Major League Soccer Gameweek 21
Orlando City SC 2 - 1 FT Real Salt Lake
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
D. Marczuk (S. Junqua) 36'
A. Katranis 45'+4
HT
46' โ Tiago โD. Dike
46' โ Luis Otavio โJ. Gerbet
46' โ M. Pasalic โJ. Ellis
53' A. Griezmann
โ D. Marczuk โS. Lobjanidze 61'
โ A. Hezarkhani โD. Luna 61'
โ V. Olatunji โM. Guilavogui 62'
โ L. Moisa โN. Caliskan 66'
69' โ Z. Taifi โT. Spicer
K. Henry 71'
โ A. Katranis โJ. Sanabria 77'
81' A. Griezmann
82' E. Atuesta
85' โ E. Atuesta โW. Cartagena
FT
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/09/2023 | Real Salt Lake | 4 - 0 | Orlando City SC | Major League Soccer | America First Field |
| 03/01/2020 | Orlando City SC | 0 - 0 | Real Salt Lake | Major League Soccer | Exploria Stadium |
| 04/14/2019 | Real Salt Lake | 2 - 1 | Orlando City SC | Major League Soccer | Rio Tinto Stadium |
| 05/06/2018 | Orlando City SC | 3 - 1 | Real Salt Lake | Major League Soccer | Orlando City Stadium |
| 07/01/2017 | Real Salt Lake | 0 - 1 | Orlando City SC | Major League Soccer | Rio Tinto Stadium |
| 03/06/2016 | Orlando City SC | 2 - 2 | Real Salt Lake | Major League Soccer | Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium |
| 07/05/2015 | Real Salt Lake | 1 - 1 | Orlando City SC | Major League Soccer | Rio Tinto Stadium |
07/09/2023
03/01/2020
04/14/2019
05/06/2018
07/01/2017
03/06/2016
07/05/2015
Orlando City SC Win
Real Salt Lake Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 18 GD: +23
P: 18 GD: +10
P: 17 GD: +6
P: 16 GD: +7
P: 18 GD: +7
P: 16 GD: 0
P: 19 GD: -11
P: 17 GD: +5
P: 17 GD: -3
P: 16 GD: -3
P: 18 GD: -5
P: 17 GD: -15
P: 18 GD: -7
P: 17 GD: -5
P: 16 GD: -9
League Standings
P: 26 GD: +32
P: 26 GD: +12
P: 26 GD: +15
P: 26 GD: +10
P: 25 GD: +7
P: 26 GD: +8
P: 26 GD: -14
P: 26 GD: -14
P: 25 GD: -7
P: 26 GD: +5
P: 25 GD: -8
P: 26 GD: -10
P: 26 GD: -5
P: 26 GD: -13
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Orlando City SC
Real Salt Lake
Orlando City SC
Real Salt Lake
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Griezmann's Second-Half Magic Rescues Orlando City at Exploria
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 43/100. Antoine Griezmann's stunning brace flipped a frustrating deficit into a crucial victory, breathing much-needed life into Orlando's regular season campaign.
First Half Frustrations
The Stakes were immediately palpable at Exploria Stadium as a struggling Orlando City SC hosted a formidable Real Salt Lake side. The hosts, absolutely desperate to climb from the bottom half of the Eastern Conference after a brutal run of form, started with notable urgency, but the visiting defense held incredibly firm. The early exchanges lacked offensive rhythm, but the matchโs Intensity spiked abruptly in the 36th minute. A beautifully worked sequence down the flank allowed S. Junqua to isolate his defender and pick out D. Marczuk. The Real Salt Lake attacker made absolutely no mistake, finishing clinically to silence the vocal home crowd and put the confident visitors ahead. Orlando looked visibly deflated, heading into the locker room with the all-too-familiar feeling of a crucial game slowly slipping away.
The Griezmann Resurgence
Whatever was said in the Orlando locker room during the break worked absolute wonders, instantly altering the Balance of the entire match. The hosts emerged with a totally renewed sense of attacking purpose, driving forward fearlessly and putting Real Salt Lake firmly on the back foot. The ultimate pivot point arrived in the 53rd minute, courtesy of their undeniable superstar. A. Griezmann found a clever pocket of space, dissecting the visitors' defensive lines before burying a ruthless equalizer. This clinical strike shifted the momentum completely. Instead of settling for a cautious draw, Orlando continued to press aggressively, backed by a suddenly roaring Exploria Stadium crowd. The momentum pendulum had clearly swung, and Real Salt Lake found themselves desperately trying to weather a relentless purple storm.
Completing the Comeback
The final act delivered the ultimate dramatic twist to cap off an incredible night in Florida. With only nine minutes of regulation remaining, Griezmann stepped up to the plate once more. In the 81st minute, the veteran international found the back of the net for his second crucial goal of the night, completing a magnificent comeback and sending the home supporters into absolute delirium. This massive 2-1 victory not only showcased an incredible Upset mentality from an Orlando squad previously reeling from poor league form, but it also stalled Real Salt Lake's aggressive push up the table. While the visitors remain comfortably positioned in sixth place, this frustrating result exposes their sudden vulnerability when attempting to close out tight matches on the road. For Orlando City, these points change everything.
Key Questions
How did Orlando City SC complete the comeback from behind?
After falling behind, Orlando City SC relied on a brilliant second-half brace from Antoine Griezmann in the 53rd and 81st minutes to secure the massive home victory.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
A Dead-Heat Tactical Battle in Florida
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 56/100. Exploria Stadium hosts a fiercely contested MLS fixture where two inconsistent sides look to spark a late-season surge.
The Setup
As the MLS regular season marches on, tenth-placed Orlando City SC welcome sixth-placed Real Salt Lake to Exploria Stadium. The hosts have demonstrated wildly erratic Form recently, dropping ten matches overall while struggling to build momentum. The visitors are not faring much better, dragging a five-match winless slide into this encounter. While the Stakes are modest given their mid-table positioning, the competitive Balance here is absolutely off the charts. The probability gap is razor-thin, promising a tactical stalemate where a respectable Stars rating hints that a moment of individual brilliance will be required to break the deadlock.
Key Battle
The outcome will largely hinge on how Martรญn Ojeda operates against the resistance of Juan Sanabria. Ojeda is the creative heartbeat for Orlando in the final third, and Sanabria will be tasked with anchoring the midfield and shutting down those crucial central spaces for Real Salt Lake.
Our Prediction
We expect Orlando City SC to edge a narrow 2-1 victory. Real Salt Lake's recent defensive frailties and poor traveling momentum make them vulnerable, allowing the home side to scrape all three points in a cagey affair.