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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Charlotte FC: Final Score 3-1 as Lions Extend Unbeaten Run with Home Win

Luis Muriel, Martin Ojeda, and Ramiro Enrique provided the offense in a complete home win over Charlotte.

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8 months ago

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Image of Luis Muriel dribbling up the field against Charlotte.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

The Lions finally got the balance Oscar Pareja had been looking for since April 26 against Atlanta at Inter&Co Stadium. Luis Muriel, Martin Ojeda, and Ramiro Enrique scored and the defense held the opposition to one shot on target as Orlando City (5-2-6, 21 points) posted a 3-1 home win over Charlotte FC (6-6-1, 19 points). A Wilfried Zaha goal in the first half prevented the shutout.

The win extended Orlando City’s unbeaten streak to 10 straight in league play (4-0-6) and 11 consecutive in all competitions (5-0-6). Orlando improved to 4-1-2 against Charlotte in the regular-season series and 3-1-0 at home.

“We’re very happy with the three points. We are very happy with the effort of the players,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “In a short time they got back their energy to get that start in the first half, where I think we dominated the other team and the game, but it was a similar feeling in the first half when we conceded that one goal, but then our reaction in the second half was more steady and more solid.”

Pareja’s lineup featured Pedro Gallese in goal behind a back line of David Brekalo, Robin Jansson, Rodrigo Schlegel, and Alex Freeman. Cesar Araujo and Joran Gerbet started in central midfield with attacking midfielders Ivan Angulo, Ojeda, and Marco Pasalic, with Muriel at forward.

Much of the first half was played between the penalty areas, but the teams both created some good chances, especially the Lions, who could have built a big lead if the attacking players hadn’t kept crossing the ball directly to Charlotte defenders once they got into the final third. Eventually Orlando City settled into the match and put a couple of shots into the net, which prompted a response from Charlotte.

Just two minutes into the match, the Lions thought they’d scored. Pasalic sent a beautiful ball forward to unlock Muriel, who tucked his shot from the right side just inside the left post. However, the Colombian was a step offside and the flag correctly came up.

Four minutes later, Muriel got into the box on a good ball from Araujo. This time, the Designated Player took too many touches and lost the ball to Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina. Muriel, however, got his revenge moments later, blasting a shot from distance that Kahlina should have handled, but the ball bounced just in front of the goalkeeper and he let it somehow squirt through and into the net to make it 1-0 in the eighth minute.

Muriel again tried his luck from outside the box in the 10th minute, but this time Kahlina was able to gather up a shot that was directly at him. Five minutes after that, Angulo made a good run down the left but sent in a weak shot or cross directly to Kahlina.

Charlotte’s first threat came in the 21st minute when the visitors pinged the ball around the box but couldn’t create a clear-cut opportunity, as the Lions defense was able to block a couple of attempts and eventually clear.

Ojeda doubled the lead in the 24th minute with another rocket. A Pasalic shot was blocked by the Charlotte defense and caromed out to the left, where the Argentine hit it on the half volley and crushed it, sending it in for a 2-0 lead. It was his eighth goal of the season.

“Martin is one of the most professional, amazing human beings that I’ve ever met,” said Dagur Dan Thorhallsson, one of Orlando’s second-half subs, on seeing Ojeda’s strong play in recent games. “With the talent he has, he can be one of the best players in this league. That’s my opinion. He has everything. He has the shot, he has the passing, he has the vision.”

The two-goal lead lasted 10 minutes. Charlotte started getting more of the possession after the second goal and made it pay off. Zaha got on the ball near the top of the box, turned, and blasted the ball past a sliding Schlegel. The shot was hit with power and pace, finding the inside of the left post to make it 2-1 in the 34th minute.

Brekalo got forward after the restart and fired a shot from the top of the area. The defense blocked it high into the air, giving Kahlina an easy catch. Three minutes later, Angulo blazed down the left and sent in a decent cross for Muriel, but the defense was able to get there and clear it.

Charlotte then had to sweat out a video review, as Muriel went down in the box under some contact from Andrew Privett. The check did not result in a penalty, and it was a fair decision.

Freeman was off balance and sent a backward header in the 44th in his own defensive end that gave Charlotte possession, and the visitors worked the ball for a good scoring chance. Ashley Westwood ended up with the shot but sent it wide.

