Lions extends unbeaten streak with draw
Orlando City kept its unbeaten streak alive, holding on for a scoreless draw at FC Dallas despite going down a player early in the second half.
The match marked Lions coach Oscar Pareja’s first return to Toyota Stadium since he left the FC Dallas program in 2018. Pareja, who spent decades with the club as a player and coach, Pareja received emotional hugs from FC Dallas coaches and players whose careers he helped mold.
After Pareja’s departure, the club promoted academy director Luchi Gonzalez to take over as head coach and maintained some elements of Pareja’s tactics. As a result, Orlando City and FC Dallas played a similar style of football Sunday, opening up the field from end to end and allowing both teams to create dynamically through the midfield.
The game was fairly evenhanded until the 70th minute.
Orlando City (7-2-5, 26 points) held a high pressing line, moving in space and possessing the ball. FC Dallas (5-3-5, 20 points) meanwhile found opportunities on the counter, challenging up the flanks after Ruan exited early with an injury.
Both teams had taken a high volume of shots — 11 by Orlando City, nine by FC Dallas. But besides a first-half shot that forced goalkeeper Pedro Gallese to make a point-blank kick save, neither side threatened to score.
But the game shifted in the 70th minute when Sebas Méndez earned his second yellow card of the night and was booted from the match.
The call came after Méndez sent Bryan Reynolds sprawling to the ground with a high, crunching tackle at midfield. The midfielder had already earned his first card for time wasting minutes earlier, and the second booking dropped the Lions to 10 players.
With FC Dallas up a player, the tactics of the game suddenly flipped. Dallas began to dominate possession, while Orlando City relied on the counterattack. But despite the disadvantage, the Lions continued to attack.
Even in the final seconds, Orlando City threw players forward into the box. Captain Nani fired
rockets from long range, while winger Benji Michel danced into the box for multiple chances. This consistent offensive pressure prevented Orlando City from ever hunkering down on defense, keeping the match open through the final whistle.
With the draw, the Lions are now riding an eightgame unbeaten streak, the club’s longest at the MLS level. The draw dropped Orlando City to the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference table, but the draw on the road closed the margin from the top spot in the conference to only four points.
Orlando City will return home and host the New York Red Bulls Saturday at Exploria Stadium.
DWYER’S ASSIST: Orlando City striker Dom Dwyer is still finding a way to make an impact on the team from the sidelines.
The designated player won’t return to the pitch for the Lions this season after suffering a knee injury during the MLS is Back Tournament. But Dwyer remains focused on the team as he does rehabilitation work with athletic trainers and medical staff from Orlando Health.
When striker Daryl Dike returns to the locker room after a match, he knows to expect a text from the veteran striker. The messages are specific, listing the minute a play took place and a suggestion or tip for the rookie to help grow his game.
“Dom’s kind of been through it all and he always has advice,” Dike said. “When he was training with us more, he gave me pointers all the time. I think it’s great.”