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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Charlotte FC: Final Score 2-0 as Torres and McGuire Score Second-Half Goals

The Lions earned their third consecutive clean sheet victory and went 3-0-0 on their homestand.

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2 years ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Facundo Torres and Duncan McGuire scored in the second half and Pedro Gallese kept his third consecutive clean sheet as the Lions defeated Charlotte FC 2-0 at Inter&Co Stadium. Orlando City (12-10-7, 43 points) climbed above the .500 mark at home (6-5-4) with the victory, finishing the homestand 3-0-0 without allowing a goal and snapping a four-game winless skid against Charlotte (10-11-8, 38 points) in all competitions.

“Another three points. Important moment,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “And we played against a very difficult rival who played very organized. It’s difficult to break the lines, and one of the teams in Major League Soccer who condenses very well the box. And then it’s difficult to create that affect those spaces. That’s why the value of the game today and the points and scoring two goals against them just makes us feel good, and congratulations to our players as well for such an effort and a great game.”

Pareja’s lineup included Pedro Gallese in goal behind a back line of Rafael Santos, Robin Jansson, Rodrigo Schlegel, and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson. Cesar Araujo and Wilder Cartagena started in central midfield behind an attacking line of Ivan Angulo, Martin Ojeda, and Torres, with Ramiro Enrique up top.

The first chance of the game fell for Orlando in the fourth minute off the recycle of the game’s first corner kick. The ball found Cartagena inside the box on the right and he put a lot of sting into his shot on goal but unfortunately hit it right at Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina, who fought it off. It was Orlando’s only shot on target in the opening half.

The visitors were content to stay organized and not try to play at all, hoping for the Lions to make a mistake on which they could capitalize. It nearly happened a couple of times with a pair of uncharacteristically poor giveaways by Jansson, but there was nothing too threatening to Gallese’s goal.

Meanwhile, Orlando was often unable to connect in the final phase of the attack. Ojeda had a nice cross in the 11th minute after being played down the left by Angulo, but Enrique couldn’t get on the end of it. Santos had a shot blocked off a short corner in the 14th minute on a play similar to the one he scored on Saturday. This time, however, the opposition covered him and Brandt Bronico blocked his attempt.

Santos sent in a good cross in the 19th minute that found Torres, but the Uruguayan sent his header over the bar. A minute later, Angulo stole the ball and ignited the break, finding Ojeda in space, but Enrique’s touch was poor while receiving the pass, spoiling the counterattack.

Jansson’s turnover in the 30th minute provided a chance for Charlotte. Patrick Agyemang got a shot off but sent it straight at Gallese.

Tim Ream headed wide on a long-range Charlotte set piece that was played short and then crossed from the right to the back post in the 40th minute. A minute later, Ream did well to clear a ball away from Ojeda in the Charlotte defensive end when the Argentine’s touch around Adilson Malanda was a bit too heavy.

No one generated anything of note in the final minutes of the first half and the teams went to the lockerroom scoreless.

At the break, Orlando had the advantage in possession (63.7%-36.3%), shots (6-3), corners (4-0), and passing accuracy (88.5%-82%). Charlotte put more shots on frame (2-1).

The second half started as dull as the first, but the Lions finally cracked the Charlotte defense in the 52nd minute. Ojeda got on the end of a ball down the left side of the box, picking up a pass from Angulo. With time and space, he sent a beautiful cross to the far side and Torres one-timed it past Kahlina to make it 1-0. It was Torres’ 12 goal of the regular season.

“We had really worked on that play during the week, just because of how they like to mark,” Torres said. “So, you know, Martin gave me just an incredible center. It was just right on point. It’s really difficult to not score a goal when it’s put on a platter like that. It’s a difficult play to finish off overall, but when he plays it like that, and when we had worked on it throughout the week, it was fantastic.”

Orlando’s energy dropped a bit after the goal and Charlotte started seeing more of the ball and dispossessing the Lions for a spell. The visitors won a couple of corners but weren’t able to pay them off.

