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Orlando City vs. D.C. United: Final Score 1-1 as Lions Open Road Schedule with a Draw

The Lions finally got a goal in open play through Duncan McGuire but couldn’t hold the lead, settling for a draw at D.C. United.

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4 years ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

The good news is that Orlando City finally scored a goal from open play. The bad news is that the Lions finally conceded a goal on the season as they left Audi Field with a 1-1 draw against D.C. United. Rookie Duncan McGuire put Orlando City (1-0-2, 5 points) on the board in the second half, but an inch-perfect shot by Chris Durkin enabled United (1-1-1, 4 points) to claim a point.

“In the first half today, we didn’t look like us,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “I don’t blame the players. I just think that they did great trying to adjust. The intensity was good. We would like to play much better, obviously, but they’re always good (in terms of intensity and discipline).”

Pareja rotated his squad from Tuesday night’s match in Mexico. Pedro Gallese again started in goal but his defense was a three/five depending on whether Orlando had the ball or not. Rookie Abdi Salim, Rodrigo Schlegel, and Kyle Smith got the start, with Rafael Santos getting his first start at left wingback and Ivan Angulo playing wide right, with Wilder Cartagena and Mauricio Pereyra in central midfield. The attacking line featured Dagur Dan Thorhallsson and Facundo Torres on the wings underneath McGuire, who got his first start up top.

As has been the case throughout this young season, the Lions provided little to no danger in the attack in the opening half, while Gallese bailed the team out multiple times to keep the game scoreless through the first 45 minutes.

The hosts started to cause trouble early when former Orlando fullback Ruan sent in a good cross (I know!) in the sixth minute. Gallese came off his line to get a hand to it. The ball fell to Theodore Ku-Dipietro, who had his shot blocked in front.

Orlando City’s first shot attempt came from Wilder Cartagena in the 17th minute. He was way outside the box and obviously not in as much space as he thought because he got his shot blocked and it didn’t even make it inside the penalty area.

Gallese made a couple of tame stops early but in the 28th minute, the ball ended up with Christian Benteke all alone in front of goal when Salim missed getting his head to a cross. Benteke’s shot was good but Gallese’s save was better.

In the 34th minute, Gallese robbed Ku-Dipietro with a big stop and then Benteke nodded off target on the recyle attempt.

The Lions nearly got their first quality look of the game in the 41st when Pereyra sent a ball in for Torres. The younger Uruguayan’s first touch was a bit heavy though, and Tyler Miller scrambled off his line to smother it. It was practically Miller’s only activity in the opening 45.

Gallese had no trouble collecting Pedro Santos’ shot from distance in the 42nd minute, taking it on the first hop. Benteke fired wide of goal off Miller’s long free kick deep in first-half stoppage time as D.C. continued to present threats to the Orlando City goal.

The Lions had maybe their best attacking movement of the half deep in stoppage time when Torres sent a headed pass in behind down the left. McGuire ran onto it but could only win a corner kick.

D.C. held wide margins in possession (57.2%-42.8%), passing accuracy (85.2%-77.1%), shots (8-3), and shots on target (4-0). Orlando City had the first half’s only corner kick attempt deep in stoppage time but provided no threat from it.

If not for Gallese, the score could have been much different at the break.

Pareja changed shape and personnel at the break, sending Robin Jansson on for Salim and Martin Ojeda on for Torres. The Lions went to a four-man back line with Smith on the right, pushing Angulo up to the wing.

The move opened the game up a bit and the Lions were able to get on the ball more but also allowed D.C. to advance more easily as well, at times.

“We did expect the game in the second half we could have more volume and more actions up front,” Pareja said. “We knew the defensive five in the first half would probably reduce our possibilties because we were playing with one more defender and one less attacker. But we wanted to have solidness and try to see if we can create some more sequences around, in the flanks, and I think we did but not with so much consistency. Second half when we made the change of the model and the change of the personnel, we knew that this was going to surprise D.C. at some point and that we would add one more forward, and that happened.”

Thorhallsson finally gave the Lions a shot on goal in the 48th minute, sending his attempt from distance directly in at Miller, who had no trouble catching it. In the 52nd minute, Ojeda sent a ball straight to Miller that may have been a weak shot or an attempted through ball for McGuire that didn’t work out.

But a minute later, the Lions found their breakthrough.

