ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando City fans got a first look at the 2024 squad Saturday coming off of the team's best regular season in club history.

The 1-1 final against Brazil-based Club de Regatas do Flamengo not only proved they're a tough competitor, but also serves as a benchmark coming into the new year.

What You Need To Know

  • The Lions faced Brazilian team Flamengo Saturday for the second time since 2015

  • The game ended 1-1

  • The Orlando City Lions will soon play again in the CONCACAF Champions League Cup, with their regular season soon to follow.

This isn’t the first time Flamengo has played Orlando City, but it was both teams’ first interaction on U.S. soil. In 2015, The Lions became the first MLS club to visit the Flamengo, where they lost 1-0.

At the match, the energy was pumping red and white, with Flamengo fans vastly outnumbering the purple crowd. The Lions fanbase kept their energy, however, marching and drumming to the beat of their fight song as the game ensued. A total 22,678 were in attendance.

Ahead of the game, Orlando’s head coach Oscar Pareja said even though the match is a preseason friendly, it matters just as much.

“We understand not just the opportunity but the complexity of the rival and a good club and famous players, but we are as well. We are proud of what we have here. And we’re going to play the game with a lot of professionalism, with no excuses, and try to match them up in the best way possible because I think, in the end, it is a fantastic challenge for Major League Soccer, for Orlando, for all of us,” Pareja said in a press conference.

Some new players for Orlando City got to see minutes for the first time, including some of the rookies that they drafted, like Jiorgio Kocevski, who they drafted out of Syracuse in the first round.

One of the Lion’s other newest signings, Nico Lodeiro, was excited to suit up in purple for the first time.

“I’m happy to be here in Orlando,” he said.

The singular OC goal was made by Ivan Angelo (77), who recently signed an extension with the team.

“I wanted to stay here, and the team wanted me to stay, so I’m very happy for the final decision,” said Angelo.

Orlando City still has about a month before their official season opener for MLS play.

Until then, the team is going to have some more preseason training time and is also set to play Calvary FC in the CONCACAF Champions League Cup in a home and away format at Inter&CO Stadium.