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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Miami FC: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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8 years ago

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Orlando City Head Coach Jason Kreis put it best: “For me this is the most disappointing night I’ve had since I’ve been here with Orlando.”

It was a highly embarrassing performance from the home side where there was no motivation and it was outplayed by an NASL team. All the credit goes to Miami FC, as the South Floridians were clearly the better team.

Here are the grades from tonight’s performance, or lack thereof.

Starters

GK, Josh Saunders, 5: Stefano Pinho was unmarked in the 6-yard box on the first goal. The second goal hit Saunders in his arms and he should have saved it. The third goal he was slow coming over on, but he never had a chance at saving it anyway as Pinho was again unmarked in the 6-yard box. Saunders had no help from his defense, and while he did not have an amazing game by any means — there were also a few poor distributions — he did what he had to do. The second goal he arguably should have kept out, but the end result is well off Saunders’ shoulders. 

D, PC, 5.5: PC had the most passes out of anyone on the field, and the second-most touches. Combined with his 87% passing accuracy, he was one of the better players for the Lions. He also created the most chances for Orlando City, including providing the cross for the first shot of the game for the home side, which did not occur until the final 10 minutes of the first half. 

D, Léo Pereira, 3.5: Pereira had the worst match of all the defenders, and that is saying something in a terribly disappointing 3-1 loss at home. His distribution started out poor, although he did improve as the game went on. Defensively he was slow getting up and left Miami attackers onside on multiple attempts. The final Miami goal was most likely his fault, too, as Pinho ran right past him to find the back of the net. 

D, Jonathan Spector, 4.5: Earning the captain’s band tonight, Spector tried to control the team and be that leader on the field. However, his defense failed to step up and let Miami play with the ball. Players were left unmarked, and there were holes in the defense all night. Spector’s man was the goal scorer on the second goal of the game, albeit on a perfect cross into the box. On the third goal of the game, Pinho was completely unmarked with both Spector and Pereira watching him ease the ball into the back of the net.  

D, Rafael Ramos, 4: Ramos’ biggest moment of the game came on Miami’s first goal of the match. Michael Lahoud had the ball down the Lions’ left-hand side looking to put a cross into the box. Ramos was completely focused on him and missed Pinho running straight by him. Ramos also had many turnovers in the game, and was caught up the field a few times. 

MF, Pierre Da Silva, 4.5: Da Silva played one minute for Orlando City coming into this game, but after playing well for OCB had earned himself a start for Jason Kreis. He only lasted 45 minutes, and in that time it was evident that he just is not ready for first-team action quite yet. He had just 76% accuracy on his 21 passes, which was the least among all Lions besides Hadji Barry, and was slow to the ball on countless occasions. He also was out of position multiple times and through balls were played to where he should have been, resulting in turnovers. 

MF, Servando Carrasco, 5: On the offensive side of the ball, Carrasco was quiet, and did not have much of an effect. He stayed back most of the time and could have ventured forward a little more, particularly at the end of the match. However, he was one of the better defenders on for Orlando City and was not afraid to get stuck in on challenges. 

MF, Antonio Nocerino, 5.5: Nocerino controlled the game for the Lions to start. His 90% passing accuracy was one of the best in the game, and he had the most energy for the majority of the time. 

MF, Luis Gil, 5: Gil had the worst passing accuracy for the Lions (74%), and second-worst of any player in the match, and offensively he was bad. He did manage two shots, and his one shot on target — or half of Orlando City’s shots on target — was a long-range one that went right into the stomach of Daniel Vega. Defensively he was much better though, and forced some turnovers for the opposition. On a night where the entire team played absolutely awful soccer, Gil had moments to forget and moments of success, which is better than many of his teammates can say. 

F, Hadji Barry, 5.5: Barry did not have much of an impact in this game, but much of it was not his fault. The rest of the team could not connect any passes in the final third, resulting in just 11 first-half touches and nine in the second half. His one real chance of the game came in the 62nd minute, but he could not get on the end of the ball. He was very quiet throughout, and a little slow to some balls, but, there were some positive signs from the young forward. 

