After a frustrating start to 2025, Orlando City winger Iván Angulo is back to his best.
Two gamechanging assists for Ramiro Enrique on Friday night saw Orlando defy a 1-0 deficit to Columbus Crew and head back to Central Florida with three crucial points.
These assists, both of which were inch-perfect crosses on his weaker left foot, put chances on a plate for Enrique, who made no mistake to continue his own good form of late.
Such composure wouldn't have come as much of a surprise if it had been sourced from the likes of Martín Ojeda or Marco Pašalić, but, sadly, it did coming from Angulo.
Despite all his admirable defensive work rate and constant, selfless attacking runs, the first half of 2025 has been very much one to forget for the Colombian. Still yet to score, he has looked truly unconvincing in front of goal.
The height of this was June's trip to St. Louis, Missouri, in which he was sent through one-on-one only to hesitate and easily be smothered by Roman Bürki. Alongside his lack of goals, Angulo has only tallied a measly six assists in league play so far, a lackluster return for a winger playing in a team with such deadly attacking talent.
But three of those assists have come in his last two outings, a testament to his attitude after being dropped for the first time this season earlier this month.
Indeed, for Orlando's meetings with Charlotte FC and CF Montréal, Angulo was relegated to the bench. But it only took those two games for him to earn his starting spot back, and he has well and truly repaid the loyalty of his head coach Óscar Pareja.
A new weak spot emerges
The problem is, as one attacker is finally back to his best for Orlando, another is right in the middle of his own dismal spell of form. Designated Player and striker Luis Muriel hasn't scored in well over two months, and he doesn't look like breaking his duck anytime soon.
Angulo's compatriot began 2025 in hot form, registering five goal contributions in his first six games. Muriel has only helped himself to two assists since his last goal away at Florida rivals Inter Miami in mid-May, with his performances being equally as worrying as his record.
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Often dropping deep to collect possession, Muriel never seems to release the ball at the right time to either find a teammate or have an attempt on goal himself.
On Friday, the ball dropped kindly for him just six yards from goal. However, despite being unmarked and under little pressure, he fired a tame effort straight at Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.
Thanks to the efforts of Angulo, Enrique, and Ojeda, Muriel's miss didn't cost Orlando. But his performances have done so on multiple occasions of late, and they will continue to if things don't change.
With the 2025 season well over halfway and Orlando's Leagues Cup campaign ready to commence, Pareja needs to cement his optimal starting XI if he has hopes of clinching more hardware.
Muriel certainly has the talent to lead the line for Orlando, but his current form suggests otherwise. Pareja has to drop him if he wants to bring the best out of his striker. Not only will such a decision hopefully act as a wake-up call, but it will give Enrique the minutes his form has deserved.
With any luck, Muriel can recapture the sort of form that saw him begin 2025 in electric fashion. Orlando's trophy chances this season would be all the better for it.