ORLANDO, Fla. (Oct. 2, 2024) – Orlando City SC (14-11-7, 49 points) outlasted the Philadelphia Union (10-15-7, 37 points) in a 2-1 win on Wednesday night at Inter&Co Stadium. With a goal in the 57th minute, Orlando City winger Facundo Torres scored his 45th career goal across all competitions to become the Club’s all-time leading goal scorer, breaking a tie with former Lion Cyle Larin. Torres also tied Larin’s Club record for most goals in a single season with 18 across all competitions.
With a pair of goals on the night, the Club also tied the single season Club record for most goals in a single season with 55, matching the 2016 and 2023 teams.
Second-half substitute Duncan McGuire scored the game-winner in the 64th minute, his 11th goal of the season. Forward Luis Muriel set up both Orlando City goals, recording his seventh and eighth assists of the season.
Orlando City next heads north to Ohio for a matchup with 2023 Supporters’ Shield winners FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 5. The Lions and Cincy will face off on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Scoring Summary:
57’ Facundo Torres (Luis Muriel) – ORL 1, PHI 0
Early in the second half, the Lions were first to break through on the scoreboard. Halftime substitute Luis Muriel led an Orlando attack down the middle of the field through the Philadelphia defense. Muriel tried to lead Ramiro Enrique through the backline, but the pass was deflected back to the Colombian forward before feeding Facundo Torres on the left side of the box. Torres took a touch and finished off the play for his 18th goal across all competitions of 2024.
64’ Duncan McGuire (Luis Muriel) – ORL 2, PHI 0
Just seven minutes later, Orlando doubled its lead on another feed from Muriel. After fighting for possession at midfield, Muriel sprinted down the left wing and sent a long pass to fellow second-half substitute Duncan McGuire past the back line. With two Union defenders closing in, McGuire directed a low shot past the goalkeeper from just inside the box.
73’ Quinn Sullivan (Dániel Gazdag) – ORL 2, PHI 1
The Union were able to cut the Orlando lead back down to one goal when Dániel Gazdag cut in towards the end line and received a pass from his teammate. Gazdag sent a cross into the middle of the box to Quinn Sullivan who got a quick foot on the pass and sent a shot into the roof of the net.
Head Coach Oscar Pareja:
“We are obviously very happy and satisfied with the way the team has found ways to win games and put us in a decent spot in the standings at this time of the season. Another hard game, well played by us. We could’ve had more precision in certain moments when we could have put the game away from Philadelphia [Union], but we ended up just finishing with the 2-1 [win], very tight plays at the end with them pushing and really making us feel that it could be a tight game. But all in all, I thought we were the best team on the pitch, and we have been one of the best teams in the league for me."
Match Notes:
- Facundo Torres became Orlando City’s all-time leading goal scorer across all competitions with his goal in the 57th minute of tonight’s match, marking his 45th for the Lions all-time to pass former Lion Cyle Larin.
- The tally also served as Torres’ 18th goal of the 2024 campaign across all competitions, tying the Club’s single season record set by Larin in 2015.
- Forward Duncan McGuire tallied his 11th goal of the campaign.
- Forward Luis Muriel provided his seventh and eighth assists of the season across all competitions on the Torres and McGuire finishes.
- Orlando City tied the single-season Club record for most goals in a season with 55 in MLS play. The Club set the record in 2016 and matched it in 2023.
- Head Coach Oscar Pareja made no changes to his starting lineup from his side’s last match against FC Dallas.
