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Orlando City vs. Atlanta United: Final Score 3-0 as Lions Rout Rival Five Stripes

The Lions broke out of their scoreless funk in a big way in a dominating win over rival Atlanta United.

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12 months ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

It took a while for Orlando City’s offense to get going on the heels of three consecutive scoreless draws, but the Lions found their scoring boots in a 3-0 win over rival Atlanta United in front of an announced crowd of 20,184 at Inter&Co Stadium. Orlando (4-2-4, 16 points) ran its unbeaten streak to seven games (3-0-4) while snapping a three-game winless skid (0-0-3) while beating one of its most bitter rivals in Atlanta (2-5-3, 9 points).

Luis Muriel, Alex Freeman, and Marco Pasalic scored the goals for the Lions, who beat Atlanta at home for just the third time in club history (3-6-3) in the regular season. The club set a new club record early in the game for most conseutive shutout minutes, and by the end of the match, the Lions had not conceded in 436 minutes, dating back to the LA Galaxy game and Christian Ramirez’s 14th-minute strike.

“It’s so nice to see that we kept our balance defensively and we improved something that has been costing us in our last three (games) on not scoring,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match, dedicating the three points to Cesar Araujo, who welcomed his daughter Isabella into the world today. “And getting back today to that mode just made us feel very good. A game well played. In the first half we had some difficulties to find our spaces, but we were patient until we scored the first one. We knew that they were coming in the second (half) and we would have those spaces naturally, organically open for us, and we saw that. And the boys understod the game. They were very responsible with their duties defensively, but offensively we looked like we can harm teams, and that made us feel good.”

Pareja’s lineup included Pedro Gallese in goal behind a back line of David Brekalo, Robin Jansson, Rodrigo Schlegel (who returned from suspension), and Freeman. With Joran Gerbet picking up a knock this week and Araujo on daddy duty, Kyle Smith started in central midfield alongside a returning Eduard Atuesta behind an attacking line of Ivan Angulo, Muriel, and Pasalic, with Duncan McGuire up top. Martin Ojeda started on the bench.

The first half mostly saw both sides try to be meticulous defensively and take few chances in the attack. This made for a bit of a dull affair for spectators as the teams played a tense game of chess with the ball. Orlando seemed the likelier team to put it all together, but the Lions wasted several chances, with three attacks going through Angulo in the first 12 minutes resulting in turnovers instead of shots.

Pasalic sent McGuire down the right side of the box in the eighth minute, but the striker had no help with him. Rather than hold play up and waiting for help, McGuire tried a tough-angle shot and did not get his effort on target.

A good buildup in the 15th minute ended up with an Orlando chance in front but that chance fell for Smith, who missed the net entirely from about eight yards away.

Jamal Thiare headed over the bar on a cross from the right in the 26th minute.

Atuesta sent Angulo in behind on the left in the 31st minute. Brad Guzan came off his line aggressively to cut down the angle and the left winger’s shot was blocked behind for a corner.

Aleksey Miranchuk fired wide from outside the box for Atlanta in the 34th minute. The game changed moments later.

A good pass sent Muriel into the box in the 37th minute and he was taken down by Bartosz Slisz. Referee Marcos de Oliveira determined the challenge was legal and Pasalic followed with a shot that was blocked. Atlanta broke the other way and Gallese stopped a weak shot from distance, but then de Oliveira went to the monitor. After review, he saw that Slisz had made contact with Muriel’s foot prior to getting the ball and a penalty was awarded to Orlando.

Muriel sent Guzan the wrong way and calmly slotted home in the 42nd minute to open the scoring. It was Orlando City’s first goal in 312 minutes of game time and Muriel’s fourth of the season.

Neither side fashioned a clear-cut chance in the final moments or five minutes of stoppage time. Thiare sent a late header well off target on the final shot attempt of the opening period.

