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Orlando City vs. New York City FC: Final Score 2-1 as Lions Continue to Struggle at Yankee Stadium

Once again, Orlando City failed to solve the tiny puzzle of Yankee Stadium, falling on the road.

Published

1 year ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City FC

Orlando City dropped to 0-4-2 in its last six meetings against New York City FC, struggling with turnovers and defending in a 2-1 loss at Yankee Stadium. The Lions (1-2-0, 3 points) handed NYCFC (1-1-1, 4 points) their first win of the season by conceding just moments after Luis Muriel scored a second-half equalizer and then failing to do anything with a man advantage for the final five minutes plus five more minutes of added time. Alonso Martinez and Hannes Wolf scored for the hosts, who were gifted the ball in their attacking half all night.

“Our feelings now are strong on the way we gave up the goals, and I think that changed the story of the game,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “The game was well played by Orlando. I thought we had very good chances and the way we neutralized the forwards in the way they attacked was very correct. I thought the discipline for the boys was very similar to where we planned during the week.”

Pareja’s lineup featured a couple of changes, with captain Robin Jansson making his season debut in the starting lineup after missing the team’s first two matches with a thigh injury. Luis Muriel got his first start of the year up top in place of Ramiro Enrique. Pedro Gallese started in net behind a back line of Rafael Santos, Jansson, Rodrigo Schlegel, and Alex Freeman. Cesar Araujo and Eduard Atuesta started in central midfield behind an attacking line of Ivan Angulo, Martin Ojeda, and Marco Pasalic, with Muriel up top.

The first half was as sloppy and helter skelter as Orlando’s games at Yankee Stadium usually are. Once the Lions settled in and started creating some chances, they were wasteful with them, blowing a couple of golden opportunities to break the scoreless deadlock without even troubling NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese.

The Pigeons dominated the first 10 minutes, with the Lions barely able to successfully complete more than two consecutive passes. The hosts won their first corner early on when Freeman was forced into some emergency defending to clear a dangerous ball into the box. A short corner ended up with a ball in the box bouncing off the heads of Jonathan Shore and Keaton Parks before sailing over the net in the fourth minute.

NYCFC kept winning set pieces and getting the ball into the area in the early going. A Justin Haak shot off a free kick conceded by Atuesta won a second corner. Parks got his header closer in the eighth minute but popped it up, allowing Gallese to claim it in the air.

Orlando finally got a look at goal in the 12th minute. Angulo did well to find Muriel in the middle with a cross, but the Colombian couldn’t get any power on his header and popped it just inches over the crossbar. That began a good spell for Orlando City in which the Lions were able to recover the ball in the attacking half and create chances.

However, the Lions wasted those opportunities. Pasalic found himself open at the top of the area in the 16th minute but scuffed his shot and sent it wide. A minute later, Freeman did well to pick out Muriel, who shook free and fired with his weaker right foot, but again the shot went wide. Orlando City had two more good-looking attack buildups go awry moments later, with Angulo and then Atuesta giving the ball away.

New York City FC got back on the front foot, with Jansson nearly scoring an own goal in the 20th minute as Freeman and Pasalic got burned down the defensive right side to allow a dangerous cross into the area.

In the 22nd minute, it was Santos giving the ball away cheaply to ignite the NYCFC attack. Schlegel cleared the entry ball out, but only as far as Julian Fernandez at the top of the area on the right. The winger smashed a shot into the outside netting.

Martinez forced a Gallese save on a bouncing shot in the 25th minute after Angulo coughed up the ball in the attacking third by trying to dribble three defenders and jumpstarting the attack for the hosts.

Atuesta sent a poor shot well wide, and Muriel and Pasalic each had shots blocked late in the first half and the teams went to the break scoreless.

The hosts held the advantage in possession (62%-38%), shots on target (2-0), corners (4-1), and passing accuracy (79.8%-71.5%). The Lions attempted more shots (8-4) but did absolutely nothing with any of them, including two great chances to open the scoring.

If anything, the Lions were sloppier with the ball in the second half. Failures to adequately clear lines with time and space and giveaways even when outnumbering the opponents were problems.

Just like the first half, NYCFC came out with more energy than Orlando City and started creating issues and winning corners early. The Lions were able to hold on through those early moments.

Muriel finally got Orlando City a shot on target in the 58th minute, taking a nice ball from Ojeda and firing from the right with his weaker right foot, forcing a sprawling, if not difficult, save. It was a costly missed opportunity, because the hosts opened the scoring a minute later.

