ORLANDO, Fla. (Sept. 18, 2024) – Orlando City SC (12-10-7, 43 points) defeated fellow Eastern Conference side Charlotte FC (10-11-8, 38 points) 2-0 on Wednesday night at Inter&Co Stadium. The Lions have won their last three league matches and are unbeaten in their last nine home matches in all competitions. Head Coach Oscar Pareja won his 171st regular-season game, surpassing Dominic Kinnear for outright possession of fifth-place in MLS history.
Orlando controlled much of the possession in the first half. Facundo Torres nearly opened the scoring early, but his wide-open header drifted over the bar. Charlotte broke loose on a first-half breakaway, but Pedro Gallese calmly handled the shot and kept the score level at the break.
Torres broke the deadlock seven minutes into the second half. Some quick combination play down the left flank allowed Martín Ojeda to chip the ball across the penalty box to the open boot of Torres for the goal.
After Orlando controlled much of the second half, substitute Duncan McGuire doubled the lead at the end of regular time. Fellow substitute Luis Murriel received a goal kick from Pedro Gallese and then played a perfect ball through Charlotte’s defense, and McGuire cooly finished the chance for his 10th goal in all competitions this season.
Gallese finished with two saves, a secondary assist and earned his ninth clean sheet of the year in all competitions.
The Lions will face a quick turnaround this weekend as they travel to take on the Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field. The Lions and Crew will face off on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV this Saturday, Sept. 21, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Scoring Summary:
52’ Facundo Torres (Martín Ojeda, Iván Angulo) – ORL 1, CLT 0
Torres opened the scoring early in the second half. Orlando roared down the left flank, and Iván Angulo slipped a pass to Martín Ojeda outside the box. Ojeda lofted a cross past the Charlotte defense to a wide-open Torres, who powered the ball into the back of the net.
89’ Duncan McGuire (Luis Muriel, Pedro Gallese) – ORL 2, CLT 0
McGuire iced the game at the end of regular time. Luis Muriel received a pass at midfield from goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, then turned and cut a pass through the heart of the backline. With nobody to beat but the keeper, McGuire chipped the ball over Charlotte’s netminder to double Orlando’s advantage.
Head Coach Oscar Pareja:
“Well, first, we want to thank all the fans that were here in the stadium in the middle of the week and supporting us in this important moment. It was great to see them here and to share this win, another three points and an important moment, as I said. We played against a very difficult rival in Charlotte FC, who played very organized. It is difficult to break the lines, and they are one of the teams in Major League Soccer that probably are just condensed very well in the box. It's difficult to create sequences that affect those spaces. That's why the value of the game today and the points and scoring two goals against them just makes us feel good. Congratulations to our players as well for such an important and great game.”
Match Notes:
- Forward Facundo Torres scored his 16th goal of 2024 across all competitions. It was also his 43rd career goal across all competitions and is one goal shy of tying Cyle Larin for most all-time in Club history (44).
- Forward Duncan McGuire scored his 10th goal of 2024 across all competitions. With the goal, McGuire is now fourth all time in goals in Club history, tying Club legend Kaká.
- McGuire scored in each of the Club’s last two games. He’s had a goal contribution in his last four appearances at Inter&Co Stadium.
- With a secondary assist on McGuire’s goal, goalkeeper Pedro Gallese earned his first assist with Orlando City. It’s just the second goalkeeper assist in club history, after Mason Stajduhar provided the helper on McGuire’s finish against Toronto FC on Decision Day 2023.
- Midfielder Martín Ojeda recorded his 11th assist across all competitions.
- With the secondary assist, forward Iván Angulo recorded his eighth assist of the 2024 campaign and his 20th all-time as a member of Orlando City.
- Head Coach Oscar Pareja made no changes to his starting lineup from his side’s last match against the New England Revolution.
