Orlando City, Toronto seek first MLS wins
A disappointing 2-4 loss to Philadelphia in the Lions 2025 home and season-opener last week rekindled memories of the Eastern Conference finalists’ sluggish start last year.
Orlando City was mired in 10th place in the Eastern Conference after Match Day 20 last year. A strong finish — the Lions earned 31 of a possible 42 points down the stretch — lifted Orlando to fourth and powered a playoff run to the conference championship (which the Purple lost to New York Red Bulls).
Marco Pašalić scored both Orlando City goals in a 4-2 loss to Philadelphia Union on MLS Matchday 1. Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor
Pareja counsels patience
A disheartening 2-4 home loss to Philadelphia last week has some fans worried whether the Lions can survive another slow start.
Coach Oscar Pareja, beginning his sixth season leading Orlando City, is counseling patience.
“We have had this experience before, been in the league for many years, and understand the complexion of the roster and the way they glue together,” Pareja said according to Kyle Foley writing for the Orlando Sentinel. “Sometimes it’s easier, and then it comes fast; sometimes it goes in a different speed.
“Now what we want is just to have confidence in our players, and confidence in the players that we brought here, and understanding that every day they’re going to gel better with us. They’re good.”
Orlando hosts Toronto FC at 7:30 EST tonight at Inter & Co. Stadium in its second match of the very young season. The Reds played to a 2-2 draw at D.C. United last week.
Orlando City could be playing without captain Robin Jansson; the 33-year-old Swedish center back has Ben training on his own after suffering a groin injury before the season opener. The defensive pairing of David Brekalo and Rodrigo Schlegel failed to inspire confidence in Jansson’s absence against Philadelphia. Both center backs had lapses that led to Union goals. (For more about how Orlando’s players performed, go to Sean Rollins’ ratings for The Mane Land here.) Pareja might give promising youngster Alex Freeman, 20, a start in the back line.
Croatian right wing Marco Pašalić, the Lions’ major offseason acquisition, scored both Orlando goals last week. He will continue to be the Purple’s key offensive focus in the absence of Facundo Torres; the club’s all-time leading goal-scorer was transferred to Brazilian club Palmeiras in the offseason for a reported $14 million fee.
Toronto failed to make the MLS Cup playoffs a year ago — they finished 11th with 37 points — and are expected to struggle again in 2025. The Reds’ captain, Jonathan Osorio, could provide his side’s brightest moment tonight.
The 32-year-old midfielder needs one goal to reach 50 goals to go with his 52 career assists. Only three active players have reached the 50-50 plateau: Luciano Acosta, Dallas (72 goals, 97 assists); Diego Fagundez, L.A. Galaxy (73, 76); and Albert Rusnak, Seattle (59, 62).
Toronto will play without Italian star Lorenzo Insigne, who has lost favor with the Reds’ leadership. For more about Insigne and the Reds, see Neil Davidson’s report for The Canadian Press here.