Connect with us

Orlando City

Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Final Score 0-0 as 10-Man Lions Held at Home

Rodrigo Schlegel’s second yellow card early in the second half derailed a good performance and forced the Lions to hold on for a single point at home.

Published

11 months ago

on

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

A great (but wasteful) performance at home was ruined in the 56th minute when Rodrigo Schlegel picked up a second yellow card, forcing the Lions to hold on for a 0-0 draw against the New York Red Bulls at Inter&Co Stadium. Orlando City (3-2-3, 12 points) was the better side and created by far the most chances than New York (3-2-3, 12 points) up to that point in the game, but the manpower disadvantage eventually took its toll, and the Lions were holding on at the end.

The Lions extended their unbeaten run to five games (2-0-3) but are also winless in two (0-0-2). Meanwhile, the Red Bulls are still winless on the road (0-2-2). It was the first time Orlando City had experienced two consecutive scoreless draws since the start of the 2023 season, when the Lions drew FC Cincinnati and Tigres each 0-0 at home on March 4 and 7 in MLS and Concacaf Champions League play, respectively.

“I thought after the performance, especially that we had in the first half and part of the second half until the red card came, we felt that we lost those two points, and it was a team that that we dominated,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “But this is another experience that we have to learn from, and how can we kill those games when we have the chances and be precise and be lethal. We’re good when we’re in that mode. Unfortunately, today we weren’t.”

Pareja made no changes from last week’s lineup at Philadelphia, although Cesar Araujo and Eduard Atuesta were available off the bench. Pedro Gallese started in goal behind a back line of David Brekalo, Robin Jansson, Schlegel, and Alex Freeman. Joran Gerbet and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson started in central midfield behind an attacking line of Ivan Angulo, Martin Ojeda, and Marco Pasalic, with Luis Muriel up top.

Orlando created a great chance almost immediately. Freeman threaded a pass through traffic to Thorhallsson to break the defensive line and the Lions came forward with numbers. Ojeda slipped a ball in behind to Muriel, but the Colombian sent his shot too close to Carlos Coronel, who made the save.

Two minutes later, Eric Choupo-Moting scored off a pass from Emil Forsberg, but he was well offside on the through ball and the flag came up.

Orlando held more of the ball in the opening minutes and Pasalic shook free at the top of the area in the 12th minute with enough space for a shot. The Croatian fired a blast toward the near post from the right side but it caught outside netting after fizzing just wide of the right post.

New York’s next chance came in the 18th minute, when Felipe Carballo fired from about 25 yards out from goal. He didn’t miss by much, sizzling a shot just wide of the left post.

It was Muriel’s turn to hit the outside netting in the 22nd minute. Three minutes later, the ball found Angulo at the top of the area. The left wing spun around and fired, but hit his shot just wide of the right post.

Ojeda got a good shot on target in the 33rd minute, but he tried to go near post on Coronel, who was well positioned to make the save.

The Lions did nothing with the ensuing corner. Pasalic sent a weak dribbler right at Coronel in the 38th minute, as the Lions kept pressing the attack but not finishing it. Two minutes later, Muriel nearly jumped on a gift turnover in front of goal but Coronel got a touch on it and the chance evaporated.

Jansson was left in front on a recycled set piece in the 43rd minute and had a free header, but he too hit his shot right at Coronel, who fought it off with a good reaction save.

That was the last good look at the half, as the wasteful Lions were level with the Red Bulls at the break. Orlando City finished the half with the advantage in possession (64%-36%), shots (9-1), shots on target (4-0), corners (4-0), and passing accuracy (83.8%-71.1%). However, the Lions did not take their chances, which helped the visitors stay in the game.

“I think the elaboration of our game today was cleaner,” Pareja said when asked about what was different in this match than previous recent games against the Red Bulls. “I have to recognize and highlight the performance of those two midfielders that we had today with Joran (Gerbet) and Dagur (Dan Thorhallsson). They absorbed that pressure and they cleaned it up in a way that we could advance to the next phase of the game, or put a team in deeper situations. We were a cleaner team with the ball. It was something that we’re going to appreciate much more during the week, now that we’re not happy with the result, but that phase just makes our team go to the next level.”

Orlando continued to press forward after the restart. Gerbet sent a header across for Brekalo on a set piece but the defender was falling under contact and couldn’t get on the ball. Moments later, Pasalic fired a shot that a defender blocked out for a corner. Brekalo got his head to the cross on the corner kick but he was turned around and couldn’t get it on target in the 54th minute.