Orlando City finished the half with the advantage in possession (63.3%-36.7%), shots (5-3), shots on target (2-0), and passing accuracy (89.8%-87.7%), while Atlanta won more corners (2-1). The difference at the break was the penalty.

“I think the first half I can say congrats to Atlanta. They played really good defensively and also offense,” Pasalic said. “And they made the game really tough, especially for me, because I had (many) opponents around me, and maybe this was the tactic, to close the pockets, because that’s a style we played in the last games.”

The Lions tried to strike quickly for a second after the restart. Pasalic fired wide of the right post from distance just seconds into the second half. A minute later, Muriel made a great pass to slip the ball to McGuire in the box but the ball was knocked away to Angulo. The winger could have shot with his first touch but instead took the ball wide and recycled for Muriel, who fired wide from a bad angle on the left.

Freeman doubled the lead in the 51st minute. Pasalic chested down an aerial ball and made a good pass to send it to Freeman breaking down the right into the box. The fullback was at a tight angle but sized up Guzan’s positioning and blasted a shot through the defender’s legs and just off the inside of the left post and in to make it 2-0.

“When Marco got the ball, he controlled it, and I was eager to run in behind. And when Marco passed me that beautiful pass, it was more like to see what the defender was going to do — if he was going to really step or if he was just going to delay, delay,” Freeman said. “And I didn’t see anyone in the box, and I saw the defender’s legs open. I wanted to put it bottom left corner, and with his legs open, I just put it right through, and then I scored and I got to celebrate with Duncan.”

Freeman and McGuire did a celebration they’d worked on with Gerbet, but it was just the two of them out there for the choreographed celly with Gerbet unable to play.

After Freeman’s goal, Atlanta saw a lot more of the ball. The entire next five minutes were spent in Orlando’s half.

The Lions subbed on Martin Ojeda for McGuire and got back in the attack quickly, winning a pair of corners. The service on the first sailed over everyone and was picked up by Muriel outside the box. Muriel’s blast was tipped just wide by Guzan’s diving save, setting up a second corner. Ojeda’s second entry ball found Smith, but his header in the 64th minute was meekly right at Guzan for an easy save.

Atlanta then made a couple of critical turnovers in its own end and paid for the second. The first turnover ended up on Angulo’s foot out on the left with Guzan well out of his goal. Angulo’s curling shot not only missed, but would have gone out for a throw-in on the other side had Atlanta’s defense not picked it up. However, seconds later, Atlanta turned it over again, with Pasalic picking up the ball in the attacking half, dribbling toward goal, and blasting his fifth goal of the season just inside the right post to make it 3-0 in the 67th minute.

“To be honest I feel that we did good pressure, and when the ball came to me, I feel that the ball is going to come to me because the goalkeeper had no other chance to shoot the ball anywhere, and it came right to my feet,” Pasalic said. “I stopped the ball not so good, and then I turned around and see that nobody’s there, and take the ball and I see no pressure. Then I was not so far away from the goal and then I shoot.”

Pasalic should have notched his second assist of the game just a few minutes after his goal, when he slipped Atuesta into the area in the 71st minute. The midfielder fired for the left post but his shot fizzed just inches wide.

Orlando pushed some younger legs out onto the field over the final minutes of the game, subbing on Nico Rodriguez, Gustavo Caraballo, and Colin Guske. Atlanta created some half chances from range but could do little with a few late corners. Edwin Mosquera and Miguel Almiron sent some shots well over the bar down the stretch.

Rodriguez missed well off the mark in the fourth minute of stoppage time in the game’s final opportunity for either side and the final whistle brought the Lions’ fourth consecutive shutout to an end.

Orlando finished the match with the advantage in possession (54.9%-45.1%), shots (16-12), shots on target (6-0), and passing accuracy (89.2%-87.7%). Atlanta won more corners (5-3).

“The second half we looked more us,” Pareja said. “We spoke during the week with our players about this drought moment of not scoring. (The coaching staff) tried not to tense the team or not to stress them too much. Instead we wanted them to get back to their natural mode of play, creating options. The goals are coming. And we felt today that that was happening. I think they bounced back and they found the timing.”

