O-Town's 11
Fansided
Some soccer supporters wonder if a draw fever has spread in Orlando. Orlando City SC has drawn five of the last seven matches. Now Orlando Pride has left the pitch with one, not counting the NWSL Challenge Cup opener that was settled by penalty kicks.
Chuck Wharton|
After Orlando City SC winger Martin Ojeda collected a brace, Lions supporters expected the Philadelphia Union would be done. Ojeda scored in the 24th and 33rd minutes, with assists by Cesar Araujo on the first and Joran Gerbet, second.
Chuck Wharton|
any of the statistics streaming from the first U.S. Open Cup match of Orlando City SC focused on one player. The Tampa Bay Rowdies also acknowledged some of those statistics, however reluctantly. Supporters listed the Lions’ 5-0 clean sheet last.
Chuck Wharton|
Their loss 1-0 to the Portland Thorns has prompted the Orlando Pride to intensify its focus. They’ve also accelerated their desire to win. What the Thorns brought to the pitch pushed the Pride off-balance early in the match.
Chuck Wharton|
It’s definitely not as anger-producing as losses. But the four 0-0 draws in the past five games are frustrating Orlando City SC players and coaches. Yet, even in this season of 0-0 draws, the Lions find ways to set new club records.
Chuck Wharton|
The unbeaten streak stretches to eight games for Orlando City SC. They’ve gained a fifth straight shutout. Yet, everyone’s frustrated. The tension comes that in their previous match against Atlanta United FC, the Lions returned to scoring.
Chuck Wharton|
After winning the Shield and Championship of NWSL in 2024, what else could the team accomplish? They answered that recently in a home match against Angel City FC. That’s an opponent the Pride hadn’t ever defeated at home.
Chuck Wharton|
It was a streak of three 0-0 draws in hard-fought games. All opponents played well. Orlando City SC then returned to scoring against a struggling Atlanta United FC. Yet, observers want to know exactly what went right this time.
Chuck Wharton|
The 4-4-2 double-six formation was tagged by MLSSoccer.com in consecutive Orlando City SC matches recently. Those included the red-card 0-0 draw against CF Montreal and the 3-0 blowout of Atlanta United FC.
Chuck Wharton|
Defender Zakaria Taifi only recently joined the Orlando City SC roster on a short-term contract. He’s already appeared on the pitch in the second half of the match against CF Montreal. But it wasn’t a low-key situation.
Chuck Wharton|
The Black Knight Football Club has signed an affiliation agreement with Orlando City SC that will further power the MLS side’s player development, plus other team efforts. It’s the latest move by the Lions.
Chuck Wharton|
Orlando City SC isn’t the same club that finished last season just one match away from an appearance in the MLS Cup. But the team that beat Atlanta United FC 3-0 is becoming better than that one.
Chuck Wharton|
The Arsenal Gunners are fighting their way through the Premier League. How they work to avoid draws and increase wins is worthy of study by Orlando City SC. Arsenal waded through consecutive draws back in February.
Chuck Wharton|
Orlando City SC arrived at CF Montreal with every expectation of a win. The team had plummeted to the bottom of the MLS Conference East. Yet the Montreal squad brought a rare defensive scheme to the pitch.
Chuck Wharton|
Defender Zakaria Taifi and midfielder Riyon Tori join the first team on short-term contracts as Orlando City SC prepares for U.S. Open Cup competition. However, they were immediately available for MLS matches beginning April 19 with CF Montreal.
Chuck Wharton|
Through the early 2025 season, Orlando City SC has sought to put equally effective offense and defense on the pitch. They got their first win against Toronto City FC 4-2 after losing in the MLS season opener to the Philadelphia Union 4-2.
Chuck Wharton|
Increasingly tougher teams are meeting Orlando City SC on the pitch as the 2025 MLS season progresses. Lions players have to step up now. Winger Martin Ojeda vowed to do that before the season started. He’s fulfilling that promise.
Chuck Wharton|
Two consecutive draws against two tough teams mean that Orlando City SC solved the defense problem. A strong Philadelphia Union squad left the pitch 0-0 in an away match for Orlando City. Then they met the usually frisky New York Red Bulls.
Chuck Wharton|
Midfielder Joran Gerbet introduced himself to Orlando City SC supporters in a pre-season friendly. It was a match against Atletico Mineiro from Brazil. In 90 minutes, the game stood at a 0-0 draw. Does that sound familiar?
Chuck Wharton|
Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese earned his 50th clean sheet across all competitions as Orlando City SC executed sharply against the New York Red Bulls. But the Lions couldn’t score through the 56th minute, when they got hit by additional trouble.
Chuck Wharton|
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