Luis Muriel Scores First MLS Brace as Lions Down Philadelphia Union

May 11, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Orlando City SC News Release

CHESTER, Pa. – Orlando City SC (3-5-3, 12 points) won a 3-2 thriller over the Philadelphia Union (3-3-5, 14 points) on Saturday night at Subaru Park. The Lions were backed by a brace and an assist from designated player Luis Muriel, which served as his first goals and assist of the 2024 campaign.

Midfielder Nico Lodeiro picked up an assist on all three of the Lions’ goals on the evening, marking the third time in Club history that a player tallied three helpers.

Forward Duncan McGuire recorded his sixth goal across all competitions in the 2024 campaign helping City get on the board to level the match. Muriel scored his first of two goals on the night before the stroke of halftime with a banger of a goal with his left foot.

Just seconds into the second half, Muriel found his second goal of the night which served as the game winning goal for the Lions. The brace counts as the second brace scored by a Lions player this season, with the first coming from McGuire against Minnesota United FC.

The Union had an opportunity to level the match in second-half stoppage time, but Pedro Gallese made the stop on Daniel Gazdag’s attempt, securing his 50th win between the sticks in regular season history.

The Lions will return home to INTER&Co Stadium next to host intrastate foes Inter Miami CF this Wednesday, May 15, at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Scoring Summary:

12′ Mikael Uhre (Nathan Harriel, Jack McGlynn) – PHI 1, ORL 0

The hosts opened the scoring on the night just 12 minutes into the game when the Union collected the rebound from an attacking corner kick. The ball was fed to Nathan Harriel by Jack McGlynn at the top of the box, who passed to Mikael Uhre for the goal.

21′ Duncan McGuire (Nico Lodeiro, Luis Muriel) – ORL 1, PHI 1

The Lions leveled things up with the Union less than 10 minutes later when Nico Lodeiro took a quick throw into Luis Muriel on the left wing. Muriel fed Lodeiro to the endline who fired in a cross to a waiting Duncan McGuire. McGuire headed the cross into the ground and past goalkeeper Oliver Semmle.

41′ Luis Muriel (Nico Lodeiro) – ORL 2, PHI 1

The Lions then added another to take the lead just before the end of the first half, with Iván Angulo picking off a back pass from José Martínez. Angulo passed back to Lodeiro who fed Luis Muriel at the top of the box. Muriel fired a shot from outside the box into the top left corner of the net for his first goal for Orlando City.

46′ Luis…