Orlando City B
Orlando City B vs. Greenville Triumph SC: Final Score 2-0 as Young Lions Dominated on Road
Orlando City B (1-7-3, 6 points) fell 2-0 to Greenville Triumph SC (10-2-1, 31 points) in what was a very dominant performance by the hosts. Two second-half goals were the difference on the scoreboard, though OCB was never a threat in this one.
The OCB lineup featured many of the players you would expect, but with the addition of striker Julian Kennedy. The striker started the first four games this season before sitting until this game. The lineup included team captain Mateo Rodas and Raul Aguilera, who have recently been hindered by injuries. The addition of Kennedy came at the expense of usual starter Jose Quintero.
Greenville dominated this game from the very start. The hosts were a little more dominant in the first half than the second half but OCB never really showed any signs of being a threat to the Greenville defense.
From the outset, OCB was on the back foot, defending in its own third of the field. Greenville had early chances in the second minute by Lachlan McLean and in the ninth minute by Alex Morrell. Inside the first 16 minutes, Greenville had three wide open headers at the top of the six-yard box — three by McLean and one by Jake Keegan — but they were all right at OCB goalkeeper Austin Aviza.
Despite being dominated in the first half, OCB did have a couple of chances. In the 29th minute, a long ball was sent forward by Rodas, where it was flicked forward by Kennedy. Wilfredo Rivera ran onto it and played it back to Kennedy, who sent the ball just wide of the far post.
The best chance of the game for the Young Lions came in the 31st minute when Rivera sent a long ball for Moises Tablante. Attacking Paul Clowes, Tablante showed quality ball control to create space and get a shot away. Unfortunately, his shot went just over the crossbar. OCB wouldn’t get that close again to scoring.
OCB had some sustained possession for the first time inside the first 10 minutes of the second half but it didn’t last that long. In the 65th minute, the hosts finally broke through. OCB left too much room in the midfield and Greenville took advantage, playing nicely through the OCB defense. The ball eventually came through Morrell to McLean inside the box. Juan Pablo Monticelli initially stayed in front of him but a quick touch by McLean caught Monticelli on the wrong foot and the Australian played it to the far post for the opening goal.
Greenville finally un-Lach the OCB defense 😏
A fine finish from @Lachlan__McLean!#GVLvORL | @GVLTriumph pic.twitter.com/Mf7ypimWHo
— USL League One (@USLLeagueOne) October 3, 2020
It didn’t take long for the hosts to double their lead, doing so just four minutes later. The second goal of the night started with a mistake by OCB. A bad pass from Monticelli to Aguilera ended up with Keegan and a numbers advantage for Greenville. The forward found Morrell streaking to his right and, with plenty of space in front of him, he was able to line up the far post and place it past Aviza.
.@amorrell9 hit 'em with the one-two punch 👊#GVLvORL | @GVLTriumph pic.twitter.com/AzB7BFgdci
— USL League One (@USLLeagueOne) October 3, 2020
The two-goal lead gave Greenville the ability to play with more possession and not attack as much, though the hosts still created chances. They nearly scored a third in the 79th minute when Morrell found substitute Andrew Booth in the box. The shot was on target but Aviza made a nice diving save to keep the deficit at two.
OCB was unable to create any real chances in the second half, ultimately falling 2-0 to the league leaders. The first half was the more dominant one for Greenville as it held 65% possession and outshot OCB, 20-3. While not quite as dominant in the second half, the hosts still ended up with 64.3% possession and out-shot the Young Lions, 28-6.
It was expected that OCB would fall in this game, though not as badly as the Young Lions did. The 2-0 score line was probably generous to OCB, considering how dominant the hosts were. It could’ve been much worse.
OCB’s losing streak has now reached four games and the Young Lions are still having trouble finding the back of the net. The last goal they scored was in the 30th minute on Sept. 3 by Jose Quintero. That’s 420 minutes without a goal.
OCB will have to regroup quickly, with a makeup game scheduled for Wednesday against the Richmond Kickers in Virginia.