Smith got the ball on the right side from Angulo and sent a cross to the back post. Thorhallsson was there and nodded it back across the front of goal. McGuire arrived to bundle the ball in despite a challenge from Steve Birnbaum and the ball finally found the inside of the net for Orlando. A check for offside confirmed the goal — McGuire’s first as a professional and on Thorhallsson’s first MLS assist.

The rookie celebrated his goal with a celebratory flip.

“It was a great team buildup. Great cross,” McGuire said. “I thought I could get my head onto (the initial cross from Smith). I turned, and Dagur played a great ball across the face of goal — made the goalie out of the play — and then it was a simple tap-in. Dagur could not have made it easier for me.”

“It’s a dream for him,” Pareja said of his rookie’s goal. “I’m very pleased because he’s a young kid and very committed with the group, and an American player that came from the college system, which is fantastic. And he’s proven already in his first game that he belongs. We’re very happy for him.”

The game had hardly restarted when it seemed D.C. would equalize. A shot that was blocked riccocheted off the arm of Wilder Cartagena and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. But Cartagena’s arm was not only tucked in, but his entire forearm was behind his back. That, added to the close proximity and sudden change of direction made the decision a harsh one, and the video assistant referee, Jorge Gonzalez, suggested that referee Jon Freemon have another look. Freemon went to the monitor and quickly overturned his initial call.

Pereyra turned down an opportunity to shoot from the top of the box in the 61st minute, and instead tried to thread a ball through the defense to Ojeda, who appeared to be offside anyway. Ojeda re-established himself and Pereyra played it to his left. Ojeda tried to turn and shoot in a single motion but couldn’t get squared all the way around and left his shot wide.

Seconds later, at the other end, Smith did well to erase a good cross from his former teammate, Ruan.

The Lions dealt with a series of corner kicks shortly after that but D.C. couldn’t pay them off. The best look for the hosts was a shot through traffic by fullback Mohanad Jeahze, but it was well wide of the goal in the 73rd minute.

Ojeda put a shot on target in the 79th but it was from distance and right at Miller.

A minute later, Durkin equalized. Smith and Schlegel were unable to gain control in the corner and the ball was sent to Durkin at the top of the area. He faked a shot on his right and pulled the ball back onto his left as second-half sub Cesar Araujo went for the block. Durkin then fired an unstoppable shot just inside the far post that Gallese somehow almost got to.

It was Durkin’s third career MLS goal and his second against Orlando City. Both cost the Lions points at Audi Field.

Ruan fired a shot well up into the crowd in the 86th after an initial clearance of a D.C. corner kick.

The final seconds of stoppage time produced a set piece for the Lions near the left corner, won by substitute Gaston Gonzalez. Ojeda played the ball to the penalty spot for Jansson, who had peeled away from goal. The Beefy Swede was open for the shot but mishit it badly and it went nowhere near the goal frame.

Orlando survived a quick D.C. push up the pitch and the final whistle brought the proceedings to an end.

D.C.’s advantage in possession dipped a little in the second half, but the hosts still finished with a comfortable advantage in that stat (56.7%-43.3%). United also led in passing accuracy (81.1%-75.5%), shots (16-9), shots on target (5-4), and corners (5-2).

“I thought we looked much, much better,” Pareja said of the second half. “I think we had a couple actions. I think we had a goal. And we accomplished that objective.”

Orlando City has made it through three of the five matches in 15 days and will return home to face Tigres in the second leg of Concacaf Champions league play in the Round of 16 Wednesday night at Exploria Stadium. The next league game for the Lions is set for next Saturday night at home against Charlotte.

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Orlando City vs. New York City FC: Five Takeaways

Here’s what we learned from Orlando City’s 2-2 draw with New York City FC.

Published

9 hours ago

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October 25, 2026

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Image of Wilder Cartagena playing the ball.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

Orlando City was not dominant but looked like it was about to walk away with all three points Saturday night at home against New York City FC. But the Lions could not slam the door on the Pigeons and New York City FC was able to score a last-gasp equalizer in a 2-2 draw at Inter.co Stadium. The Lions could not mount much of anything offensively in the final portion of the game and the defense finally broke after bending over backwards for half an hour. Orlando City remains in a playoff position, but dropping those two points at home is a massive disappointment and could prove costly over the final few weeks of the season.

Here are my five takeaways from the match.

Wait, This Is A Home Game, Right?

