One of the best parts about Orlando City winning a midweek MLS match is that it makes the rest of the week feel much less like a slog. Having all three of Orlando’s soccer teams performing well is both unfamiliar and pretty great. Let’s dive right into Orlando’s win and more in today’s links!

Orlando City Beats the Philadelphia Union

Orlando City hosted the Philadelphia Union and claimed all three points in a 2-1 win. Luis Muriel came off the bench and changed the game after a scoreless first half, continuing his strong run of form as of late. The Union pulled one back, but the Lions held on for their sixth straight win at home in league play. The Lions remain in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with two games to go. Orlando will be back in action on Saturday with a tough road match against FC Cincinnati.

Eastern Conference Playoff Races Tighten

Although the regular season nears its end, the MLS playoff picture didn’t get much clearer after the midweek matches across the league. New York City FC beat FC Cincinnati 3-2 and the New York Red Bulls won 4-1 against Toronto FC, meaning both teams are still just two points behind the Lions in the standings. Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, Charlotte FC clinched a spot in the playoffs after winning 4-3 against the Chicago Fire. Inter Miami also won the Supporters’ Shield with a 3-2 road win over the Columbus Crew. D.C. United’s Gabriel Pirani scored twice in stoppage time to lift his team to a dramatic 4-3 win over Nashville.

Mauricio Pochettino Names His First USMNT Roster

United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino called up 25 players for his first training camp at the helm. The roster includes plenty of familiar faces, such as Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tim Ream. Goalkeeper Zack Steffen is back in the fold, joining Matt Turner, Patrick Schulte, and Ethan Horvath. Midfielder Giancarlo Busio was also called up for the first time this year. The USMNT will host Panama in a friendly on Oct. 12 in Pocchettino’s first game in charge before a friendly with Mexico on Oct. 15 in Guadalajara.

Keeping Up With Champions League Action

The second round of matches in the Champions League wrapped up and there were some interesting results to enjoy. Despite a red card to goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio in the 59th minute, Juventus mounted a comeback to win 3-2 on the road against RB Leipzig. Mo Salah had a goal and an assist in Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Bologna. In the heavyweight match between Aston Villa and Bayern Munich, Jhon Duran beat Manuel Neuer from distance to give Aston Villa the 1-0 win. It was a rough day for the Spanish clubs, as Real Madrid lost 1-0 to Lille, Atletico Madrid fell 4-0 to Benfica, and Girona was beaten 3-2 by Feyenoord.

Free Kicks

• The NWSL unveiled the redesigned NWSL Shield and MVP trophies, which were handcrafted by Tiffany & Co. Hopefully, the Pride can secure some of this brand new silverware on Saturday, because it is gorgeous.
• The live show where MLS NEXT Pro playoff teams choose their opponents will take place on Monday. Orlando City B has already clinched a spot in the playoffs, but Decision Day on Sunday will determine if the Young Lions will get to pick which team they’ll face in the first round. The top three teams in each conference get to choose an opponent, with the fourth-place team facing whichever club is left over.
• Ahead of his team’s clash with the Orlando Pride, Washington Spirit Head Coach Jonatan Giraldez stated that he won’t have a player take the field until they are “100% available.” Spirit forward Trinity Rodman may miss Saturday’s game due to the back injury she suffered last month.
• Former Portland Timbers defender Modou Jadama has unfortunately passed away. Our condolences go out to his family, friends, and all affected.
• Senegal sacked Aliou Cisse as its head coach, with the federation citing a government request not to renew his contract. In his time as head coach, Cisse helped Senegal win the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and qualify for the past two World Cups.
• A section of Atletico Madrid’s stadium will be closed for three games due to fan behavior in the club’s derby match against Real Madrid.
• Brentford has been off to a hot start in each of its past three English Premier League matches, scoring in under 40 seconds each time out. Although Brentford didn’t end up winning any of those games, it’s still an impressive feat. Someone should tell the Bees they’re allowed to score after the first minute.

