Opinion
Orlando City’s Top Home Performances of 2023
Which home matches left you speechless on your drive back home this season?

Tonight Orlando City will take the field against the New England Revolution in its last regular-season home game of the year. Early in the season there were certainly several instances of frustration during home matches as leads were squandered late or lower caliber opponents seemingly had their way within the walls of Exploria Stadium. Despite that, the Lions have continued to elevate their level of play throughout the season, especially at home over the last several months, leaving fans dumbfounded at some of the amazing results we have seen in person. Tonight’s game notwithstanding, (hopefully I eat all these words and have to add it to my list) here are my top three MLS matches played in front the OCSC faithful this season.
Fourth of July Fireworks
Anyone who lives and works in Central Florida is no stranger to nightly fireworks at numerous local theme parks. What fans may not have been prepared for this past Independence Day was a straight steamrolling of Orlando’s visitors from the north, Toronto FC. What sets this match apart is that it certainly was positioned on the calendar as a possible trap game as a midweek fixture with a big match out west looming against Real Salt Lake in just a few days. Instead of succumbing to the trap, Orlando City came out of the starting blocks in a full-out sprint, scoring two goals before the match reached the 30th minute, courtesy of Ceasar Araujo and Duncan McGuire.
The Lions scored twice more in the second half, with Dagur Dan Thorhallsson and Ercan Kara each finding the back of the net. A handful of firsts were checked off the list, as Araujo scored his first MLS regular-season goal, Thorhallsson opening his scoring account as a Lion, and Orlando City as a whole winning for the first time on the Fourth of July in four attempts. Did I mention that this match marked the most goals Orlando City has scored in a match for the entire season, at four — tied with another match which will show up later.
Orlando Hosts the Best of the West
A little over a month ago, Orlando City was in the midst of arguably its toughest four-game stretch of the season and it started by playing host to new MLS expansion team and Western Conference frontrunner, St. Louis City. The result of that match could have very easily swung the rest of the season for the Lions in a positive or negative direction. The lead up to the match had some extra special sauce sprinkled on it when comments were made by former Lion Nicholas Gioacchini, who had apparently had this match circled on his calendar for some time. Gioacchini tried several times to give his new squad the lead in the first half but ultimately had to be subbed off at halftime after picking up a knock. From the start, the Lions were the aggressors, holding the advantage in possession (55.1%-44.9%), shots (6-5), shots on target (1-0), corners (4-1), and passing accuracy (83.8%-80.5%). Designated Player Facundo Torres got OCSC on the board first, scoring right after halftime, firing an absolute bullet past Roman Burki.
Orlando City looked as if it had fallen back into its familiar early season form of relinquishing leads when after a lengthy VAR process St. Louis was awarded a leveling goal in the 79th minute. The teams traded halfhearted attempts over the waning minutes of the match until second-half sub Ramiro Enrique earned a free kick in the final minutes of the match. The ensuing play led to a blast from Rafael Santos, which hit the arm of Anthony Markanich. Video review was once again called into action and referee Joe Dickerson awarded Orlando City a penalty kick. Torres stepped up to the spot and iced the match as he earned a game-winning brace.
The Cardiac Cats were alive once again and surely that proved to be the most exciting moment at Exploria all season long…or so we thought.
What the (Bleep) Just Happened?
One match after defeating the top dog in the Eastern Conference and eventual Supporters’ Shield winners FC Cincinnati on their home turf, Orlando returned to the City Beautiful to take on another challenger from the Buckeye state, the Columbus Crew. The Crew came into the match as one of the hottest teams in MLS. The only problem for them was that Orlando proved to be just a tad hotter. I wish I could tell you that the Lions blew this game wide open like they did against Toronto. They didn’t. I wish I could tell you that they scored four goals like they did against Toronto. They did. And I wish I could tell you the game wasn’t as exciting as the match against St. Louis City. It was, and then some! Columbus scored early when Julian Gressel took advantage of a poor turnover in Orlando City’s own end and basically walked in a chip shot from Diego Rossi. The match headed into the break with the visitors up 1-0 after a sloppy first half from Orlando City. The Lions equalized quickly after halftime and new energy poured over Exploria as DP Martin Ojeda scored in the 48th minute to level the match.