The way that the game started, it seemed like it was NYCFC, rather than Orlando City, that was playing in front of its home crowd and flying all over the field because of the home support. The Pigeons dominated the ball early, out-possessing the Lions by a wide margin (65%-35%, according to the MLS website) in the opening 20 minutes and creating three big chances. After failing to convert on the first two, NYCFC finally converted the third on a tap-in by Alonso Martínez, leaving the Orlando City defenders shaking their heads and wondering if perhaps it might have been a better idea to start an actual right back instead of once again playing Iván Angulo out of position on the back line (on the right, where the cross in front came from).

Griezmann Got The Crowd Going

At this point it almost feels more of a matter of when, and not if, Antoine Griezmann will put his name on the score sheet each game. With the Lions trailing 1-0, Braian Ojeda drove a long ball all the way from right to left to the foot of Martín Ojeda, and the Argentine then played a picture perfect cross to Griezmann that the French superstar used his head to power into the upper corner to tie the game. That goal, and not the wave, which has no place in a soccer stadium, got the crowd back into the game, and Orlando City used the crowd’s energy to turn the tide after NYCFC’s early blitz.

Another Cartagena Penalty

Perhaps it is unfair to the Colombian, who was hustling back to try to prevent NYCFC from getting yet another chance from close range after yet another brilliant pass by Tayvon Gray, but he bundled over Talles Magno in the box and that makes two consecutive games giving away a penalty for the Peruvian. He is not a center back, but had to drop back there after Iago was so poor that he had to come off, and Cartagena performed very well for the most part as he played in between David Brekalo and Adrián Marín. It was Brekalo, the natural center back, who was unable to defend Gray’s initial pass and forced Cartagena into a desperate situation, but thankfully Magno’s penalty went wide and the Lions were able to hold onto the lead — at least for the moment.

Ojeda Hits A Half Century

After being the provider on Orlando City’s first goal, and passing Mauricio Pereyra for the club’s all-time assist lead with 47, Martín Ojeda was the finisher on the second, hammering a rocket from the left side of the box early in the second half off of a cross from Angulo that came to Ojeda after skipping off Vinícius Nogueira’s head. That goal made it an even 50 in all competitions for the Lions’ all-time leading scorer, and for most of the second half it appeared like it would be the game-winner. Alas it was not, as Orlando City could only muster two more shots after Ojeda’s goal and was unable to score a third goal, and NYCFC piled the pressure onto the Orlando City back line until it finally broke through in stoppage time.

Crépeau’s Brilliance Not Enough

Up until the very last kick of the game, the Canadian netminder seemed like he was going to pull it off and give Orlando all three points, but Jonathan Shore’s shot in the dying seconds of the game went just beyond Crépeau’s fingertips and just inside the far post, and just like that, three points were reduced to one in what was by far the easiest game remaining on Orlando City’s schedule. Prior to that, Crépeau had been brilliant, making four saves and coming off his line several times to claim or deflect away NYCFC crosses. The visitors dominated the final 20-30 minutes of the game, but time after time Crépeau came up big and kept the Lions in the lead. Unfortunately, his defense could not prevent NYCFC from getting one final opportunity on goal, as Angulo was torched on the left side and no defender was able to step up and get a clearance or a block, and Shore’s shot was an absolute dagger that could cost the Lions a playoff spot.

Those are my takeaways from Orlando City’s disappointing 2-2 draw with NYCFC. The Lions have to regroup quickly, as they play in Chicago on Wednesday and their margin to stay in a playoff spot is still razor thin.

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

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Orlando City vs. New York City FC: Final Score 2-2 as Lions Throw Away Two Points on Game’s Last Kick

Just seconds from a valuable three points in their penultimate home game of the regular season, the Lions conceded and dropped two of them.

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20 hours ago

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October 24, 2026

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Image of Braian Ojeda leaping for an aerial ball against New York City FC
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

New York City FC needed every one of the nine minutes of stoppage time added on at the end of a 2-2 draw with Orlando City at Inter.co Stadium tonight. Jonathan Shore’s goal in the ninth added minute allowed NYCFC (8-12-11, 35 points) to steal two vital points from the Lions (12-13-2, 46 points) at the death in yet another late collapse by Orlando.

It was a missed opportunity for the Lions to gain ground in the playoff race as Antoine Griezmann and Martin Ojeda led Orlando back from an early 1-0 hole to a second-half lead that lasted up until Shore’s strike at the last possible second.

