CHESTER, Pa. (Sept. 10, 2022) - Orlando City SC (12-11-6, 42 points) dropped its first result since Aug. 6 on Saturday night, falling to the Philadelphia Union (18-4-9, 63 points) by a 5-1 scoreline at Subaru Park.
Andrés Perea found the back of the net for the second time in all competitions in 2022 and the first in league play, both of which have come against the Union. Perea scored the eventual game-winner for the Lions on May 10 in the Round of 32 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against Philadelphia, a trophy they won this past week for its first title in the Club’s MLS era.
City returns home next week for a pair of pivotal matchups in the postseason push, first set to host its neighbors to the north Atlanta United on Wednesday, Sept. 14 in a 6 p.m. ET kickoff. The side will then turn around to welcome Toronto FC three days later on Saturday, with that match set to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET. Tickets for both fixtures are available here or by calling (855) ORL-CITY.
Head Coach Oscar Pareja:
“First congratulations to Philadelphia. They are sharp and when they get opportunities they just put them in the back of the net and that required a lot of work for us. It was difficult in that end and they obviously deserved it with the way they finish. In regards to the game, I thought it was very level in the first half. We tried to modify some positioning and some things worked, some others didn’t and nothing else [from the game] but finding a team that was better than us tonight.”
Scoring Recap:
39’ João Moutinho (Own Goal) - PHI 1, ORL 0
The home side got on the scoreboard late in the second half, with a cross from Olivier Mbaizo taking a deflection off Orlando City defender João Moutinho and into the back of the net.
43’ Mikael Uhre (Dániel Gazdag, Leon Flach) - PHI 2, ORL 0
The Union doubled their advantage just four minutes later, with Dániel Gazdag threading a ball in behind the Lions defense to a running Mikael Uhre, who was able to fire his shot inside the near post for the finish.
55’ Dániel Gazdag (Penalty Kick) - PHI 3, ORL 0
Philadelphia added to their lead from the penalty spot following a foul call against Orlando City goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar. Dániel Gazdag then stepped up to the spot, hitting his shot right down the middle to put the lead to three.
63’ Alejandro Bedoya (Kai Wagner, José Martínez) - PHI 4, ORL 0
The Union made the lead four with José Martínez finding Kai Wagner on the left flank, who sent in a cross to the head of Alejandro Bedoya to add the home side’s tally on the evening.
75’ Andrés Perea (Júnior Urso, João Moutinho) - PHI 4, ORL 1
The Lions got one back off a throw-in into the area from João Moutinho, finding the head of Júnior Urso and eventually falling to the foot of Andrés Perea. The City midfielder took a touch before rifling a shot straight into the back of the net.
87’ Jack Elliott (Kai Wagner) - PHI 5, ORL 1
The Union regained their four-goal advantage, with Kai Wagner whipping in a corner from the right side to find the head of Jack Elliott for the finish.
Match Notes:
- Andrés Perea scored his second goal in all competitions of the year, both of which have come against the Union.
- Júnior Urso added his eighth assist of the campaign in all competitions, with João Moutinho accounting for his third.
- The loss served as the Lions’ first since Aug. 6 in all competitions.
- Mason Stajduhar made his second start of the season in net for the Lions in MLS play.
- Head Coach Oscar Pareja made six changes to his starting lineup from Wednesday night’s U.S. Open Cup Final, including Stajduhar, Jake Mulraney, Wilder Cartagena, Andrés Perea, Niko Gioacchini and Benji Michel.
Next Match: The Lions return to Exploria Stadium for a two-game home stint, first set to host Atlanta United FC on Wednesday, Sept. 14 in a 6 p.m. ET kickoff.
