Union, Orlando City enter opener boasting high-priced newcomers

Field Level Media|published: Fri 21st February, 20:22 2025

Dec 5, 2022; Al-Wakrah, Qatar; Croatia midfielder Mario Pasalic (15) celebrates his goal during a penalty kick shootout a round of sixteen match against Japan during the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al-Janoub Stadium. Pasalic wont game for Croatia with his goal. Croatia defeated Japan, 3-1 on penalty kicks. Mandatory Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-Imagn Images

Orlando City and the visiting Philadelphia Union break the seal on their 2025 MLS seasons on Saturday.

Orlando City, who came within one win of their first MLS Cup final in 2024, will need to adjust to life without club icon Facundo Torres. After scoring 47 goals in an Orlando City jersey, Torres was sold to Brazilian side Palmeiras in December.

But with Croatian international winger Marco Pasalic, acquired from Rijeka for a reported $5 million, and former LAFC midfielder Eduard Atuesta in the fold -- plus returnees Ramiro Enrique, Ivan Angulo and Martin Ojeda -- Orlando hopes a long-awaited league championship is around the corner.

"We are excited," Orlando head coach Oscar Pareja said. "The boys have been training well (and) they're excited as well to be in front of our fans here in the stadium on Saturday. I think it's time for us to compete again, and we will be ready."

The Union, who hired Bradley Carnell as head coach after parting ways with Jim Curtin in the offseason, know the spotlight will be on 15-year-old sensation Cavan Sullivan.

But new faces like Bruno Damiani, signed from his native Uruguay for a reported club-record $3.4 million, and midfielder Jovan Lukic, brought in from Serbia's top flight, could be key in getting Philadelphia back among the MLS elite.

That's not to mention returning star Daniel Gazdag, one of the league's top strikers in 2024 (17 goals), as well as Kai Wagner (13 assists) and Mikael Uhre (10 goals, six assists).

"They've embraced the longer meetings, more meetings, and they've really been curious," Carnell said. "That's what I like about this group. They're curious to learn, even though you have some experienced guys who've been around a while and done it all before."

Philadelphia, who missed the playoffs for the first time since 2017, also added defender Ian Glavinovich on loan from Newell's Old Boys in Argentina. Longtime Union captain Alejandro Bedoya, a member of the club since 2016, inked a one-year contract in the offseason.

Orlando will be without Wilder Cartegena for the year after the midfielder suffered an Achilles injury in preseason. Duncan McGuire, Orlando's second-leading scorer in 2024 with 10 goals, is recovering from shoulder surgery.

--Field Level Media

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