Orlando City’s Top Road Performances of 2023

A few weeks back, I wrote about the top home performances of the 2023 season and this season seemed incomplete without my recap of the top three road matches of the year (heading into Orlando City’s Decision Day match this evening against Toronto FC). Orlando City had a banner year on the road, especially in the beginning of the season, as the Lions were looking to find their footing at home. Once again, tonight’s match notwithstanding, these are my picks for the squad’s best road results of the 2023 MLS season.

Putting Demons to Bed

I have had the personal displeasure to be physically present for two incredibly frustrating matches against Nashville SC, including the Halloween Heist, where after lengthy review a game-winning goal at the death was disallowed, and a first-round playoff exit on the road in the Music City. For what it is worth, any victory against Nashville, an excellent defensive squad, could make a list of great results, but this year Orlando City finally broke through in enemy territory.

The match was certainly back and forth and saw its share of disciplinary calls that we have come to expect during a matchup of two teams who frankly just don’t like one another. To raise the stakes even higher, the playoffs were just around the corner and Orlando City vs. Nashville SC had ever increasing likelihood to be a first-round matchup. Orlando City rookie Duncan McGuire made a powerful and well-timed run to the front post and redirected a pass from Designated Player Martin Ojeda for a 1-0 lead just before the end of the first half. That was the only goal Orlando needed, as the Lions went on to notch their first ever victory on Nashville’s home turf.

Records are Meant to be Broken

As if earning three points in Nashville was not impressive enough, the second match that makes my top road performance list of 2023 came early in the year on a field where the home team had not lost over the course of 24 straight matches. Back on March 25 Orlando City traveled to Subaru Park to take on the Philadelphia Union, perennial league favorites and the 2022 MLS runners up. Truth be told, I was late coming home from work and Orlando City was already ahead 1-0 by time I was able to get my Apple TV up and running, which frankly was just kind of rude of the team to refuse to wait for me to be ready. Turns out Philadelphia wasn’t ready for the start of the match either, as Ojeda found the back of the net just two minutes into the match.

Just seven minutes after Orlando City jumped out to the lead, it was Ojeda playing provider this time, setting up Ivan Angulo for his first MLS goal. Before you could say cheesesteak, the Lions were out to a commanding lead. Former Lion Andres Perea pulled one back for the hosts, but at the end of the night, the City of Brotherly Love was painted purple and the Union’s home streak had been toppled. I truly believed that this was Orlando’s best road result on the year until…

Sending a Statement

Orlando City was convincingly the hottest team in MLS over the second half of the season, and in the Lions’ first match of the month of September they put the Eastern Conference and the entire league on notice when they took on eventual Supporters’ Shield winners, FC Cincinnati.

Like the Union’s victory streak, FC Cincinnati had one been building one of its own, and to that point had not lost at home the entire year. Orlando got a goal from Facundo Torres just before halftime on the back of an extraordinary pass from Ramiro Enrique, who never gave up on the play as the ball was nearing the end line. Sheer hustle allowed Enrique to pass the ball back across the six to find Torres, who calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net, stunning a home crowd that had already mentally prepared to get their halftime snacks.

This game was truly all about hustle and grit, as made evident by Orlando City having to survive an ungodly 11 minutes of stoppage time. I mean, it felt like the powers that be were working overtime to ensure Cincinnati had all the chances necessary to not drop a game at home, but the Lions had other plans for the universe as their defense held strong throughout the second half, and they walked away with all three points.

So there you have it Lions fans, my top three road matches of this MLS season. Let me know in the comments below if you agree or if some other road matches fall into your top three ranking instead. I will happily eat crow if the game tonight in Toronto can out-wow-factor any of these three matches above, and as always, vamos Orlando!