Orlando City
Orlando City vs. Atlanta United: Final Score 2-1 as Lions Fall at Home in Regular-Season Finale
The Lions fell behind by two goals, pulled one back, and had a late equalizer overturned after video review on Decision Day.
Orlando City conceded two early goals and couldn’t finish its opportunities in a disappointing 2-1 loss to Atlanta United at Inter&Co Stadium on Decision Day. The Lions (15-12-7, 52 points) allowed Atlanta (10-14-10, 40 points) to do something it hadn’t done all season — score twice in the game’s first 16 minutes — and Orlando’s disjointed attack couldn’t overcome the deficit. It kind of did, but after Martin Ojeda pulled one goal back the Lions had a late, would-be tying goal from Duncan McGuire overturned by the referee after video review.
Saba Lobjanidze and Jamal Thiare put the visitors ahead early and the Five Stripes held on to sweep the season series and squeaked into the postseason’s play-in game due to results elsewhere. Orlando City clinched fourth place despite the loss, thanks to New York City FC’s loss to Montreal.
“I thought we played well, and we had some moments of distractions,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the game. “Not that we got outplayed by Atlanta, but we got distractions on a couple plays, especially at the start of the halves and we need to correct that. It cannot happen in the playoffs. In between those moments, I thought the boys played well. We have had more sharpness on our finishing than tonight, but I thought the heart of the team was there tonight.”
Pareja’s starting lineup included Pedro Gallese in goal behind a back line of Rafael Santos, Robin Jansson, Rodrigo Schlegel, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson. Cesar Araujo started in central midfield with Felipe, who filled in for the suspended Wilder Cartagena, behind an attacking line of Ivan Angulo, Ojeda, and Facundo Torres, with Ramiro Enrique.
The warning signs about Orlando’s sharpness appeared four minutes in when a ball found Enrique with his back to goal in the middle near the top of the area. Despite having Angulo, Torres, and Ojeda behind him or to the attacking right, he played a blind ball to the other side, where he had no teammates. Atlanta broke quickly in transition but the defense was able to recover and block a cross attempt to end the threat.
The Lions created a good opportunity in the fifth minute when a good ball from Torres sent Ojeda down the left flank. Ojeda sent in a dangerous cross to the back post that was just inches over the head of the leaping Enrique. The bouncing ball found its way to Araujo, who fired a shot on target that Brad Guzan saved, but he couldn’t control the rebound, which ricocheted to Ojeda on the left. The Argentine fired but got under the ball, sending it high over the goal and into the seats.
Two minutes later, the visitors too the lead. During a prolonged spell of Atlanta possession that the Lions couldn’t break up, Lobjanidze took a pass and played a give-and-go with Pedro Amador, who backheeled it through the Orlando back line. Both Schlegel and Felipe were caught watching on the play as Lobjanidze slotted it inside the far post to make it 1-0 in the seventh minute.
“The first (goal), I thought it was a collective distraction,” Pareja said of his defense. “And I have to admit that Atlanta did a good job on trying to move the ball in and find that space that they found there. We have to be better on those in that moment.”
Ojeda came within inches of pulling the goal back in the 11th minute. From outside the area, the Argentine smashed a shot that fizzed inches wide of the left post and into the outside netting. Three minutes later, the Lions got forward on the counter and Torres had his legs taken out from under him trying to cut inside on his left foot. There was no call or dangerous free kick awarded, and the ball ended up getting picked up further away from goal by Ojeda. The midfielder unleashed a hard shot on target but it was right at Guzan.
Atlanta doubled its lead in the 16th minute. On a scramble play in the box, Santos dangerously knocked the ball out of the air toward his own goal, giving up a corner. The service on the ensuing set piece pinged around the box and found its way off Gallese in front. Thiare was the first to the loose ball as Santos stood watching and stabbed it in to make it 2-0.
‘We didn’t clear the ball on the set piece, and by the way I see a handball too there,” Pareja said. “It was difficult to see but it was. I reviewed it already. But it’s a beautiful game. It just doesn’t stop. We have to move on.”
The Lions came close again in the 21st minute. Araujo won a free kick near the right corner and Ojeda sent a near post ball to Enrique, who flicked it on goal. Guzan was there to make the save. Ojeda went for goal on a free kick from 30 yards out in the 39th minute but his effort curled just outside the right post with Guzan scrambling.