“We knew they were going to come and they answered a little bit with some chances, but for me, if I think a lot back, I don’t remember, like, any big, big chance they had,” Thorhallsson said.

Angulo tried to add to Orlando’s lead in the 60th minute, whipping a shot toward goal that deflected out for a corner. Five minutes later, Torres blasted a shot from outside the area that forced Kahlina into a diving save. Second-half sub Nico Lodeiro got to the loose ball first and attempted to tap it home but Ream made a vital block to keep it a one-goal game.

The teams played a bit of sloppy soccer down the stretch as both were playing on short rest on a hot, humid night. Araujo gave up a dangerous free kick in the 83rd minute just outside the box and got a booking for it, meaning he’ll miss the next match for card accumulation. The free kick was sent toward the back post but over everyone and out for a goal kick.

After both teams sent some substitutes on for the final minutes, the Lions doubled their lead. The play started with a superb kick by Gallese that picked out sub Luis Muriel, who immediately played a perfectly weighted ball to a streaking McGuire, who carried the ball into the box and chipped Kahlina beautifully to make it 2-0 in the 89th minute, putting the game to bed with his ninth goal of the season.

“It was just these 10 minutes where we, like a little bit, dropped back, but then once we pushed up again, and Duncan finished it with the second goal, then it was just game over,” Thorhallsson said.

Charlotte still had eight minutes of stoppage time to climb back into it but it was Orlando that came closest to adding a goal in the added minutes. Luca Petrasso, who had come on at left wing, sent a perfect back-post cross to McGuire on the right. McGuire sent a powerful header just wide in the 98th minute on the final clear-cut chance of the evening.

The Lions finished with the advantage in possession (58.1%-41.9%), shots (12-4), corners (7-3), and passing accuracy (88.4%-81.1%). Both teams finished with two shots on target.

“It’s a credit as well to the response of the players who came in the second half,” Pareja said. “We felt that what we needed was not combinations but somebody who can run in behind of the central backs and that’s why we included Duncan, knowing that Ramiro was playing well. But Duncan just opened those spaces for us. Also he’s dynamic in the way he presses and those things help us a lot. And then also Luis (Muriel) and Nico (Lodeiro) that give us that creativity, and they know how to play in between the lines too. So, that helped us. It was very difficult to break those lines.”

For the Lions, it was the first time stringing three consecutive shutout wins together since the season finale and two playoff games against Nashville at the end of the 2023 season.

“Defending well as a group with consistency is probably one of the most difficult parts of the game. The back four and those midfielders are sustaining the team in a very good way. We’re solid. And the individual performance has risen as well. It’s better. Individually, they have grown a lot during this period.”

“Most important thing is just we’re all doing it together,” Thorhallsson said. “Me and Rodri and Robin and Rafa, and then Pedro as well behind us, and of course, everybody in the team. But I feel like the defense has been clicking a lot.”

The Lions head out on the road this weekend, visiting the Columbus Crew on Saturday night.

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Orlando City

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

The Lions look for healthy bodies on the roster and offense on the field as Charlotte FC visits.

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2 hours ago

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April 22, 2026

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Image of Robin Jansson defending for Orlando against Charlotte FC.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to your match preview and live thread for a midweek matchup between Orlando City (1-6-1, 4 points) and Charlotte FC (4-2-2, 14 points) at Inter&Co Stadium (7:30 p.m., Apple TV). This is the first of two games on the slate between the Eastern Conference rivals in 2026, with the return fixture in Charlotte scheduled for Oct. 31.

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

History

The Lions are 4-1-3 in the regular-season series and 6-3-3 in all competitions against Charlotte. Orlando City is 3-1-0 at home in the regular season and 5-1-0 in the City Beautiful across all competitions against the North Carolina-based side. These games are usually close, with all previous non-draws decided by one or two goals.

The teams last met on July 5, 2025, playing to a 2-2 draw at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The hosts took a 2-0 lead on goals by Pep Biel and Bill Tuiloma, but Ramiro Enrique and Marco Pasalic brought the Lions back to earn a point on the road.

