TAMPA — Orlando City struck first through Martin Ojeda and regained the lead through Ramiro Enrique, but a second-half squad primarily made up of substitutes could not hold the late advantage, giving up a stoppage-time equalizer in a 2-2 draw against Inter Miami at Raymond James Stadium. A stadium soccer record crowd of 42,017 fans — most there only to see Lionel Messi — saw tying goals in each half from Miami’s Tadeo Allende and Fafa Picault spoil the night for Orlando, which finished the preseason winless for the first time.

“We’re happy with the performance,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “There is about a bunch of signs that we see from our team and the game that we want to put together, and then take advantage of the week of work on our training and see if we can get better. But we’re happy we got the objectives accomplished.”

Pareja’s starting lineup featured Pedro Gallese in goal behind a back line of Rafael Santos, Robin Jansson, Rodrigo Schlegel, and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson. Eduard Atuesta made his Orlando City debut in central midfield alongside Cesar Araujo behind an attacking line of Ivan Angulo, Ojeda, and Marco Pasalic with Enrique up top.

The two Florida rivals exchanged half chances early, with Atuesta blocking a shot early and Pasalic firing over the bar from just outside the area a couple of minutes later.

Orlando City started to create off of its defense over the next several minutes, with the first chance coming from an Ojeda steal and pass to Enrique in the 14th minute. The forward took a heavy first touch and was leaning into what would have been a difficult lunging shot when he went down under contact, but referee Filip Dujic ruled that there was no foul in the box.

The Lions scored a minute later anyway off another steal. Ojeda knocked the ball to Angulo on the left and the Colombian slipped a pass back to the Argentine, who chipped onrushing goalkeeper Oscar Ustari, tucking his shot just inside the right post to make it 1-0.

Three minutes after the goal, Schlegel was fortunate he was playing in a preseason game. Jansson lost an aerial duel he would normally win against Allende, which allowed the ball to get in behind. Schlegel tried to nick it away, and may have gotten the ball cleanly, but he was called for a foul just outside the box. In a normal game, he likely would have been sent off for denial of a goal-scoring opportunity, but Dujic gave only a yellow. Messi sent the free kick over Gallese’s crossbar in the 19th minute.

Miami equalized in the 22nd minute. Santos got caught ball watching, allowing Allende to get in behind and take a pass on the right. He sent his shot just inside the left post to make it 1-1 on what was a difficult first half by the Brazilian left back.

Allende came close to a second goal in the 25th minute but fired wide of the left post from the right as again Santos was caught napping. Luis Suarez fired wide of the right post from a tight angle on the left in the 28th minute. Eight minutes later, Telasco Segovia tried to chip Gallese but fired just over the crossbar and onto the roof of the net.

Orlando couldn’t do anything with a pair of corners, but nearly paid off the second on the recycle when Ojeda sent in a dangerous cross that deflected off Schlegel, which kept it from reaching Enrique with the goalkeeper out of position. The Lions should have scored in the 39th minute. Atuesta picked out a great pass to send Pasalic in behind. The Croatian probably had more time than he thought, shooting early, but Ustari made an outstanding save.

Gallese had his own moment of brilliance in the 44th minute to deny Suarez from close range. Moments later, Gallese denied a Messi chip but the Argentinian was offside anyway. The save didn’t count, but it was still fun to watch.

The teams went to the break tied with a goal apiece.

Miami had more shots (6-4) and each team won four corners. Each goalkeeper made one save and both were spectacular.

Shortly after the restart, the Lions generated a good attack, with Atuesta switching play to Angulo on the left. Angulo lost his defender and sent in a good cross that never made it to Enrique, who vehemently shouted for a handball. None was given and the ball cycled back out to Atuesta, who fired well off target.

Jansson was called for fouling Suarez just outside the box moments later, but Messi fired the free kick wide in the 52nd minute.