“I’m happy that we won this game today,” Pasalic said. “After those draw games and difficult creation of chances and scoring goals, I think today was really important. I think it was the training this week. We worked more on the creation of the chances and more on the shooting practice, because this is what gives you the most confidence in front of the goal. We worked like a team. We kept the heads together. Now we are really solid and played the defense really good, and maybe thi sis a process and needs time. So, we had this game to prove that we are defensively really good and today we showed both.”

Orlando City is back on the road next Saturday as the Lions visit the Chicago Fire.

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Lion Links: 4/23/26

Orlando City wins big against Charlotte FC, Javier Otero receives praise, Young Lions sign short-term contracts, and more.

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3 hours ago

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April 23, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

We might have to start petitioning for all of Orlando City’s games to be moved to Wednesdays as the Lions have won a midweek game for the second consecutive week. This one was a much more exciting affair to boot, and it does feel a bit like a shot in the arm this morning. Let’s go ahead and get to the win and more in today’s links from around the soccer world.

Orlando City Crushes Charlotte FC

The Lions hosted Charlotte FC and claimed all three points in a 4-1 victory, snapping a four-game winless streak in league play. Luis Otavio scored his first goal as a Lion to give Orlando the lead, but Charlotte managed to equalize later in the first half. The second half belonged to Orlando though, as Martin Ojeda took over and Robin Jansson anchored the defense to prevent a comeback. It’s only the third time this year that the Lions have scored multiple goals in a match and hopefully they can keep that attacking momentum going when they travel to play D.C. United on Saturday.

Javier Otero Earns Praise After U.S. Open Cup Win

Orlando City goalkeeper Javier Otero came up with big saves to help the Lions win 1-0 against FC Naples in the U.S. Open Cup’s round of 32 earlier this month and his performance earned him a spot on the bench of the Team of the Round. He was also nominated for Save of the Round for his diving save to parry away a low strike, and voting will remain open until 8:30 p.m. tonight, so be sure to vote! Tyrese Spicer’s impressive strike wasn’t nominated for Goal of the Round, but you can vote on that award as well.

Young Lions Sign Short-Term Contracts

Orlando City B players Ignacio Gomez and Bernardo Rhein were signed to short-term contracts with the first team and both came off the bench for the Lions Wednesday night. Gomez, who made his MLS debut on Saturday, capitalized on his time on the field by scoring his first goal as a Lion. The pair of Young Lions will be available for Saturday’s game against D.C. United too, as the Lions are dealing with a rash of injuries that have tested their depth. Gomez is with Orlando on loan from Velez Sarsfield II, while Rhein has made 24 appearances with OCB as he continues to develop his game.

USWNT Will Face El Salvador in Concacaf W Championship

The schedule and matchups for this year’s Concacaf W Championship were revealed and the United States Women’s National Team will take on El Salvador in the quarterfinals on Nov. 27. This tournament will also notably serve as qualifying for both the 2027 Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics. The four semifinalists will automatically qualify for the World Cup, while the two finalists and third-place nation will secure an Olympic spot, though the U.S. already has as host. Orlando Pride forward Solai Washington and Jamaica will play against Costa Rica with a World Cup berth on the line, with the winner facing the victor between the U.S. and El Salvador in the semifinals.

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!

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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Charlotte FC: Final Score 4-1 as Lions Dominate Second Half in Victory

A three-goal explosion after halftime lifted Orlando City to a much-needed win at home.

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11 hours ago

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April 22, 2026

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Image of Martin Ojeda taking a free kick against Charlotte.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

A dominant second half lifted Orlando City to a 4-1 win over Charlotte FC at Inter&Co Stadium tonight, powered by a Martin Ojeda brace. The Lions (2-6-1, 7 points) played a solid first half, but the second half was the club’s best of the year so far, as Orlando blasted the Eastern Conference’s third-best team entering the match. Luis Otavio and Ignacio Gomez each added their first MLS goal as the Lions’ previously sleepy offense exploded.