Earlier in the 2025 campaign, the teams met on May 14 in Orlando, with Luis Muriel and Martin Ojeda giving the Lions a 2-0 lead inside the game’s first 25 minutes. Wilfried Zaha pulled the visitors within a goal before the break, making for a tight second half, but Enrique’s late goal put the game to bed in Orlando City’s 3-1 home win.

Prior to 2025, the teams met in the first round of the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs. Orlando City claimed two of the three matches, winning the first outright, dropping the second on penalties after a late goal was called offside in the buildup, and advancing after a penalty shootout win following the third match of the best-of-three series.

On Nov. 9, 2024, Facundo Torres’ penalty late in stoppage time canceled out a Karol Swiderski goal and sent the deciding third match to penalties with a 1-1 score. Pedro Gallese made two saves and Orlando City won the shootout 4-1, advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The teams played eight days before that in Charlotte, without either side scoring in normal time, as Torres’ strike was disallowed for offside on Nico Lodeiro on Muriel’s through ball. Charlotte won the ensuing penalty shootout 3-1 after the scoreless draw to tie the series at 1-1. That followed Orlando City’s 2-0 home win the previous Sunday. Torres and Ojeda scored the goals on either side of halftime to lead the Lions to the Game 1 win. It was the first time Orlando scored more than one goal in an MLS playoff game.

The teams met a month and a half prior to their first playoff meeting on Sept. 18 in Orlando. The Lions got second-half goals from Torres and Duncan McGuire to win 2-0, claiming the first multiple-goal win in the series. The teams also met on June 19, 2024, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte and played to a 2-2 draw. The hosts struck first with an early Kerwin Vargas goal and the Lions pulled one back through McGuire in the second half. But despite Charlotte going down a man on Scott Arfield’s red card, Brandt Bronico restored the hosts’ lead shortly after McGuire’s strike. Torres struck back moments later but the Lions could not find a winner on the road.

The previous match was also a draw at Bank of America Stadium, finishing 1-1 on Aug. 30, 2023. Enzo Copetti’s late penalty appeared to wrap things up for the hosts on a rainy night in Charlotte, but Ojeda’s seeing-eye set piece equalized just before stoppage time as the teams split the points.

Charlotte claimed a 1-0 “home” victory in U.S. Open Cup play on May 9 of that year. That game took place at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex in Matthews, NC, rather than at the club’s regular stadium. The first matchup of the 2023 season didn’t go any better for Orlando City, finishing as a 2-1 Charlotte win at Exploria Stadium on March 18. Copetti and Vargas put Charlotte up 2-0 by halftime. Ojeda pulled one back, but the Lions were wasteful in front of goal and couldn’t pull level.

In 2022, the teams met at Bank of America Stadium on Aug. 21. After a scoreless first half, Ercan Kara put the Lions ahead on the road, only to see McKinze Gaines equalize just four minutes later. Tesho Akindele’s late goal lifted Orlando to a 2-1 victory.

Orlando City won the first-ever meeting between the sides on April 30, 2022, at Exploria Stadium. Ruan scored the opening goal and set up Torres on the counter for the second as the Lions took a 2-0 lead into the locker room. Christian Fuchs scored from the spot after Rodrigo Schlegel was called for a foul in the box in the second half, but that was as close as Charlotte got in what was ultimately a 2-1 Orlando victory.

Overview

Orlando City enters the match adrift in 2026, having won only one time in eight league matches to start the season — easily the worst start to any season in OCSC history. The Lions have managed only one draw to go with the win and are coming off a 1-0 home loss to the Houston Dynamo, squandering a handful of good scoring chances and giving up a late goal to a team that had previously not won on the road in 2026 and had never won in Orlando. The lads in purple are just 1-3-0 at home this season and Orlando City has scored just six goals on the year while conceding a league-worst 25. While the defense has been better the last couple of games since captain Robin Jansson returned, those came against teams not high in the standings.

