Sometimes the best medicine for a wounded team is a change of scenery. After watching their late-game demons resurface in a crushing 2-1 home defeat to NYCFC last week, Orlando City found exactly what they needed on the road against New England Revolution—a reminder that they can still close out games when it matters most.
The Lions' 2-1 victory at Gillette Stadium wasn't just about the three points; it was about rediscovering an identity that had gone missing in recent weeks. This wasn't the possession-obsessed Orlando that dominated the ball against NYCFC only to watch victory slip through their fingers. This was a sharper, more purposeful version of Oscar Pareja's squad.
Ojeda Takes Command
Martín Ojeda was the architect of Orlando's revival, delivering a masterclass performance that extended his remarkable season statistics to 12 goals and 10 assists. The Argentine's opening strike in the 18th minute came via a trademark finish—left foot, center of the box, clinical precision. Eduard Atuesta's through ball was the invitation, but Ojeda's execution was pure class.
When New England's Tomás Chancalay leveled the score in the 55th minute, you could almost feel the collective anxiety from Orlando supporters who've witnessed this script before. But this time, the response was immediate and emphatic. Just three minutes later, Ojeda was back in the spotlight, converting Iván Angulo's assist to restore the lead and effectively seal the victory.
"When [New England] tied it up, we weren't happy with just the one goal and we said to ourselves that we were going to push," Ojeda explained after the match. "We stayed united, stayed together and really focused on those details that had hurt us and gone against us in those last few games."
Head coach Oscar Pareja was effusive in his praise for his star midfielder: "I think he's carrying us in that matter; how important it is to have a player who is scoring goals and giving us those contributions in the moments that we need him the most... he took that team on his shoulders."
Colombian Connection Creates Chaos
Orlando's Colombian contingent was instrumental in breaking down New England's defense throughout the match. Iván Angulo's pace and attacking runs down the flank created constant problems for the Revolution's backline, with his speed forcing defenders into uncomfortable positions and opening up space for teammates.
Luis Muriel added some stellar passes throughout the match, showcasing the veteran striker's playmaking ability alongside his goal-scoring threat. The Colombian's vision and distribution helped unlock New England's defense on multiple occasions, providing another dimension to Orlando's attack.
Meanwhile, Eduard Atuesta controlled the pace and tempo from the middle of the park, dictating the flow of play with his precise passing and intelligent positioning. The former LAFC midfielder's ability to find pockets of space and distribute the ball effectively was crucial in Orlando's more direct approach.
The Numbers Tell a New Story
What made this performance so encouraging wasn't just the result, but how Orlando achieved it. The Lions were more direct, more clinical, and crucially, more mature in their decision-making than in recent outings.
The shot count favored Orlando 16-14, with a 5-3 advantage in shots on goal. More importantly, Pedro Gallese was only called upon to make three saves, suggesting better defensive organization and game management—two areas that proved costly in their previous outing.
Looking Ahead: The Championship Question
This victory sets up a fascinating Friday night encounter in Columbus on July 25th at 7:30 PM, where 6th-place Orlando will face the 4th-place Crew in a potential Eastern Conference playoff preview.
But one thing we have to ask: why has Martín Ojeda stepped up his game? Maybe he's upset because he wasn't called up to the All-Star game, or maybe he's taking everything in stride, or maybe it's just his natural leadership emerging—but one thing we're seeing is a player that's taking the team on his shoulders and making them better.
Orlando's offensive numbers support this narrative. The Lions rank 5th in MLS with 43 goals scored and 4th with 33 assists, showing they have the attacking talent to compete with anyone. But having the pieces and putting them together consistently are two different challenges entirely.
Now let's see what happens in the next few games, because what we know is that we have a lot of players that can score goals, but what we don't have is consistency. To win the East, you must be consistent, and we might be a team that makes the playoffs, but now we're trying to see if we're a top team that can keep home-field advantage and get back to the semifinals and hopefully make it to the MLS final and win that championship.
The question now isn't whether Orlando can compete with the East's elite—it's whether they can consistently deliver performances like this when the stakes are highest. Friday night in Columbus will provide the next chapter in that story.
