ORLANDO, Fla. (May 10, 2025) – Orlando City SC (4-2-6, 18 points) drew 3-3 against the New England Revolution (5-4-2, 17 points) at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday night. With the draw, Orlando City extended its unbeaten streak to 10 games across all competitions, just two matches shy of tying the Club record. Saturday night’s match saw the Lions' Club record shutout streak come to an end at 653 minutes across all competitions, including 563 consecutive minutes in MLS play.
The night was marked by City's number 10, Martín Ojeda, who made Club history by netting the Lions’ first ever hat trick at home, as well as the Club’s fourth all-time and first since 2015. Ojeda’s three-goal performance included two first-half goals and was capped off from the penalty spot in the second half, when Ojeda stepped up and converted for the milestone goal.
The match also saw a first from 2025 MLS SuperDraft selection Joran Gerbet, who recorded his first career goal contribution by assisting on Ojeda's second goal with a perfectly placed through ball. Saturday's match was Gerbet’s ninth appearance for the Lions and fifth start.
The Lions will stay in the City Beautiful this week, set next for a rematch from Round One of the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs against Charlotte FC on Wednesday, May 14. Kickoff from Inter&Co Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, with the match set to air live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Scoring Summary:
24’ Martín Ojeda (César Araújo) – ORL 1, NE 0
The Lions opened the scoring after back-to-back corner-kick sequences and two shots on goal from César Araújo that were both stopped midway towards the goal. Araújo then ran out to the left of the box to pick up the rebound and slid the ball back to midfielder Martín Ojeda. Ojeda then dribbled into the middle-left of the 18-yard-box and let rip a rocket from the very edge that slammed down off the crossbar and in.
33' Martin Ojeda (Joran Gerbet) – ORL 2, NE 0
The Lions struck again just nine minutes later with another from Ojeda to notch a first-half brace. A long through ball by rookie midfielder Joran Gerbet from beyond midfield found Ojeda in behind the New England defense. The goal scorer navigated his way around the last two Revolution defenders before curling a low-driven shot right through the legs of goalkeeper Aljaž Ivačič.
38' Alhassan Yusuf (Ilay Feingold, Ignatius Ganago) – ORL 2, NE 1
The New England Revolution got one back in the 38th minute with a goal scored by Alhassan Yusuf. The play started on the left side of the Orlando box with Ignatius Ganago switching the play to find Ilay Feingold on the other side of the right post, cutting the ball back to Yusuf who directed the ball into the net.
45' Matt Polster (Carles Gil, Ilay Feingold) – ORL 2, NE 2
New England found the equalizer just before halftime with a goal from midfielder Matt Polster. The play started after midfielder Carles Gil played a quick give-and-go with midfielder Ilay Feingold off a New England corner before crossing the ball into the box. The ball found a cutting Polster who then whipped a header from the right side of the box and in for New England’s second.
55' Martin Ojeda (Penalty Kick) – ORL 3, NE 2
A penalty kick was awarded to the Lions via video review after Joran Gerbet was fouled inside the box by Mamadou Fofana, with the center back kicking Gerbet in the head while going for a clearance. Ojeda, sitting on a brace already, stepped up to take the penalty kick and buried it to complete Orlando City’s first hat trick since 2015.
85' Carles Gil (Penalty Kick) – ORL 3, NE 3
In the 85th minute, a penalty favoring New England was awarded to the visitors after Ignatius Ganago was fouled inside the box and going away from goal. Carles Gil stepped up for the Revs and buried the opportunity to level the match.
Head Coach Oscar Pareja:
“Well, I think it was obviously very entertaining for the intensity of the game to the people that came to the stadium. But at the end of the day, the frustration is the same about what we left on the field because it’s another two points that we let go on a game that I think we had to close it and win it. But this is the game. We're scoring goals, but now we conceded too, and we have been talking about our balance and all those things. It is something that we need to work on. But I have to say as well that our thing was always bringing the initiative. We found a team that had good responsiveness, but I think we really proposed the game all over the field. And we should have been better when we were up 3-2, and we had a few chances just to put the game away. And we let it go.”
Match Notes
- Midfielder Martín Ojeda completed the first home hat trick in Orlando City history and the first of his career.
- Ojeda’s hat trick also served as the first for the Lions since Cyle Larin’s hat trick against the New York Red Bulls in September 2015.
- Joran Gerbet earned his first goal contribution as a professional with the assist on Martín Ojeda’s second goal of the night.
- Midfielder César Araújo recorded his second assist of the season and 11th all-time across all competitions for the Lions.
- With the Revolution goal in the 38th minute, the Lions’ Club-record shutout streak ended at 653 minutes across all competitions and 563 consecutive minutes in league action.
- Head Coach Oscar Pareja made six changes to the Starting XI after his side’s last match against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, with goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, defender Robin Jansson, midfielder Joran Gerbet, and forwards Iván Angulo, Luis Muriel and Marco Pašalić all returning to the starting lineup.