The match changed in the visitors’ favor in the 56th minute. Schlegel picked up a second yellow card and Chris Penso sent him off, putting the Lions down a man for the rest of the game.

“I felt early in that game, you have to be careful, because it’s still 30 minutes (left) and 10 men, we know, is a lot of running for everyone,” Gerbet said. “So, you have to cover more space from everyone, so I felt like you have to be cautious. But we want the result at home, so I felt like we did a pretty good job until the last 10 minutes in the game, like trying to push, trying to push, trying to score, but after, at some point, you also have to be true with yourself that you have to (not) lose the game. If you cannot win, you don’t need to lose. So, I felt the team responded really well. I mean, we’re disappointed, but we take it.”

New York quickly created danger after Schlegel’s dismissal and won a corner as Jansson was forced to knock a dangerous cross behind and out of play. The Lions countered after clearing the set piece, with Angulo winning an Orlando corner. However, nothing came of it.

The game setled into a back-and-forth affair for about a quarter of an hour before the Red Bulls started keeping more of the ball after the Lions subbed off a few attacking midfielders. Wikelman Carmona got in front and redirected a ball on frame that forced a save from Gallese in the 76th minute.

Second-half sub Atuesta committed a foul moments later to set up a dangerous set piece. The cross found Carballo at the near post but his free header sailed wide. Moments later, Dylan Nealis fired from long range but his shot was always rising and sailed well over the bar in the 87th minute.

Omar Valencia went down looking for a penalty call in the 89th minute, but all he drew was a yellow card for simulation.

Orlando was unable to fashion an attack of any kind in the seven minutes of stoppage time, but at least the Lions were fundamentally sound on the defensive end. New York’s only half chance came in the fifth added minute, when a good ball from the right nearly found Choupo-Moting at the back post. Freeman did just enough to keep the opposing striker from getting to the cross.

The whistle blew on Orlando’s second consecutive 0-0 draw moments later, as the second Schlegel yellow card spoiled an opportunity for the Lions to get all three points from the match.

Despite being a man down for most of the second half, Orlando City still finished with the advantage in possession (50.7%-49.3%), shots (14-10), shots on target (4-1), and corners (7-2). The Red Bulls finished with better passing accuracy (82.8%-79.1%).

“I felt like we played an awesome game,” Brekalo said. “We were dominating most of it, just disappointing that we didn’t get three points today. But I think with this attitude, these qualities that we’ve shown today, we are going to be successful in the long term. We knew that most of the dangerous balls that come are through balls from Forsberg, so just being close to him and expecting the through balls to (Choupo-Moting). Obviously, I think we did well. I don’t think until the red card, they got any clear chances of scoring.”

“I have to say that the willingness of the players and the commitment with the game, and you saw all the metrics and and that performance, is probably the best that we have had against this club, New York,” Pareja said. “And we really, really feel that (lack of) precision, it just kept us away from winning our three points, and obviously it is another story when the red card came, and obviously they push, and then we had just to congest a little bit the middle. And then it was another game played there. It was not the same game.”

The Lions go right back on the road for their fifth away match in seven games when they visit Montreal on Saturday.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Orlando City

Point Blank: Orlando City Cannot Afford Another Empty Night

A look at the recent history of MLS teams that started 0-3-0, and the uphill battle Orlando City will have to fight if it starts 0-4-0.

Published

12 hours ago

on

March 12, 2026

By

Image of Eduard Atuesta and Marco Pasalic celebrating Atuesta's free kick goal in preseason against Colorado.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

The idea of this article is to make a point about points, because if Orlando City is not going to earn any, then at least we can write about it. The Lions are off to the worst start in club history after three games, with zero points earned after losses to the New York Red Bulls, Inter Miami, and New York City FC. The good news is that those three teams occupy places one, three and four in the Eastern Conference standings, so perhaps Orlando City was just dealt a difficult schedule to start the season, but those of us with eyes know the Lions simply have not played well for the majority of the three games.

The MLS regular-season schedule contains 34 games, so some quick math tells us that 91% of the season still remains to be played. The playoff structure for MLS is also incredibly forgiving, as 18 of the league’s 30 teams qualify for the postseason, and 16 of those 18 are guaranteed at least one home game. Plenty of teams over the years have gotten hot late to secure a playoff spot, or like Orlando City during the 2023 season, to go from a low playoff seed to a top one by winning nine of its final 12 games.