In the end, the Lions were probably fortunate even to get a point from this game after squandering some open headers early and surviving a missed NYCFC penalty kick late in the game. Maxime Crepeau made several vital saves 1-v-1 on chances the visitors created with direct play, and Orlando didn’t manage a shot over the game’s final half hour.

“It was a tough night. We couldn’t find what we usually find, especially at home,” Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman said after the match. “For moments, yes, but not overall. Of course, it wasn’t the best night, so that’s it. No more than that.”

Perelman’s lineup featured Crepeau in goal behind a back line of Vinicius Nogueira, Iago, David Brekalo, and Ivan Angulo. Defensive midfielders Wilder Cartagena, Braian Ojeda, and Eduard Atuesta joined Justin Ellis in the midfield with Martin Ojeda and Griezmann up top.

Orlando tried to get on the front foot first, with Martin Ojeda taking the ball away in the attacking third and winning an early corner kick. Angulo did well to pick out Griezmann with a perfect cross in the sixth minute, but the Frenchman headed his hard shot right at goalkeeper Matt Freese, who appeared to be in obvious discomfort afterward, despite it appearing like a routine save.

But the Lions began giving the ball away cheaply in bad areas and New York City was able to carve the defense open with probing long balls for Martinez to run onto, as Iago was both slow to read the danger and too slow to recover once Martinez got in behind. The first instance came in the 10th minute, with Crepeau coming out to cut off the angle. Martinez tried to chip him but the shot landed on the roof of the net. Martinez recorded New York City FC’s first five shot attempts of the match.

Crepeau made a good save on Martinez two minutes later when Martinez again got in behind on a long pass.

Moments later, Orlando had the ball in its own third and Iago gave it away in his own penalty area. Iago was able to recover enough to block Martinez’s shot from near the penalty spot. Four minutes later, the Lions finally got burned after playing with fire for several minutes.

Martinez ran onto a ball in from Agustin Ojeda on his left. Crepeau got a touch on it but couldn’t prevent it from reaching Martinez in front, who swept it in to make it 1-0 in the 18th minute.

Atuesta tries his luck from long range in the 23rd minute. He got all of his shot but it was always rising and missed the target.

Crepeau made another huge save a minute later on a shot by Agustin Ojeda in front.

Freese had to come off just after that save. Trainers came on and appeared to be looking at his shoulder. Tomas Romero came in to replace him in the 28th minute.

Nogueira, like Griezmann earlier, headed straight at the goalkeeper in the 30th minute. Ellis provided a perfect cross, but the Brazilian hit it straight at Romero. A minute later, Martin Ojeda sent in a good ball for Ellis in front, but the defense blocked it in front of goal.

The Lions drew level in the 32nd minute. Martin Ojeda sent in another gorgeous cross from the far left. Griezmann just had to get it on target, and he powered his 13th goal of the season past Romero to make it 1-1. Martin Ojeda equaled Mauricio Pereyra for the club’s all-time assist mark (47) on the play.

Shortly after the goal, Atuesta gave up a silly free kick near the left corner. The ball in front found Thiago Martins, but he didn’t make good contact and Crepeau was able to save the headed shot.

Nico Fernandez Mercau put the ball in the net behind Crepeau in the 39th minute but he was well offside on the play and the flag came up immediately.

Orlando survived a couple of late turnovers by Cartagena and got to the locker room tied at 1-1.

At the break, the visitors led most of the statistical categories including possession (53.7%-46.3%), shots (8-6), corners (3-1), and passing accuracy (91.4%-89.9%). Each team put three shots on target in the opening period.

Cartagena conceded an unnecessary set piece early in the second half and former Lion Andres Perea got to it first, but his flicked header skipped wide of the right post in the 47th minute.

Two minutes later, the Lions took the lead. Angulo’s cross in from the right found Nogueira but all he could do was head it backward to the left side. Martin Ojeda was waiting for it there and smashed it inside the right post to make it 2-1.

“We trained this one,” said Nogueira, who picked up his first Orlando City assist. “And today it worked. Ivan crossed the ball. I headed for Tincho and he scored. It was really good.”

Ellis had his shot blocked in the 59th minute to set up a corner kick. Romero palmed away the ball into the box, but only as far as Martin Ojeda, who tried a half-volley shot but hd didn’t strike it true, sending it into the seats.