It was just after Ojeda’s goal that the train exploded off the tracks and the match turned into an instant Orlando City classic. Rossi and Cucho Hernandez scored 12 minutes apart in the 56th and 68th minutes, and it looked to those in the stands that the great run of form Orlando had enjoyed was finally crashing down to Earth. It looked that way to everyone except the 11 on the field, who used a final hydration break and key offensive substitutes of Torres and Jack Lynn, along with Luca Petrasso and Michael Halliday, to do the unimaginable. Torres, who missed the starting 11 with a knock, injected instant energy onto the pitch and found the back of the net in the 73rd minute, bringing Orlando City back within a goal of being level with a decent amount of time left on the clock.
Still playing from behind, Orlando City had no choice but to throw the kitchen sink at Columbus to try to salvage a draw at home. The equalizer came in the 86th from Enrique, who found himself in the right place at the right time to slot home a deflected header from a set play, and in the blink of an eye, Orlando City was level. The Lions could have sat back and parked the bus in hopes of splitting points, but the soccer gods had other ideas.
In the waning seconds of stoppage time, an Ojeda cross from a set piece 25 yards out squeaked all the way through to a diving Torres, who headed the ball back across the box to the waiting foot of Enrique, who buried the late game winner, sending the crowd into a feverish celebration.
So there you have it Lions fans, my top three home matches of this MLS season. Let me know in the comments below if you agree or if some other home matches fall into your top three ranking instead. I will happily eat crow if the final home game tonight can out-wow-factor any of these three matches above, and as always, vamos Orlando!
Opinion
Likes and Dislikes from this Week of Orlando City’s Preseason
Let’s break down some good and bad things from this past week of preseason preparations.

It’s Friday once again, and just like that we find ourselves barely over a week away from the start of the 2025 Major League Soccer season. It feels like this off-season has passed by in a blur, and somehow the Lions are already about to play their final preseason match later today. This week was another busy one for Orlando City, so let’s run through some things that I liked from this week and some things that I didn’t.
Likes
Eduard Atuesta Arrives
It took awhile, and the transfer saga had some twists and turns, but Orlando City landed Eduard Atuesta to replace the injured Wilder Cartagena. Given the league’s budget constraints and the fact that he isn’t a Designated Player, Atuesta is about as good a replacement as fans could have hoped for. Not only is he familiar with the league, but he knows what it takes to win here, as he helped LAFC win the Supporters’ Shield and U.S. Open Cup during his time with the California club. Plus, he theoretically offers more going forward than Cartagena typically does, which could add a much-needed extra punch to the Lions’ offense. The structuring of a one-year deal with an additional club option also gives OCSC some flexibility at the end of the season if the Lions decide they want to move on, but if he replicates the form he typically showed at LAFC, then that option year can be triggered.
New Kit Looks Sharp
The club also debuted its new home jersey this week. Dubbed the “Perfect Storm” kit, no two are supposedly alike, as it pays tribute to the intensity and unpredictability of Central Florida’s weather. For my money, it isn’t anything revolutionary, but there’s a lot to like about it. The pattern is interesting without being too overwhelming, the collar adds a pop of welcome gold to the purple and white motif, and the 407 lightning bolt and doppler radar storm patches are nice, vibrant touches. Teams were also permitted to customize the Apple logo on the sleeves this year, and Orlando chose to do so by incorporating the lion’s mane/sun element of the club crest into the logo. My biggest gripe is that the pattern is only on the front of the jersey while the back is plain purple, but overall I really like it.