Morrison Agyemang scored the lone goal for Charlotte (4-3-2, 14 points).

“Today, we had eight players injured out,” Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman said “And I think this is our way. This is our identity. This is who we are. Again, we didn’t win anything today. We didn’t lose anything past games. This (season) is long. The more time we have, the better we can do things on and off the field. But in this industry, and in life in general, it’s about time. So, every time we have one more session, every time we have one more game, we should be developing our team.”

Perelman’s lineup featured Maxime Crepeau in goal behind a back line of Adrian Marin, Robin Jansson, Iago, and Zakaria Taifi. Braian Ojeda and Otavio started in central midfield with Ivan Angulo and Tiago on the wings with Martin Ojeda and Justin Ellis leading the attack. Tyrese Spicer missed the match due to illness.

Tonight’s offensive explosion could hardly have been less expected. The Lions entered with one of the worst attacks in MLS, scoring just six times in the first eight matches before unloading four on Charlotte in one game and three of those in one half. The teams played more or less evenly in the first half before the Lions charged out of the break to seize control of the game.

The first 15 minutes of the match were cagey, with the two sides feeling each other out but not producing much in the final third. Ellis’ spinning shot well off frame in the 12th minute was Orlando’s first sight of goal, but not much of one.

Charlotte’s first look was a good one in the 18th minute, when Ashley Westwood fired just over the bar on the recycle of a corner kick.

The Lions opened the scoring three minutes after Westwood fizzed his shot over the bar. Tiago sent in a great ball to Taifi from left to right. The Homegrown fullback attempted a volley shot but mishit it badly, sending it the other direction where Otavio collectied it outside the box. With no Charlotte player closing him down, the Brazilian took an inside-out shot that swerved inside the left post to make it 1-0. It was his first goal as a Lion.

“It was improvisation,” Otavio said. “It was the way the ball came. Instincts took over, and I hope to do that a lot more.”

Pep Biel chipped off target in the 28th minute, Wilfried Zaha had his shot from the top of the area blocked moments later, and Crepeau denied Rodolfo Aloko at the near side of the net from a tight angle seconds after that as Charlotte looked for a way back into the match.

But it was a foul on Otavio in the 32nd minute that set up the visitors with a dangerous free kick just above the penalty area on the right. Biel sent a good back-post ball to Morrison Agyemang, who overpowered Braian Ojeda and headed in to make it 1-1 in the 33rd minute.

The Lions had a chance to snatch that goal right back two minutes later on a good attacking move. Taifi ended up with the ball on the right with Tiago racing toward the left post. Taifi opted to shoot but didn’t make good contact on the shot, allowing Kristijan Kahlina to make the save.

Agyemang headed off target in the 44th minute on a Charlotte corner kick, and shortly thereafter, the teams went to the break even at a goal apiece.

Charlotte had the halftime advantage in possession (52.1%-47.9%), shots (8-6), and passing accuracy (89.8%-86.6%), while each team fired two shots on target and earned two corners.

Orlando’s second-half dominance started early, as Martin Ojeda scored just four minutes after the restart. Ellis took a pass from Tiago on the left, but he didn’t have a path to goal. He spotted Ojeda’s run and fed a great pass that Ojeda smashed into the upper right corner with his first touch in the 49th minute to make it 2-1. Ellis’ assist was his first MLS goal contribution.

“It’s a special moment for me,” Ellis said about his first assist. “I think that play kind of sums my play style up, like I’m a striker by trade, but you know, I like to get my teammates involved.”

Like Orlando late in the first half, Charlotte had a chance to hit back quickly in the second. Aloko got down the right channel in the 54th minute and sent a wicked shot toward the near post but his attempt hit the outside netting.

