Orlando City SC<\/a> will exit the month of April without conceding a single goal. And better yet, they secured that in a marquee win over rival Atlanta United.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Orlando’s strong defense logged three straight scoreless draws to start the month. Saturday night at Inter&Co Stadium, however, the goals flowed in a lopsided 3-0 victory<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cGetting back to winning mode is healthy for us,\u201d head coach Oscar Pareja said. “We tied three games that were difficult. Today, the need exclusively was to win and keep the team in that spot [in the standings]. We did that job.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n At the center of Orlando\u2019s burgeoning contention in the Eastern Conference is homegrown right back Alex Freeman<\/a>. The 20-year-old plays a key role in Pareja\u2019s system and has quickly established himself as a versatile starter, tallying three goals and an assist in 10 appearances in addition to his quality defensive efforts.<\/p>\n \u201cI think there is no right back in this country like Alex right now,\u201d Pareja said. \u201cDon\u2019t tell anyone [laughs].\u201d<\/p>\n Freeman contributed the second goal on Saturday, making a timely overlapping run down the right side and sliding a finish into the bottom corner. He has formed an effective attacking combination with high-profile offseason signing Marco Pa\u0161ali\u0107<\/a>, who provided the assist on the goal.<\/p>\n Freeman’s versatility and athleticism are no surprise: his dad is Antonio Freeman, the former NFL wide receiver who won Super Bowl XXXI with the Green Bay Packers. Pareja asks a lot of the young Freeman, handling responsibility as both a defender and an attacker.<\/p>\n \u201cI could always improve, but I feel like it’s gotten better. I’ve got to be mentally there defensively, and when I’m there, I feel like I can be really strong defensively as well as in the attack,\u201d Freeman said.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m surrounded by very good players and it helps me be the best I can be. It’s being strong defensively and also helping in attack.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n RivalryDub.mp4 pic.twitter.com\/CYiiuj00Uf<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) April 27, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Freeman\u2019s skill set has helped elevate the Lions as they look to find consistency in their early campaign. Their rock-solid backline, solidified by their in-form goalkeeper Pedro Gallese<\/a>, has not allowed a goal since March 29 against the LA Galaxy<\/a>, a span of 436 minutes. Pareja noted that striking a balance between clean, mistake-free defense and threatening offense has been a focus of the squad.<\/p>\n \u201cKeeping that balance is important,\u201d he said. \u201cThey were very responsible with their duties defensively, and offensively, we can harm teams.\u201d<\/p>\n Against Atlanta, Orlando\u2019s talented attack came to play, too. Luis Muriel<\/a> converted a first-half penalty kick, and Pa\u0161ali\u0107 topped off the win with a goal of his own.<\/p>\n With the team showing what it can do while clicking on all cylinders, the Lions (4W-2L-4D, 16 points) look like a threat to climb the standings.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, we\u2019re in the battle,\u201d Pareja said. \u201cWe\u2019re not first, but we know where we\u2019re going.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n <\/main><\/p>\n<\/div>\nFreeman keeps rising<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Lights-out defense<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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