Dislikes
Thin Cupboards at Striker and Fullback
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but Orlando City is still looking short on bodies at striker and fullback. Granted, the striker position will look better once Duncan McGuire returns, but that’s likely to be at least six to eight weeks away. Fullback isn’t quite as dire, as the Lions have Kyle Smith, Mikey Halliday, and Alex Freeman, who are all in contention to come off the bench. There are caveats though, as Halliday has struggled with injuries the last two seasons, and while Freeman was outstanding with Orlando City B last year, he’s almost completely untested at the MLS level. Plus, all three of Smith, Halliday, and Freeman are most comfortable on the right side. You obviously don’t want to take minutes away from the young guys, but I’d feel a lot better if there was a proven vet in the fold.
Final Preseason Match Prices
At the time of writing, the cheapest ticket listed for today’s preseason match against Inter Miami is $49 plus fees. That gets you in the door and up in the 300 level of Raymond James Stadium; any lower down than that and you’re looking at $65 plus fees and higher. It isn’t the most egregious pricing I’ve ever seen, but at the same time, when my season ticket in The Wall breaks down to being about $19 a game, it’s hard to not feel a little put off. I’m not saying that this is the club’s fault as I don’t know who set the pricing for the event, but I just don’t have much interest in paying over $100 for two people to go to a preseason match. It’s a shame, since Ray-J is about a five-minute drive from my house, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.
What stood out to you from this week of Orlando City’s preseason preparations? Be sure to have your say down in the comments. Vamos Orlando!
Opinion
Likes and Dislikes from this Week of Orlando City’s Preseason
Let’s talk through some of the good and bad from this week of the Lions’ preseason preparations.

Just like that, another week of Orlando City’s preseason is in the books. We’ll be staring down the barrel of the season opener before we know it, but let’s make sure we take the time to stop and reflect on some good and some not-so-good things that took place this week.
Likes
Marco Pasalic Arrives
Orlando City is back up to three Designated Players after the club completed the signing of Croatian winger Marco Pasalic. It’s a piece of business that has been rumored for awhile now but took some time to get done and across the line. Between Pasalic and the previous signing of Nicolas Rodriguez, the Lions have got bodies to fill the right wing position. While neither is likely to be able to immediately replace the production of Facundo Torres on their own, they’re both young and will have the chance to grow their games and show what they can do.
Season Ticket Member Match
OCSC will take on CF Montreal Saturday in a preseason scrimmage which is an event exclusive to season ticket holders. This is the sort of thing that I, along with my fellow season ticket members on staff, love to see. An event that rewards you for that membership and does so by giving you an extra peek at the team before everyone else. It might not be some wildly extravagant event, but it doesn’t need to be. The club has formed a habit of designating one of the preseason scrimmages a season-ticket-members-only event, and for my money, it’s been a good call.
Dislikes
Closed Door Scrimmage Radio Silence
This feels a little nitpicky, as closed-door scrimmages are by their very nature, closed door. The whole point of them is to not have a ton of access and insight about what’s going on, and teams will often agree beforehand about what level of information, if any, will make its way out to the public afterwards. We know that Orlando took on Atlanta United in a preseason scrimmage Wednesday, and we know that Alex Freeman put in a goal from a header, thanks to a post from the club on the website formerly known as Twitter, but that’s about it. It feels greedy to ask for information from something we weren’t guaranteed to get any from in the first place, but the brief taste has me wanting more, damnit.
Depth Still a Worry at Several Positions
As stated above, getting Pasalic in the door means that the Lions now have the winger slots fairly well stocked, but there are still other areas on the field that could use some reinforcement. The most crucial of those remains defensive midfielder, and although the rumored arrival of Eduard Atuesta would help considerably, I’m not counting him as a Lion until pen has been put to paper. If he does get signed, that still leaves striker and fullback perilously thin when it comes to guys who are proven MLS-caliber players, and the first game of the season is just shy of two weeks from now. There’s still time to do business, but the clock continues to tick.
What jumped out at you from this week of OCSC’s preseason? Be sure to have your say down in the comments. Vamos Orlando!