Orlando had possession in the defensive third, but kept making unexpected short, weak passes to each other and eventually NYCFC pounced, as Atuesta barely got a touch on the ball before being dispossessed. That to a Maxi Moralez shot from distance that hit off the post. Gallese had sold out to try to stop it and was unable to reach the rebound before Martinez raced past the defense and swept it into the empty net to make it 1-0 in the 59th minute.

“I think it’s something that we expected, and we had worked during the week to be able to withstand that burst of energy in the first (15 minuts) of each half,” Muriel said. “But yeah, especially New York City playing at home tonight, the energy they had in the first 15 was expected, but it was also noticeable on our part. And you know, at the end of the day, we have to continue working as we move forward to take the results that we want and get better from here.”

Fernandez cut inside of Santos and fired a shot in the 62nd minute, but Gallese was there to make the save.

The Lions got back into the attack finally but could do nothing with a corner kick opportunity and Santos was caught between two minds in the 67th minute, sending either a weak shot or a poor cross right at Freese from the left wing. A minute later, the ball found Pasalic in the area with space, but he took too much time on the ball and was dispossessed.

Orlando City equalized in the 69th minute anyway, and Pasalic played a part in the goal. The Croatian pounced on a layoff by Muriel that may have been deflected and broke up field. He did well to wait for Muriel’s run and fed the ball right. Muriel fired home inside the left post to make it 1-1 in the 69th minute.

“Marco was crossing in front for that quick touch and turned it into space. And he was able to really take it forward, and he controlled the space well and allowed me time to run into that open space,” Muriel said. “And he played a great ball that basically all I had to do was was finish it and put it on goal.”

“What we felt as soon as we tied the game, it was that we were not just controlling the game, (but) that we had the chance to win it,” Pareja said.

The hosts pulled the goal back almost immediately as the Lions fell asleep defensively. Schlegel got pulled out to the right in the buildup, with Araujo dropping into the middle. Martinez took a shot from distance that Gallese palmed down, but the Peruvian did a poor job with his rebound control, leaving the ball unattended in front of goal. Fernandez had made a run in behind, with Araujo’s presence keeping him just onside on the play. As a result, Fernandez got to the ball first and squared it back across to Wolf for an easy goal that proved to be the game winner in the 71st minute.

“It’s very obvious that we conceded too many goals on those three games,” Pareja said. “We can share the same thoughts that we find a way to defend much better. But when you see the nature of the goals, it may be even more painful, because it was not structural. It was something probably that we could correct better individually. But it’s the reality that we have, and surely we will keep addressing that part.”

Atuesta had a chance to pull Orlando level again when he found the ball inside the box in the 78th minute and fired a shot on target, but he left it too close to Freese, who made the save.

Orlando was thrown a lifeline in the 86th minute when Kevin O’Toole saw a second yellow in nine minutes for pulling back substitute Gustavo Caraballo. The NYCFC player was sent off, giving the Lions a man advantage for the final minutes of normal time and five added minutes.

The Lions’ moment came in the 90th minute. Freeman won a corner kick and Caraballo’s service found Araujo near the back post for a free header. The midfielder got under the ball and popped it up over the net, wasting a great opportunity.

Orlando generated nothing of note in injury time and the referee didn’t add anything to the five extra minutes for egregious time wasting by Freese, ending the proceedings with Orlando’s second loss of the young season.

New York City FC finished with the advantage in possession (56.3%-43.8%), shots on target (8-3), corners (7-4), and passing accuracy (78.9%-76.2%). The Lions edged the hosts in total shot attempts (14-13).

“We were the team who had probably — especially in that first half — the clear possibilities,” Pareja said. “But definitely our pain right now is how we conceded those goals, and that’s what just brings this feeling of frustration.”

The Lions will return home, but they’ll have to fly northeast again next weekend as they look to bounce back when they visit the New York Red Bulls on Saturday night.

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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. FC Naples, U.S. Open Cup: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

The Lions start their run in the 2026 U.S. Open Cup on the road but inside the state at FC Naples.

Published

8 hours ago

on

April 15, 2026

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Image of Martin Ojeda and Ivan Angulo celebrating a goal against Montreal.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to your match thread for a Wednesday night Round of 32 U.S. Open Cup matchup between Orlando City and FC Naples at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex (7 p.m., Paramount+) in Naples. This is the first time the Lions will face the USL League One side in any competition.

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

History

There is literally no history between these teams. I just told you above that they’ve never met. You didn’t forget, did you?

As far as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is concerned, the Lions have a lengthy history, including winning the competition in 2022. Orlando City is 17-9-5 all-time in the competition, 9-5-5 since becoming an MLS side. Away from Orlando, the Lions are 6-6-2 on the road in the U.S. Open Cup, 3-2-2 since joining Major League Soccer.