F, Giles Barnes, 6 (MOTM): Orlando City’s only goal scorer was the best player on the field for the Lions. In the second half, all the Orlando City players’ heads were down, they were standing still, and the body language showed that they had given up. All but Barnes, that is. He kept going right up until the final minute and was rewarded with a goal for his efforts. His two shots on goal could have been better but, just as with Barry, the midfield failed to get the ball to him. 

Substitutes

D, Tommy Redding (46’), 5.5 : Redding came in for Da Silva at halftime, and played on the right side of a three-man defense. While he has no experience playing with three defenders with Orlando City, he does for the USMNT youth teams. Considering his team was down two goals when he came on, and they were pushing up and in a new system, Redding did not do poorly. He had some crucial interceptions that led to Orlando City counter attacks. 

M, Kaká (63’), 4.5 : Kaká did what only he could do when he came in — brought the crowd to its feet when the home team is down three goals. Every time he was on the ball, The Wall got louder and tried to help bring the Lions some energy. It did not happen, though, and Kaká was underwhelming at best. He attempted to force the ball into the box over and over, and Miami’s defense had no trouble with defending him. He had two shots, but both were long-range and blocked. He mostly stayed on the left side of the field, and did not create the impact that the game needed. 

F, Carlos Rivas (69’), 5 : Well, he played a perfect ball in off a corner that led to Barnes’ goal. For that his rating goes up, but other than that Rivas did not have any impact. He may have been standing around more than he was running, and it looked like he had given up on the game by the time he entered. He did not have a single shot, and as a forward that is not OK. He also had no forward passes in the final third, and just three successful passes in the final third. 

That’s the way I saw the individual performances. Let us know what you thought in the comments section and vote in our poll.

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Antonio Nocerino15
PC3
Giles Barnes26
Tommy Redding6
Other21

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/21/25

Orlando Pride release preseason camp roster, scouting Costa Rica, women’s soccer transfer grades, and more.

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17 hours ago

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January 21, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone! If you had yesterday off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, then I hope you enjoyed some restful time off. If not, then I hope you got your week started off on a good and productive note. There’s a lot going on around here this week as the United States Men’s National Team is in town, and Orlando City will play its first preseason match on Saturday. That means we have plenty to discuss, so let’s dig into today’s links.

Orlando Pride Drop Preseason Roster

Monday might have been a holiday but the Orlando Pride were busy, as they announced the roster for their upcoming preseason camp. Almost all of the usual suspects from the 2024 season are back, as the Pride return 98% of the player-minutes from last season and every single scorer. Mariana Larroquette is on the list although she’s currently on loan in Argentina, and Amanda Allen is likewise included after her loan at Lexington Sporting Club was terminated due to a torn labrum. The biggest intrigue comes from the trio of non-roster invitees: goalkeeper DeAira Jackson, midfielder Aryssa Mahrt, and forward Simone Jackson.

Scouting Costa Rica

The USMNT takes on Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium to wrap up the team’s annual January camp. Like the U.S., Costa Rica is bringing a roster devoid of the majority of its important players. Costa Rica also has a new manager at the helm in Miguel Herrera, who will take charge of the team for the very first time on Wednesday. Herrera typically lines his teams up in a 5-3-2 where the wingbacks take on a very important role and the team looks to hit on the counter while staying compact at the back. This will be the last time we see the USMNT in action until the Concacaf Nations League semifinals in early March.

