MLS Preseason 2020: Chris Muller nets winner as Orlando City SC top San Antonio FC

Orlando City SC wrapped up preseason with a 2-1 win over San Antonio FC in a closed-door match at Exploria Stadium Friday night.


"I saw very positive things that, of course we are in this mode of keep building, but I’m very proud of what the boys did today," Orlando City SC coach Oscar Pareja said. "They kicked butt."


Tesho Akindele opened the scoring for the hosts in the 28th minute before Callum Montgomery leveled for the USL Championship side three minutes before the break off a set piece.


Chris Mueller broke the deadlock with a curling effort into the side netting in the 62nd minute.

"I just came inside and just tried to hit that little snapshot, take a little power off of it and tried to place it in the corner and it ended up curling toward the back post," Mueller said. "It was a good finish."


Orlando City SC now prepare for its regular season opener Feb. 29 against Real Salt Lake (6 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in the US, MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada).


"We are very optimistic," Pareja said. "Preseason is a building phase of the group. Now the competition comes, it’s a long journey. Still in the competition you keep building, getting results and keep nursing the team. We are on our way."


Goals


  • 28’ — ORL — Tesho Akindele
  • 42’ — SA — Callum Montgomery
  • 62’ — ORL — Chris Mueller


Lineups


Orlando City SC (starting XI): Pedro Gallese; Ruan, Robin Jansson, Antonio Carlos, Kamal Miller; Sebastian Mendez, Junior Urso; Mauricio Pereyra, Benji Michel, Chris Mueller; Tesho Akindele


San Antonio FC (starting XI): Dayne St. Clair; Connor Maloney, Hunter Gorskie, Callum Montgomery, Mitchell Taintor; Blake Smith, Zachary Herivaux, PC, Hayden Partain, Jesus Enriquez; Ignacio Bailone