There is still plenty of season left, but while teams can and do get hot late, it is rare that they do after struggling mightily during their first three games. I took a look at the last three seasons, the only ones in which nine teams qualified for the playoffs in each conference, and the table below shows how many points each of the 54 playoff teams had earned after the first three games.

Points After Three Matches202320242025
0110
1110
2210
3204
4256
5120
6413
7473
8 (cannot happen, because math)000
9102
Avg. Points by Playoff Teams4.74.95.2

Only two of the 54 playoff teams went winless during their first three games (Charlotte in 2023 and NYCFC in 2024), and in each subsequent year the overall average points earned by playoff teams during their first three games increased. Orlando City is one of four teams in MLS that have yet to earn one point, though New England has only played two games due to one being postponed because winter storms delayed the delivery of the club’s new grass field.

The Lions will be fighting an uphill battle to become the third team to qualify for the playoffs after starting with three straight losses, but if they win this week’s game against CF Montréal, that would put them on the same trajectory as the aforementioned 2023 Charlotte and 2024 NYCFC teams, as both won the fourth games of their season on the way to turning their seasons around and eventually qualifying for the playoffs.

What that means, however, is that since the league moved to this new playoff format no team has started the season with four straight losses and made the playoffs. It is always cool to be the first to do something, but I think it would be much cooler if the Lions would go out and deliver a resounding — some might say impactful (think about it) — thrashing to the Canadian club.

If they were to defeat Montréal by at least two goals, they would jump over them in the standings, guaranteeing themselves to no longer be dead last in the entire league, which is where they currently sit. It will be weird to root against Dagur Dan Thórhallsson, and to a lesser extent Luca Petrasso, but I will be passionately rooting against players with “sso” in their last names on Saturday, unless Robin Jansson comes out of the tunnel like Willis Reed (timely reference) to help the Orlando City defense actually be fence-like and prevent some goals.

The early results from playoff teams from last three seasons will not have any bearing on whether Orlando City can turn its season around and make the playoffs for a league-leading seventh consecutive season, but it is instructive on how difficult it is to dig yourself out of a hole. Two teams were able to turn it around and make the playoffs, but eight teams (two in 2023, three in 2024, and three in 2025) started with three straight losses and finished the season out of the playoffs.

We will not know the fate of Orlando City’s playoff hopes until much later in the season, but we will know its fate against Montréal in just a few days. Hopefully at game’s end the Lions will have a one in the win column. Or, at least in the draw column, but preferably in the win column.

It is always the darkest before dawn, and with six straight losses dating back to last season, it is pretty much pitch black around Orlando City right now. I’d say that makes this weekend the perfect time for the Lions to execute a three-point turn.

Vamos Orlando!

Continue Reading

Orlando City

Orlando City vs. CF Montreal: Three Keys to Victory

What do the Lions need to do to earn all three points against CF Montreal this weekend?

Published

14 hours ago

on

March 12, 2026

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City B

Orlando City returns to Inter&Co Stadium to take on CF Montreal after parting ways with Oscar Pareja on Wednesday. Martin Perelman will call the shots Saturday night as the interim head coach. Orlando City is still looking to earn its first points of the season after three straight losses. This is a club in turmoil looking to stop the bleeding of a horrible start to the season. What must Orlando City do to earn all three points — or even a single point — against Montreal Saturday night?

Enter Otero

Javier Otero was pressed into service early in the match against New York City FC thanks to Maxime Crepeau’s dumb mistake. That — and the five goals that followed — was not something he was expecting when he sat down on the bench. That cannot be his excuse this week. Otero will get full reps as the starter all week. He will know that he is getting the start and should mentally prepare.

Otero will need to be better this week, and that should be easy enough to do at home with a full squad in front of him. I’m not saying he needs to be Pedro Gallese, but he does need to make smart decisions, be careful with his distribution, and not be the reason the Lions lose. If he would like to have the best performance of his professional career, it is a perfect time to do so.

Full Team Defense

For weeks I’ve spouted off about the Lions needing the players on the back line and defensive midfielders to step up. I should have been more specific. I need them to do so for the entire 90 minutes plus stoppage time. It is evident how much this team is missing Robin Jansson and Wilder Cartagena.

In what I’ll describe as “good news,” Orlando City gets Colin Guske back after serving his red card suspension last week. I would like to see a center back pairing of Nolan Miller with Iago. David Brekalo has not been good, so Perelman might as well go with even more youth behind Guske. If those two, along with Griffin Dorsey on the right and Adrian Marin on the left, start it still won’t be good enough.

