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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. New York City FC: Five Takeaways

Here’s what we learned from Orlando City’s 2-1 loss against NYCFC.

Published

6 months ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

I have never actually been punched in the gut, but I am sure that it does not feel much worse than what it felt like to watch Orlando City capitulate once again in the final minutes of a game, going from a 1-0 lead to a 2-1 defeat in the final minutes of Wednesday’ night’s game. The Lions had plenty of chances to salt the game away in the first 85 minutes but they could not tally more than one goal, and then the combination of bad luck on one play and bad execution on a play shortly thereafter gave New York City FC a smash-and-grab win.

Here are my five takeaways from another disappointing match at home.

Wrong Place, Wrong Time

Own goals are brutal whenever they happen, but they are especially tough when they follow an incredible save by the goalkeeper but still end up in the back of the net. Pedro Gallese made a save at full stretch, denying former Lion Andrés Perea from scoring a late equalizer with a header, but then Rodrigo Schlegel tried to clear the rebound from danger but hit his clearance right off of Kyle Smith and into the Orlando City net. Schlegel did well to react quickly after Gallese made a fantastic save, but he did not have a chance to look around before trying to bomb the ball out of the zone and just suffered an incredible stroke of bad luck by hitting Smith, who was also going for a clearance, and watching the ball carom right into the net. At that moment, it felt like karma for all the missed shots by the Orlando City offense and that it would be another dropped two points from a winning position, but sadly it would become three dropped points just moments later.

For the Love Of Everything That Is Good, Please Ban Short Corners

I understand that teams want to have a lot of different looks that they could go to on set plays, but I would like the Lions to remove short corners from their bag, as they say, and not go with the short corner routine again. Ever. Kind of like how the guys in the movie Armageddon didn’t want to pay taxes again. Ever. Nico Rodriguez played a quick ball to Eduard Atuesta, trying to catch NYCFC off guard, but the team that was really caught off guard was Orlando City, as Dagur Dan Thórhallsson, the player assigned to be the last man back on defense during a corner kick, had his back to the ball and did not even know the play had started. Many of the other Lions were also caught flat footed while Atuesta tried to find a teammate to pass the ball to. Atuesta eventually played a poor ball into the middle — one of his few poor passes on the night — and NYCFC was able to break out on the counter with only Thórhallsson to beat. The Icelandic midfielder sprinted back at full speed, but because the play had started to so quickly, he was not deep enough to be in a position to slow down the counterattack. Alonso Martínez was able to get by him and finish the breakaway and, for all intents and purposes, the game.

Wasteful Offense

Orlando City took 25 shots on Wednesday night but was only able to put seven shots on goal. Many of the shots the Lions did put on goal did not really trouble goalkeeper Matt Freese. There were opportunities galore for the Lions to get multiple goals, with all three of the Designated Players failing to score on excellent opportunities, César Araújo hitting a free kick straight into a wall from a dangerous location, Alex Freeman not being able to get his feet sorted out to really uncork a threatening shot, and Ramiro Enrique putting his one shot wide of the goal from about nine yards out on the right side. The shots that were on goal were not well hit, and the balls that were well struck went wide, over, or right into a defender — in particular the last one with the Pigeons blocking nine shots on the night. The offense was simply not good enough, again, and the Lions paid for not being able to put multiple goals in the net.

The Only Offense Came From The Defense

Orlando City’s offensive players could not find their form but almost got bailed out by an unlikely source, as the one goal the team scored came from from a header by David Brekalo off of a Martín Ojeda corner that went right to Robin Jansson. The Beefy Swede looked like he had been playing striker for years by using his shoulder to knock the ball down and then volleying it low, hard, and into the corner — a place where all of the other Orlando City players were apparently unable to shoot any of their shots. This goal exemplified why many analysts, yours truly included, think that all corner kicks should be played directly into the box. Brekalo and Jansson got themselves into good positions and made a play, and when a play is made from close range, good things often happen, and purple smoke goes off and the crowd goes wild.

Tired Legs And a Barren Bench Are a Bad Combination

Óscar Pareja started eight players who had started the previous game against CF Montréal four days prior. When he went to the bench, he brought on players who had started that game (Enrique) or who had also come in off the bench in that game (Rodriguez, Smith, and Thórhallsson). Orlando City seemed the more dangerous team for most of the game, but it was not a particularly well-played game, with two teams that looked like they had just played days before and neither team sharp offensively. The Lions created more opportunities but were not sharp, and NYCFC rarely threatened for most of the game.

