Share

Oscar Pareja said it's difficult to highlight a specific reason why his Orlando City squad is producing the best offense in the league so far this season.

It's complex, he added.

Six games into the 2025 regular season and ahead of Saturday's away game against the Philadelphia Union, the Lions lead the league in scoring with 15 goals.

Compared to what was produced this time last season, Orlando only had five.

"Sometimes you want to have answers, but it's just the game," Pareja said early this week. "The chemistry has probably had a good influence on how the boys have been performing better. The individual care they have had so far, it may be higher and the commitment is shown on the weekends."

Pareja continued by saying, "But the only thing that I'm always thinking is we need to keep doing it. We haven't achieved anything yet. It's just six games into the year, and we have to play 34. Let's continue improving on the good things and bad things to get even better."

Orlando's three Designated Players in Martin Ojeda, Luis Muriel and Marco Pasalic have played an important role in the team's goal-scoring prowess. Of those 15 goals scored, the DP's have attributed so far a league-high 18 goal contributions (goals and assist).

And of those three DPs, Muriel is enjoying a resurgence in form this season.

The Colombian has scored three goals heading into the weekend, earning his way back into the starting striker role following a disappointing first year last season which ended with only five goals in 33 games.

But what about Orlando's two other strikers?

While the DPs are playing their part, Orlando's depth in forwards could be another stream of goals to look into.

Ramiro Enrique, last year's starting striker, scored 11 goals across all competitions in 2024. That was backed by Duncan McGuire, who also scored 11 times last year.

But with two other strikers also competing for a starting spot, Pareja said that competitiveness is good for the team, alluding to another similar positional competition within the squad.

"It's great news for the team. The competitiveness that they have among them," Pareja said. "Luis has stepped up in that position and is starting to score goals and perform. Ramiro did that last year as well. He had the opportunity, and he took it and he had a tremendous season."

Speaking with reporters on Thursday, Duncan McGuire said he's still working up his fitness to eventually play 90 minutes after recovering most of the preseason and at the start of the regular season from an offseason shoulder surgery.

"It's exciting being a part of a high-powered offense," McGuire said. "Coming off the bench, you have many opportunities to score, and it's good that we have a bunch of guys competing for their positions and scoring a lot because that means the team is doing a lot better, so I'm definitely happy to be part of it, and hopefully I get some goals soon."

Whether it's the Designated Players producing or the thought of having the depth of forwards competing and contributing to the team's scoring resurgence, all that is a positive to have according to Pareja.

"We have the luxury to have these strikers that are getting in form, and that competition only gets us better. I hope we can have that in every single position because it benefits the team," he said.