FC Naples, which began play in 2025, is an outstanding 4-0-1 in U.S. Open Cup play, with the only blemish being a penalty shootout loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2025, which set up Orlando City’s road match in the I-4 Derby last year.

Overview

The Lions are coming off a 1-1 road draw against the Columbus Crew on Sunday. It was a welcome change from the 5-0 and 6-0 road wins the club racked up in three previous away outings, however, it was not a victory and Orlando City has been outscored 17-1 outside the City Beautiful, posting a 0-3-1 road record.

FC Naples is coming off a 2-0 home win over Sarasota Paradise. The USL League One side sits atop the league table at 4-1-1 with all four victories coming via shutout. Naples is 3-1-1 at home this year in league play and 5-1-1 in all competitions. That includes its two previous U.S. Open Cup matches — a 3-0 win over Red Force FC on March 18 and another 3-0 win over FC America CFL Spurs on March 31.

Christopher Garcia, a 23-year-old winger from El Paso, TX, is the club’s top scorer with three goals in six league matches. He also leads FC Naples in assists with three. Forward Dominick Bachstein is just behind with two goals. Bachstein scored a goal in Naples’ last U.S. Open Cup victory, becoming the sixth different goal scorer for the club in the competition.

To start their 2026 U.S. Open Cup run off on the right foot, the Lions must avoid taking the USL League One side lightly. Naples will be at home, riding a wave of confidence from previous results, and eager to show it can compete with an MLS side — especially one struggling the way Orlando City has this year so far. Interim coach Martin Perelman will likely play a combination of young players and veterans, and it was a bit surprising to see both of the team’s Designated Players and captain Robin Jansson in social media pictures of the team boarding the plane on Tuesday. The Lions could use a confidence-building win, and perhaps that’s the idea. To do that, they’ll have to beat Edward Delgado, the goalkeeper leading USL League One in shutouts (4).

The Lions will be without Wilder Cartagena (thigh) and Joran Gerbet (knee). It’s unknown if Duncan McGuire will be available after being a late scratch over the weekend.

Match Content

Projected Lineups:

Orlando City (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Javier Otero.

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

Midfielders: Ivan Angulo, Colin Guske, Braian Ojeda, Marco Pasalic.

Forwards: Martin Ojeda, Tiago.

FC Naples (4-1-4-1)

Goalkeeper: Edward Delgado.

Defenders: Jaden Strumier, Joshua Yoder, Luca Mastrantonio, Hudson Gay.

Defensive Midfielder: Marc Torrellas.

Midfielders: Taylor Gray, Juan Osorio, Kevin O’Connor, Ian Cerro.

Forward: Dominick Bachstein.

How to Watch

Match Time: 7 p.m.

Venue: Paradise Coast Sports Complex — Naples.

TV/Streaming: Paramount+.

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: 4/15/26

Orlando City visits FC Naples, Champions League results, World Cup news, and more.

Published

11 hours ago

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April 15, 2026

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s our first tax day with out Kyle “The Tax Man” Smith, but hopefully we’ll still get everything filed on time. What wasn’t in time to be included today was the USWNT friendly against Japan last night since it kicked off at 10 p.m. We will have more on that match tomorrow. Most importantly, it’s match day for Orlando City, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City’s Open Cup Begins

Orlando City is in Naples for the club’s opening match of the 2026 U.S. Open Cup. The Lions are facing USL League One side FC Naples tonight. FC Naples is a good team that currently sits first in USL League One. We can expect a few veterans to make an appearance, but we will likely see younger players like Zakaria Taifi. The team is expecting a sold-out crowd for the home team. Taifi shared his thoughts with the media ahead of the match.

Crocker to Saudi Arabia

Matt Crocker is no longer the sporting director of the U.S. Soccer Federation after taking a similar position with the Saudi Arabia soccer federation. Crocker is the person responsible for bringing in Emma Hayes and Mauricio Pochettino. The main part of his job was implementing a top-to-bottom alignment of the “U.S. Way” across all levels in the U. S. Soccer system. Saudi Arabia reportedly presented an offer that Crocker could not refuse. The timing is interesting given the World Cup is only about two months away.

Champions League Results

It was an eventful day in the UEFA Champions League. Soon-to-be Orlando City attacker Antoine Greizmann’s Atletico Madrid got past Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate to advance to the semifinals. The USMNT’s Johnny Cardoso made a late appearance to help defend the result. Much to my chagrin, PSG ousted Liverpool 2-0 (4-0 on aggregate). The other two matches are later today with Bayern Munich taking on Real Madrid and Arsenal facing Sporting CP.

