O-Town's 11
Fansided
April 12-20, the 2025 Generation adidas Cup will pit MLS Academies and MLS Elite Academies against clubs from 14 countries and four continents. One of the top three defenders named to the Cup’s Rising XI is Orlando City prospect Clovis Archange.
Chuck Wharton|
Orlando City SC coaches and players knew they had a fight on their hands heading to the Philadelphia Union for a match. To start the MLS regular season, the Union came to Orlando and beat the home team 4-2. Now came Round 2.
Chuck Wharton|
We don’t rise to the occasion. We fall to the level of our training.  That’s how Orlando City SC players extended their unbeaten streak to four matches as they left the Philadelphia Union pitch with a 0-0 draw. it can be traced back to poet Archilochus.
Chuck Wharton|
Orlando City SC fell to the Philadelphia Union 4-2 to start the 2025 season. By the time they met for the second match, the Union had accumulated enough to become a 13-point wall. The Lions survived their collision with this wall in Philadelphia.
Chuck Wharton|
But Orlando City improved enough to make the post-season and challenge for the MLS championship. It was all a result of their sophisticated formation development. So it’s surprising this season that through seven matches, they’ve focused on two formations
Chuck Wharton|
Their fretting wasn’t triggered by Orlando Pride supporters’ concern during the international call-up of four players. They rest in confidence that the squad left on the pitch can continue driving toward greater heights in the NWSL.
Chuck Wharton|
But now, the Lions have already worked themselves just above the sweet spot in the MLS Eastern Conference playoff lines. They’ve also achieved a positive Goal Differential just six matches into the new season, subtracting Goals Against from Goals For.
Chuck Wharton|
No one scored in the first half when the San Diego Wave FC came to play the Orlando Pride. If any NWSL club has the Pride’s number, it’s San Diego. They showed it in the first half. But the Pride prevailed in the second half.
Chuck Wharton|
The LA Galaxy opened their home match against Orlando City SC like gangbusters. The players set a goal to score early and often. By the 14th minute, they started. At first, supporters reacted with disappointment.
Chuck Wharton|
NJ/NY Gotham FC should have looked stronger against the Orlando Pride. It was a home game for Gotham. The club has a strong history vs. Orlando – 10-8-7 before their latest meeting. FC and the Portland Thorns both defeated the Pride in 2024.
Chuck Wharton|
Just two matches into the 2025 Orlando Pride season, supporters got to see defender Zara Chavoshi in a match. She substituted in against NJ/NY Gotham FC in the 88th minute. The match ended in a 2-0 victory for the Pride.
Chuck Wharton|
All three Designated Players scored for Orlando City SC in their 4-1 victory over D.C. United. It was a 4-1 victory. Scoring three of the four goals were winger Marco Pasalic, forward Luis Muriel, and midfielder Martin Ojeda: team history.
Chuck Wharton|
After the 4-1 win over D.C. United, winger Marco Pasalic spoke of how Orlando City SC exploited the opponent’s backline. He described the drills that helped him and his teammates aim their focus as high and low defensive lines.
Chuck Wharton|
In 2024, it took about half the season for Orlando City SC to secure a spot over the MLS playoff line. It took a bit longer to earn a positive Goal Differential. Yet this season, the Lions are over the line.
Chuck Wharton|
It was a high-pressure exercise on the pitch for the Orlando Pride as they earned a 2-0 clean sheet against NJ/NY Gotham FC in an away game. The Pride prepared to reach a higher plateau in 2025 after winning the NWSL Shield and Championship in 2024.
Chuck Wharton|
The 2025 MLS season is still young. However, Orlando City SC players have wanted all three points from a match. They got them, winning 4-1 over D.C. United.  The winning goal came by halftime with the score 2-0.
Chuck Wharton|
Pedro Gallese has briefly left the Orlando City SC pitch to join his Peru National Team for World Cup Qualifiers. So one of the goalkeepers left on the Lions roster will step up and mind the team’s net for some matches.
Chuck Wharton|
Striker Duncan McGuire entered the New York City Red Bulls match in the 87th minute. His Orlando City SC coaches watched intently to see how he performed. McGuire still isn’t 100% after his shoulder surgery. He was expected to miss early 2025.
Chuck Wharton|
Orlando City SC essentially has completed the 2025 fix-it list. The coaches, scouts and players have completed this list of needs earlier than they did last year. If they did as good a job on the 2025 fix-it list as they did in 2024, they should go far.
Chuck Wharton|
Orlando City players have proved they can score this season. But they need to get stronger and smarter defensively. Pareja restated that fact following the Red Bulls draw while confirming he can see that the players know what to do.
Chuck Wharton|
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