Much of the rest of the game consisted of NYCFC sending dangerous long balls that often beat Orlando defenders. Crepeau made some huge saves in the second half, beginning in the 66th minute when Cartagena got beaten down the sideline, giving Martinez a free run toward goal. Crepeau cut down the angle and threw out a hand to block the shot. Two minutes later, Atuesta gave the ball away at midfield to ignite the break and again Crepeau came up big to deny Hannes Wolf.

Substitute Talles Magno got in behind both Brekalo and Cartagena in the 78th minute and the latter made contact with the attacker in the box, taking him down. Referee Elijio Arreguin pointed to the spot, awarding a penalty. Magno took the spot kick himself, but shot before the referee signaled the ready for play, slotting it just inside the left post, although Crepeau knew the play was dead and made no effort to stop it. When they re-spotted the ball, Magno fired off the outside of the same post, missing a golden chance to pull his team level in the 81st minute.

Two minutes later, Perea made a well-timed run onto a cross but sent his shot just wide of the left post.

As time wound down, Orlando struggled to clear its defensive end or to string together multiple passes to take off the pressure. NYCFC won several set pieces, but couldn’t do much with them.

The fourth official showed nine added minutes on his board, which seemed excessive as there had been just one goal, a few multi-player subs, and not much in the way of actual injuries. Crepeau needed about a minute for treatment down the stretch, but there was nothing excessive. Even the penalty was clear-cut and didn’t require a lengthy review.

New York City FC didn’t create much until the final few seconds of that ninth minute, despite having multiple corners and free kicks. Angulo was beaten badly down the defensive left by Tayvon Gray, who put the ball into the six, where it deflected to James Sands. The defender passed back to Shore outside the box, and no one was able to close him down. The shot had eyes, finding its way through traffic and just inside the left post to make it 2-2.

“Unfortunately they tied on the last play,” Perelman said. “That hurts a lot, but it’s time to digest it.”

The final whistle blew at the restart, sealing a postseason-jeopardizing two dropped points for Orlando.

At full time, NYCFC had a stranglehold on the stat sheet, finishing with the advantage in possession (53.7%-46.3%), shots (17-9), shots on target (6-4), corners (9-3), and passing accuracy (91%-87%).

“We like to win at home. We don’t like this,” Perelman said. “And we do our best. Sometimes these things happen. The opponent plays. They have good players, and that’s it.”

Braian Ojeda, who made his first start since returning from foot surgery, said he was happy to get back in the starting XI tonight, but said he was frustrated with the result.

“We have to keep working hard and keep looking at the the matches in front of us that we have to finish out the regular season,” he added. “Obviously, there’s still some adjustments that we have to make on those details.”

With the draw, Orlando remains clinging to seventh place, edging FC Cincinnati on the wins tiebreaker, blowing a chance to pull within two points of Philadelphia, which lost to New England. The Lions also fell within reach of the New York Red Bulls, who sit three points back after beating Inter Miami tonight.

All three of Orlando’s remaining opponents are above the Eastern Conference playoff line, and all three are among the top four teams in the conference.

The Lions begin a brutal two-game road swing on Wednesday when they visit the Chicago Fire.

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

The Lions welcome the Pigeons to Orlando in another big game with playoff implications.

Published

1 day ago

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October 24, 2026

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Image of David Brekalo
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to your match thread and preview for a Saturday night matchup between Orlando City (12-13-5, 41 points) and New York City FC (8-12-10, 34 points) at Inter.co Stadium (7:30 p.m., Apple TV). This is the second of the two scheduled meetings between the Lions and Pigeons this season.

Here is what you need to know ahead of the match.

History

The Lions are 7-12-8 in 26 meetings with NYCFC in the all-time series in MLS play and 7-12-10 on their home grounds in all competitions, including one playoff match and one U.S. Open Cup meeting (remember, games that go to penalty shootouts in knockout competitions officially count as draws). Orlando is 4-3-6 at home in regular-season games in the all-time series, 5-3-6 in all regular-season matches in the greater Orlando area when factoring in the win in the group stage of the MLS is Back Tournament in 2020, and 5-3-8 in home games in all competitions against NYCFC. Things have trended the Pigeons’ way the last few years, as the Lions are 0-6-2 in the last eight meetings between the teams.