Charlotte is 1-1-1 on the road this season after beating New York City FC at Citi Field — the Pigeons’ other baseball stadium — on Saturday. Tonight’s visitors have won four of their last five games in all competitions. Biel is off to a hot start with four goals and three assists, while Zaha has added two goals and four assists. Idan Toklomati and Archie Goodwin have three goals apiece, giving Charlotte three players with more goals than Orlando co-leaders Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic, who have each scored twice. Kristijan Kahlina is one of the league’s top goalkeepers, and Orlando City won’t have an easy time against the club that has conceded the fourth-fewest goals in the Eastern Conference.

Orlando City will need to be patient to avoid giving up dangerous counterattacks, as they’ve struggled to defend them all year, but the Lions must also try to build a volume of shots against a stout defense led by Kahlina and usually anchored by USMNT center back Tim Ream. However, Ream will miss the match per the latest MLS availability report with a lower body injury.

“I think both teams know each other really well. They have done a good job over the last year,” Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman said ahead of the match. “We respect them like we respect every opponent, and we will have our plan and our strategy. We will be at home with the energy and attitude we want to have. Hopefully we can give the fans some joy and happiness with a result, for our people and for us as well, because we are the first ones who need and want to win. Hopefully we can do it this game, but the attitude will be there.”

The Lions will be without Wilder Cartagena (thigh), Griffin Dorsey (thigh), Joran Gerbet (knee),
Duncan McGuire (lower leg), and Pasalic (thigh). Eduard Atuesta (shoulder) and David Brekalo (lower Leg) are listed as questionable. Charlotte will be without Ream (lower body), while Henry Kessler (lower body) is questionable.

Match Content

Projected Lineups

Orlando City (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Maxime Crepeau.

Defenders: Adrian Marin, Robin Jansson, Iago, Zakaria Taifi.

Midfielders: Ivan Angulo, Braian Ojeda, Luis Otavio, Tyrese Spicer.

Forwards: Martin Ojeda, Tiago.

Charlotte FC (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Kristijan Kahlina.

Defenders: Harry Toffolo, Morrison Agyemang, Andrew Privett, Nathan Byrne.

Midfielders: Pep Biel, Ashley Westwood, Brandt Bronico.

Forwards: Wilfried Zaha, Idan Toklomati, Rodolfo Aloko.

Referees

REF: Filip Dujic.
AR1: Corey Rockwell.
AR2: Justin Howard.
4TH: Lorenzo Hernandez.
VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero.
AVAR: Joshua Patlak.

How to Watch

Match Time: 7:30 p.m.

Venue: Inter&Co Stadium  — Orlando.

TV/Live Stream: 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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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/22/26

Orlando City hosts Charlotte tonight, the Orlando Pride prep for Louisville trip, NWSL expansion coming to Columbus, and more.

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6 hours ago

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April 22, 2026

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Image of Kaka celebrating a goal.
Nick Leyva, The Mane Land

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s match day for Orlando City. That’s as much a warning for your mental health as it is a notification if you decide to watch the match tonight. Perhaps you could catch up on Pluribus, or rewatch Ted Lasso. I’m simply saying you have options that might not raise your blood pressure. On a brighter note, join me in wishing Orlando City legend Kaká a very happy birthday. More on him below. Let’s get to the links.

Lions Host Charlotte Tonight

Orlando City is looking to rebound against Charlotte FC tonight at Inter&Co Stadium. It’s no secret that the Lions are having a rough time of it so far this season, and with Charlotte sitting in third place in the Eastern Conference, it doesn’t get any easier. That doesn’t stop Martin Perelman and the players from thinking they are getting better and having a plan for the match tonight. What was it Mike Tyson said about everyone having a plan? Can the Lions turn things around on short rest?

Orlando Pride Return to NWSL Play Friday

The Orlando Pride return to action Friday against Racing Louisville FC. The match is at Louisville where the Pride have yet to win. Despite that, the players are ready to pick up where they left off before the international break. The break provided much-needed rest for many of the players. The Pride will play six matches during the month of May before the league takes a break for the World Cup.