Three minutes later, Ojeda pulled one back. A cross from Thorhallsson on the right got through the bodies in front and went out the other side. Santos gathered it and sent it back into the area, where Ojeda flicked a headed shot just inside the back post past Guzan to make it 2-1 in the 42nd minute.
“I think, more than anything, that play was just knowing my teammates, knowing that especially when Rafa has the ball, he likes to hit it in really, really strong, into those center areas, and it’ll cause a lot of ricochets,” Ojeda said. “I saw the center back was far away from that first post, so I kind of ran to that area, just like I always do, just like I always try and get into those spaces. And when he looked up and he saw me, and he hit it, you know, I just tried to convert it. Sometimes it happens. Sometimes it doesn’t, but really just trying to take advantage of that opportunity and that space as I always intend to do. And thankfully, he played a great ball, and it found me, and I was able to get it into the goal.”
Ojeda had a couple of chances to equalize in stoppage time but both unfortunately fell onto his weaker right foot. The first happened in the third minute of added time. Orlando pinged the ball around the attacking penalty area but couldn’t direct anything on target. The ball eventually found Torres on the right, and the Uruguayan slid the ball into the center to Ojeda. The shot came with Ojeda’s first touch, but he floated the right-footed effort softly to Guzan.
The last chance for Ojeda came a minute later. Taking the ball down the right, he sent either a pass or shot with his right foot that again floated straight to Guzan.
Orlando City held the halftime advantage in possession (62.3%-37.7%), shot (12-7), shots on goal (6-3), and passing accuracy (86.6%-77.8%). Each team earned one corner in the opening period.
Atlanta had a golden opportunity to restore its two-goal advantage just seconds after the restart. With the Lions unable to corral a loose ball, Atlanta’s Lobjanidze picked it up in the box and was fouled by Thorhallsson. Referee Rubiel Vazquez pointed to the spot, awarding a penalty. Aleksey Miranchuk stepped up to the spot and sent a shot to Gallese’s right but the Peruvian international made a diving save to keep the score 2-1.
“Pedro has had that responsibility to bring himself back to his level, and when he saved that PK today, I thought about that,” Pareja said. “I said, ‘Well, good moment. It’s what we need now.’ Those saves that he used to do, that keep us alive in games, that are hard, and I’m glad for him.”
The chances were less frequent in the second half, with Atlanta looking to stay organized and look for chances to counter. The next decent Orlando look came in the 53rd minute when Angulo teed up a shot on the left near the top of the area, but he hit his shot poorly and missed badly outside the right post.
The Lions won several set pieces in the attacking third, but couldn’t pay them off. Likewise, the crosses didn’t find their targets when some of the bigger targets were in the box, but they seemed to be spot on for smaller guys, including a great ball from Santos for Thorhallsson in the 64th minute. The Icelandic fullback couldn’t beat his defender in the air, allowing Atlanta to clear.
Santos had a go from the top of the box in the 72nd minute, and he blasted his shot, but it fizzed just over the crossbar.
Pareja poured offensive subs into the game in the second half to try to find an equalizer, including McGuire, Luis Muriel, and Nico Lodeiro. The latter went for goal from a set piece in the 84th minute, but his near-post effort couldn’t beat Guzan.
McGuire thought he’d equalized in the 89th minute when Angulo sent a good cross in front that pinged off of a couple of bodies. The big forward smashed a shot over Guzan and just under the bar to send the sellout crowd of 25,046 into a frenzy. However, before the restart, there was a lengthy delay while the video assistant referee reviewed the play. Vazquez went to the monitor to see it for himself, and he disallowed the goal for a handball on McGuire.
The ball hit off the Orlando forward before he fired it home, but live it appeared to hit off his stomach. The replay showed McGuire’s arms straight down at his sides, and the ball may have simultaneously hit his arm and torso, but the way the rule is worded, a handball for an attacking player has a much lower bar for a call. Despite McGuire doing nothing wrong and maintaining as compact a silhouette as possible, he was penalized for it and the game remained 2-1.
“I believe I was talking with (Atlanta’s) Dax McCarty about it, not the referee,” a frustrated-looking McGuire said. “If it hits your hand and you score immediately after, no matter what, it’s called back. I don’t know where else I’m supposed to put my arm, besides next to my side, but that’s all I’m going to say.”
