Orlando City grinded out a 1-1 draw in its first road match of the season against Sporting Kansas City. The match was highlighted by Nani’s show-stopping backheel equalizer, which came after the Lions’ first two goals of the match were waved away for offside calls.
Last season, Orlando City fans quickly became accustomed to coach Oscar Pareja’s mantra of convincing his players to see themselves as the protagonists of every match. Friday’s performance highlighted how this mentality transformed the way the Lions approach matches on the road.
It’s fairly common for teams to take a more reserved approach during road matches, focusing on defending and limiting offensive risks to focus on securing the single point of a draw.