The Lions should have extended the lead a minute later. Martin Ojeda sent a perfect pass through the defense for Angulo’s run, but the Colombian made a mess of his shot, firing it well wide of the right post.

Moments later, the Lions extended the lead anyway. A good switch of play by Otavio found Taifi in behind on the right side. Harry Toffolo tripped up the young fullback from behind, giving up a free kick in nearly the same place from which Charlotte had scored earlier. Both Ojedas stood over the ball, but it was Martin who smashed a low, hard, curling shot just inside the right post to make it 3-1 in the 61st minute. He curled the shot around Charlotte’s wall into a space that Iago had just vacated, giving Kahlina no chance to see it or stop it.

“The goal of ‘Tincho,’ the third goal, was crucial in the game, in my opinion, and I’m so happy for him, because he’s our DP, our number 10,” Perelman said. “He worked really hard, so humble. It’s amazing for our locker room, that guy, and he was able to appear in the moment we needed him. If you read the game as a story, that’s the moment of the story that the game changed.”

Charlotte again tried to hit back quickly, creating some chaos in Orlando’s penalty area. The trouble started on Orlando’s defensive right with a good cross into the area. Crepeau palmed it away but couldn’t control the rebound, which fell to Biel in the box. Tiago deflected his shot and the ball cycled to Aloko, who was offside on the play, ending the threat.

Iago had a free header on a free kick in the 69th minute but he failed to make good contact on it, squandering the chance to join the scoring party.

Martin Ojeda’s best chance to complete his hat trick came in the 70th minute when Taifi collected the ball on the right and sent the ball to the back side. Ojeda, however, did not make good contact with his shot on a ball that bounced a couple of yards before it reached him, sending it wide. Tiago then fired a weak shot from distance at Kahlina a minute later.

Charlotte made multiple attacking substitutions trying to find a way back into the game late. Crepeau’s teammates mostly kept him from facing much danger, but the Canadian international did well to track a back post header from Archie Goodwin in the 81st minute. Five minutes later, Wilfried Zaha sent a shot onto the roof of the net that took a slight deflection. Charlotte couldn’t pay off the ensuing corner.

The Lions put the game to bed just after that Charlotte set piece. Second-half sub Gomez got on the ball in the middle of the pitch and sent it to Angulo on his left, continuing his run. Angulo’s return pass sent the youngster in behind the Charlotte back line and Gomez finished like a veteran, scoring his first MLS goal in the 87th minute to kill the match.

Crepeau made one more save before the game concluded, doing well to move to his right and deny Kerwin Vargas’ free kick in stoppage time at the post. Moments later, the whistle blew on Orlando City’s second win of the season.

Charlotte finished with the edge in possession (52.2%-47.8%), shots (16-13), corners (4-2), and passing accuracy (90%-86.5%). The Lions put more shots on target (6-5).

“Happy for the result, and happy for everyone in our club — fans, owners, managers, staff and the players, of course, because the effort the players did was amazing,” Perelman said. “For me, it’s the same message. We’re working. The team is growing. The players are doing an amazing effort. And I think we didn’t win the league today and we didn’t lose the league (three) days ago.”

“Obviously we haven’t been doing the best, but, you know, we always see every game as a new opportunity just get three points,” Ellis said. “And right now we don’t have a lot of time to train, so just playing these games is good for us, you know? So, we’re still improving. We’re still getting where we want to be, where we’re going to be.”

“This has to be one of the best games we’ve played so far,” Otavio added. “It just shows the depth, the strength, and the determination of the team, and we hope to continue this moving forward.”

The Lions have another quick turnaround with a road match at D.C. United coming up Saturday.

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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Charlotte FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

The Lions look for healthy bodies on the roster and offense on the field as Charlotte FC visits.

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23 hours ago

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April 22, 2026

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Image of Robin Jansson defending for Orlando against Charlotte FC.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to your match preview and live thread for a midweek matchup between Orlando City (1-6-1, 4 points) and Charlotte FC (4-2-2, 14 points) at Inter&Co Stadium (7:30 p.m., Apple TV). This is the first of two games on the slate between the Eastern Conference rivals in 2026, with the return fixture in Charlotte scheduled for Oct. 31.

