Match report: Orlando City SC late comeback falls short in 4-2 defeat to New York City FC

BRONX, N.Y. (June 28, 2024) – Orlando City SC (5-9-6, 21 points) were defeated by New York City FC (10-8-2, 32 points) at Yankee Stadium on Friday night by a 4-2 scoreline.

City tried to make a comeback in the second half getting goals from Dagur Dan Thórhallsson and Duncan McGuire pulling the match to within one goal in second half stoppage time. For Thórhallsson it served as his second of the MLS regular season while it was the seventh for McGuire, which leads the Club. Martín Ojeda earned an assist on the Thórhallsson finish, which is good for his fourth of the regular season campaign and the second most amongst the Lions.

The Lions will next head back out on the road, set to take on Toronto FC on Wednesday, July 3. Kick off from BMO Field is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Scoring Summary:

15’ Santiago Rodríguez (Alonso Martínez) – NYC 1, ORL 0
The hosts got things started 15 minutes into the game when Alonso Martínez laid the ball off outside the box for Santiago Rodríguez outside the Orlando 18-yard box. Rodríguez took a touch to collect that ball and then fired a low shot from outside that snuck past goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar.

45+4’ Hannes Wolf (Tayvon Gray, Santiago Rodríguez) – NYC 2, ORL 0
The hosts snagged another shortly into first-half stoppage time, when Santiago Rodríguez played Tayvon Gray towards the line down the right wing. Gray was able to beat Iván Angulo to the ball and centered it to Hannes Wolf. Wolf one-timed it low to the far post and in.

45+11’ Alonso Martínez (Tayvon Gray, Thiago Martins) – NYC 3, ORL 0
Adding one more late in first-half stoppage time, Thiago Martins fed Tayvon Gray down the right wing yet again to get the Jamaican in behind the Orlando defensive line. Gray hit a low pass to the far post where Alonso Martínez ran onto it and buried it for NYCFC’s third of the night.

72’ Dagur Dan Thórhallsson (Martín Ojeda) – NYC 3, ORL 1
The Lions got one back midway through the second half as Jeorgio Kocevski played Kyle Smith down the left wing. Smith fed Martín Ojeda to the endline behind the NYCFC defense, for Ojeda to cross into the box. Ojeda’s cross found the head of Dagur Dan Thórhallsson who hit it back to the post where it came from and in for his second of the regular season.

90+2’ Duncan McGuire – NYC 3, ORL 2
The Lions cut the New York lead to one in second half stoppage time after the ball pinged around in the net between both teams. The ball eventually found the foot of Duncan McGuire who smashed the ball into the net good for his team-leading seventh regular season goal of the season.

90+4’ Mounsef Bakrar – NYC 4, ORL 2
New York sealed the match deep into second half stoppage time. With the Lions pushing numbers forward, Mounsef Bakrar was able to find some space in the box and curl a shot into the back of the net.

Head Coach Oscar Pareja:

“It was a game with two different halves. It was unacceptable the way we played in the first half, and I take that responsibility first in the way we came up in those first 30 minutes. Second half was much better, and I thought it was more the team that we want to see. The reaction was very good from our players. We could have tied the game, but at the end in the last play of the game, they scored their fourth goal. I stay with that the reaction from our players was more ourselves and we just try to continue with that energy. Like I said, the first half, it was unacceptable."

Match Notes:

• Duncan McGuire scored his seventh goal of the regular season, extending his team lead.
• Dagur Dan Thórhallsson scored his second goal of the regular season.
• Martín Ojeda picked up an assist on the Thórhallsson finish, serving as his fourth of the regular season.
• With the start on the night midfielder César Araújo made his 100th appearance across all competitions for the Lions, becoming the 14th player in Club history to play in 100 games.
• Homegrown goalkeeper Javier Otero made his Orlando City debut tonight, subbing into the match for Mason Stajduhar in the 29th minute.
• Head Coach Oscar Pareja made one change to his starting lineup from his side’s last match against Chicago Fire FC, with Martín Ojeda returning to the Starting XI.