KANSAS CITY, Ks. (Aug. 24, 2024) – Orlando City SC (9-10-7, 34 points) dropped a 3-0 decision on the road against Sporting Kansas City (7-14-6, 27 points) on Saturday night at Children’s Mercy Park. The match was the regular season return for both sides, with Orlando City having last played a league match on July 20 before the Leagues Cup 2024 break.
Down two-goals in the 65th minute of the match, the Lions looked to have cut Sporting’s lead in half, but Ramiro Enrique’s goal was waived off due to an offside infraction. Saturday’s game was the first time Orlando City has been held without a goal since June 1, with the game also snapping the Lions’ five-game unbeaten streak that they carried into Kansas City.
The Lions will next return to the friendly confines of Inter&Co Stadium next Saturday, Aug. 31, when they host Nashville SC in an Eastern Conference battle. That match will air on MLS Season pass on Apple TV, with kick off set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Scoring Summary:
44’ Jake Davis (Stephen Afrifa) – SKC 1, ORL 0
The hosts took the lead shortly before the end of the first half when Jake Davis took the ball from a downed teammate at the top of the Orlando box and dribbled into the center of the Lions’ defense. He then sent a shot across the face of goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and into the far-right corner of the net.
52’ Dániel Sallói (Erik Thommy, Jake Davis) – SKC 2, ORL 0
Shortly after the start of the second half and a dangerous ball in the Sporting box for the Lions, SKC went on the break on a transition to take it all the way down the field to the Lions’ end. Erik Thommy received the ball for SKC at the top of the Orlando box and fed it to the left to a wide-open Dániel Sallói who buried it near post.
90+2’ Remi Walter (Alan Pulido, Johnny Russell) – SKC 3, ORL 0
The home side put things away in the second minute of stoppage time, off a throw-in deep in the Lions’ zone. Johnny Russell collected the throw before flicking the ball to Alan Pulido running down the right side. Pulido pulled a cross back on a sharp angle to the top of the box, finding Remi Walter who struck a left-footed shot from distance into the back of the net.
Head Coach Oscar Pareja:
“Obviously, a very disappointing result. It was a great opportunity for us to escalate in the standings and continue with what we have had in last few games. But today was not a good day for us. We started the game sharp, had a few options to score but after that, I thought we didn't have a good game. We were low in the energy. I thought we didn't have the intensity that has characterized this group all the time, and obviously we need to move on. The second half was heartless. I didn't see us with that willingness that we all have. I take the responsibility for us, of course, the preparation of the group and the reactions after these two weeks. Today we didn't look [like us] the majority of the time. So, disappointed, we're going to review but we have to move on and continue what is coming.”
Match Notes:
- Saturday’s match was the Lions’ first regular season match since before the Leagues Cup 2024 break, last having participated in league play on July 20.
- The defeat snapped a five-game unbeaten streak for Orlando City, having gone 4-0-1 in its previous five games.
- Entering the match as a second-half substitute, Yutaro Tsukada made his first appearance for Orlando City since signing a First Team contract on Aug. 15.
- The match was the first time the Lions have been held without a goal since June 1.
- Head Coach Oscar Pareja made one change to his starting lineup from his side’s last match against Cruz Azul, with Kyle Smith returning to the starting XI.