“The officials reviewed it and they saw a handball there,” Pareja said when asked what the match officials told him. “By the ruling, they are correct if it was a handball. I thought it was a very special moment for us and our fans, and the frustration today in not allowing that goal is big, but that is what happened.”
The Lions put the ball into the box a couple more times in stoppage time but couldn’t create a chance from it. The match ended with Atlanta squeaking into the postseason by the slimmest margin and Orlando falling at home for the first time since June 15. The Lions had multiple streaks snapped, including: a three-game winning streak, a seven-game unbeaten run at home (6-0-1) in MLS play, and a 10-match unbeaten streak in all competitions (7-0-3).
Orlando City finished with the advantage in possession (66.5%-33.5%), shots (20-7), shots on target (8-4), and passing accuracy (86.6%-65.7%). Each team finished the game with its one first-half corner kick.
“This loss hurts just as they all do,” Ojeda said. “But at the same time, we’re in a good spot right now. At the start of the season, we had about four or five months where we were in a really bad zone, where results weren’t going our way, bounces in the game weren’t going our way. And it was a tough stretch, and it really hurt us. But now, looking where we are right now, we’re in a beautiful moment. We finished fourth. We’re in a good spot in terms of how the team is playing.”
“Obviously we wanted to lock in fourth place with a win tonight and end the season on a win. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case here,” McGuire said. “But, you know, with other results in the league, thankfully we got fourth, and now we get to host in the playoffs, which is a huge from how we started the season. So, I’m definitely proud of the boys. And, you know, obviously it’s hard to smile tonight after we lose, but you know, we all look forward, and the positives are we still have hosting the playoff.”
“I congratulate this group of players,” Pareja said of finishing in the top four of the Eastern Conference. “Once again they brought us here. They finalized fourth in the conference and that’s not an easy task. And we like better just to take that positive side.”
The Lions limp into the postseason on the heels of this result, where they will need to be much better in a first-round series against a defensively strong Charlotte FC side. The game schedule will be announced soon.
Opinion
Likes and Dislikes from the Fifth Week of Orlando City Preseason
Let’s examine some good and some bad from this week of Orlando City’s preseason preparations.
We’ve (almost) made it to the end of another week, with Orlando City’s final preseason match against the Colorado Rapids looming large Saturday night. The season opener will be here before you know it, and things will only speed up from there. For the final time this preseason, let’s take a look back at the week that was and talk about what I liked, and what I didn’t.
Likes
A New Signing
Orlando City announced the long-awaited signing of Brazilian center back Iago on Saturday, making him the third and presumably final MLS U22 Initiative arrival of the off-season. While he’s only 20 years old, he’s likely to be one of the two starting center backs on opening day alongside David Brekalo, so him getting a couple weeks of preseason to get settled in is vital. It of course would have been ideal for him to have even more time, but transfer dealings with Brazilian clubs rarely seem to be straightforward affairs, and two weeks is better than none at all. Crucially, Iago played over 5,000 minutes for Flamengo’s senior and U-20 sides, so he’s no stranger to the professional game, and hopefully that helps him to hit the ground running as a Lion.
A New Kit
Continuing the trend of shiny new things, the Lions unveiled their new away kit on Tuesday. It’s a gold jersey with purple shorts that’s been dubbed the ‘Sunken Treasure’ kit, and it’s the club’s first jersey to heavily use the team’s secondary color of gold. All things considered, I quite like the new threads. As with a lot of jerseys these days, the finer details like the Lion in the background of the front and the two patches, won’t be visible unless you’re up close to it. That being said, those details look pretty nice in the close-up shots of the jersey that the club provided, and when viewed from a distance, the shirt is striking. I also like the decision to go with purple shorts, as I think going with gold all the way would be a bit too much.
Dislikes
All Quiet on the Rumor Front
Things have gone a little quiet when it comes to transfer rumors regarding Orlando City. The club still has a Designated Player slot that it intends to use on an attacker, but we haven’t seen any hints as far as who the brass might be looking at. It’s not necessarily a reason to panic, as the team has made it a habit to be methodical in the transfer window and hasn’t been afraid to take its time pursuing players it thinks will be the right fit, rather than rushing business and potentially making an unwise signing as a result. All the same, it’s always nice to hear that a specific name is being pursued, particularly when OCSC still has a DP slot burning a hole in its proverbial pocket in addition to some areas of the field that need to be strengthened with additional depth. I trust the business to get done and done well, but I’m also not going to pretend I wouldn’t love a juicy signing rumor or two right about now.