Orlando made Miami pay for the miss two minutes later. A long ball into the attacking half was misplayed by the Herons’ defense, ending up on Ojeda’s foot. The Argentine slipped his countryman Enrique in on goal and the forward smashed his shot just inside the right post to make it 2-1 in the 54th minute.

Suarez found an opening at the top of the box in the 57th minute, but his shot was no trouble for Gallese, who made a comfortable save. Ten minutes later, Gallese was perfectly positioned when a recycled ball fell to Messi, who had an open header after pushing off of Thorhallsson. El Pulpo made the easy save.

The next 15 to 20 minutes saw both teams making substitutes, with Messi’s departure prompting a bit of an exodus from fans. The game got a bit sloppier after the changes, which included the introduction of Nicolas Rodriguez for his first minutes as a Lion.

Orlando should have put the game away in the 82nd minute when substitute Luis Muriel made a filthy pass through traffic to pick out forward Gustavo Caraballo in the box. The teenager sent his shot too close to Ustari, who made a vital save to keep it a one-goal game. Three minutes later, Muriel fired just over the bar from the top of the box — another costly miss in the end, as it turned out.

In the final minute of stoppage time, as Miami pushed for an equalizer, Orlando’s largely substitute squad failed multiple times to sufficiently clear their lines. Robert Taylor picked up the ball on the left, worked across to the right and fired a shot that got past Gallese but was cleared off the line by Colin Guske. The rebound fell to Picault, who fired it in to tie the match. The game was played without video review, which was unfortunate, because there was a clear handball on Santiago Morales in the buildup to the equalizer.

Shortly after the restart, the game was over. Although there had been talk about penalties if the game ended in a draw, there were no spot kicks and the match ended 2-2.

Inter Miami finished with more shot attempts (14-9) and corners (8-4), with the Lions finishing with more saves (5-2).

“Very happy, because we made a very good game,” Atuesta said after his first match as a Lion. “I was working just like five days with the team, and I feel very, very good on the pitch with my teammates. Trying to know each other is not easy, to know already what he’s doing, what I’m doing for them, I think is not an easy work, but they are very good players.”

“We need rhythm. We need much more rhythm,” Pareja said about what he needs to see from his team in the final week of preseason. “I thought we were not constant on our ways. It was good here and there, but we need more rhythm. I know the result was the most important part, but we were leading the game until the end. So, good for the players that played against a rival that has a bunch of games already. They’re good, but today we could end up just probably 3-1, because we had a few options in the box that we still have been better on that part.”

“I think we are in a good way,” Atuesta said. “It’s a very long season. We have to try to start well. I know the start is difficult because the rhythm is not there, but as soon as possible we’ll start to win points.”

That’s a wrap on preseason. Orlando City’s next match will be Saturday, Feb. 22 at home against the Philadelphia Union in the season opener.

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!

Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope your day is spent with plenty of chocolate and time with loved ones as we get ready for the final weekend before Orlando City’s season kicks off on Feb. 22. The Lions are taking on Inter Miami today at 7:30 p.m. in Tampa in a friendly that will be streamed on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Hopefully the Lions can close out their preseason schedule with a win. Let’s jump into today’s links!

Nico Lodeiro Linked With Paraguayan Club

Rumors were swirling Thursday morning that Orlando City midfielder Nico Lodeiro would join Paraguay’s Club Libertad, but the club’s president, Ruben Di Tore, provided some clarification on the radio. He confirmed the club’s interest in Lodeiro, but that the move would not be taking place this window and may happen in the summer.

In his first season in Orlando last year, Lodeiro played in every game and posted 11 assists and a goal. His performance triggered the 2025 option on his contract, which would conclude after this upcoming season. It would make sense for the club to transfer the 35-year-old before then, but it looks like we won’t see if that move comes to pass until the summer.