Women’s Soccer January Transfer Grades

January has been a busy time for transfers in the women’s soccer world, so which teams have done the best business? Well, the Orlando Pride received an A grade for signing Marta to a new two-year deal, retaining a player who helped the team win its first ever trophies. Liverpool got an A for signing Julia Bartel on loan from Chelsea. Leicester City made an interesting call by transferring goalkeeper Lize Kop to Tottenham despite just being a point above the relegation zone. The Foxes get a C for the move, while Spurs get a B+ for adding a capable netminder.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans taking part in some very important games over the course of this week. Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Juventus face Club Brugge today in the UEFA Champions League, while Ricardo Pepi, Richy Ledezma, Esmir Bajraktarević, Malik Tillman and PSV Eindhoven take on Crvena Zvezda in the same competition. Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will play Girona in the UCL on Wednesday, while Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Celtic take on Young Boys. On Friday, John Tolkin could make his Bundesliga debut when his new team, Holstein Kiel, travels to face Wolfsburg.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando Pride players reported for their preseason physicals on Monday.
  • Meanwhile, Orlando City took on the dreaded beep test during Monday’s training session.

That’s all I have for you today. Vamos Orlando!

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Orlando City

Striker Suddenly a Position of Need for Orlando City

Departures and a key injury mean Orlando City needs a striker heading into the 2025 MLS season.

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2 days ago

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January 20, 2025

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Image Courtesy of Orlando City SC

Orlando City reached the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in 2024, a milestone for the club. The core of the team was locked up through the 2025 season, so there was no reason to believe it needed to add much this off-season. Unfortunately, injuries and departures have created a serious problem for the team.

The group of forwards last year consisted of Duncan McGuire, Ramiro Enrique, and Jack Lynn. McGuire scored 15 goals in 2023 and was expected to depart for Blackburn Rovers before a clerical error allowed the Lions to keep their target man. The team’s primary striker scored 11 goals in 37 games — the same number as the previous season — but split time starting with Enrique. The Argentinian improved greatly in 2024, increasing his total goal tally from four to 12. Even Lynn showed tremendous improvement last year, playing a greater role in the team and scoring his first two MLS goals.

The future also seemed bright for the Orlando City forwards because of their ages. Lynn is the oldest of the trio at just 25 years old. Meanwhile, McGuire and Enrique are only 23, so there was no reason to believe this group couldn’t produce this coming season.

The problem at striker began in the postseason when McGuire was pulled down by Charlotte FC midfielder Djibril Diani in the final first round game of the playoffs. McGuire suffered a shoulder injury during the challenge that required surgery on Dec. 13. It’s expected that the striker could take four to five months to return to action, possibly leaving him out until May or June.

Another blow to Orlando’s attack occurred Saturday when Lynn surprisingly announced his retirement from professional soccer. In just over a month, Orlando City went from having three strikers to having just one as preseason training starts.

With McGuire injured and Lynn gone, one option would be to have Designated Player Luis Muriel play up top. However, the Colombian prefers to play a more withdrawn position and proved to be effective in that role last year. Since Head Coach Oscar Pareja prefers to play a 4-2-3-1 formation, the Lions need someone up top to control the ball and involve the midfielders in the attack. That’s not Muriel’s game.

The result of these issues is that nobody is currently behind Enrique when the season begins. If the Argentinian gets tired, hurt, or simply needs rest, Pareja is limited in his options. 

Whether there was a lack of strikers or a lack of goals from the position previously, that problem was resolved by the club’s all-time leading goal scorer. Facundo Torres scored 20 goals in 2024, becoming the first player in Orlando City’s MLS history and the second player in club history to do so. He went on to set a new club record for total goals of 47.

However, Orlando City sold its best player to Brazilian side Palmeiras on Dec. 20. It was a gut punch to fans as Torres had signed a new contract on Jan. 10, 2024 that ran through the 2026 season. There had been talk for the last couple of years that the attacker would look for a move to Europe and rumors of a move to South America arose this off-season. Still, it created a huge gap the club has to fill.

There are players on the roster that can make up for the injury and departures. Martin Ojeda had a strong season in 2024, finishing with seven goals and 13 assists. His seven goals ranked fourth on the team and his 13 assists topped the squad alongside Nico Lodeiro. Muriel came on strong later in the season, finishing with five goals and eight assists. But those numbers are a long way from the 20 goals that Torres tallied last year.

