Orlando City SC Head Coach Oscar Pareja
Opening Statement
“The first thing is the overall analysis of the game. It gave us a sense that we had a good first half and were very competitive. We didn’t have complete control, but we had ideas. Not just the first goal, I think we had much more volume in attack. That gave us the feeling we could build on it in the second half. In the second half, after 67 or 68 minutes, [Pumas] started pushing, and we lost control of the ball. We started using long balls, and then we couldn’t find a way out of that prison. After that, it seems like it’s not a coincidence, it keeps happening. We can’t close out a game with more personality, and that’s why I’m frustrated now. We have to look at the whole game. It was very competitive against a good rival, and the boys did a lot of good things.”
On struggles at home
“It could be many factors. We can talk about execution—we could have controlled the game much more, especially in the matches you mentioned. We all have to want it. We were winning the game, and there were a lot of good things the boys did. It’s just that we’re not closing games. That’s not a coincidence, that’s something we need to improve, especially in the last 15 minutes. We have to stop thinking the game is over at that point. It’s something we can neutralize better. We’re searching, and we’ll see. My theory is that we’re losing control of the ball in the last 15 minutes and conceding too much territory, leaving loose ends. It’s hard to keep the line high and maintain the team in a higher position so we can press the ball on a different part of the field. Things happen because other teams are pushing too. We’ll keep working. Away from home, we’re not having that problem, but here, we’re seeing a pattern.”
On the result
“The other thing I want to point out is that the game ended 1-1. We didn’t lose the game; we lost on penalty kicks because that’s the format. But the boys faced good competition today, a good team as well, and that’s what I want to highlight. It wasn’t that we lost the game, we didn’t lose the game. We conceded at the end, and that’s something we feel needs to be improved. But in a very competitive game, the boys did a lot of good things.”
Orlando City SC Defender Rodrigo Schlegel
Opening Statement
“Happy to score yet again, but a bit heated about what happened with not being able to score after that. Still, happy to score tonight.”
On how the game changed after an early goal
“I think we played a great first half. We were really dominating the game within the game. In the second half, we had a little more difficulty, just due to the situation. They were down and had to start coming out of their area more. I think that made things difficult for us, but we had a great first half. They claimed the second half.”
On the game-tying goal
“Truth is, I couldn’t see it too well from where I was. From my perspective, they committed a foul on Robin [Jansson], but that’s passed now. We have to focus on the next game and get as many points as we can.”
Orlando City SC Forward Marco Pašalić
Opening Statement
“I think it was a good game. In the last minute, we lost focus and concentration. They scored the first goal. The second goal was offside, it was a little bit of luck for us, because we lost direction. In the end, I don’t think we deserved to lose, but this is football. We lost the penalty shootout, and it is what it is.”
On recent struggles at home
“Difficult to answer. We have a good feeling; the last game was also really good. We haven’t lost in a while. We have good chemistry and try to keep a positive mindset. But like I said, this is football, these things happen. There’s also the penalty shootout. It’s 50/50.”
On Pumas having more possession in the second half
“I don’t know, [Pumas] took control. When the ball got in deep, it was a little short. Maybe if the score had been 2-0, the game would’ve looked different. But they came out really ready, with a lot of power. They made good changes, scored the first goal, and then it went to the penalty shootout. They took control in the second half.”