⚽️ 22 seconds
⚽️ 23 seconds
⚽️ 38 seconds

Brentford have scored inside the opening minute in each of their last THREE Premier League games! 🐝 pic.twitter.com/FcZuywjFtf

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) October 2, 2024

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That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

Facundo Torres and Duncan McGuire each scored second-half goals off Luis Muriel assists to lead Orlando City to a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union at Inter&Co Stadium. The Lions (14-11-7, 49 points) started well, then faded badly for what was a mostly sloppy first half for both sides, before starting the second half strong and building a 2-0 lead over the Union (9-13-10, 37 points). A careless bit of defending allowed Quinn Sullivan to pull one back, and Philadelphia should have scored a few times off set pieces, but Orlando was able to hold on for all three points.

The victory keeps the Lions in fourth place in a tight playoff race for home field advantage in the best-of-three first round.

“We are obviously very happy and satisfied with the way the team found a way to win games and put us in this spot in the standings at this time of the season,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “Another hard game. Well played, but us, we could have had more precision in certain moments when we could have put the game away from Philadelpha.”

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

Orlando City came out buzzing and Ojeda created several opportunities but none of the other attacking players were nearly as sharp as the Argentine. It started in the third minute, with a great cross in from Ojeda that Enrique flicked on but he didn’t get enough on it and sent it wide of the far post.

Ojeda found Enrique again in the seventh minute but this time his shot was deflected out by the defense. On the ensuing corner kick, Ojeda’s cross was cut out by the defense. Angulo picked it up but quickly turned it over. Ojeda won it back and carried it into the box. He smashed a shross through the six-yard box, but no one could get on it at the back post and it fizzed out of play.

Torres won a free kick near the left corner of the box in the 15th minute and Araujo took it for some reason. The defensive midfielder thumped his shot into the wall. It ricocheted back to him, giving the Uruguayan a second chance, but this time he fired well over the crossbar.

Angulo continued his recent bad habit of giving the ball away cheaply throughout the first half and it cost Schlegel a yellow card in the 19th minute as he took down Mikael Uhre to break up the counter. Daniel Gazdag fired a shot off Santos and out of play moments later.

Philadelphia countered off a poor layoff by Angulo in the 33rd minute and had numbers forward in the attack but could not link up in front of goal, ending the threat. Two minutes later, Tai Baribo was all alone in front of goal but got under his header and sent it over the bar.

Enrique knocked down a cross for Torres in the box in the 37th minute. His shot was blocked and fell to Angulo near the penalty spot, but the Colombian put his shot well over the bar. Cartagena took a turn at getting well under the ball on a layoff near the top of the box in the 39th minute, sending it well over the crossbar.

Orlando looked to have something cooking in stoppage time on a long-range set piece that fell for Torres, but referee Armando Villarreal broke up Orlando’s attack with a poorly timed halftime whistle.

The Lions finished the first half with the advantage in possession (63.7%-36.3%), shots (11-7), and passing accuracy (91.4%-78.7%). Philadelphia won more corners (2-1), and neither team managed to put a single shot on frame.

Pareja sent on Muriel for Angulo at the half. He was part of a press that nearly paid dividends in the first minute of the second period when Enrique took the ball away and cleared himself to shoot but wasted the effort by blasting it over the net.

The Lions got forward in the 51st minute and Cartagena was sent down the left. With two men breaking in front, he could have given a teammate a tap-in but instead he shot from a tight angle and Andre Blake made the stop. Ojeda then found Enrique on a corner kick in the 52nd minute but the Argentine’s shot was wide, missing the target yet again.

Muriel came within inches of sending Torres in alone on goal in the 55th minute. Blake was quick to sprint off his line and got a touch to the ball to prevent a dangerous Orlando chance. However, Muriel got dialed in quickly with that pass.

