

After the disappointment of two dropped points against Minnesota on Saturday, Orlando City is back home with an opportunity to get things back on track. The Lions need to keep picking up points if they want to keep pace in an increasingly crowded Eastern Conference, and Saturday’s game is a good chance to start September off on the right note. San Diego FC stands in the way of that good start, and what follows are three things that I believe Orlando needs to do in order to emerge victorious from this game.

Stay Strong on the Left

The left side of the defense has been a question mark for the Lions for much of the year. Adrian Marin, Bernardo Rhein, and Zakaria Taifi have all spent time at left back lately and have done so with varying degrees of success. Regardless of who suits up there on Saturday, that area of the field will be under scrutiny once again, since they’ll be tasked with stopping San Diego right winger Anders Dreyer. He has eight goals and 11 assists in 21 appearances this year, has played 60 key passes during that time, and is generally the lynchpin through which the San Diego offense operates. He hasn’t quite been on the same pace that saw him bag 19 goals and 19 assists in the regular season last year, but with four goal contributions in his last three MLS appearances, he’s extremely capable of wreaking havoc from the wing. A lot of the goals OCSC has conceded lately have come down the left side of the defense, and if that area of the field can’t be taken care of better, the Lions will likely be in for a difficult night.

Do Damage in Transition

Orlando’s current style of positionless, fluid, attacking soccer is at its best when it comes up against teams that want to come out and play. It struggles mightily against defensive bunkers but shines when the Lions can get out and run, target open spaces, and combine with teammates in unexpected areas. Fortunately for OCSC (in theory), San Diego is a team that likes to have the ball, as it has the highest average possession in the league. That means the Lions will have opportunities to force turnovers and break the other way at pace. In order to make that happen though, OCSC will need to be both disciplined and effective when it comes to applying its press. Then, if/when the Lions win the ball, correct decision-making and clinical execution in the final third will be key to avoid letting any chances slip through their fingers (paws?).

Clean Up the Self-Inflicted Errors

Orlando has dealt with more than its fair share of general defensive struggles this year, but avoidable errors have been a particular problem in recent weeks. Whether it’s been an ill-advised challenge, passing to the opposition in the defensive third, or leaving men unmarked in the box, unnecessary mistakes have cost OCSC points time and again. Against lesser opposition it hasn’t always mattered, as the Lions were able to rescue three points against Real Salt Lake, but if Orlando wants to make a playoff push, it needs to make a habit of playing cleaner games, plain and simple. San Diego is a good team with dangerous offensive players, and Saturday’s visitors will very likely take advantage of any opportunities that the Lions gift-wrap for them. Keeping things mistake-free will go a long way.

We’ve got ample proof this season that nothing is guaranteed, but if the Lions can lock down the left side of the defense, make hay in transition moments, and limit unforced errors, then they should be in a good position to take all three points from Saturday’s game. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 9/4/26

Martin Ojeda details his recovery from injury, Anna Moorhouse loaned to Manchester City, Orlando City’s U.S. Open Cup journey, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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September 4, 2026

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Image of Martin Ojeda celebrating a goal against New England.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Three straight days of Orlando soccer starts tonight with Orlando City B’s road match against Inter Miami II at 7 p.m. Hopefully, Orlando’s teams do well over the next few days as crunch time is upon us when it comes to making the playoffs, especially for MLS NEXT Pro. For now though, let’s jump right into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Orlando City Prepares for San Diego FC

Orlando City will take on San Diego FC on Saturday in the first-ever game between the two clubs, and one of the storylines to keep an eye on is how much Martin Ojeda plays as he works his way back from injury. The Designated Player came off the bench late in Orlando’s 3-3 draw against Minnesota United in his first appearance since May 23. Not often injured, Ojeda spoke on how being off the field for over a month has shifted his perspective while training to return.

“You learn to value the moment much more. You learn to value every training session because, when you’re training on your own and you’re not available to your teammates, you feel uncomfortable,” Ojeda said. “You value being healthy more. It’s like everything in life. When you feel good, you live life almost on autopilot, so to speak. You go to work, you go home, you come back, you sleep. However, when you or someone close to you goes through an illness or something like that, you value the moment much more and become more conscious of what you’re experiencing.”

Pride Loan Anna Moorhouse to Manchester City

The Orlando Pride loaned goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse to Manchester City through January of 2027. Moorhouse joined the Pride prior to the 2022 season and helped the club win both the NWSL Championship and Shield in 2024. However, she has struggled this year alongside the rest of the Pride’s defense. Moorhouse hasn’t played in the past two games for the Pride, with Cosette Morche starting in her place. Her current contract with the Pride lasts through the 2027 NWSL season, so we’ll have to wait and see what her future with the club is when the loan ends.

Orlando City’s U.S. Open Cup Journey

Between the World Cup, regular season, and Leagues Cup this summer, it can be easy to forget that Orlando City is still in contention to win this year’s U.S. Open Cup. The Lions are in the semifinals of the tournament after crushing Atlanta United 4-1 in the quarterfinals back on May 19. The Lions won much tighter affairs prior to that win, with Javier Otero coming up with seven saves in a 1-0 win over FC Naples and Zakaria Taifi scoring in stoppage time to beat the New England Revolution 4-3 in the following match. Orlando will be on the road for its semifinal match against the Columbus Crew on Sept. 16, but the offense has received a boost due to the arrivals of Antoine Griezmann and Daryl Dike this summer.

MLS Transfer News Roundup

MLS signings continue to pour in as teams look to improve their squads for the rest of this season and beyond. The Colorado Rapids signed Ghanaian winger Ibrahim Sadiq from AZ Alkmaar, where he recorded 18 goals and seven assists in 85 appearances across three seasons with the Dutch club. San Diego also added an attacker by signing forward Cedric Bakambu, who joins as a free agent after playing at Real Betis. As for other notable moves from across the league, Real Salt Lake signed winger Dusan Zagar as an MLS U22 Initiative player, forward Lyle Foster joined the Houston Dynamo on loan, and the Columbus Crew continued to improve on offense by signing Moroccan winger Anass Zaroury on loan from Panathinaikos.

Free Kicks

  • Former Orlando Pride player Christina Burkenroad is retiring from professional soccer and Monterrey will have Saturday’s game against Toluca be a send-off match for her.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!

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