ORLANDO, Florida — In a thrilling showdown on April 26, 2025, Orlando City SC made a statement by defeating Atlanta United 3-0 at Inter&Co Stadium. This important matchup marked the first clash of the season between these fierce Eastern Conference rivals.
Orlando City, coming off three consecutive goalless draws, were desperate for a win. The Lions’ coach, Oscar Pareja, emphasized the urgency: “We are urgent to win games… adding three points is what’s going to make us escalate [ourselves] in the tournament.”
The first half started cautiously, with both teams focused on defense. However, things changed in the 42nd minute when Orlando was awarded a penalty after Luis Muriel was fouled in the box by Bartosz Slisz. “I was making a driving run in the box… then I got tripped,” Muriel explained following the game. He coolly converted the penalty kick, scoring Orlando City’s first goal in 312 minutes.
As the second half commenced, Orlando City dominated the field. Alex Freeman doubled the lead in the 51st minute, scoring a fantastic goal off a setup by Marco Pašalić. Freeman described the moment: “I saw the defender’s legs open and I just put it right through.” This was Freeman’s successful return after contributing crucially to the team’s offense.
Marco Pašalić further solidified their lead with a stunning long-distance strike in the 67th minute, sealing the victory for the Lions. Pašalić stated, “When the ball came to me, there was no pressure, so I shot, and it went in.”
Defensively, Orlando City was solid. Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese had nothing but air to guard against, thanks to his reliable defense, limiting Atlanta to 12 shots, none of which were on target. The cohesive back line, featuring David Brekalo, Robin Jansson, Rodrigo Schlegel, and Alex Freeman, executed well, showcasing Orlando’s commitment to maintaining a stable defense. Gallese remarked, “The defense was fantastic today; they handled Atlanta’s threats effectively.”
Atlanta United struggled to create chances, despite their earlier successes against Orlando this season. Coach Gonzalo Pineda acknowledged the difficulties, stating, “It was a tough night for us. We’ve got to regroup and refocus for the next match.”
This victory allows Orlando City to improve their record to 4-2-4 (16 points), while pushing Atlanta United down to 2-5-3 (9 points). After this triumphant win, Orlando City will look to build on their momentum as they prepare to face the Chicago Fire next week, with high hopes of securing another victory.
The match was witnessed by an enthusiastic crowd of 20,184 fans, and they vigorously supported their team, creating a lively atmosphere in the stadium. Just as Orlando City dedicated their win to a player celebrating the birth of his daughter, the Lions dedicated their performance to their supporters who have kept the faith through a challenging scoring drought.
Onward, Lions! The path is clear, and the quest for the playoffs continues.