With a little luck, next week will bring a couple of positive transfer rumors and three points to start the season off on a strong note. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 2/13/26
Hannah Anderson challenging herself in Orlando, Luana called up by Brazil, broadcasting changes ahead of MLS season, and more.
Today is Friday the 13th, so make sure to steer clear of black cats, ladders, and any other bad omens out there. Orlando City’s season opener is next weekend and the last thing we need to do is accumulate bad luck before the Lions take the field. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and dive into today’s links!
Hannah Anderson Prepares for First Season in Orlando
Defender Hannah Anderson was drafted by the Chicago Stars in the third round of the 2024 NWSL Draft and spent two seasons there before the Pride traded for her in January for $70,000 in intraleague funds. Chicago conceded twice as many goals as Orlando last season, and now Anderson is challenging herself with an opportunity to improve as a defender with the Pride.
“I don’t really look at it as pressure, I think it’s an opportunity,” she said. “The challenge is what’s going to help me grow. When you’re never challenged, you can’t grow. It’s kind of like how you see that challenge. Yeah, it could be pressure, but I also think it’s exciting to be a part of a group that’s been there, because the experience will help you get there again.”
The 24-year-old also spoke on what it’s like to go up against Orlando’s attacking stars in training, as well as her decision to join the Pride while engaged to Chicago Cubs pitcher Jack Neely. With Emily Sams on the other side of the country, hopefully Anderson can have a breakout year to help fill the void.
Luana Returns to Brazil National Team
Orlando Pride midfielder Luana was called up for Brazil’s friendlies against Costa Rica, Venezuela, and Mexico in a few weeks. It’s great to see her back with the national team after all she’s been through and Head Coach Arthur Elias spoke on her return.
“Calling up Luana is a joy, but the greater joy was when she overcame cancer, a disease diagnosed during a period with the National Team. It was a huge shock for all of us. Luana has an incredible history in football, she is a woman of great strength, who showed this and set many examples for those around her,” he celebrated.
She will bring some experience to a Brazil roster that doesn’t include any other Pride players, although former Pride player Adriana was called up. Brazil has already secured qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup as its host, so the focus will be on playing quality opponents until then.
Getting Ready for More MLS on Apple TV
We’re gearing up for the fourth MLS season streamed through Apple TV and the biggest difference this time around is that MLS Season Pass is a thing of the past. It’s a major boon for fans, as all games will be through an Apple TV subscription rather than a separate platform at an additional cost. For those of us who like to watch MLS games at our favorite bar, an agreement with EverPass Media should increase the reach of the league in commercial venues. Saturday night matches with increased production value, announcers returning to the actual stadiums to call games, and the removal of the Spanish version of MLS 360 are some of the other notable changes heading into this season.
Nottingham Forest Fires Manager…Again
Just a day after Thomas Franks was fired by Tottenham, Nottingham Forest sacked Sean Dyche following the club’s scoreless draw with Wolverhampton this week. Dyche joined the club in October and was just nominated for Manager of the Month for his team’s results in January. However, Forest is just three points above the relegation zone and has now fired its third coach of the season. Vitor Pereira will reportedly replace Dyche as the club’s fourth coach of the season, which would be a league record. ESPN dove into how English Premier League teams that made multiple firings in the same season performed and it’s grim news for Forest.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau went under the microscope to field a variety of questions. I’m pretty interested in why Duncan McGuire would be the first person he’d call if he found a dead body in his hotel room.
- Construction is underway at Camping World Stadium as it begins its $400 million renovation to expand seating and improve the facilities.
- Atletico Madrid put Barcelona to the sword in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal, winning 4-0 thanks to four goals in the first half.
- Raheem Sterling has joined Feyenoord as a free agent after a mutual agreement with Chelsea to terminate his contract last season.
- The draw for the UEFA Nations League was completed and Spain was drawn into a group with England, Croatia, and the Czech Republic.
That’s all I have for you on this fine Friday. I hope you all have a lucky day and that all of your Valentine’s Day plans this weekend go off without a hitch!
