Lions escape Philly with scoreless draw
Orlando City extended its undefeated streak to four matches with a gritty defensive performance against the Union on Saturday.
Verdict for the defense
Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese celebrates in front of fans after defeating Atlanta United in an MLS playoff match, Nov. 24, 2024, in Orlando. Photo: John Raoux, Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
Orlando City led Major League Soccer in goals scored (15) heading into Saturday’s match at Philadelphia; the Union were tied for second with 12.
And, the Lions had allowed four goals in a 2-4 loss to the Boys in Blue in the teams’ season opener in February.
So, another shootout, right? Wrong. The sides played to a scoreless draw.
It was the Lions’ fourth straight result after losing two of their first three matches. Orlando City (3-2-2, 11 points) and Philadelphia (4-2-1, 13 points) remain firmly in playoff contention in the very competitive Eastern Conference.
“The boys had a lot of personality to come to this hard place and have that result.”
— Orlando City SC coach Oscar Pareja
Oscar Pareja, the Lions’ coach, was happy with his players’ effort.
“(It was) a good result for us. I think we take this point from a difficult place (to play) in Philadelphia with a lot of intensity,” Pareja said after the match. “In the end, I think it was very level. We will take this game as an improvement of our defensive system as it is our first clean sheet. We are happy, but the boys had a lot of personality to come to this hard place and have that result.”
The match was a chippy, physical affair with 27 fouls called and nine yellow cards shown (13 and five on the Lions). The Union had more of the ball (58 percent possession) and managed 20 shots, but only four on goal; Orlando had just six shots, with three on target.
Philadelphia Union defender Nathan Harriel goes up for a header against Orlando City SC defender Alex Freeman in the first half of the Union’s 0-0 draw against Orlando on Saturday night, April 5, 2025. Photo: Kyle Grantham/The Philly Soccer Page
Veteran goalkeeper Pedro Gallese made four saves, and the Lions’ defense blocked eight Philadelphia shots and successfully defended eight corners to help the Purple earn its first clean sheet of the year.
To strengthen a defense allowing two goals per game, Pareja had midfielder Dagur Dan Thorhallsen drop to left back on defense, with left back David Brekalo playing left center back in a five-man back line.
The condensed defensive block, and the absence for the second week in a row of Philadelphia’s playmaking winger Kai Wagner, kept the Union’s players from capitalizing on crosses into the penalty box and forced the home team to settle too often for shots from distance.
Orlando City will host another Eastern Conference contender, the New York Red Bulls (3-2-2, 11 points), at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday at Inter & Co. Stadium. The Union play the other New York team, NYCFC (2-2-2, 8 points), at 7:30 p.m. ET at Citi Field in Queens.