Pareja went with his trusted group of substitutes to try to protect a 1-0 lead, once again deciding to only use four of his five possible changes (this was the fifth straight game in which he did not use all of his allowed substitutions), and the lack of fresh MLS-quality legs was apparent in the final minutes, especially after the team fell behind. Rodriguez looked lively, but Enrique, Smith, and Thórhallsson contributed little, and the players who had been on the field all game had little left in the tank. Orlando City needs Joran Gerbet and Duncan McGuire to return from injury and needs to make use of the transfer window that opens next week, because the Lions cannot keep running out the same players over and over and expect the results to be different.

Those are my takeaways from Orlando City’s disappointing 2-1 defeat against NYCFC. The Lions had a deserved lead but could not find what would likely have been a back-breaking second goal and paid for it in the end. The team will need to shake this off quickly because the Lions travel to New England on Saturday. But after that performance against NYCFC, maybe it is better that they will be on the road for their next game.

Let us know your thoughts about the NYCFC match in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/13/26

Orlando City opens preseason training, Orlando City B signs a striker, MLS transfer news, and more.

Published

4 hours ago

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January 13, 2026

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Good morning, everyone! As strange (and soon) as it seems, we’ve now got day one of Orlando City’s preseason in the rearview mirror. The season opener will be here before we know it, but for now we’ve got a lot of things to talk through today. Let’s wish a happy birthday to OCSC goalkeeping coach Cesar Baena, and get started on today’s links!

Orlando City Begins Preseason Training

Things looked a little different than they did the last few years when Orlando City opened preseason training on Monday. The new faces include Maxime Crepeau, Braian Ojeda, and Tiago, but the team is more than ready to get to work despite the off-season changes. Oscar Pareja says the club has high expectations for the year and took a moment to acknowledge all the people at the club who helped make the Lions into a playoff staple over the last six seasons, saying, “We’re ready to keep pushing with this journey, and it looks different, for sure, because we have had those players who have been here for many years and have brought a long, big, big history here. So again, our respect to them, and we promise that we will keep pushing together, because the most important thing is the team.” Of the new signings, Luis Otavio was the only one not present at Monday’s training, while several Orlando City B players were training with the first team, with Justin Ellis, Titus Sandy Jr., and Juan Rojas among them.

OCB Adds Brazilian Striker

Not to be outshone by the senior side, Orlando City B got the week started on a strong note by announcing the signing of striker Pedro Leao from Flamengo’s U-20 team. Leao came up through Flamengo’s academy before making his debut for the U-20 team in August of 2024. He then proceeded to score 20 goals and provide six assists in over 3,000 minutes for the U-20 side, and helped it win the 2024-2025 iteration of the U-20 Intercontinental Cup. The striker was also called up three times to represent Brazil’s U-16 side, logging three assists across those friendly matches. Welcome to Orlando!

MLS Transfer Moves

With the beginning of the Major League Soccer season creeping closer and closer, teams are completing transfer business in every direction you look. We start with FC Cincinnati, which has signed free agent forward Tom Barlow on a contract that runs through the end of 2027. Continuing the theme of free agent signings, the New York Red Bulls have signed defender Robert Voloder, with the former Sporting Kansas City player joining on a deal that runs through the end of 2028. The Houston Dynamo signed midfielder Agustin Bouzat from Velez Sarsfield on a deal that runs through June 2028 and has an option through June 2029. Up north, 38-year-old Maxi Moralez is back yet again for New York City FC, as he has signed a new contract that runs through the 2026 season. Finally, the San Jose Earthquakes are said to be closing in on a deal to sign Timo Werner as a Designated Player.

Americans in Midweek Action

As usual, a number of American players will be in action during the working week, so let’s take a look at some of the matchups. Things get going today when Malik Tillman and Bayer Leverkusen travel to Hamburger SV in Bundesliga action. Gio Reyna, Joe Scally, and Borussia Monchengladbach hit the road to take on Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Wednesday, while Kevin Paredes and Wolfsburg host James Sands’ St. Pauli side in the same competition. Thursday has Christian Pulisic and AC Milan in a road tilt against Como in Serie A play, and the week finishes up Friday with Folarin Balogun and Monaco squaring off against Lorient in Ligue 1.

Free Kicks

  • Check out some of the scenes from the first day of preseason training.

That’s all I’ve got for today. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/12/26

Pride trade Emily Sams to Angel City, MLS transfer news, FA Cup roundup, and more.

Published

1 day ago

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January 12, 2026

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been busy at work, covering high school bowling and playing video games such as EA FC 26. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Pride Trade Emily Sams to Angel City FC

The Orlando Pride announced Friday that the club has traded 2024 NWSL Defender of the Year Emily Sams to Angel City FC. In exchange, the Pride received a club-record $650,000 in intraleague transfer funds. Sams had requested a trade and departs Orlando after three seasons with the club. The Pride had given Sams a contract extension 11 months ago through the 2027 NWSL season. She made 86 appearances for the Pride across all competitions, scored one goal and added two assists, and played a crucial role on the back line to help Orlando secure both the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship during the 2024 season. Sams also earned seven caps with the U.S. Women’s National Team. Orlando will now need to focus on finding a replacement at center back.