Osceola Heritage Park Expansion Funding Moves Forward

Osceola County leaders have agreed to have Orlando City expand the club’s footprint at Osceola Heritage Park. Orlando Sports Enterprises (OSE a.k.a. the Wilf family) will match the $25 million that the county is putting up for the project. OSE will assume repair, maintenance, and operating costs for the facility. A hotel and free-standing restaurant are also in the plans. This is a good investment for the club’s future in the arms race that is professional sports.

NWSL Coming to Columbus

The owners of the Columbus Crew have been awarded an NWSL franchise. The Haslam Sports Group paid a record $205 million expansion fee to obtain the 18th NWSL club. The new club will renovate and play at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field downtown. The organization will also build a training center at McCoy Park that had previously been slated to be renovated for local residents, including features that would enable physically disabled people to use the park.

The NWSL called and Columbus answered 📞 Columbus joins the league as team No. 18!

— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) 2026-04-21T19:44:42.987Z

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That will do it for today. Check back later today for our coverage of the Orlando City match this evening. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/21/26

Takeaways from MLS matchday eight, USWNT stock watch, transfer rumor roundup, and more.

Published

1 day ago

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April 21, 2026

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Image of Ignacio Gomez making his MLS debut with Orlando City vs. Houston.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone. It was a frustrating weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams, as Orlando City lost a close game to the Houston Dynamo, and Orlando City B blew a two-goal lead against Carolina Core FC, and had to settle for the two points that come with a shootout victory after a draw. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on your viewpoint), OCSC will have a chance to get right back on the horse when Charlotte FC comes to town on Wednesday. We’ve got lots to talk about this morning, so let’s have a look at the links.

MLS Matchday Eight Takeaways

Major League Soccer’s eighth round of matches is in the books, and there are plenty of talking points to go over. The San Jose Earthquakes ended the weekend on an emphatic note by dismantling LAFC 4-1 on the road, adding to an impressive list of scalps that also includes the Vancouver Whitecaps and San Diego FC. They’re tied with Vancouver atop the Western Conference and continue to look like one of the league’s best teams. Meanwhile, Charlotte FC, Orlando City’s next opponent, kept things organized in a 4-4-2 block and scored from two of its three shots on goal to take down NYCFC 2-1. That result puts the club in third place in the Eastern Conference.

USWNT Stock Watch

The United States Women’s National Team wrapped up its three game slate against Japan over the weekend, so let’s check in on how the matches affected the standing of several players. Lindsey Heaps was name-dropped by Emma Hayes as having had a great run of three matches, while 20-year-old Claire Hutton wore the captain’s armband during the series and looked far more poised and ready than one would expect given her age. At the opposite end of the spectrum, winger Emma Sears struggled to make an impact in the final third, and while her speed makes her a tempting option to have in the squad, the depth at her position means she’s always going to face a battle for a place.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

The summer transfer window will be here before we know it, and that means the rumors are already flying thick and fast. We begin with Arsenal, which is said to be interested in signing Julian Alvarez this summer, but will likely face competition from Barcelona. Speaking of Barcelona, club president Joan Laporta has reportedly held talks with Robert Lewandowski about extending his stay with the team, while the Chicago Fire also interested and reportedly having submitted a bid to the striker’s representatives. Liverpool is said to be ready to spend in excess of  €100 million to sign Red Bull Leipzig forward Yan Diomande as a replacement for the outgoing Mohamed Salah. Finally, center backs Hiroki Ito and Min-Jae-Kim could both reportedly leave Bayern Munich this summer if interested teams are willing to meet the German club’s valuations of them.

Jonathan Klinsmann Suffers Broken Neck

American goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann suffered a broken neck while playing for Serie B side Cesena on Saturday. The son of former United States Men’s National Team manager Jurgen Klinsmann, the shot stopper was stretchered off the field after colliding with a Palermo player and was diagnosed with a fractured first cervical vertebra after being taken to the hospital. Klinsmann confirmed on social media that his season is over, which will leave him unavailable for Cesena’s promotion push. The team is currently eighth in the second division, which is the final playoff promotion spot.

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That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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