Muriel found Torres on the left in the 57th minute and the Designated Player slotted home his 45th career goal, becoming the franchise’s all-time scoring leader.

Facu Torres buries it perfectly and @OrlandoCitySC takes the lead!

📺 #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/wRKwisPjmu pic.twitter.com/HmEBPsWT9Z

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 3, 2024

“Luis first got the ball, he tried to play it in to one of our forwards,” Torres said. “I actually told him I was all alone on that, so he could have played me earlier, but thankfully, we were able to recover the ball again. And then he looked up and saw that I was still all alone. So, he played me in, and I was in front of goal, and so I shot it, and you know, the goalkeeper was able to get a touch to it, but thankfully, it still went in anyway.”

“I’m very happy for Facu, very proud of the way he has evolved in maturing and carrying us on his shoulders when we need him the most,” Pareja said. “I see a player who has embraced that responsibility.”

Philadelphia Union defender Jakob Glesnes smashed a shot from distance in the 60th minute that was over the bar.

McGuire checked in at the hour mark, coming on for Ojeda, who had nothing to show for a strong performance. The big striker made his presence felt right away.

Muriel hit a perfect inside-out ball through the center backs for McGuire to run onto in the 64th minute. The striker picked out his spot and slotted it home to make it 2-0.

The set up, the finish! 😤

Duncan McGuire makes it 2-0 in favor of @OrlandoCitySC! pic.twitter.com/1Nw4UUGHw2

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 3, 2024

“I thought that (in) today’s game Luis came and defined in those precise moments with that talent and put us in front of the goal, and it was definitely a fantastic night for him,” Pareja said. “I think the way he’s adapting to us, to the group, has been much, much better. Every day it looks like he’s gelling with what we want. And good timing, also. I’m very happy for him and I know the group is valuing a lot what he’s doing, and he represents the unity that we have.”

Feeling the pressure of falling below the playoff line, the Union turned up the heat after Orlando’s second goal and were the better side over the final 26 minutes of the match, plus stoppage time. Philadelphia was a dangerous team, especially on set pieces for the remainder of the game, creating enough chances to not only draw level, but also to pull ahead. However, the visitors were not clinical enough in front of goal.

The first warning shot was fired in the 70th minute when substitute Nathan Harriel headed a shot that looked to be going wide of the right post off a cross in from the left, but Gallese caught it anyway.

Philadelphia pulled a goal back in the 72nd minute off a throw-in that should never have been awarded to the Union. A cross from the right cleared everyone but Villarreal ruled that it came off an Orlando head. The Lions argued vehemently to no avail. Philadelphia worked the ball to Gazdag off the throw-in and he got to the end line, cutting back a pass to Sullivan in the box. Santos was in the area but was not marking his man tightly enough and a simple redirect put the ball off the underside of the crossbar and in to make it 2-1.

What a strike from Quinn Sullivan! @PhilaUnion cut the deficit in half. pic.twitter.com/foGZ01V8zZ

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 3, 2024

“What changed the story of the game, unfortunately today, is the goal that Philadelphia scored,” Pareja said. “Today (it) was not a throw-in. It was very clear. The referee was 10 yards from that play, and that small detail changed things, and then put the team in stress for us that was very unfair. And after that we just got very tense because it was 2-1, but we were dominating the game. That goal, it shouldn’t be called because it was not a throw-in. It was very evident and I was upset with that.”

The Union should have tied the game in the 79th minute. After substitute Luca Petrasso deflected a cross out for a corner, Harriel blazed past the Canadian on the ensuing set piece, getting a free header right in front. He placed his header wide of the left post, letting Orlando off the hook.

The Lions were fortunate again not to give up a second goal as a turnover off a throw-in in the offensive third ended up with Samuel Adeniran on the counter down the left. Adeniran picked out Uhre at the far post, but he couldn’t direct it on target. Seconds later, a header on the corner was scuffed in front and Gallese grabbed it.

