How is Orlando City Performing?

It would have been easy for Oscar Pareja to rally Orlando City around their status as upstarts and underdogs as they faced off against favored LAFC in the quarterfinals of the MLS is Back Tournament.

Orlando, meanwhile, have an MLS history associated with frustration and disappointment as much as anything else over their MLS existence and they are still early in the tenure of their fifth coach in as many seasons.

“Probably that’s a good tool to use,” acknowledged Pareja after his team’s impressive penalty-kick shootout win that sent them to the semis.

Because in knocking off the reigning Supporters’ Shield holders, the Lions showed that they’re capable of a great deal more than most of us have given them credit for, even after they finished the MLS Is Back group stage undefeated atop the Group A standings.