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

History

The Lions are 4-1-3 in the regular-season series and 6-3-3 in all competitions against Charlotte. Orlando City is 3-1-0 at home in the regular season and 5-1-0 in the City Beautiful across all competitions against the North Carolina-based side. These games are usually close, with all previous non-draws decided by one or two goals.

The teams last met on July 5, 2025, playing to a 2-2 draw at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The hosts took a 2-0 lead on goals by Pep Biel and Bill Tuiloma, but Ramiro Enrique and Marco Pasalic brought the Lions back to earn a point on the road.

Earlier in the 2025 campaign, the teams met on May 14 in Orlando, with Luis Muriel and Martin Ojeda giving the Lions a 2-0 lead inside the game’s first 25 minutes. Wilfried Zaha pulled the visitors within a goal before the break, making for a tight second half, but Enrique’s late goal put the game to bed in Orlando City’s 3-1 home win.

Prior to 2025, the teams met in the first round of the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs. Orlando City claimed two of the three matches, winning the first outright, dropping the second on penalties after a late goal was called offside in the buildup, and advancing after a penalty shootout win following the third match of the best-of-three series.

On Nov. 9, 2024, Facundo Torres’ penalty late in stoppage time canceled out a Karol Swiderski goal and sent the deciding third match to penalties with a 1-1 score. Pedro Gallese made two saves and Orlando City won the shootout 4-1, advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The teams played eight days before that in Charlotte, without either side scoring in normal time, as Torres’ strike was disallowed for offside on Nico Lodeiro on Muriel’s through ball. Charlotte won the ensuing penalty shootout 3-1 after the scoreless draw to tie the series at 1-1. That followed Orlando City’s 2-0 home win the previous Sunday. Torres and Ojeda scored the goals on either side of halftime to lead the Lions to the Game 1 win. It was the first time Orlando scored more than one goal in an MLS playoff game.

The teams met a month and a half prior to their first playoff meeting on Sept. 18 in Orlando. The Lions got second-half goals from Torres and Duncan McGuire to win 2-0, claiming the first multiple-goal win in the series. The teams also met on June 19, 2024, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte and played to a 2-2 draw. The hosts struck first with an early Kerwin Vargas goal and the Lions pulled one back through McGuire in the second half. But despite Charlotte going down a man on Scott Arfield’s red card, Brandt Bronico restored the hosts’ lead shortly after McGuire’s strike. Torres struck back moments later but the Lions could not find a winner on the road.

The previous match was also a draw at Bank of America Stadium, finishing 1-1 on Aug. 30, 2023. Enzo Copetti’s late penalty appeared to wrap things up for the hosts on a rainy night in Charlotte, but Ojeda’s seeing-eye set piece equalized just before stoppage time as the teams split the points.

Charlotte claimed a 1-0 “home” victory in U.S. Open Cup play on May 9 of that year. That game took place at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex in Matthews, NC, rather than at the club’s regular stadium. The first matchup of the 2023 season didn’t go any better for Orlando City, finishing as a 2-1 Charlotte win at Exploria Stadium on March 18. Copetti and Vargas put Charlotte up 2-0 by halftime. Ojeda pulled one back, but the Lions were wasteful in front of goal and couldn’t pull level.

In 2022, the teams met at Bank of America Stadium on Aug. 21. After a scoreless first half, Ercan Kara put the Lions ahead on the road, only to see McKinze Gaines equalize just four minutes later. Tesho Akindele’s late goal lifted Orlando to a 2-1 victory.

Orlando City won the first-ever meeting between the sides on April 30, 2022, at Exploria Stadium. Ruan scored the opening goal and set up Torres on the counter for the second as the Lions took a 2-0 lead into the locker room. Christian Fuchs scored from the spot after Rodrigo Schlegel was called for a foul in the box in the second half, but that was as close as Charlotte got in what was ultimately a 2-1 Orlando victory.