Charlotte forward Idan Toklomati got a good look in the second added minute, finishing a scramble in the box with a blast wide of the net.

The last look of the half came in the fourth added minute when Pasalic sent a great ball to Angulo, who made a mess of his shot and sent it well off target.

Orlando City had the first-half advantage in possession (52.7%-47.3%), shots (7-5), and shots on target (3-1). Neither team won a corner, and Charlotte passed more accurately (88.3%-87.6%).

In the second half, the game was much more tightly contested, with fewer opportunities for both teams. Tired legs may have played a factor, but so too did Orlando’s willingness to stay compact and try to see out the game without conceding a second goal. The Lions were ultimately able to do that, providing the offensive and defensive balance Pareja has been looking for out of his squad.

Charlotte subbed Patrick Agyemang into the match at halftime and it nearly paid off immediately after the restart. The visitors sent the ball long down the right for the USMNT striker, who cut inside and fired wide of the right post in the 46th minute. Charlotte quickly won the game’s first corner moments later but committed a foul on the set piece, with the whistle coming just as the ball crashed off the crossbar above Gallese in the 50th minute.

Agyemang won a dangerous set piece on a foul by Schlegel in the 71st minute just outside the area. Pep Biel took the free kick but sailed his shot over the goal. Biel then hit the crossbar in the 67th minute as Charlotte continued to push for an equalizer.

Both teams made several changes, and Orlando City ended up with five men across the back trying to see out the match.

A good ball into the box in the 73rd minute on a free kick from the left found Jansson, but the Swede headed his shot right at Kahlina. Freeman quickly won a corner after that and Ojeda sent a good ball to the far side for Araujo. The Uruguayan tried to volley the cross on target, but he didn’t make good contact and the shot floated to Kahlina.

Orlando allowed the visitors to keep most of the ball for the rest of the game, content to try to protect the one-goal lead and hit Charlotte in transition. That strategy worked out in the 82nd minute. Brekalo did well to evade the press with a quick move outside and then back inside, before unleashing a fantastic line-breaking pass for second-half sub Enrique. The Argentine had Tim Ream on him as he entered the box, and Enrique hit the brakes, losing Ream, then cut to his right and blasted his shot past Kahlina to make it 3-1.

“I saw that David had the ball and he hit me a great diagonal pass,” Enrique said. “It was a fantastic ball. As I was coming onto it, the goalkeeper was coming out. He left my weak foot open, so I thought, ‘Hit it with the left,’ and the defender was closing in, and thankfully I was able to (cut back to the right and) hit it and finish it.”

Although Enrique still had some work to do after receiving the ball from Brekalo, it would not have happened without the Slovenian’s work to break Charlotte’s press. When Enrique’s shot went in, it gave Brekalo a primary assist to go along with the secondary one he had on Muriel’s opener.

“I was very satisfied on the defensive work that we did, and David is a protagonist of the system and that performance, too,” Pareja said. “Plus, he’s turning into a left back that can give us the function that we want and that solidness defending, but it seems that we have much more than that. Now he’s going forward. Now he’s more precise in that last third when he can connect better. Last game he had a big opportunity that hit the post, and today he had those assists. So, we’re growing in an area that we thought was going to take more time. David, the way he’s absorbing and the way he’s performing, it’s great. We are seeing a very professional performance from someone who is a worker, and he’s helping us a lot.”

As Orlando City tried to kill the clock, Pareja gave Justin Ellis his MLS debut on his 18th birthday. The Lions were able to bleed the clock, defend a late corner, and hang on for the win.

The Lions finished with the advantage in possession (52%-48%), shots (10-9), shots on target (6-1), and passing accuracy (89.3%-88.3%). Charlotte won more corners (2-1).

“It was an important game for us, an important victory after the tie that we had in the last game,” Enrique said. “And, you know, (I’m) just happy to be able to help the team in whatever way I can to get the win tonight.”