Orlando City
Ranking Orlando City’s MLS Away Kits
Where does the new Sunken Treasure kit rank all time?
With the release of Orlando City’s newest away kit, I thought it appropriate to rank all of the Lions’ MLS-era away kits to see how the new “Sunken Treasure” kit stacks up against those from the past. As I said last year regarding the home kit rankings, I’m no fashion guru, but I do know what I like.
I welcome everyone’s opinions on this topic, but since I’m writing the article, I get final say. Let’s rank Orlando City’s away kits.
Seventh Place
The Heart and Soul kit has the misfortune of coming in last place in the rankings. It is not a bad or ugly kit, I just think the others are better. For me, it’s the stark shoulder separation that I don’t like. It feels disjointed, like the color on the front was an add-on or that someone forgot to extend it up to the rest of the kit. While I don’t mind the three stripes being oriented front to back on just one side, I like the more traditional two-sided Adidas stripes formation.
Sixth Place
The look of the second-ever away kit was so close to being fantastic. First the good. The purple sleeves look great, especially with the gold ring near the cuff. And seeing the original Orlando Health logo certainly brings back memories. Now the not so good. I always prefer to have the Adidas stripes on the shoulder, though they’re not horrible running down the sides. The faux collar is the downfall of this kit. If it had a real collar it would be much higher up the rankings.
Fifth Place
The Sunshine Kit brought the first splash of color other than purple to the away kit. The way it blended into — or more accurately out of — the purple shorts looked very good. It also didn’t have the cutoff shoulder feel of the Heart and Soul kit. In fact, we get the traditional stripes with a ringer around the collar. It’s a nice touch.
Fourth Place
There is definitely something to be said about an almost completely white kit. The Origin Kit was so clean that it only needed two colors. Even the crest is monochromatic purple rather than the usual gold, purple, and white. Purple-accented Adidas stripes, cuff rings and a thin ringer at the V-neck are the only splashes of color to be found. It’s the type of kit you can wear out to a nice dinner. Just don’t order the spaghetti.
Third Place
You never forget your first…away kit. The amount of thought that went into the Inaugural City kit is impressive. It is seemingly simple and straightforward but full of little details. I love the overlapping collar with just a bit of gold. The Adidas stripes in the proper place and the original Orlando Health logo make this the classic it deserves to be. It might be at third place in the rankings, but it will always be the first.
Second Place
The new Sunken Treasure kit is striking. It is the first kit that uses gold as the primary color. The sublimated lion head is picturesque in detail. The Adidas stripes are in the right place, and the triple stripe at the cuffs and neckline are a nice touch. Paired with the purple shirts, I know that this is going to be a sought-after jersey for years to come. My only personal issue is I don’t look good in yellow. However, as I said on The Mane Land PawedCast, I will reserve final judgment on my potential purchase of the kit until I see it in person. I also want to add that the social media release of the kit was very well done.
First Place
As much as I like the new kit, it will be hard to ever top the Legacy Kit. We have the return of the Three Lions crest and the red color from the USL days. The very light purple used as the primary color is subtle, original, and looks really good. I like the three-color combo and button on the collar. The matching shorts bring the whole thing together like The Dude’s rug. This is such a departure from normal away kits that I literally have it framed on my wall.
There you have it. As for the kits, I’d love to hear how you rank them in the comments below. For now, you can select the spot where you’d place the Sunken Treasure kit in the poll below. Vamos Orlando!
Likes and Dislikes from the Fifth Week of Orlando City Preseason
Lion Links: 2/13/26
Ranking Orlando City’s MLS Away Kits
-
Lion Links2 weeks agoLion Links: 1/30/26
-
Orlando City1 week agoThe Orlando City Off-Season Blues
-
Opinion2 weeks agoLikes and Dislikes from the Third Week of Orlando City Preseason
-
Orlando City2 weeks agoOrlando City’s Defensive Unit Primary Concern Heading Into Regular Season
-
Lion Links1 week agoLion Links: 2/4/26
-
Orlando City1 week agoOrlando City Preseason Notes: Jansson Undergoes Surgery, Lions Sign Nolan Miller
-
Lion Links2 weeks agoLion Links 2/2/26
-
Lion Links2 weeks agoLion Links: 2/3/26