MLS Transfer News Roundup

We’ve got plenty of MLS moves to catch you up on from the last few days. Nashville SC announced Friday the club has signed former San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Cristian Espinoza to a Designated Player contract through 2028 with options through 2028-2029 and 2029-2030. The Earthquakes have signed Cristian “Chicho” Arango to a new contract through 2027, with club options for the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 season. Austin FC has reached an agreement with midfielder Dani Pereira on a contract extension through 2027-2028 with an option for 2028-2029. D.C. United announced the transfer of midfielder Boris Enow to Israeli Premier League side Beitar Jerusalem. San Diego FC has acquired Osvald Soe from Danish Second Division side Boldklubben af 1893. Soe is under contract through the 2027-2028 MLS season with options through 2029-2030. Meanwhile, Hirving “Chucky” Lozano is reportedly not in San Diego FC’s plans for the upcoming 2026 MLS season. Lastly, Toronto FC has reportedly submitted a transfer bid to Norwich City for forward Josh Sargent.

Third Round FA Cup Recap

There was plenty of drama and some notable upsets in the third round of the FA Cup. On Friday, Wrexham knocked out Premier League side Nottingham Forest 4-3 on penalties after a 3-3 draw. On Saturday, Macclesfield FC, which plays in the sixth tier of English football, defeated defending FA Cup champion Crystal Palace 2-1 in one of the biggest upsets of the weekend. Manchester City demolished Exeter City 10-1, while Tottenham Hotspur fell 2-1 to Aston Villa. On Sunday, former Lion Daryl Dike played 60 minutes as West Bromwich Albion defeated Swansea City 6-5 on penalties after a 2-2 draw to move on to the fourth round. Brighton & Hove Albion beat Manchester United 2-1, and Gabriel Martinelli scored a hat trick as Arsenal cruised to a 4-1 victory against Portsmouth. Today, Liverpool hosts Barnsley, and Salford City takes on Swindon Town Tuesday to conclude the third round of the FA Cup.

2025 Africa Cup of Nations Quarterfinals Results

The quarterfinals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations concluded in Morocco, with four teams booking their spots in the semifinals. On Friday, Senegal edged Mali 1-0, with Iliman Ndiaye scoring the lone goal for Senegal to advance. Host Morocco shut out Cameroon 2-0 to advance to the semifinals. On Saturday, Nigeria defeated Algeria 2-0 with Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams scoring in the second half to advance to the next round. Egypt held on for a 3-2 win against Ivory Coast to eliminate the defending champions. Mohamed Salah scored a goal and added an assist as Egypt booked its spot in the semifinals with the win. The semifinals will kick off on Wednesday with Senegal facing Egypt and Morocco taking on Nigeria.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City players report today for preseason training at Osceola Heritage Park.
  • Orlando City forward Yutaro Tsukada revealed to his teammates that he is married.
  • Robin Jansson, Duncan McGuire, and the Orlando City technical staff shared their thoughts on the importance of preseason training camp.
  • Benfica has reportedly expressed interest in acquiring former Lion Facundo Torres, who is currently playing for Palmeiras.

That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

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Orlando City

New Year, Same Coach: It’s Time to Appreciate Óscar Pareja

Orlando City’s skipper is one of the best coaches in league history and deserves a lion’s share of the credit for the team’s success in recent years.

Published

4 days ago

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January 9, 2026

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

The clock turned to midnight and 2026 arrived one week ago, and in the first week of 2026 there has been a lot of news about coaches, as the managers who started the season at two of the most well-known soccer clubs in the world, Chelsea and Manchester United, both lost their jobs. The manager carousel has been spinning aggressively at both clubs in recent years, so it was not a huge surprise to see either departure, but as we approach the beginning of the 2026 MLS season, the news from England’s Premier League made me appreciate even more the tenure of the man in charge of Orlando City: the iconic, white-shirt-wearing Óscar Pareja, who is about to begin his seventh season in charge of the Lions.