The Lions and Pigeons last met at Yankee Stadium on March 7 and it was a nightmare for OCSC fans. Maxime Crepeau was sent off early and New York City FC bludgeoned 10-man Orlando 5-0 in Oscar Pareja’s last match in charge of the Lions. Agustin Ojeda, Nicolas Fernandez Mercau, Maxi Moralez (penalty), and Keaton Parks (two goals) did the offensive damage.

The teams met twice last year and NYCFC swept the season series. Orlando City blew a late 1-0 lead at home on July 16, 2025, through Robin Jansson’s goal. But Rodrigo Schlegel smashed a clearance attempt off Kyle Smith and into his own net just a few minutes before the end of normal time, tying the game. Alonso Martinez scored the winner on a counterattack in stoppage time to end the game 2-1 in favor of the visitors.

In Orlando City’s first road game of the 2025 season, the Lions fell 2-1 at Yankee Stadium on March 8. Martinez opened the scoring in the second half, with Luis Muriel equalizing. However, just two minutes after Muriel’s goal, Hannes Wolf scored what turned out to be the game winner.

In Orlando on July 20, 2024, the two 2015 expansion rivals played to a 1-1 draw. Ramiro Enrique and Wolf traded goals five minutes apart in the second half to account for all the scoring. The Lions and Pigeons met at Yankee Stadium on June 28 of that season, with New York City FC winning 4-2. An early Santiago Rodriguez goal opened the scoring and then things went horribly wrong when an obviously offside Malachi Jones collided hard with Orlando goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar. Both players left the game and both had season-ending surgery to repair broken tibias and fibulas. Javier Otero made his MLS debut in goal off the bench and the Lions allowed two goals in first-half stoppage time to let a close game get out of hand. Orlando pulled two goals back through Dagur Dan Thorhallsson and Duncan McGuire, but Mounsef Bakrar sealed the game late for NYCFC.

The teams met at Citi Field — a different baseball stadium than NYCFC’s usual one — on Sept. 20, 2023. The Pigeons were rude hosts, winning 2-0 on goals by Bakrar and Talles Magno. It snapped Orlando’s five-game unbeaten run but the Lions clinched a playoff spot that day anyway due to other results around the league. These teams also met in Orlando on May 17, and with the Lions poised for a 1-0 win, NYCFC eked out a late 1-1 draw with a Gabriel Segal goal at the end of normal time. Ercan Kara scored for Orlando City.

The teams faced off at Red Bull Arena (one of NYCFC’s many homes away from home) on Oct. 2, 2022, with the Pigeons erasing a 1-0 halftime deficit that Facundo Torres provided. The “hosts” got second-half goals from Alex Callens and Magno to complete the comeback and win 2-1. Earlier in the year at Exploria Stadium, the Lions got a Tesho Akindele goal at the death, stunning NYCFC as Orlando City won 2-1 on Aug. 28, 2022. Junior Urso and Moralez had scored early in the first and second half, respectively.

Orlando City had a five-game unbeaten streak in the series (1-0-4) absolutely demolished on July 25, 2021 in a 5-0 loss at Yankee Stadium. The Lions started a makeshift lineup and it showed, as the Pigeons got goals from Jesus Medina, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi, Moralez, Malte Amundsen, and Valentin Castellanos. Why the makeshift lineup? That match was sandwiched between home games against Philadelphia and Atlanta, with quick turnarounds for each. The strategy was sound, as Orlando won the other two games in that nine-day span.

The teams met in Orlando on May 8, 2021 and drew 1-1. Nani smashed a golazo in the second half to put the Lions on top, but Joao Moutinho fouled Tajouri-Shradi in the box and Castellanos equalized from the spot.

The last meeting of the 2020 season happened in the postseason and things got weird. Orlando City ultimately prevailed in penalties after a 1-1 postseason draw on Nov. 21, 2020. Nani put Orlando ahead from the penalty spot, only to see Maxime Chanot equalize on a set piece. Extra time couldn’t settle it, so to penalties we went, and the Lions advanced thanks to a save by Schlegel — after goalkeeper Pedro Gallese was sent off with a second yellow for coming off his line early. Benji Michel’s blast was the difference in the shootout. (Seriously, just click the above link in this paragraph and relive that madness.)

