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Orlando City vs. New York City FC: Final Score 2-0 as Lions’ Slide Continues

Pigeons complete the sweep of the Lions, who pounded the woodwork all night but couldn’t put one in.

Published

6 years ago

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Carlos Romero, The Mane Land

Orlando City’s drought against New York City FC (13-4-4, 43 points) has reached four games and the Lions have been outscored 10-0 in that span after a 2-0 loss at Orlando City Stadium. OCSC (7-13-1) hit the woodwork multiple times but couldn’t get anything inside the perimeter of the goal frame, and conceded twice off first-half giveaways to continue the theme of matches against the club’s fellow 2015 expansion brethren.

“The biggest thing for me is I’ll never make excuses,” James O’Connor said after the game. “The easy thing for me to do is come out and say we’ve hit the post four times and there’s something to that, but equally, for me, there shouldn’t be a disparity between the first half and second half.

“When you look at the first half…I don’t think that’s what we want. Second half, it’s a lot closer to what we’re looking at. We’re starting to get the intensity, we’re starting to do the things that we want to do with some lovely movement. Overall, throughout the 90 minutes, there’s some lovely passages of play, but I’m serious, I want to win. And this is really frustrating for myself, for the staff, and for the players. We’re not just saying it. We want to win, and when you don’t win it’s really frustrating.”

O’Connor didn’t make many tweaks from the team that played against Columbus on Saturday.

New York tested Earl Edwards Jr. early, and he passed the first test. Maxi Moralez broke in off a bad back pass from PC that Chris Schuler couldn’t handle. Moralez fired a shot that Edwards saved, but it came right back to the NYC attacker and he got a second chance. Earl took that one off his foot to keep the game scoreless at the five-minute mark.

Orlando’s first good look came in the 18th minute when PC sneaked into the left side of the box and the ball found him, but his shot was blocked behind for a corner. New York City FC cleared the set piece cross but the Lions recycled the ball into the area and Yoshimar Yotún fired over the bar from a tight angle.

Jesus Medina’s free kick in the 27th minute nearly found its way in, but Edwards got a touch on it and sent it off the woodwork, bailing out Cristian Higuita, who had committed an unnecessary foul out near the right sideline.

The Lions’ best opportunity in the half came at the 38-minute mark when Yotún blasted a shot from distance that smashed off the crossbar. It ended up being a costly couple of inches for Orlando.

NYCFC got on the board off a weird pinball play when no one seemed able to get a good touch on the ball. PC ended up sending a clearance attempt off an attacking player and nearly put it into his own net. Edwards may have gotten just a touch on it to send it off the post but Moralez was the first to react to score the opener at the 40-minute mark.

Just as it looked like the Lions would trail 1-0 at the break, Yotún committed a costly turnover in the defensive half. Anton Tinnerholm roasted PC and fired just inside the far post to make it 2-0 at the break.

The visitors held 58% of the first-half possession, out-shot the Lions, 10-4 (5-0 on goal), and out-passed Orlando, 88%-76%

The game didn’t change much after halftime, except Orlando City held the ball better, spent more time in the attacking half, and hit the woodwork more often, ringing the posts/crossbar three more times in the second period.

Sacha Kljestan started the second half by passing up a shooting opportunity in the 47th minute, instead opting to pass the ball wide from the top of the area. That happened just before an ugly looking collision between Ben Sweat and RJ Allen, but both players were able to continue on.

Yotún hit the right post in the 61st minute as Orlando again narrowly missed an opportunity to get on the board. It was a golden opportunity for the Peruvian, who slipped inside and just couldn’t beat the woodwork on the near side.

“We get them on the ropes but we can’t deliver that final punch,” Will Johnson said. “That’s just kind of where we are right now and we’re working toward being a little more like them and being more clinical.”

Two minutes later, Kljestan sent a gorgeous ball to spring Dom Dwyer in on goal but he had to take it with his right foot and Sean Johnson made the save.

A minute after Dom’s chance, Higuita headed wide and then was kicked and barrel rolled by Alexander Callens, but nothing was given.

The Lions continued to chase the game and Schuler hit a shot off Sweat that caught the crossbar in the 78th minute. Four minutes later, Orlando City went down a man when Shane O’Neill — a bright spot again for most of the game — was late on a challenge and was sent off. He was initially booked by referee Robert Sibiga, but after consultation with the assistant referee, he pulled out the red card, so O’Neill will miss the match Sunday.