“Just a very solid performance overall, I would say,” Thorhallsson said. “The goal was to go into the game and score some goals and not concede. We conceded one, but three goals, so a win. It’s important. For me, I think we have one of the strongest squads in the whole of MLS, and if we manage to get the defense and the attack going at the same time and throughout the whole season, for me, there’s no doubt we can do big, big damage in this league. So, I think we just need to believe it a little bit, and then it comes”

The Lions are back in action Sunday at Inter Miami in the first Tropic Thunder rivalry match of the 2025 season.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/21/26

The Orlando Pride return to training, Facundo Torres returning to MLS, U.S. National Team news, and more.

Published

15 hours ago

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January 21, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers! I hope you’ve been staying warm, though I assume it’s been a bit cooler up here in Tallahassee than it has been for those of you who reside in or near Orlando. Personally, I love this weather. I get that I live in Florida, but I should be able to wear jackets and sweaters during January and February at the very least. I appreciate you reading my short weather rant. Now, let’s get to the links.

The Orlando Pride Are Back

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. If that is indeed the case, then I wonder how many words a video is worth? Since we don’t have any articles detailing the return of the Orlando Pride to training on Tuesday, the club’s social media pictures and videos will have to suffice to let us know how it went.

Torres Returns to MLS

Facundo Torres’ time with Palmeiras is over. The former Lion is reportedly headed back to MLS to sign with Austin FC. Assuming that Tom Bogert’s information is correct, Orlando City will pocket an almost $1.5 million sell-on fee for Torres. That money plus the $14 million the Lions got in the transfer to Palmeiras is a good chunk of change for the left-footed attacker. If anyone knows his strengths and weaknesses, it will be Orlando City.

MLS Transfer News

The rest of MLS is not sitting around waiting for the season to begin. There have been more signings from across the league. The Houston Dynamo acquired forward Nick Markanich on loan from Spanish side CD Castellón. The LA Galaxy signed Johnny Nelson to a new contract through the 2027-2028 season.

Atlanta United transferred midfielder Edwin Mosquera to Colombian side Independiente Santa Fe. Meanwhile, the New England Revolution signed Griffin Yow from Belgian Pro League side KVC Westerlo through the 2027-2028 MLS season.

U.S. National Team News

Every day we get a little closer to the 2026 World Cup, although we’re still a way off from Mauricio Pochettino naming his World Cup roster. That being said, there are still some obvious front runners for those spots, including Orlando City’s Alex Freeman. Once the MLS season starts, the selection process will really begin, as all the potential players will be playing for their respective clubs in the hopes of playing for their country. Ricardo Pepi might be with a different club despite a recent broken arm. The PSV striker has interest from English Premier League sides like Fulham. Also, check out this goal from Haji Wright.

On the women’s side, Emma Hayes is doing some evaluations of her own. The USWNT coach is using the January camp to look at how deep the player pool for the U.S. really is. The first chance for players to shine comes Saturday against Paraguay. The second match will be Tuesday against Chile.

Free Kicks

  • The Canadian Premier League will institute Arsene Wenger’s “daylight” offside rule this season. This is a trial of the new rule to see how it plays out in actual matches and not just in theory. If it works it could pave the way for broader adoption.
  • You probably saw the video of Moroccan ball boys trying to take a towel away from Senegal’s backup goalkeeper. This is worse and indicative of how out of control the match really was.

That will do it for today. We very much appreciate you reading our content so please feel free to provide feedback in the comments of any of our articles. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/20/26

New signing for the Orlando Pride, MLS transfer happenings, Americans in midweek action, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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January 20, 2026

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Image of the Orlando Pride starting XI prior to the 2025 NWSL semifinal against Gotham FC.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone. If you were lucky enough to have Monday off from work, I hope you’re feeling rested and ready to tackle the week. If you weren’t so fortunate, take solace in the fact that you’re one day closer to the weekend. We’ve got plenty to discuss this morning, but before we get into the links, we want to welcome Josh Simon as a subscriber member of The Mane Land . If you’d like to subscribe and receive extra perks, please consider signing up at our Buy Me a Coffee site (or just check it out and swee what’s on offer) at buymeacoffee.com/themaneland. OK, now let’s get into the links!

