Flashback Friday: Orlando City at Philadelphia Union March 25, 2023

Major League Soccer respecting the international break for once means that there is no Orlando City game to preview today. While that might not be the worst thing in the world given the Lions’ injuries in key areas and subsequently brutal start to the 2026 season, it does mean that we need to find something different to talk about on this fine Friday. Given that there hasn’t been much to cheer about for OCSC this year, let’s take this time to reminisce on a time when the results didn’t make for such unpleasant viewing.

More specifically, let’s hop in the time machine and set our dials to March 25, 2023. The Lions were on the road to face the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park and were looking for a win. Orlando had won its first league game of the year against the New York Red Bulls before recording four straight draws, including two against Tigres in the Concacaf Champions Cup that saw the Lions exit the competition on away goals. The team understandably then looked a little ragged when it lost 2-1 to Charlotte FC just three days later to make it 1-1-2 through four league matches and seeking its first win in a month.

To get that win, then-coach Oscar Pareja set his team up in a 4-2-3-1. On this particular day, MLS did not pause games during the March international window, so the lineup featured Mason Stajduhar in goal with a back line of Luca Petrasso, Robin Jansson, Rodrigo Schlegel, and Kyle Smith. Cesar Araujo and Felipe played the double pivot with an attacking midfield of Ivan Angulo, Mauricio Pereyra, and Martin Ojeda. Ramiro Enrique started up front as the lone striker.

Philly coach Jim Curtin, meanwhile, sent out a 4-3-1-2 with Joe Bendik in goal; Kai Wagner, Jack Elliot, Jakob Glesnses, and Olivier Mbaizo in defense; Andres Perea, Leon Flach, and Alejandro Bedoya in midfield; Joaquin Torres in the hole; and Mikael Uhre and Chris Donovan up top.

The action came fast and furious once the whistle blew to begin play. With just two minutes gone, Enrique did well to chest down a long ball from Stajduhar for Pereyra. The Uruguayan used his first touch to lift a ball over the back line for Ojeda, who ran onto it and used his first touch to lash a low shot past former Lion Bendik, making it 1-0 to the good guys.

It took a mere seven minutes for things to go from good to better for Orlando, and this time it was Ojeda’s turn to dish out an assist. He slipped an extremely clever ball through the Philly back line for Angulo, who finished well into the far corner beyond a diving Bendik to double OCSC’s advantage.

Despite the excellent offensive start, the Lions looked a little suspect defensively, which perhaps wasn’t surprising given that both Smith and Felipe were making their first starts of the year. The defensive issues eventually bit Orlando where the sun doesn’t shine, and it was a familiar face whose teeth did the biting. Just 10 minutes after going up 2-0, Torres put in what looked to be a fairly unthreatening cross. Smith was marking Perea and did not cover himself in glory, as the Colombian easily outjumped him to win the initial header. While the ball caromed off the near post, it came right back to Perea, who easily dispatched it into the empty net with Stajduhar having already committed to the initial shot.

The two teams then spent the rest of the first half trading opportunities. Stajduhar saved from Uhre in the 23rd minute after a poor goal kick gifted him the ball, while Ojeda had a few half chances before Orlando’s Homegrown goalkeeper did exceedingly well to deny Elliott from a corner kick in the 37th minute.

The Lions took a 2-1 lead into halftime but trailed big time in shots (12-5), while hanging much closer in shots on target, which Philly led 3-2.

The second half was an open affair that featured a number of chances for both teams, and Orlando in particular really should have added to the two goals it already had on the board. Torres nearly tied the game under a minute into the second half, as his header crashed off the post and stayed out to the relief of Stajduhar.

For Orlando’s part, the Lions were their own worst enemies when it came down to their inability to extend the lead. Whether it was misplayed passes, loose touches, or wayward finishing, several men in purple had great chances to pad the scoreline and make things more comfortable. Despite his goal and assist performance, Ojeda was guilty of missing a pair of excellent opportunities in the 87th and 92nd minutes.

Fortunately, it wouldn’t matter when everything was said and done. Stajduhar made a great save to keep Bedoya out in the 75th minute, and that was the last time he was truly tested; although things could have been different if not for some poor finishing by the Union.

When the final whistle blew, Orlando had secured a 2-1 win, its second win of the season, and its first road win of the year. The Lions narrowly edged both possession (52.6%-47.4%) and passing accuracy (76.2%-71.8%), while the Union outshot the Lions 26-12, and put six shots on target to OCSC’s four.

Marcus Mitchell handed the player grades for this one, and it’s difficult to fault his decision to name Ojeda the Man of the Match with a grade of 7.5. Despite some missed chances in the second half, Tincho had a goal and an assist, took eight shots, and even chipped in defensively with a pair of tackles and clearances. Pereyra also received a 7.5, as he had an assist, completed three of his four long balls and three of his four dribbles, and led the team with five tackles.

The 2023 season proved to be a slow-starting year for Orlando. The Lions would alternate wins and losses in their next four games, but eventually figured things out in the second half of the year and powered their way to finishing second in the Eastern Conference. The Lions even finished second in the Supporters’ Shield standings — just six points behind FC Cincinnati. While replicating those sorts of numbers is extremely unlikely in 2026, given what we’ve seen so far, the hope is that Orlando can recover from a slow start and at least keep its postseason streak alive. Winning a first road game of the year next week would certainly help. Vamos Orlando!