Opinion
Likes and Dislikes from this Week of Orlando City’s Preseason
Orlando City’s third week of preparation had some good things and some not so good things.

We have another week of Orlando City’s preseason in the books, and while it seems hard to believe, it’s been almost three weeks since the Lions got back in the lab and started preparing for the 2025 campaign. There have been lots of new talking points this week too, and its been a bit of a mixed bag. Let’s have a look at some of the good and bad from this past week.
Likes
Victory (Kind of) vs. Atletico Mineiro
Okay, so it technically wasn’t a victory since the game ended in a scoreless draw. The Lions did get the job done from the penalty spot though, as they won the shootout 6-5 to claim whatever the Inter&Co Trophy is. More important than the result though, was the fact that OCSC played pretty well. Orlando created a good amount of opportunities, but as seems to be the fatal flaw with this team, the finishing was definitely on the rusty side. It was perhaps unlucky that some of the Lions’ best chances fell to youngsters, but the good news is that the chances were being created. It was a positive first showing that the team can hopefully build on.
Back in the U.S. Open Cup
A lot of fans, myself included, had big issues with the Lions not being a participant in the U.S. Open Cup last year. It’s a tournament that is near and dear to a lot of Orlando fans, given that OCSC has won the whole damn thing once, had other special moments like The Running of the Wall, and has generally made decent runs in the competition. It was welcome news to hear that Orlando will be back in the competition this year, along with 15 other MLS teams that will enter the competition during the Round of 32. The tournament has a charm and a special place in my heart, and it’s exactly where the Lions should be.
Two Games, Two Clean Sheets
Nic Josey has gone on the record stating that Orlando City will need strong, steady performances from its defense if the team wants to avoid a slow start to the season like we saw in 2024. It’s only preseason, and we shouldn’t get too carried away, but so far so good, as the Lions have recorded a clean sheet in each of their two preseason games. Whether that will mean a damn thing once the regular season starts is anyone’s guess, but it’s a hell of a lot better than giving up buckets of goals in the preseason.
Dislikes
Wilder Cartagena’s Injury
We still don’t have official confirmation on the injury that Wilder Cartagena suffered during Saturday’s preseason match, but all the reports point to an Achilles Tendon injury, with ESPN’s Diego Montalvan going as far to say that he’ll be undergoing surgery. If that proves to be the case then it’s a doomsday scenario indeed for the Lions, as Cartagena could miss anywhere from six months to a whole year. He’s proven to be a vital part of what makes Orlando City tick, and replacing him is going to be far from an easy task.
Summer Fixture Frenzy
Along with the U.S. Open Cup, the Lions will once again be participating in Leagues Cup, and that’s presented them with a hellish slate of matches to finish out the summer. In a stretch from mid-July to mid-August OCSC will play a positively hellish eight games in 29 days, with that number potentially rising even higher if the club goes deep in the Open Cup (unless the two competitions decide to play nice and work with each other on scheduling). Not to mention that six of those eight games will take place at home in the punishing Florida heat and humidity. Either some guys are going to need to get signed, the kids are going to get some good experience, or something is going to give. Speaking of…
The Continued Wait for Reinforcements
Orlando City has made a couple signings in the last two weeks, with the most notable of those being winger Nicolas Rodriguez, with goalkeeper Carlos Mercado getting re-signed on Thursday. That’s a start, but Cartagena needs to be replaced, Jack Lynn’s retirement and Duncan McGuire’s shoulder injury mean the striker corps is dangerously thin, and the team could use help with depth at midfield and fullback. That’s a hell of a lot of business that needs to get done, and there hasn’t been much in the way of substantive chatter in the transfer rumor mill lately. The sooner signings are made, the more time they have to get integrated with their new surroundings before the season starts, but time is fast running out for that to happen.
There you have it folks. Life is full of peaks and valleys, and this week for Orlando City was a good reflection of that. What things jumped out to you this week, and what are you hoping to see as we move into the fourth week of preseason? Be sure to have your say down in the comments. Vamos Orlando!
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