The Lions and Pigeons wrapped the 2020 season series on Oct. 14 at Exploria Stadium, playing to a 1-1 draw. Chris Mueller opened the scoring but Parks equalized just before halftime. The first meeting of 2020 also took place in Central Florida in the MLS is Back Tournament on July 14, when Mueller’s brace and a late Akindele insurance goal led Orlando to a 3-1 win. Medina scored for NYCFC. That win snapped Orlando City’s 0-4-3 streak in the previous seven competitive meetings with the Pigeons. The last match in that winless streak against NYCFC was a 1-1 draw, with the Lions then dispatching NYCFC from the U.S. Open Cup in a penalty shootout on July 10, 2019. That night has been immortalized for the running of The Wall and Adam Grinwis’ heroics in goal.

The teams drew both regular-season meetings in 2019, 1-1 on April 27 at Yankee Stadium, and 2-2 on opening day at Exploria Stadium. NYCFC took all three meetings in a dismal 2018 season series. The Lions went 2-1-0 against New York City FC in 2017, including a win to christen the stadium now known as Exploria with Cyle Larin scoring the only goal in a 1-0 OCSC win. Orlando was 3-1-2 in 2015 and 2016 in the first six meetings with NYCFC.

Overview

Orlando City is coming off a 4-1 demolition of D.C. United a week ago, with Antoine Griezmann leading the way with two goals and an assist. Martin Ojeda scored that goal and also picked up an assist, with Marco Pasalic giving Orlando a hat trick of Designated Player goal scorers on the night. Despite the Lions’ being just four goals from tying the club’s single-season record for goals conceded (74 in 2018), they find themselves above the playoff line in seventh place with just four matches remaining. That is the final guaranteed first-round spot, with eighth and ninth places going to a single-elimination Wild Card match. Orlando can greatly improve its chances of finishing in the postseason places with a win tonight, as a difficult two-game road trip lies ahead next. Orlando is 9-4-2 at home this season and has won five consecutive matches in the purple palace.

New York City FC is coming off a 1-1 home draw against LAFC last weekend, but the Pigeons are winless in five (0-3-2), owing some of that to key injuries. Orlando’s 2015 expansion rivals will come in desperate to get a result to improve on a decent 4-6-5 road record in 2026. The team has the same exact record at home despite clobbering the Lions back in March, but every point is precious and the Pigeons are getting some bodies back.

The Lions must try to keep Fernandez Mercau under wraps. The Argentine midfielder paces the Pigeons with 15 goals and nine assists on the year, but Wolf and Agustin Ojeda have given Orlando fits in previous meetings as well. Wolf is second on NYCFC in goals (6) and has added three assists, while New York’s Ojeda has scored five times and leads the team in assists (11). Meanwhile, NYCFC has a stout defense that has allowed just 41 goals this season, which is tied with New England for second fewest allowed in the Eastern Conference. USMNT goalkeeper Matt Freese is one of the reasons for that, but NYCFC has a good group at the back in front of him.

Orlando City will be without Griffin Dorsey (back), Jansson (foot), Tyrese Spicer (foot), and Luis Otavio (suspension), while Vinicius Nogueira (shoulder) and Bernardo Rhein (lower leg) are listed as questionable. NYCFC will be without Moralez (leg), Parks (leg), Drew Baiera (leg), Arnau Farnos (leg), and Kai Trewin (yep, leg).

Match Content

Official Lineups

Orlando City (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Maxime Crepeau.

Defenders: Vinicius Nogueira, Iago, David Brekalo, Ivan Angulo.

Midfielders: Eduard Atuesta, Wilder Cartagena, Braian Ojeda, Justin Ellis.

Forwards: Martin Ojeda, Antoine Griezmann.

Bench: Javier Otero, Adrian Marin, Bernardo Rhein, Zakaria Taifi, Nolan Miller, Joran Gerbet, Harvey Sarajian, Marco Pasalic, Daryl Dike.

New York City FC (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Matt Freese.

Defenders: Kevin O’Toole, James Sands, Thiago Martins, Tayvon Gray.

Midfielders: Andres Perea, Nicolas Fernández Mercau, Aiden O’Neill.

Forwards: Hannes Wolf, Alonso Martinez, Agustin Ojeda.

Bench: Tomas Romero, Nico Cavallo, Matt Miazga, Benie Traore, Talles Magno, Luighi, Jonathan Shore, Raul Gustavo, Malachi Jones.

Referees:

REF: Elijio Arreguin.
AR1: Cory Richardson.
AR2: Adam Wienckowski.
4TH: Igor Bych.
VAR: Kevin Stott.
AVAR: Robert Schaap.

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: 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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