Orlando City (1-2-0) at New York Red Bulls (1-1-1)
When: Saturday, 2:30 p.m
Where: Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, New Jersey
Radio: AM 810 Fox Sports Radio, (English), Mega 97.1 (Spanish)
Here are five storylines to watch on Saturday as the Lions visit the Red Bulls in New Jersey:
Still Flying High
Through the first three games of the 2025 Major League Soccer season, Orlando City sits tied at third in the league with seven goals scored, trailing only the Philadelphia Union and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Orlando City currently also ranks fifth in the league in expected goals, third in non-penalty expected goals and third in shots through the first three matchdays. Going back to the halfway point of the 2024 season, Orlando City has scored 49 goals in its past 20 MLS regular season games, a rate of more than 2.45 per contest. The Lions have notched three goals or more in 10 of those 20 games and hold a 12-6-2 record in that span, a 1.9-point-per-game pace.
Back Against the Bulls
This weekend’s matchups will see two of 2024’s best sides face off once again as Orlando City takes on the New York Red Bulls on Saturday afternoon. The two teams last met at the end of November last year in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, as the Lions hosted the Red Bulls at Inter&Co Stadium in the Eastern Conference Finals. Orlando City ultimately fell in the match 1-0, stopping just one game short of playing for MLS Cup.
Stars Rising Up
Orlando City SC has received high levels of attacking production from its Designated Players so far in the 2025 campaign. Forwards Marco Pašalić and Luis Muriel, and midfielder Martín Ojeda have all scored and assisted at least once through the Lions’ first three games of the 2025 season, the only trio of Designated Players to accomplish that feat in Major League Soccer. The Lions’ stars are tied for the league lead in goal contributions (7) with those of Seattle Sounders FC. Orlando City’s lone goal in last weekend’s contest against New York City FC saw forward Marco Pašalić lead in forward Luis Muriel with a great pass that would serve as his first assist for the Lions.
Ojeda’s Opportunities
Midfielder and Designated Player Martín Ojeda is just one assist away from tying former Orlando City winger Facundo Torres for the third-most assists in Club history across all competitions. Ojeda currently sits fourth, tied with Chris Mueller, and currently sits fourth in Major League Soccer in 2025 with 10 key passes through the first three matches of the campaign, trailing only Seattle Sounders FC’s Albert Rusnák (12) and 2025 expansion side San Diego FC’s Anders Dreyer (11).
OCB in One
Orlando City B, Orlando City SC’s MLS NEXT Pro team, kicked off its 2025 campaign last Sunday at home in Osceola County Stadium with a 2-1 win over Columbus Crew 2, with First Team players Colin Guske, Carlos Mercado, Shak Mohammed, Tahir Reid-Brown and Thomas Williams all featuring in the starting XI. The young Lions received goals from recent OCB signing Dyson Clapier and Orlando City Academy product Zakaria Taifi with Taifi scoring his first for Orlando City B to serve as the game-winner. OCB will look to qualify this year for the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs for the third consecutive season.
Milestone Tracker:
- Martín Ojeda (24) is one helper away from tying Facundo Torres (25) for third-most assists across all competitions in Club history.
- Duncan McGuire (26) sits fourth on Orlando City’s all-time scoring list and is five goals away from tying former captain Nanii (31) across all competitions for third.
- Ramiro Enrique’s next appearance will be his 75th all-time for the Lions across all competitions.
