Orlando City vs. New York City FC: Final Score 5-0 as 10-Man Lions Crushed at Yankee Stadium

In a one-sided affair at Yankee Stadium, Orlando City (0-3-0, 0 points) extended its club-record winless run to start the year with a 5-0 dismantling by New York City FC in an away game fans and players alike would no doubt like to forget. An early red card on Orlando goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau put NYCFC (2-0-1, 7 points) firmly in total control for essentially the entire match. Agustin Ojeda, Nicolas Fernandez Mercau, Maxi Moralez each scored a goal apiece while Keaton Parks earned a brace, and the Lions were shut out for the first time in 25 matches.

“I have been in processes that needed time, but again, I think at this point, the only way that we can overcome is just embrace the reality and detect every day what we need to get better,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “I think [that] Orlando has tremendous footballers, [ones] younger than others, but we’re not going to use that as an excuse. They are tremendous professionals that will be able to do the job.”

Pareja’s starting XI featured Crepeau in goal behind a back line of Tahir Reid-Brown, Nolan Miller, David Brekalo, and Griffin Dorsey. Luis Otavio —making his first MLS start — and Braian Ojeda started in central midfield with wingers Ivan Angulo and Marco Pasalic, with Tyrese Spicer and Martin Ojeda in the attack.

Orlando City began the match with high energy and purpose, while New York City FC looked to exploit the counter. NYCFC remained composed early on, absorbing Orlando’s pressure and keeping play largely confined to its own half.

However, New York was in control and fashioned a few attacks in the opening minutes. A reckless foul by Tahir Reid-Brown in the seventh minute drew an early yellow card, putting the young defender and Orlando at an immediate disadvantage. The resulting free kick sailed just wide, narrowly missing Hannes Wolf, who might have had simple tap-in if not for a little Lion luck.

Orlando quickly responded, winning a corner that ultimately led to nothing more than a half-hearted NYCFC counter. Ever the dangerous team in possession, NYCFC started to apply pressure and created some chances and half-chances, including a sitter for Moralez, who fired over the crossbar in the 14th minute.

In an absolutely inexplicable turn of events, Crepau was shown a red card for handling the ball just outside the 18-yard box and denying a goal-scoring opportunity as a result of the infraction, putting the Lions in a desperate situation. Javier Otero replaced Crepeau in goal, with Spicer making way as the sacrificial substitution.

NYCFC then managed a spectacular shot in the 21st minute through sheer effort and a smart finish. Agustin Ojeda redirected a Moralez lob into the ground and over Otero to make it 1-0 in the 21st minute.

The match briefly settled into a lull, with NYCFC crafting the better of the chances and Orlando making occasional trips into the New York half, but lacking any real threat without any numbers in the attack.

A New York City corner caused chaos in the box, leaving goal scorer Agustin Ojeda on the ground for a few minutes after a knock. Taking advantage of the restart, NYCFC struck again, this time through a header by Fernandez Mercau, catching Orlando flat-footed. The lead was 2-0 in the 42nd minute.

Orlando’s defense was stretched to its limits, relying on last-ditch heroics to stay in the game. Griffin Dorsey’s individual brightness offered a rare positive, but it was far from enough. Desperation set in, and Otávio made an ill-advised sliding tackle in the box, which gifted Morález a penalty—and NYCFC a third goal—deep in stoppage time.

The first half ended 3-0 and NYCFC held the advantage in possession (67.9%-32.1%), shots (12-1), shots on target (5-0), corners (2-1), and passing accuracy (91.3%-72.9%).

Little changed in the second half with another near-miss connection for Moralez which was ultimately called offside anyway. New York struck with a fourth goal in the 49th minute through quality buildup and a touch by Parks past Otero, who perhaps could have come off his line a bit earlier.

For Orlando, the first and only shot on goal came in the 51st via a header by substitute Duncan McGuire, but it was an easy save for goalkeeper Matt Freese.

Only three minutes later Parks scored another goal off a very poor clearance attempt by Dorsey which made it 5-0.

McGuire took a long-distance shot in the 58th that was deflected out for a corner. The resulting set piece fell to Dorsey, who fired wildly over the endline.

It was just a day in the park for New York City from that point on and the hosts started resting their veterans and giving time to the youngsters. New York decided to let the Lions play around in its attacking half for a while, but the Lions couldn’t fashion a shot.

NYCFC regained control and started to casually work in the Orlando half with the Lions parking the bus and trying not to concede any more goals.

New York made a triple substitution in the 71st to rest some vets and give more time to the kids. Nothing changed with the substitutions, as the kids nearly scored in the 75th with Magno putting one in the net but he was correctly ruled offside.

The Lions found a way to create an 83rd-minute Brekalo header which was sent off target and right to Freese. Nothing came of the final remaining minutes and, mercifully, no added time was given.

“I understand we’re also frustrated in how we’re playing, and we want to win more than anyone, so I think just be patient with us,” McGuire said. “There’s been times where we haven’t started off the season well before, and we’ve come back and ended the season [on a] high. So, I think just be patient with us, and we’ll start getting results.”

NYCFC dominated the final stats with the advantage in possession (68.3%-31.7%), shots (14-4), shots on target (6-1), corners (5-2), and passing accuracy (91.9%-76.3%).

“I don’t know any other road but just working…just wake up in the morning and trying to improve things,” Pareja said. “I think this is a responsibility from all of us as a footballers, the coaches, people who belong to this competition, and there is nothing else. I don’t know any formula that can be successful, other than work and trying to just [turn] the corner and improve the team.”

Orlando City has a week to prepare for a struggling CF Montreal side at home a week from today. With his red card, Crepeau will be suspended for the match.