As the clock wound down, substitute Josué Colmán slipped into the box and fired a shot that Sweat again deflected onto the crossbar in the 89th minute. A minute later, New York City should have made it three goals on the night but Medina missed his sliding chance all alone at the back post.

The Lions evened up the possession in the second half, holding it for 57% after halftime and 49% for the match. City out-shot NYCFC for the game, 21-14 (5-5 on target), and an 85.4% passing rate in the second half allowed the Lions to end up at 81% for the game to New York City’s 87%.

“I think when you look at the performance in the first half and second half, it’s there for everyone to see,” O’Connor said. “The second half we came out and we had lots of opportunities and hit the crossbar whatever number of times. Big moments just don’t seem to be dropping for us but there shouldn’t be such a disparity in performance between the first and second half.”

“There’s opportunities to score goals in both halves and there’s opportunities to prevent both goals from happening and we didn’t do enough on either end of the spectrum, so you come away frustrated,” Johnson said.

The Lions will try to bounce back Sunday night on the road against the LA Galaxy.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/22/25

Orlando City transfer rumors, Orlando Pride preseason begins, USMNT at Inter&Co, and more.

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3 hours ago

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January 22, 2025

By

Dan MacDonald, The ManeLand

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Up here in Tallahassee, I’m waking up to snow/sleet, closed schools, closed government offices, and potentially icy roads. Many people will get an extra day off of work, however, I still get to go to work. I’m sure you can imagine how happy I am about that. Enough of my winter grumbling. Let’s get to the links but not until after we wish Orlando City fullback Michael Halliday a happy 22nd birthday.

Orlando City Reportedly Targeting Croatian International

While I can no longer say that Orlando City hasn’t signed any new players, the club is still moving at its traditionally slow speed as compared to other MLS clubs. We had the signing of Nicolas Rodriguez last week. Now, we have Tom Bogert report of yet another winger prospect for the club in Croatian Marco Pasalic from HNK Rijeka, though it is not a done deal. Hopefully the other targets Bogert mentions are of the striker variety.

https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1881755961125449765?s=46&t=pMoq7Wulqfb35D7C8ydroA

Pride Preseason Begins

The 2024 NWSL champions are back to defend their title. The Orlando Pride returned to training on Tuesday. The club hasn’t needed to add many pieces, though some of the players already here, like Simone Charley and Grace Chanda, haven’t actually played any minutes for the Pride yet. Most of the chemistry is in place for Seb Hines, but reinforcing those bonds will be the challenge as the Pride look to repeat.

USMNT at Inter&Co Tonight

Hopefully you have tickets to the USMNT friendly match versus Costa Rica at Inter&Co Stadium tonight. The match starts at 7 p.m. and there are television and streaming options if you’re not going in person. Despite the squad having 14 players with three or fewer caps, Mauricio Pochettino does not consider this an “alternative” squad, nor does he want the players to think of themselves like that.

Girma Reportedly Nearing Completion of Chelsea Move

USWNT defender Naomi Girma is reportedly headed to Chelsea FC Women for a record $1.1 million transfer fee. That is a very big chunk of change for San Diego FC to use to try to replace one of the best defenders in the world. The deal is not complete as of Tuesday evening, but according to the original report from The Athletic, it is close to being done. Girma would be the first women’s soccer player to earn a transfer fee of over $1 million.

MLS Transfer Updates

Other MLS clubs keep on putting pen to paper when it comes to new players. The Chicago Fire are bringing in Jonathan Bamba on a Designated Player deal from La Liga side Celta de Vigo. The Luca de la Torre loan from Spain’s RC Celta de Vigo to San Diego FC is also official.

https://twitter.com/sandiegofc/status/1881741042904350864

Cucho Hernandez evidently wants to stay with the Columbus Crew, though he is still waiting on a new offer.

https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1881786193693823104

Free Kicks

https://twitter.com/weareangelcity/status/1881749040863588770?s=12&t=_WZBNG4ILAyRLdwBeB4mpQ
  • Keep your eyes peeled later today for the NWSL schedule drop.
https://twitter.com/nwsl/status/1881749035218042954?s=46&t=pN-YJp3s7ZQlCXqnTAgSfw

That will do it for today. Stay warm out there, my friends. Vamos Orlando!

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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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1 day 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.

Published

2 days ago

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January 20, 2025

By

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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