Oppo Research: 5 Things about Orlando City

In this edition of Oppo Research, Hudson River Blue spoke with Ben Miller of The Mane Land to learn more about Orlando City SC, New York City FC’s opponent for the second time this season. Here is your NYCFC vs Orlando City preview.

1. Orlando is rolling

Hudson River Blue: Since losing 4-2 to NYCFC on June 28, Orlando has won four straight matches and sits seventh in the Eastern Conference, four points off a top-five spot. What’s been working so well for Orlando now, and how can head coach Óscar Pareja continue to get the best out of his team?

Ben Miller: I think part of it has to do with the quality of opposition. Toronto, DC, New England, and Nashville have all been struggling in various ways when Orlando has come up against them. Still, you can only beat the team in front of you, and the Lions have been doing that. Being able to choose from almost the full complement of players has also helped, as Oscar Pareja has been able to go back to his preferred 4-2-3-1, and is no longer forced to deploy guys like Facundo Torres, Ivan Angulo and Martin Ojeda out of position. That’s helped get the two DP’s going, and it’s given Orlando a spark.

2. Orlando’s defense is inconsistent

HRB: Orlando is in the bottom four of MLS for interceptions per match, successful tackles per match, and clearances per match. But the Lions have kept a clean sheet in two of their last four matches and have conceded 37 goals overall, the eighth-best in the conference. How is Orlando able to hold teams scoreless despite the lack of tackles, interceptions, and clearances?

BM: Some of that is due to Pedro Gallese — he’s started to look much more like himself after a shaky start to the season. But frankly, the clean sheet against DC came in a match where the Lions had a 3-0 lead inside 40 minutes, and then played the entire second half up a man, so they were easily able to control the ball and limit the opposition to a paltry 5 shots.

Against Nashville, OCSC was simply able to limit the good looks at goal, and playing with another early lead helped them control the game. Make no mistake, this team is definitely capable of giving up goals, and conceding sloppily has been one of the big things this year that has kept Orlando from being higher up the table.

3. Iván Angulo thriving as a winger

HRB: Colombian winger Iván Angulo has three assists and one goal in the last four games. After a poor start to this season, how has Angulo finally gotten involved in Orlando’s attack?

BM: As mentioned earlier, being able to move back to a 4-2-3-1 has been very helpful. Earlier in the year, injuries, suspensions, and call-ups meant that Angulo was asked to play as a wing-back for a stretch of games. He wasn’t bad back there, but it really took him out of things at the offensive end of the field. Now that he has less defensive responsibilities to worry about, his output has ratcheted up. 

Iván Angulo’s Poacher’s Goal Against DC United

It's THREE! 😱@OrlandoCitySC are running rampant! pic.twitter.com/hZuWGHLWlk

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 7, 2024

4. The X-Factor: Orlando’s defensive performance

HRB: What’s the X-factor that could decide this game?

BM: What sort of game we see out of the Orlando City back line. There have been multiple occasions this year where one, or multiple members of the defense have fallen asleep, botched what should be an easy clearance, or let someone go unmarked in the box. The 37 goals against isn’t awful compared to some teams in the East, but a defense largely comprised of the same players gave up 39 during the whole of the 2023 season. The backline is better than it has often shown this year, but there are signs of improvement. Whether that upward trajectory continues is going to play a big factor in this one.

5. Predicted score, Starting XI

HRB: Prediction time: Starting XI? Final score?

BM: I think the Lions will just about manage to get it done at home. 2-1 to the hosts.