“It’s something that is happening that we don’t want to get through,” Pareja said of his team finding itself under pressure with the lead for the second straigh tgame. “Having control of the game the whole 90 minutes is not an easy task. I prefer to defend higher in the field and put pressure on the other teams and having the ball.”

Orlando had a chance to put the game to bed in the 84th minute when Muriel again tried to play McGuire in behind the defense. The pass was just a touch overweighted as Blake charged out to try to reach it first. It appeared McGuire just managed to get his toe on the ball but he couldn’t steer it past Blake. Three minutes later, second-half sub Nico Lodeiro found Santos on the left. The fullback smashed a shot on target toward the near post but he couldn’t beat Blake, who saved it, knocking it out for a corner.

In the 91st minute, Gallese caught a deflected shot and made a tremendous effort to keep it in play. He appeared to prevent the ball from going over the line, but Villarreal awarded a corner to Philadelphia anyway. Uhre stepped on Gallese’s hand on the play and was fortunate to only see a yellow card. The Lions argued the call and Araujo was booked. Harriel again got a free header on the corner kick but once more he sent the shot off target.

McGuire ran afoul of Villarreal deep in stoppage time. After getting mauled and not getting a call, McGuire was booked. He will be suspended for the match Saturday in Cincinnati. He nearly got the last laugh in the final seconds of the game. Muriel again unlocked the defense with a pass in the 96th minute, sending McGuire behind the Union back line. McGuire tried to beat Blake, who stuck out a hand at the last second and parried the shot away.

“(I’m) happy, because the team was able to win tonight, happy with my two assists, happy because, as I said in my last interview, I’m starting to get involved in the mechanism more and really, really start to feel more comfortable here in the way that we play, and it’s starting to show out on the pitch,” Muriel said.

That was the last action of the match, as Orlando City completed a sweep of the Union.

Orlando finished with the advantage in possession (53.4%-46.6%), shots (20-14), shots on target (6-2), and passing accuracy (88.2%-83.8%). Philadelphia won more corners (8-3).

“All in all, I thought we were the best team in the pitch, and we beat one of the best teams in the league, for me,” Pareja said.

The Lions won their sixth consecutive home game of the regular season and are now 7-0-2 in their last nine at home in all competitions.

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The Lions have another quick turnaround with a road match Saturday night at FC Cincinnati.

Welcome to your match thread for a midweek matchup between Orlando City SC (13-11-7, 46 points) and the Philadelphia Union (9-12-10, 37 points) at Inter&Co Stadium (7:30 p.m., MLS Season Pass on Apple TV). This is the second of the two scheduled regular-season meetings between the Eastern Conference clubs in 2024.

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

History

Orlando City is 6-7-6 in the 19 MLS meetings with the Union since the club joined Major League Soccer in 2015, and 7-8-6 in all competitions. The Lions are 2-2-4 against the Union at home in league play and 3-2-4 in their home stadium against Philadelphia in all competitions.

The teams last met on May 11, with the Lions snatching a 3-2 road win at Subaru Park. Luis Muriel scored his first two MLS goals, Duncan McGuire added a strike, and Nico Lodeiro assisted on all three tallies for the Lions to offset an early goal by Mikael Uhre and a penalty by Daniel Gazdag.

The last meeting in Orlando took place on June 21, 2023, with the Lions blowing a two-goal lead in a controversial 2-2 draw. McGuire and Martin Ojeda scored early in each half, only to see Jack McGlynn score on a cross into the box that missed everyone and got past Mason Stajduhar at the far post, followed by a rocket shot by Jose Martinez from distance. Ivan Angulo’s would-be game winner was chalked off after a questionable foul call in the buildup against Ercan Kara.

The teams met in Philadelphia most recently on March 25, 2023 with the Lions jumping out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Angulo and Ojeda. Former Lion Andres Perea pulled one back but the Lions held on for a 2-1 road win. The victory snapped Philadelphia’s incredible 24-match home unbeaten streak.