Emily Sams Signs Contract Extension

The Orlando Pride and defender Emily Sams have agreed to a contract extension that will last through the 2027 NWSL season. Sams was one of the best players in the league last year, earning the title of NWSL Defender of the Year and helping the Pride win both the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship. The 25-year-old was also recently called up by the United States Women’s National Team for the SheBelieves Cup later this month. NWSL stars leaving the league has been a major talking point this off-season, so it’s nice to see Sams extend her contract with Orlando by another year.

OCB Signs Bernardo Rhein and Justin Ellis

Orlando City B signed a pair of academy players, with midfielder Bernardo Rhein and forward Justin Ellis both joining on MLS NEXT Pro contracts. Both players are 17 years old and featured in Orlando’s friendly against CF Montreal on Feb. 8. Ellis appeared in 18 matches and scored two goals for OCB last season, while Rhein (who you may remember as Bernardo Goncalves) came off the bench six times for some valuable minutes. With Jack Lynn retired and Shak Mohammed possibly giving the first team some depth due to Duncan McGuire’s injury, Ellis should be an interesting player to keep an eye on this season. It’s great to see young players take the next step from the academy, and hopefully they can make the most of their playing time in 2025.

OCSC Showcasing Its Youth This Preseason

Ellis and Rhein aren’t the only academy players who have been taking the field for the Lions this preseason, as the club has used these matches to give opportunities to the club’s youth. Winger Gustavo Caraballo, who is just 16 years old, started in the club’s friendly against Atletico Mineiro last month in a special moment for both him and his family. The academy has grown in recent years and other players like Colin Guske and Alex Freeman could contribute to the first team this year. Orlando City Academy Director Javier Carillo spoke on the impact of the club’s pathway for young players to develop.

“We’re exposing players to individual fundamental skills to help them to compete and then to learn how to win games, and I think the fact that we have this clear pathway between first team, second team and Academy is allowing us to promote players and expose players at an early age to new challenges, where the players continue to reach new heights. And I think that’s what’s really making the big difference for us.”

USL Plans First Division League in 2027

The United Soccer League announced that it will launch a first division league in the U.S. that would operate separately from MLS. It plans to make the most of the sport’s growth in the U.S. due to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with this new league of 12 or 14 teams intended to start in 2027. If this ends up happening and the league gets division one sanctioning from U.S. Soccer, it would give the USL a three-tier pyramid of soccer. USL President Paul McDonough, who was Orlando City’s general manager during the club’s transition from the USL to MLS, talked about this next step for the league.

“It’s a key moment for soccer in this country, and as we see where this game is going, we want to be a part of it,” McDonough said in an exclusive interview with The Athletic. “Taking this big initiative allows for the growth of the game throughout the country.”

I think it will be most interesting to see which existing USL teams would initially join this new league, and if promotion and relegation will actually happen. All of this coming on the heels of the antitrust lawsuit filed by the North American Soccer League is also intriguing. We’ll see how the USL’s quest for sanctioning goes.

Free Kicks

• Marta made it clear that she’s staying well hydrated. I’m now wanting a version of Space Jam but with Marta and her bottle of secret stuff.

• More MLS jerseys were unveiled and I really like the colors that the LA Galaxy opted for with their new secondary kit. The Seattle Sounders’ new kit also looks great and was designed in collaboration with native tribes. Real Salt Lake’s new look reminds me of Croatia, but it totally works in my opinion as well.
• In the Europa League knockout phase playoffs, AZ Alkmaar, Fenerbahce, and Ajax enjoyed solid victories. AS Roma was reduced to 10 men but held on for a 1-1 draw against Porto, while Ricky van Wolfswinkel scored in stoppage time to give Twente a 2-1 win over Bodo/Glimt.
• Kai Havertz is out for the rest of Arsenal’s season due to a hamstring injury sustained during the club’s training camp in Dubai.
• Cristiano Ronaldo topped the list of the world’s highest-paid athletes with his $260 million income last year. The list includes athletes from eight different sports and 27 countries, but no women.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a lovely Valentine’s Day and rest of your weekend!