Orlando City’s first two matches of the season have been a far cry from their playing style even at the tail end of last season. It’s not just the formation or personnel, it’s a complete switch tactically. The Lions have gone from working the ball through the midfield, playing passes along the ground, and trying to unlock defenses to hoofball, chipping passes right behind defensive lines for the attackers to chase.
It’s not great to watch, but it’s been effective. Carlos Rivas’ speed and ability to collect the ball in the air have made this style possible; any time Orlando’s opponents make the mistake of playing a high line, Rivas has the capacity to break it, find himself in acres of space, and deliver service to whichever purple shirt happened to catch up in the penalty area.