Orlando City SC performed well against a New York Red Bulls squad that is also trying to find its identity for the 2025 season.
It wasn’t a match featuring squads in mid-season form. Yet Orlando City SC faced a New York Red Bulls squad still fine-tuning offense and defense. They drew 2-2 as the Lions didn’t get their three points. But they did accomplish much.
As Head Coach Oscar Pareja has stated, Orlando City players have proved they can score this season. But they need to get stronger and smarter defensively. He restated that fact following the Red Bulls draw while confirming he can see that the players know what to do and are working to accomplish this.
On offense in this game, Orlando matched New York with 15 shots each, seven on goal vs. six for the Red Bulls. They also nearly matched them on passing accuracy, 81.6%-83.5%. They also stayed close with 18 aerial duels won vs. 20 and bested them on clearances, 9-8.
If the Lions met this Red Bulls squad every week, they’d always come away with at least one point.
They enjoyed goals from Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic with one assist each from Eduard Atuesta, plus one by Luis Muriel, who came to the pitch this year to make a statement to MLS every match.
Yet Pareja and the players know they cannot overcome teams that opened up the 2025 season with stronger presences on the pitch. They conceded a penalty kick goal from Eric Maxim Coupo-Moting and a second score from Dennis Gjengaar with an assist by Peter Stroud
Pareja said they all knew it wasn’t only their backline conceding these goals, but the whole group. He emphasized that they would separate and study each component of those scores. That study will result in a stronger performance in each coming match for the Lions.
Orlando City SC still has a fix-it list for the 2025 season. But the number of unchecked tasks is shrinking.