Orlando Pride Add a Forward

The Orlando Pride kicked off the week by announcing the signing of Jamaican international forward Solai Washington on Monday afternoon. The 20-year-old FSU product joins on a deal that runs through the 2027 season and contains a mutual option for the 2028 campaign. At the international level, Washington has played five times for Jamaica, including three appearances at the 2023 Women’s World Cup when she was only 17. While she has yet to make her professional debut, she’s a young player with plenty of upside, and the Pride have been sorely in need of depth when it comes to the team’s group of attackers. She’s got some excellent players to learn from, and a contract that runs through next season means she should have a couple of years to do so. Welcome to Orlando!

MLS Transfer Roundup

With the beginning of the new Major League Soccer season drawing nearer by the day, the transfer business in and around the league is showing no signs of slowing down. We begin with Inter Miami, which has fully signed Tadeo Allende from Celta Vigo after he spent 2025 on loan with the Herons. Allende is now under contract through June of 2030. Next, there’s the Houston Dynamo, who Tom Bogert says are finalizing the signing of Mateusz Bogusz from Cruz Azul that has been rumored for awhile now.

Mr. Scoops also says that LAFC is putting the final touches on a deal to acquire midfielder Amin Boudri as an MLS U22 Initiative signing.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a whole slew of Americans who will be playing games during the working week, and the Champions League is a recurring theme. Things get going later today when Malik Tillman and Bayer Leverkusen take on Real Madrid, while Folarin Balogun’s Monaco side hits the road to face Real Madrid. Wednesday has Yunus Musah and Atalanta squaring off against Athletic Bilbao, while Tim Weah and Marseille host Liverpool. Attention shifts to the Europa League on Thursday when Auston Trusty and Celtic visit Bologna, while Tanner Tessman and Lyon face Young Boys. Things wrap up on Friday when Damion Downs and Hamburg play James Sands and St. Pauli in the Bundesliga, while West Brom and former Lion Daryl Dike have a road game against Patrick Agyemang and Derby County in the Championship.

AFCON Final Fallout

Saying that the AFCON final was a chaotic affair is an understatement, and now that the dust is settling after the end of the tournament, some of the fallout from the match is beginning to be felt. FIFA President Gianni Infantino criticized the scenes at the final as “unacceptable” and stated his belief that the Confederation of African Football will take disciplinary measures. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation stated that it will file complaints with both FIFA and CAF regarding the bulk of Senegal’s team withdrawing to the locker room after Morocco was given a late penalty kick. Senegal coach Pape Thiaw could be in line to receive match bans for his role in leading Senegal’s players off the field, although its unknown whether any ban would only be for CAF competitions or would come into play at this summer’s World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • Former Lion Cesar Araujo looks to be close to joining a new team.
  • Senegal’s backup goalkeeper didn’t play in the AFCON final but was still extremely active during the game.
  • Charalampos Kostoulas scored a ridiculous goal to help Brighton and Hove Albion rescue a late point against Bournemouth.

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

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Orlando City

Orlando City’s Three Biggest Current Roster Questions

What are the three most concerning issues for Orlando City this preseason?

Published

2 days ago

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January 19, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City has begun its preseason training as the 2026 MLS season nears. The last few weeks have seen signings and departures that have given fans a closer look at what the team will look like when the Lions take on the New York Red Bulls on Feb. 21.

In some cases, the team has made moves that will secure positions that were questionable during the off-season. The two most notable are the signing of Maxime Crepeau as the starting goalkeeper and Martin Ojeda signing a new deal through the 2028-2029 season.

But there are also some questions still to be answered. Let’s take a look at some of the most concerning issues with the current roster.

Who Will Start at Left Back?

Rafael Santos became Orlando City’s starting left back for the 2023 MLS season after the departure of Joao Moutinho.  The Brazilian was a regular in the lineup until early last season when he was relegated to the bench in favor of David Brekalo. The club ended up trading Santos to the Colorado Rapids on Aug. 15, 2025.

Despite not being a natural left back, Brekalo started in the position for the majority of last season until the final three games, when Adrian Marin started in the role. Brekalo started two of the last three games at center back and was away on international duty for the other.

Marin was less than impressive in his first starts for the club. Even though he’s really a center back, Brekalo seemed better at the position than the newer arrival. However, that might not be an option this season and isn’t an ideal situation in any case.