World Cup News

Do you remember the feeling you had when it was announced that the World Cup would once again be played in the United States? I remember thinking how cool it was going to be to go to a match even if it meant driving hours to do so. How naive I was. A lot of the news is more like this story about the NJ Transit raising the cost of train tickets seven fold.

Several venues are also not allowing tailgating at the games, including matches at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. We also now know the full list of referees from all six soccer confederations.

Free Kicks

  • Javier Mascherano is out at Inter Miami. I really hope this sends Inter Miami into a tailspin for the rest of the season, though I doubt it will.

That will do it for today. Check back tonight for our coverage of Orlando City’s U.S. Open Cup match. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/14/26

Americans in midweek action, USWNT set to run it back against Japan, Concacaf Champions Cup preview, and more.

Published

1 day ago

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April 14, 2026

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Image of Martin Perelman celebrating his first MLS win as coach.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone. We’ve got an extremely busy week ahead of us, as the United States Women’s National Team plays two matches, Orlando City plays in the U.S. Open Cup and Major League Soccer, and Orlando City B is back home after falling at Chattanooga on Saturday. All of that action means we’ve got a lot to discuss this morning, so let’s have a look at the links.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans taking part in matches this week so let’s check in on some of the biggest ones. Things got started on Monday as Brenden Aaronson picked up an assist on the winning goal in Leeds United’s 2-1 win over Manchester United. Tuesday sees Atletico Madrid try to preserve its 2-0 aggregate lead over Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League, although Johnny Cardoso is out injured. Tuesday also has Alejandro Zendejas and Club America facing Nashville SC in the Concacaf Champions Cup, with the tie level at 0-0. Thursday has Chris Richards and Crystal Palace trying to protect a 3-0 lead over Fiorentina in the UEFA Conference League. Things finish up on Friday when Haji Wright and Coventry City travel to Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Championship.

USWNT vs. Japan Part II: Electric Boogaloo

The United States Women’s National Team will play the second of three matches against Japan tonight, with this contest set to take place in Seattle after Saturday’s 2-1 win in San Jose. The first match was all about Rose Lavelle as she scored one goal for the USWNT and assisted on the other, but there are some other areas to watch in this one. Manager Emma Hayes will likely ring the rotations after just two days of rest, so someone other than Lavelle will need to step up and be the difference maker. It was good to see the Yanks pick up a victory after losing to Japan in the 2025 SheBelieves Cup, but goalkeeper Claudia Dickey had to make six saves on the night, and Hayes will likely want a stingier performance from the back line. Kickoff is set for 10 pm tonight.

Concacaf Champions Cup Preview

As mentioned earlier, the Concacaf Champions Cup is back tonight, and there are several MLS teams attempting to book passage through to the semifinals. LAFC is in the best position, as it holds a 3-0 lead over Cruz Azul, although the second leg will be played in Mexico. Regardless, grabbing even one away goal should be enough to see the California-based side through to the semis. Nashville is level at 0-0 with Club America but has a tough task ahead with the second leg set to be played at the Azteca. The Seattle Sounders are down 2-0 to Tigres but will play the second leg at Lumen Field and will need their home field advantage to pay off. The LA Galaxy got roughed up 4-2 by Toluca in the first leg but did score two away goals. You’d bet on the Galaxy to score in the comfortable confines of Dignity Health Sports Park, but the trick is going to be holding Toluca scoreless for just the second time in the last 14 matches across all competitions.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

The summer transfer window will be upon us before we know it, so it’s important to stay abreast of all the current rumors. Bayern Munich has reportedly held talks with Anthony Gordon’s representatives about a summer move, although no contact has been made with Newcastle United as of yet. Speaking of Newcastle United, the Magpies could reportedly be involved in a swap deal with Manchester United that would see Manuel Ugarte join Newcastle while Sandro Tonali moves the other way. Moving to Ligue 1, Ousmane Dembele is reportedly stalling on signing a new contract with Paris Saint-Germain, and whispers are starting about a move to Saudi Arabia or the Premier League. Finally, Endrick’s loan spell at Lyon has seen him record eight goal contributions in 11 league games, and Real Madrid is reportedly prepared to sell Gonzalo Garcia in order to make room for the Brazilian in the Spanish capital.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City dropped one spot to no.27 in ESPN.com’s MLS power rankings.
  • Winners from MLS matchday seven include Julian Hall and German Berterame, while Mikey Varas and Emmanuel Latte Lath found themselves on the other end of the spectrum.
  • A horrible break for the Columbus Crew has been confirmed, as Wessam Abou Ali tore his ACL in Sunday’s match.

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

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