Orlando City SC and Tigres UANL left scoreless in first leg of Concacaf Champions Cup

Orlando, FL – Orlando City SC, coming off a 5-0 loss to at Inter Miami CF, have yet to score a goal in two MLS matches. However, they have scored six goals in the Concacaf Champions Cup thus far, all vs Calvary FC. Those six goals were more than good enough to qualify the Lions for the round of 16 vs Tigres UANL. However, Orlando couldn’t recreate that Concacaf magic, failing to score once again in a scoreless 0-0 draw at home vs Tigres. These two squads are very evenly matched, and their history shows as much. Nevertheless, Orlando will have to take a step forward and accomplish something they were not able to do last season. They’ll have to move past the round of 16 in the CCC to continue the trend of season-over-season improvement.

Load Management

OCSC is off to a rocky start. They’re delaying the continuity formed by playing together the players who will ultimately become staples this season. Coach Oscar Pareja seemed to confirm that “load management” is the reason behind the different starting lineups, saying:

“We have been measuring their energy and trying to be precise and how can we rotate without not changing, understanding that the continuity that they have as players and as a group is what’s going to make them excel their level, which is getting them better. But, also timing their moment on the pitch, so I’m trying to do the best we can.”

As long as the established core and the new leading men in Nico Lodeiro and Luis Muriel aren’t sharing minutes, together, on the field, they’re going to struggle to find continuity, let alone, score goals.

I asked Coach Oscar Pareja about the different lineups he’s used thus far in the 5 matchups they’ve played across all competitions. He basically confirmed “load management” without using those words, due to the large amount of games in a short amount of time.#MLS | #OrlandoCity pic.twitter.com/XxjpEUaFDw

— Gustavo Chacon (@onaPSIh) March 6, 2024

Same Side, Different Coin

Tigres finished 3rd in the LigaMX Apertura, but are now sitting 6th in the Clausura. A little more than halfway through the Clausura season, they’re only four points out of 1st place in a tight Clausura race to the top. Sound familiar? Orlando City were also involved in a tight Eastern Conference race last season, coming in 2nd. They also finished 2nd in the Supporters Shield. Also last season, these two teams coincidentally met in the round of 16 of the Concacaf Champions Cup. They drew both home and away matches where Orlando was eliminated due to allowing more goals (one goal) at home. This time, however, Orlando looks to return the favor, as they held Tigres scoreless in a 0-0 draw at home and will play the 2nd leg in Monterrey.

Progression

The Lions have improved season-over-season under Coach Pareja. From US Open Cup champs to the most points earned in a season including their 1st road playoff win, they’ll have to add some more to ensure progression. Aside from maintaining their status in the MLS they earned last season, to continue to progress this season, they’ll have to make a deep run in the Champions Cup. Otherwise, the load management, sacrificing the momentum at the beginning of the season will all be for naught.

#OrlandoCity and #TigresUANL have ended in a draw for the 3rd straight matchup.
Last season, a 1-1 draw in Orlando saw the Lions eliminated from #ConcaChampions, also in the round of 16. This time, #OCSC looks to return the favor in Monterrey.#ORLvTIG | #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/yz2xS8IWbC

— Gustavo Chacon (@onaPSIh) March 6, 2024