Orlando City keep rolling with win over New York City FC

Orlando City maintained their perfect record in the MLS is Back Tournament with a 3-1 win over New York City FC on Tuesday.

Chris Mueller scored twice for the Lions in the opening 10 minutes, continuing his hot run of form since the restart. Jesus Medina reduced the deficit with a wicked half-volley, but despite applying pressure in the second stanza, NYCFC fell to their second consecutive defeat since arriving in Florida.

Substitute Tesho Akindele cemented the victory for Oscar Pareja's side with a close-range header in the latter stages, ensuring there would be no late comeback.

Off the back of a last-gasp win over Inter Miami in the tournament opener, Orlando came out flying at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Mueller twice capitalized on some lax NYCFC defending; the American got onto the end of a dangerous free-kick to open the scoring in the fourth minute of the contest and then added his second tally six minutes later by showing off some poise inside the area.

Mueller would have completed the hat-trick if not for a header that struck the crossbar later in the half.

NYCFC, playing without the injured Maxi Moralez, struggled to craft chances in the first half before Medina's vicious strike halved the deficit late in the opening frame. They looked dangerous after the interval, forcing several impressive saves out of Pedro Gallese, but ultimately fell to their fourth consecutive loss of the interrupted 2020 campaign.

Medina's goal is the only one NYCFC have scored this season.