PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (Florida Sports Wire) – Orlando City SC (2-1-2, 8 points)took a 2-1 victory on Saturday night over the Philadelphia Union (2-3-0, 6 points) at Subaru Park. Martín Ojeda and Iván Angulo found the back of the net for the Lions, the second in as many contests for the former and the first of his Orlando City career for the latter.
“I think in the first half we controlled the game. Not just in the transition, but I think in the middle of the field, I think we were much better there. Second half, knowing that we were leading the game and Philadelphia pushed ahead their structure and started just getting more players forward, we understood that those spaces were going to be created. [It was] not easy to sustain it with that pressure, but we found ways. We could have scored two or three goals more in the second half also, so the match was very well played by the players,” said Head Coach Oscar Pareja. City captain Mauricio Pereyra tallied a pair of assists on the finishes, his firsts of the year, sending the ball over top for Ojeda before combining with him for the second goal to earn the secondary on the finish from Angulo. With the two helpers, Pereyra extended his own Club-record with his 36th and 37th assists, respectively. Goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar occupied the sticks for City for the first time this season, posting five saves including a point-blank denial of Alejandro Bedoya in the 75th minute to preserve all three points for the Lions. With the win, the Lions snapped a 13-match win streak for the Union at Subaru Park in MLS play, one game shy of tying the league record set by San Jose in 2001-02 at 14, while also spoiling a 24-match regular-season home unbeaten run in Chester, their last such loss coming on Sept. 3, 2021.The Lions took the early lead with a long ball from Mason Stajduhar finding the chest of Ramiro Enrique, who was able to direct it to the foot of Mauricio Pereyra. The City captain hit it first time, lofting a ball over top the Union back line to a running Ojeda, who struck it on the half-volley with his first touch into the back of the net.
City doubled its advantage with Pereyra able to jump on a loose ball in the Union defensive third, finding Ojeda at the edge of the area. The Lions’ Designated Player was then able to thread a ball through a pair of Union defenders to Angulo running in behind. Angulo struck it first time into the bottom left corner to score his first as a Lion.
The Union halved the Lions’ lead with former City midfielder Andrés Perea getting his head on a lofted cross into the box. With his initial attempt hitting the woodwork, Perea was able to tap in the rebound for the finish for the home side.
Orlando City travels back to the City Beautiful to take on Nashville SC on Saturday, April 1 in a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff at Exploria Stadium. Match Notes: Martín Ojeda netted his second goal in as many contests for the Lions while also tallying his first assist for the Club in the match…Iván Angulo scored his first goal for Orlando City on the night….Mauricio Pereyra notched his first assists of 2023 in the match, extending his Club-record with his 36th and 37th in all competitions…..Midfielder Felipe Martins tallied his first start for Orlando City on Saturday night….Goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar recorded his first start of 2023 in between the sticks….Defender Antonio Carlos made his first appearance of the season, entering the game in the 80th minute….Defender Kyle Smith made his 100th appearance in MLS play, earning the start at right back…Head Coach Oscar Pareja made six changes to his starting lineup from last weekend’s matchup against Charlotte, with Stajduhar, Martins, Luca Petrasso, Kyle Smith, Iván Angulo and Ramiro Enrique all getting the start.