Even if you consider all goal contributions, Ojeda and Muriel fall well short of Torres. Ojeda had a total of 20 goal contributions in 2024 while Muriel had 13. In addition to Torres’s 20 goals, he added nine assists for a team-leading 29 goal contributions.

All of this information leads to one undeniable fact — Orlando City needs to sign a striker prior to the season. And there’s not much time for Luiz Muzzi to act. The European transfer window closes on Feb. 3 and many MLS teams have already been filling similar needs. With the season starting in just over a month, the options will be limited if the Lions don’t do something soon.

After the best postseason finish in Orlando City’s MLS history, things were looking good heading into 2025. While the back line and most of the midfield is returning, McGuire’s injury and the departure of Torres and Lynn have left the Lions in a tough spot offensively. If they don’t do something in the next couple of weeks, it could be a long 2025.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/20/25

Orlando City signs Nicolas Rodriguez, Jack Lynn announces retirement, USMNT defeats Venezuela in friendly, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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January 20, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope you’re all having a good holiday weekend as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Over the past week, I’ve been working and covering high school ice hockey. It will be a busy week in Orlando, with the United States Men’s National Team’s match against Costa Rica on Wednesday and Orlando City’s first preseason match against Atletico Mineiro on Saturday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Signs Nicolas Rodriguez

Orlando City announced on Friday that the club has signed forward Nicolas Rodriguez from Fortaleza CEIF in Colombia’s top flight. The deal is through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028, and Rodriguez will occupy a MLS U22 Initiative slot. Rodriguez made 19 appearances for Fortaleza, recording 1,607 minutes, five goals, and three assists during the 2024 Primera A Clausura season. The Lions add a young attacking player the club can develop and Rodriguez can play on the right wing, the right side of a three-man midfield, or in the No. 10 spot.

Jack Lynn Announces Retirement

Orlando City forward Jack Lynn announced his retirement from professional soccer on Saturday. Lynn was drafted by Orlando in the first round of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. He became a regular starter for Orlando City B, scoring a team-record 38 goals in over three seasons with the MLS NEXT Pro side. Lynn also won the Golden Boot with 19 goals during the 2023 season and became the first OCB player to be named MLS NEXT Pro MVP. He played sparingly with the first team, but he scored twice last season as his role increased. The Lions will likely look to add another striker for more depth up top.

Orlando Pride Acquire Allocation Money in Trade

On Friday, the Orlando Pride announced that the club has acquired $50,000 in Allocation Money from the Washington Spirit. In exchange, the Pride sent the Spirit a 2025 international roster spot. The Pride will face the Spirit in the NWSL Challenge Cup final on March 7 at Inter&Co Stadium.

USMNT Defeats Venezuela in Friendly

The USMNT defeated Venezuela 3-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday in a friendly. Jack McGlynn and Patrick Agyemang scored in the first half to give the USMNT a 2-0 lead just before halftime. Matko Milijevic scored the third goal for the Americans in the second half, with Venezuela pulling one back thanks to a goal from Jorge Yriarte. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has led the USMNT to winning four out of its first five matches since he took charge last September. The USMNT’s next match will be against Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium.

Alyssa Naeher Named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year

On Saturday, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was voted 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. Naeher won 40% of the vote, while defender Naomi Girma finished in second with 32%. In her final year with the USWNT, Naeher ended 2024 with 18 starts, playing 1,170 minutes and only conceding 11 goals. She played a crucial role with clutch saves to help the USWNT win the 2024 SheBelieves Cup, 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup, and gold at the Olympics in Paris. Naeher is the second goalkeeper to win the award since Hope Solo won it in 2009.

Free Kicks

  • Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has reached an agreement with the club on a record-breaking contract that extends his deal through 2034.

That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

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