Pareja took charge in Orlando back in 2019, and at 6.1 years as head coach, he is currently the second-longest tenured head coach in MLS, behind only Brian Schmetzer of the Seattle Sounders. The average tenure of the 28 (Atlanta has yet to hire a head coach) non-Pareja coaches in the league is 1.98 years, so Pareja, at just beyond six years in charge, has been at the club for slightly more than three times the league average, and he has been a lot more than slightly effective ever since taking the reins, as you can see from the chart below:

CompetitionWinsLossesDraws*Points Per Match
MLS9162571.57
Leagues Cup4351.42
U.S. Open Cup5221.89
Concacaf Champions Cup/League2131.50
Total10268671.57
  • * For this chart I used the result of the game at the end of regulation or extra time, I did not give a win or loss based on the result of penalty kicks, which is too bad, because Orlando City is 8-3 in shootouts since Pareja became head coach.

Pareja’s 210 games in charge of the Lions is the 15th most in league history by a head coach at a single club, and if the Colombian is still the coach after the 33rd league game this season, he will move into 10th place on that list. The points-per-match values in the chart above show why he has been in Orlando so long, as transfermarkt.com‘s tracking ranks him 30th on the all-time list in points per match among the 179 MLS coaches who have coached at least 25 games at one club. That site has Pareja at 1.60 points per match, so perhaps it is giving wins and losses instead of draws based on shootout results, or perhaps their math is just a bit off (I know a mathematics major who can help), but the main point is that since Pareja came to Orlando he has consistently been an excellent coach — among the top 20% (16.7%, if we are being specific) in league history in points per match.

One of the coaches that Pareja ranks behind on that list, funnily enough, is one Óscar Pareja from his time as the head coach of FC Dallas. Pareja coached 180 games in Dallas and earned 1.61 points per match, ranking 27th on transfermark’s list, but if Orlando City can put together another strong season in 2026, Pareja with Orlando City may jump Pareja with FC Dallas by this time next year.

That, of course, is a big if, as the 2026 roster is slowly coming into shape but still appears to be short a few players. Sean Rollins wrote earlier this week about some OCB players who might make their first-ever appearance with the senior team this season, and Gustavo Caraballo, Justin Ellis, Colin Guske, and Zakaria Taifi all could play more this season than they did in 2025, each with the idea that they could be the next Alex Freeman and go from a handful of MLS minutes in 2025 to thousands in 2026. Lightning does strike quite often in the City Beautiful, so it could happen, but it is more likely that the front office will acquire a few more seasoned professionals to fill out the roster.

Once the roster is filled out, it is likely that Pareja will do what he has done in — according to fbref.com’s tracking — 93% of his matches as head coach in Orlando by starting a back four. Three of the four spots seem set at the moment, with left back the one question mark going into training camp. It is possible that the team signs another center back, and David Brekalo continues to play as a left back or becomes a backup, but the more likely scenario is a Robin Jansson and Brekalo pairing in the middle with Freeman on the right, and Pareja oversees a training camp battle to choose a left back among several competing players.

In four of Pareja’s six seasons the club finished the season with excellent goal differentials across all competitions, finishing +15 in 2020, +14 in 2023, +17 in 2024, and +17 again in 2025. The Lions were dead even in 2021 and -2 in 2022, making the combined total for the six seasons a healthy +61. While he has played a 4-2-3-1 most often, he has adapted around the team he has every season, playing a 4-4-2 for most of 2026, for example, and so whether the front office acquires another left back, center back, or neither and goes into training camp with a bunch of young players competing to earn roster spots, Pareja has more than earned the trust of the team, front office, and fans that he will be able to take what he is given and, to turn a famous Orlando City phrase on its head, show us that Papi can do that.

Stability is an often underrated component of a team’s success, and while Orlando City’s roster will only bring back a maximum of 65% of its minutes played from last year, bringing back Pareja and his strategic planning acumen is an unquantifiable boost for the team. The best years in the club’s MLS era have been under his leadership, and while the Lions finished lower in the standings last year than in prior years, that was really more about the rest of the Eastern Conference playing well than an Orlando City regression, considering that the Lions earned the second-most MLS regular-season points in club history during the 2025 season.

Pareja’s six years of experience ranks second most in MLS and is longer than all but three coaches among the 92 professional teams in England’s top four divisions (Premier League, Championship, League One, and League Two). It is not a coincidence that the recent years have been among the team’s best with those large positive goal differentials and deep runs in the MLS playoffs and Leagues Cup.

Sustained excellence is extremely difficult in sports, and while Orlando City only has the one U.S. Open Cup in the trophy case during the Pareja era, according to fbref.com’s tracking, only five MLS clubs (LAFC, Inter Miami, the Philadelphia Union, the Seattle Sounders, and the Columbus Crew) have more wins in all competitions than Orlando City since he took over before the 2020 season.

I am not big on making new year’s resolutions, but in 2026 I resolve to show my appreciation more often for the consistent success that Pareja has brought to Orlando City.

Vamos Orlando!

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