Orlando won 2-1 on 41% of the ball and a thin share of chances
Orlando City SC2 – 1New York City FC 
Orlando City beat New York City FC at Exploria Stadium with less possession and weaker chances than usual, which makes the win the story.
Orlando City beat New York City FC 2-1 at Exploria Stadium with less of the ball and fewer good chances than they usually have at home. They held 41% of possession, against an average of 56.3% over their eleven home matches this season. Their expected goals (xG, a rough measure of how good each shot was, based on how often that kind of chance goes in) came to 0.76, while their home average is 1.93. The attack ran well below its normal level and still came away with the points.
New York City had the ball and the better chances on paper. They held 59% of possession, above the 52.3% they average in away games, and their xG of 1.68 beats the 1.24 they usually create on the road. Both sides had eight shots and four on target, so the gap lay in the quality of the chances rather than their number.
Ball possession
The first goal came in the 18th minute, when Alonso Martinez finished a move started by Hannes Wolf. Antoine Griezmann levelled at 32 minutes, with Martin Ojeda providing the pass, and two of his shots were on target. Martin Ojeda then put Orlando in front at 49 minutes, collecting a pass from Vinicius Nogueira. Three goals in the match, all before the hour, and each one came from a side that was not carrying the ball.
Three goals is below the league average of 3.5 per match, and neither attack reached its usual shot count. Orlando had fewer shots than their 13.5 home average, and New York City fell short of their 11.1 away average. Both sides were a little quieter than normal in front of goal, and the scoreline reflects that.
Orlando's defence also held up better than usual. New York City's chances came to 1.68 xG, while Orlando normally concede 2.62 at home, and they let in one goal against a home average of 2.2. New York City conceded two, above their away average of 1.4. Mathieu Crépeau made three saves in goal for Orlando and was rated 7.8, the second-highest rating of the Orlando players who started.
Martin Ojeda's goal and assist made him the standout of the match, rated 8.9. For New York City, Alonso Martinez took four shots, two of them on target, and his goal was the only one they found. Both sides had a yellow card each, and neither lost a player to a red.
New York City have won one of their last six away matches. Orlando have won three of their last six at home.
M. Ojeda1 goal · 1 assist
A. Griezmann1 goal
M. Crépeau3 saves
A. Martínez1 goal