Orlando City sold starting center back Rodrigo Schlegel to Atlas FC on Dec. 16. The decision seemingly forces Brekalo back into the center of the field, where he’ll start alongside club captain Robin Jansson. Even if the club complete the rumored acquisition of Brazilian defender Iago, the departures of both Schlegel and Thomas Williams mean Brekalo will likely need to play his natural position.

That leaves the question of what to do at left back. At this point, Marin starting makes the left back position the weakest of the four. The club doesn’t have any dependable options after Kyle Smith departed the club this off-season. Right now, it will be either Marin or Brekalo, which will cause concerns at the position or leave depth issues at center back. Regardless, it’s an issue that needs to be addressed as the season gets closer.

However, it bears mentioning that Marin had to adjust midseason to a new team on a new continent. It’ll be up to him to settle in during preseason camp and be ready when the season starts.

What Will Happen With Alex Freeman?

The left fullback position isn’t the only potential problem on the back line. A Homegrown product that came through the Orlando City academy and Orlando City B, Freeman made himself a household name last year. The right back quickly took the starting role from Dagur Dan Thorhallsson and started at right back for the U.S. National Team over the summer.

However, his stellar play has also led to interest from clubs overseas. Freeman has publicly stated his desire to play in Europe and he’s currently on a club option year for 2026. If he refuses to re-sign with the club, Orlando City might look to sell him before the European transfer window closes in early February or this summer in the MLS secondary transfer window to avoid losing the 21-year-old for free.

That would leave the Lions with a very serious problem at right back. The Lions traded Thorhallsson to CF Montreal this off-season and, as previously stated, Smith is gone as well. At this point, the starter if Freeman departs would probably be Zakaria Taifi. While the 20-year-old has shown quality for OCB and the first team, he’s still raw with little MLS experience.

As of now, Freeman will be the starter when the season begins and could end up extending his contract with the club, especially since playing in MLS hasn’t hindered his ability to get into the senior national team. But if contract negotiations don’t look positive in the near future, the club will have to figure out what to do with the future of that position.

Will Duncan  McGuire Solidify His Spot Up Top?

The defensive midfield and attacking midfield positions are pretty well set for the 2026 campaign. However, there are definitely some questions when it comes to who will play up top.

The position wasn’t exactly in a great state late in the 2025 season. The two top goal scorers on the team last year were midfielders in Ojeda and Marco Pasalic. Luis Muriel and Ramiro Enrique both scored in double digits in all competitions, but neither is with the club anymore.

The Lions sold Enrique to Saudi side Al-Kholood on Sept. 8, and sold Muriel to Colombia’s Atletico Junior on Jan. 15. That leaves McGuire as the club’s only striker with any considerable experience.

A first-round pick in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft, McGuire had a strong rookie campaign that saw him score 15 goals in 37 appearances in all competitions. He nearly left the club following the season — even traveling to England to finalize the deal — but a clerical error on Blackburn Rovers’ part saw the move fall through.

McGuire’s contributions dipped slightly in 2024 as he scored 11 goals in 37 appearances and it got worse when he suffered a shoulder injury in the first round of the playoffs that required surgery.

The 2025 season was McGuire’s worst since turning professional as he sustained an injury to his other shoulder and watched Muriel and Enrique carry the attacking position until Enrique’s departure. Even when Oscar Pareja put two players up top, he usually paired Ojeda with Muriel rather than McGuire. McGuire only appeared 23 times in 2025 with seven starts in all competitions, scoring just three goals. However, with Muriel’s departure this off-season, McGuire is the only experienced natural striker on the roster.

The main question for McGuire this season will be his health. The attacker has had trouble staying on the field with the back-to-back shoulder injuries. The recent departures and lack of additions into the squad mean he’ll likely be expected to start when the season begins. It could be a bounce back season if he can stay healthy.

However, that’s still a big question. In the meantime, the club still needs depth at that position, regardless of McGuire’s health. It’s something that must be addressed during the preseason. The club does, however, have an open Designated Player slot available.

This off-season has been somewhat troubling for Orlando City fans. The club saw some key departures and not enough additions to feel confident about the upcoming season, but there is still a month before opening day.

As the team goes through preseason training and the first regular-season game gets closer, there are still some issues that must be addressed if the team wants to improve on last year’s disappointing finish. These three questions are the most concerning.

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