Overview

Orlando City enters the match adrift in 2026, having won only one time in eight league matches to start the season — easily the worst start to any season in OCSC history. The Lions have managed only one draw to go with the win and are coming off a 1-0 home loss to the Houston Dynamo, squandering a handful of good scoring chances and giving up a late goal to a team that had previously not won on the road in 2026 and had never won in Orlando. The lads in purple are just 1-3-0 at home this season and Orlando City has scored just six goals on the year while conceding a league-worst 25. While the defense has been better the last couple of games since captain Robin Jansson returned, those came against teams not high in the standings.

Charlotte is 1-1-1 on the road this season after beating New York City FC at Citi Field — the Pigeons’ other baseball stadium — on Saturday. Tonight’s visitors have won four of their last five games in all competitions. Biel is off to a hot start with four goals and three assists, while Zaha has added two goals and four assists. Idan Toklomati and Archie Goodwin have three goals apiece, giving Charlotte three players with more goals than Orlando co-leaders Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic, who have each scored twice. Kristijan Kahlina is one of the league’s top goalkeepers, and Orlando City won’t have an easy time against the club that has conceded the fourth-fewest goals in the Eastern Conference.

Orlando City will need to be patient to avoid giving up dangerous counterattacks, as they’ve struggled to defend them all year, but the Lions must also try to build a volume of shots against a stout defense led by Kahlina and usually anchored by USMNT center back Tim Ream. However, Ream will miss the match per the latest MLS availability report with a lower body injury.

“I think both teams know each other really well. They have done a good job over the last year,” Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman said ahead of the match. “We respect them like we respect every opponent, and we will have our plan and our strategy. We will be at home with the energy and attitude we want to have. Hopefully we can give the fans some joy and happiness with a result, for our people and for us as well, because we are the first ones who need and want to win. Hopefully we can do it this game, but the attitude will be there.”

The Lions will be without Wilder Cartagena (thigh), Griffin Dorsey (thigh), Joran Gerbet (knee),
Duncan McGuire (lower leg), and Pasalic (thigh). Eduard Atuesta (shoulder) and David Brekalo (lower Leg) are listed as questionable. Charlotte will be without Ream (lower body), while Henry Kessler (lower body) is questionable.

Match Content

Official Lineups

Orlando City (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Maxime Crepeau.

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

Midfielders: Ivan Angulo, Braian Ojeda, Luis Otavio, Tiago.

Forwards: Martin Ojeda, Justin Ellis.

Bench: Javier Otero, Tahir Reid-Brown, Nolan Miller, Bernardo Rhein, Colin Guske, Ignacio Gomez, Yutaro Tsukada, Gustavo Caraballo, Harvey Sarajian.

Charlotte FC (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Kristijan Kahlina.

Defenders: Harry Toffolo, Andrew Privett, Morrison Agyemang, Nathan Byrne.

Midfielders: Pep Biel, Ashley Westwood, Luca de la Torre.

Forwards: Wilfried Zaha, Idan Toklomati, Rodolfo Aloko.

Bench: Tyler Miller, Jack Neeley, Djibril Diani, Brandt Bronico, Tyger Smalls, Archie Goodwin, David Schnegg, Liel Abada, Kerwin Vargas.

Referees

REF: Filip Dujic.
AR1: Corey Rockwell.
AR2: Justin Howard.
4TH: Lorenzo Hernandez.
VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero.
AVAR: Joshua Patlak.

How to Watch

Match Time: 7:30 p.m.

Venue: Inter&Co Stadium  — Orlando.

TV/Live Stream: Apple TV.

Radio: AM 810 FOX Sports Radio Orlando (English), Mega 97.1 FM (Spanish), Nossa Rádio 1160 AM-WRLZ (Portuguese).

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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