HARRISON, N.J. (March 15, 2025) – Orlando City SC (1-2-1, 4 points) played to a 2-2 draw against the New York Red Bulls (1-1-2, 5 points) at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The back-and-forth affair was highlighted by two goals for the Lions coming from Martín Ojeda and Marco Pašalić.
City took an early lead on the road through the foot of Martín Ojeda. The goal served as his second goal of the 2025 season and his 15th all-time for the Lions across all competitions. Luis Murial and Eduard Atuesta combined for the assists on the Ojeda finish serving as the second and first assists for each player respectively on the 2025 season.
The Lions took the lead back after the Red Bulls answered their first goal with a finish from Designated Player Marco Pašalić. Pašalić’s goal is his third of the season and currently is the most on the team. Atuesta picked up another assist in the match providing the helper for Pašalić bringing Atuesta’s total to two assists on the year, both coming in today’s match.
Orlando pushed for an equalizer late in the match and looked like they might take the win as second-half substitutes Ramiro Enrique and Duncan McGuire forced needed saves out of the Red Bulls goalkeeper deep into second-half stoppage time.
City will return to downtown Orlando next weekend on Saturday, March 22, as the Lions host a matchup against D.C. United, presented by Jameson, at Inter&Co Stadium, with the match set to air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Scoring Summary:
18’ Martín Ojeda (Luis Muriel, Eduard Atuesta) – ORL 1, RBNY 0
The Lions withstood the early pressure and were able to break the deadlock in the match when Eduard Atuesta fed a ball forward to Luis Muriel, who creatively flicked the pass first time behind the Red Bulls’ line at midfield for Martín Ojeda to run on to. Ojeda carried the ball down the field and took a touch toward the center, before letting loose a rocket into the net for the opener.
29’ Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Penalty Kick) – ORL 1, RBNY 1
The hosts leveled things up just 10 minutes later as the Red Bulls drew a penalty kick following video review. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting for New York and sent the penalty attempt low to Pedro Gallese’s right. Gallese dove the right way, but the ball sailed just past his fingertips for the equalizer.
39’ Marco Pašalić (Eduard Atuesta) – ORL 2, RBNY 1
The Lions took their advantage back 10 minutes after New York’s equalizer as Eduard Atuesta received the ball deep in the midfield off a Kyle Smith throw-in. Orlando City’s attacking line took turns faking runs in behind until Atuesta sent a lofted ball to wide-open Designated Player Marco Pašalić. Pašalić calmly took the ball forward one-on-one with Red Bulls goalkeeper Carlos Coronel and sent the ball curling around him.
47’ Dennis Gjengaar (Peter Stroud, Raheem Edwards) – ORL 2, RBNY 2
Just after the start of the second half, the New York Red Bulls leveled the match up once again with an attack of quick combinations down the right side of the Orlando defense. Raheem Edwards held the ball up in the Lions’ box as Peter Stroud made the overlapping run on the outside. Edwards fed the ball to Stroud for a one-time cross that was finished off by Dennis Gjengaar at the near post.
Head Coach Oscar Pareja:
“It was a very competitive game and I thought are boys, today, implemented another gear on the challenges that we had not just defensively but offensively. I thought the amount of opportunitiies that we created to score kept us optimistic the wholele game knowing that we matched a team that was aggresssive, and they have very good players up front. We played well. Still, we know about our efforts defensively and this is not just the defenders, but it is the whole group that are conceding goals that we have to separate from our performance. Offensively I saw a much braver and much more fortunate team. I like the way we are attacking and the way we are proposing the game. At the end, we take the point and we take it proudly because we made a great effort today.”
Match Notes
- Designated Player Marco Pašalić tallied his third goal of his Lions career and first since the 2025 home opener.
- Midfielder Martín Ojeda scored his second goal of the 2025 campaign and his 15th all-time across all competitions for the Lions.
- The match served as the first meeting between the Red Bulls and Lions since the 2024 Eastern Conference Final at Inter&Co Stadium.
- Assisting on both the Ojeda and Pašalić finishes, midfielder Eduard Atuesta recorded his first helpers since joining the Lions via transfer from Brazil’s Palmeiras this offseason.
- Forward Luis Muriel provided his second assist of 2025, good for his 10th across all competitions all-time, and his second goal contribution in as many games.
- The match served as 2025 MLS SuperDraft selection Joran Gerbet’s first-ever start for the Lions.
- Head Coach Oscar Pareja made two changes to the Starting XI after his side’s last match against Toronto FC, with Joran Gerbet and Kyle Smith getting the start.