The Union put the Lions to the sword in the last meeting of 2022, a dominant 5-1 win by Philadelphia on Sept. 10 of that year. That was Orlando’s first match since winning the U.S. Open Cup title three days earlier. Joao Moutinho’s own goal started the scoring and the Union got goals from Uhre, Gazdag (penalty), Alejandro Bedoya, and Jack Elliott. Perea, who was then still a Lion, scored for Orlando but the team was trailing by 4-0 at the time.

The Eastern Conference foes met on July 23, 2022 at Exploria Stadium. Two controversial video review decisions went against Orlando that night and the Lions were wasteful with their chances in an evenly matched 1-0 Philadelphia win. Gazdag scored the game’s only goal off a set piece.

The teams also met in U.S. Open Cup play on May 10, 2022, with the Lions winning 2-1 at home. Kara and Perea hoisted Orlando to a 2-0 lead. Stuart Findlay pulled one back late, but the Lions saw it out and advanced.

On Sept. 19, 2021 the Union prevailed 3-1 at Subaru Park, largely due to a brace by Kacper Przybylko after he got away with what appeared a clear elbow to the face of Rodrigo Schlegel. Instead of being sent off and/or conceding a free kick to Orlando City, the Union scored on the ensuing play and went on to win the match. The teams met in Orlando on July 22, 2021 and the Lions got goals by Benji Michel and Perea on the team’s only two shots on target to win 2-1. Przybylko, who had feasted on Orlando since arriving in Philadelphia, pulled one back for the visitors but the Lions hung on.

The teams faced each other in the group stage of the MLS is Back Tournament in 2020 in the only meeting to date that did not take place in either side’s home stadium. The game ended in a 1-1 draw after a Mauricio Pereyra goal canceled out a strike by Ilsinho. That draw allowed the Lions to win Group A in the competition and they went on to reach the final.

The Lions and Union tangled in what was then known as Talen Energy Stadium on July 7, 2019, with the teams drawing, 2-2. Dom Dwyer and Santiago Patino brought Orlando back from 1-0 down but Przybylko poached a goal in the 90th to capture a share of the points for the Union. That match was postponed by MLS on the night it was set to take place — a move that Orlando City fought against — and instead was played the next day.

The two teams had met just a few days earlier on July 3, ending in Orlando’s 3-1 home loss against the Union. Chris Mueller and Przybylko swapped goals in the first half before Robin Jansson was sent off just prior to the break. Afterwards, the 10-man Lions gave up two more goals — to Przybylko and Fafa Picault — and then went down another man with Sacha Kljestan seeing red.

The teams drew 2-2 in a wild finish on Sept. 1, 2018 in Orlando. Just when it looked like Picault had lifted the Union to victory with a strike in the 88th minute, Scott Sutter equalized in stoppage time to salvage a point for the Lions. Dwyer and Cory Burke also scored in that match. The Lions prevailed over the Union in Philadelphia on April 13, 2018 by a 2-0 score. Dwyer and Mueller provided the offense. Orlando and Philadelphia also met that season in U.S. Open Cup play, with the Union capturing a 1-0 home win back on July 18, 2018 on a goal by Bedoya.

The teams split their two matches in 2017, with the home side prevailing both times. The Lions won 2-1 at Orlando City Stadium on March 18. The rematch was an ugly 6-1 Philadelphia win in the season finale for both teams.

The Lions were 1-1-1 against Philadelphia in 2016. The team’s first road victory in the series came on Oct. 16, 2016, as the Lions roared, 2-0. The teams played to a 2-2 draw on May 25 in Orlando. Tranquillo Barnetta’s free kick gave Philly a 2-1 win.

Orlando drew 0-0 at home and lost on the road, 1-0 (on a penalty kick), against Philadelphia in 2015.