At this point, I need 11 players lined up across the face of the goal to just block off the net. I know I’m being hyperbolic, but I think the Lions will need to play deeper and more defensive-minded if the club hopes to get a result. Attacking on the counter after absorbing shots for long spells isn’t what I would normally recommend, but aside from the Miami game, it hasn’t fully been tried out so far this season, so why not give it a shot. At the very least, I need everyone tracking back all night.

Smell the Coffee, Duncan!

My sister-in-law, who has down syndrome, loves to tell people to “smell the coffee” when she wants them to wake up or be more active. I’m not saying Duncan McGuire needs to be more active, but he could be more efficient. His lack of goals has not been totally his fault as some of his teammates aren’t anticipating his runs, but he hasn’t been his old self either.

Remember when he ended Michael Bradley’s career (or at least it felt like it)? I’d love to see some of that. I believe he just needs to score that first goal, celebrate with his signature flip, and he’ll be back to normal. That means he needs to be better at his hold-up game and better with the ball at his feet. Hopefully he’s had enough time with his teammates in training so they know what runs he will make. If Orlando City sits back and tries to hit on the counter or go route one, it will be important for him to be more efficient and “smell the coffee.”

I thought about using “divine intervention” as one of the keys, but even I thought that might be a little silly. Though I’m not opposed to anyone making an appeal to a higher power if that is something you think might work. Otherwise, the above is what I will be looking for Saturday night. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/12/26

Oscar Pareja and Orlando City part ways, Kay Rawlins announces her retirement, Orlando Pride roster unveiled, and more.

Published

18 hours ago

on

March 12, 2026

By

Image of Marta celebrating a goal.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Orlando City’s season continues to be something out of a fever dream, but at least Orlando City B won this weekend and we have the Orlando Pride to look forward to. This weekend will be the first time all three of Orlando’s soccer teams are in action for competitive matches in quite some time, so hopefully it won’t be all be doom and gloom. That’s just how probability works, right? Let’s get to the links.

Orlando City and Oscar Pareja Part Ways

Oscar Pareja’s time as Orlando City’s head coach has come to an end after a mutual agreement between the two to part ways after six seasons with him at the helm. The decision comes amid three consecutive losses to start the season, including a 5-0 defeat to New York City FC on Saturday. The Lions won the 2022 U.S. Open Cup and also made the playoffs in all six years of Pareja’s tenure, which is the longest active streak in the league.

Martin Perelman will take over as head coach in an interim capacity, with OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg becoming an interim assistant coach and Julian Vergara now serving as OCB’s head coach. Given Wilfried Nancy’s availability, Orlando fans may need to keep fingers crossed for a Frenchman other than just Antoine Griezmann.

Kay Rawlins Announces Retirement

Orlando City SC Founder and Senior Vice President of Community and Social Impact Kay Rawlins stated that she will retire from her role on Friday. She co-founded the club alongside Phil Rawlins and has been with the club through it all, including the creation of the Orlando Pride and the opening of the club’s very own stadium. Along with her role in the front office, Rawlins has made a strong impact in the community through the Orlando City Foundation as well. We wish her nothing but the best in retirement!

Orlando Pride 2026 Roster Revealed

The Orlando Pride released their start-of-season roster for the 2026 NWSL campaign Wednesday, and there’s a decent mix of veteran starters and young depth players. Defender Hailie Mace is the most notable addition to the roster from this off-season and other new faces include rookie forwards Solai Washington and Seven Castain. Center back Emily Sams is gone after her trade to Angel City FC and forward Ally Watt is with Denver Summit FC, so we’ll see how well the Pride do at filling the voids left by their departures. Hopefully the triumvirate of Marta, Barbra Banda, and Jacquie Ovalle can have the offense firing on all cylinders.

Concacaf Champions Cup Roundup

The round of 16 of this year’s Concacaf Champions Cup is underway and the competition has been stiff over the course of the first legs. Nashville SC and Inter Miami battled to a scoreless draw and will settle things in the second leg in Miami on March 18. LAFC was held to a 1-1 draw against Costa Rican club Alajuelense, with goalkeeper Washington Ortega making 10 saves. The Philadelphia Union have a tough game ahead of them after falling 1-0 to Club America at Subaru Park. In the only matchup of this round that pits two Mexican clubs against each other, Cruz Azul beat Monterrey 3-2 thanks to a late goal from Nicolas Ibanez. The late games Wednesday on the west coast featured the LA Galaxy hosting Jamaican side Mount Pleasant FA and San Diego FC hosting Liga MX side Toluca.

Free Kicks

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

Continue Reading

Trending