ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Orlando City SC and Real Salt Lake (RSL), foes on opposite coasts, find themselves in similar situations. Orlando City opened its sixth season at Exploria Stadium against Real Salt Lake with nine new faces and new head coach Oscar Pareja to open the season. RSL came in with a new official coach of their own in Freddy Juarez, who was interim coach in 2019, and five new faces. The teams’ last matchup in April 2019 resulted in a 2-1 victory for RSL, but as season openers go, Orlando City remains undefeated at home with a 1-0-4 season opener record.

RSL brings one difference–and advantage–to the game: the third-best defense in MLS.

Orlando City Starting XI:

Pedro Gallese (goalkeeper), Junior Urso, João Moutinho, Tesho Akindele, Ruan Texeira, Benji Michel, Chris Mueller, Mauricio Pereyra, Jhegson Sebàs Mendez, Antonio Carlos, Robin Jansson

Real Salt Lake Starting XI:

Zac MacMath (goalkeeper), Donny Toia, Justen Glad, Damir Kreilach, Marcelo Silva, Justin Portillo, Albert Rusnák, Tate Schmit, Nick Besler

FIRST HALF

Pereyra (18th minute), Mendez (19th minute), and Mueller (29th minute) made shots for Orlando, but Pereyra’s was blocked and the latter two missed.

RSL’s Justen Glad was issued a yellow card in the 41st minute.

Aaron Herrera made both of RSL’s shots in the first half. His first in the 31st minute got blocked, and in the 44th he shot straight on goal, but Orlando goalie Pedro Gallese made a sharp save.

Even Orlando’s seven corner kicks and RSL’s two, the game remained scoreless at halftime. RSL brought speed to surpass Orlando, which the Lions made up for in finesse.

The teams were almost equal at halftime with Orlando’s three attempted shots to RSL’s two, and 51.3% to 48.7% in possession respectively, with both teams tallying ten tackles each.

SECOND HALF

The second half brought increased physicality, especially from Orlando. Pereyra, Michel, and Ruan weren’t afraid to challenge RSL by sliding, bumping, or falling in RSL’s way to block shots and take possession of the ball.

RSL subbed in Corey Baird for Justen Glad in the 63rd minute and Orlando City subbed in Robinho for Benji Michel in the 65th minute.

RSL made their next sub in the 70th, bringing in former Orlando City player Justin Meram (whom the fans continue to curse out) for Tate Schmit.

Pereyra got knocked down in his battle for the ball, earning Orlando a free kick. Mendez took the shot on target, but RSL goalie MacMath caught it perfectly.

Pereyra was issued a yellow card in the 75th minute. In the 79th, RSL subbed in Giuseppe Rossi for Justin Portillo.

Orlando had a close call in the 83rd minute with an open shot on goal from Chris Mueller, but Mueller was off a little to the left and the ball flew into the crowd.

In the 84th minute Orlando subbed in Santiago Patinho for Tesho Akindele.

Both teams remained stingy in the second half, despite an aggressive offense (Orlando shot 6 and RSL shot 3). Even with four minutes of added time, the game resulted in another draw for the two: 0-0.

Orlando City midfielder Junior Urso was cautiously optimistic. “I think we played well. It was a difficult game because it was the first game with the fans, the start of MLS so I think we played well, we controlled the game,” he said during the postgame press conference. “Sometimes they got the ball, but they didn’t make it dangerous for us. I think we played well but we have to be better if we want to get a trophy this year so we have to be better and score the goals. But it’s the first game, we will have time to be better.”

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Mellissa Thomas is Editor for Florida National News. | mellissa.thomas@floridanationalnews.com