Overview

Orlando City enters tonight’s match fresh off a 3-1 road win at FC Dallas Saturday. The Lions have gone 7-2-1 in their last 10 MLS matches and 8-2-3 in their last 13 across all competitions. After a poor start, the club has climbed above .500 at Inter&Co Stadium, compiling a 6-5-4 record in home games. That includes a 5-0-1 record in the last six home games in league play and a 6-0-3 mark in all matches at Inter&Co Stadium since a June 15 loss to LAFC. The Lions have compiled three straight home shutouts, but that will be a difficult streak to extend against the high-scoring Union.

Philadelphia is unbeaten in its last three games, outscoring opponents 10-2 in that span, although the Union last played in a 1-1 home draw against Atlanta United over the weekend. The Union have been decent on the road in 2024, compiling a 5-5-5 record away from Subaru Park this season. Their last road outing was a 5-1 dismantling of New York City FC at Yankee Stadium.

Typically, the Union like to deploy in a 4-4-2 diamond formation under Jim Curtin. Philadelphia’s strikers are formidable. Gazdag is the key man as he can both score and turn provider for others. He leads the Union with 17 goals to go along with an uncharacteristically low two assists in 2024. Uhre is another danger man that Orlando City must always keep under wraps. Second among Union scorers with 10 goals on the season, Uhre has five assists as well. Strike Partner Tai Baribo has nine goals and two assists. Fullback Kai Wagner is always a threat with crosses and set pieces and leads the Union with 12 assists — one more than Quinn Sullivan’s 11.

“We pretty much know about Philadelphia [Union], and they know us as well during this year,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said ahead of the match. “Our rivalry has been very intense, and we respect them a lot, and my first thought is that they do the same. We’re trying to accomplish the next objective, and in order to do that, we have to beat Philadelphia. They will try and come here and qualify for a playoff spot. It’s going to be intense, no doubt. For us, we’ll be ready and try to take advantage of this opportunity.” 

Orlando City will be without Dagur Dan Thorhallsson (lower leg), David Brekalo (thigh), and Mason Stajduhar (lower leg).

Match Content

• The most recent PawedCast includes our key matchups and score predictions for tonight’s game.

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Official Lineups:

Orlando City (4-2-3-1),

Goalkeeper: Pedro Gallese.

Defenders: Rafael Santos, Robin Jansson, Rodrigo Schlegel, Kyle Smith.

Defensive Midfielders: Cesar Araujo, Wilder Cartagena.

Attacking Midfielders: Ivan Angulo, Martin Ojeda, Facundo Torres.

Forwards: Ramiro Enrique.

Bench: Javier Otero, Luca Petrasso, Michael Halliday, Heine Bruseth, Felipe, Nico Lodeiro, Yutaro Tsukada, Luis Muriel, Duncan McGuire.

Philadelphia Union (4-4-2 diamond)

Goalkeeper: Andre Blake.

Defenders: Kai Wagner, Jack Elliott, Jakob Glesnes, Olivier Mbaizo.

Midfielders: Danley Jean Jacques, Jack McGlynn, Daniel Gazdag, Alejandro Bedoya.

Forwards: Tai Baribo, Michael Uhre.

Bench: Andrew Rick, Nathan Harriel, Jeremy Rafanello, Jesus Bueno, Leon Flach, Quinn Sullivan, Chris Donovan, Samuel Adeniran, Cavan Sullivan.

Referees:

REF: Armando Villarreal.
AR1: Jeremy Hanson.
AR2: Peter Balciunas.
4TH: Alyssa Nichols.
VAR: David Barrie.
AVAR: Jozef Batko.

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How to Watch

Match Time: 7:30 p.m.

Venue: Inter&Co Stadium — Orlando.

TV/Streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Radio: FM 96.9 The Game (English), Mega 97.1 FM (Spanish).

Twitter: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow along at @TheManeLand, as well as Orlando City’s official Twitter feed (@OrlandoCitySC).

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Enjoy the match. Go City!