Flashback to April 22: the last time Orlando City lost a home match.
It was still early days for the Lions, still struggling to find their identity and their form at home.Â
Now flash forward to July 4, where Orlando has gone 4-0-3 since that match against D.C. United, with their last two matches winning by a combined score of 7-1.
The question asked most to players and coaches alike has been simply, "What's changed?"
“That we're scoring goals," Head coach Oscar Pareja answered, following the match against Toronto FC on Tuesday. "That changed the whole picture, makes us all look better. It's a consequence of the boys doing the right things and enduring the difficult moments we had with games here at home where they tied us in the last minute.
"Now the boys have kept going, they're doing the right things, and we're scoring goals, which makes a huge difference. You score goals, you get points, especially here at home. We have a big task here with our fans. We definitely recognized that, but I'm happy to see this happening now."
Sometimes it's just that simple. Goals change games, and Orlando City have now found their scoring boots.
Designated Player Ercan Kara has scored in three of the last seven home games, rookie Duncan McGuire has two, DP Facundo Torres has four goals and two assists and DP Martin Ojeda has a goal and four assists all in that span.Â
"We talked when we were in a downswing, we talked all together and pointed out the things that need to be fixed which was to score goals at home and that's actually clicking now which is good and amazing for the fans as well," Midfielder Dagur Dan Thorhallson, who scored his first goal at home on Tuesday, said after the match, "I thought that we were playing well and the goals were the only thing that was missing and now they're coming so that's why we're winning."
With five home matches still left in the regular season, the Lions have hit their home stride at the right time, as they make a push for the postseason.