Orlando City B
Orlando City Signs Goalkeeper Carlos Mercado to a New Contract
Carlos Mercado signs a new contract to remain Orlando City’s third-choice goalkeeper.
Orlando City announced this morning that the club has signed goalkeeper Carlos Mercado to a new contract. The deal is through the 2025 season with club options for 2026 and 2027.
“Carlos did a great job for us last year with Orlando City B and continued to provide a positive work ethic and atmosphere every day in training up with the first team and showed his skill and ability to compete every chance he got,” Orlando City Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi said in a club press release. “He’s part of a strong goalkeeping unit here at the club and we feel confident in the future of that entire position group moving forward.”
Mercado originally joined Orlando City prior to the 2024 season to back up Javier Otero. However, when Mason Stajduhar broke his tibia and fibula in a June 28 game against New York City FC, Otero became the primary backup to Pedro Gallese and Mercado was the starter for the Young Lions.
In his debut season in purple, Mercado started 20 games — including a playoff game in Chicago — playing 1,830 minutes. He conceded 30 goals for a goals-against average of 1.48 and saved 81 of 111 shots faced for a save percentage of 73%. He kept three clean sheets and compiled a record of 9-5-6 (W-L-D) while saving two of the four penalties he faced in regular play.
The 25-year-old signed a short-term deal following Stajduhar’s injury with his lone game on the team sheet being on the bench for a July 3 game against Toronto FC. He went on to sign a first-team contract on Sept. 20 through the 2024 season with options for 2025, 2026, and 2027. However, his 2025 option was declined following the season.
Mercado played for the FC Dallas academy in his youth, earning call-ups to the United States U-16 National Team and Mexico U-18 National Team. He played collegiately at the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX, before joining San Antonio FC of the USL Championship.
The goalkeeper made his professional debut in 2021, coming on for the final 29 minutes in a 3-0 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. He stayed with San Antonio FC through the 2023 season before joining OCB.
What It Means for Orlando City
As previously mentioned, Mercado’s option for 2025 was declined following the 2024 MLS season since the club already had three other goalkeepers. However, signing another goalkeeper became necessary when Orlando City traded Stajduhar to Real Salt Lake on Jan. 15, leaving the club with two under contract.
Mercado will likely continue to be the club’s third goalkeeper and is the presumed starter for Orlando City B when the MLS NEXT Pro season starts in March. He’ll have to join the first team if Gallese goes away on international duty with Peru and Otero enters the starting lineup. Barring unavailability of Gallese and Otero, it’s unlikely he’ll see any MLS action.
Orlando City B
Orlando City B Announces Schedule for 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Season
Find out where, when, and who the Young Lions of OCB will play in 2025.
The 2025 MLS NEXT Pro schedule was released this afternoon, telling us where, when, and who Orlando City B will play in the team’s fourth year in the league. The league will again feature 29 teams in 2025, with three teams set to enter the league next year. There are 27 MLS affiliated clubs in the league and two independents — Carolina Core FC and Chattanooga FC.
The schedule remains at 28 games, with Orlando City B playing 14 at home, 13 away, and one at a neutral site at IMG Academy in Bradenton. OCB home games will take place at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee again this season.
OCB will start the 2024 season with a two-game home stand, opening the season on Sunday, March 9 against Columbus Crew 2 at 7 p.m. A week later, Atlanta United 2 will visit Osceola County Stadium. The Young Lions will then hit the road for the team’s first two away games starting Wednesday, March 26 at Crown Legacy FC and following with a match at Chattanooga FC on Saturday, April 5.
In addition to opening the season at home, OCB will close the regular season by hosting FC Cincinnati 2 at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5. Last year, the Young Lions opened and closed the season on the road. All Decision Day games in the Eastern Conference will start at 1 p.m. and all Western Conference matches will kick off at 4 p.m. (ET).
OCB will compete in the 15-team Eastern Conference as part of the Southeast Division. The other teams in the division are Atlanta, Carolina Core, Chattanooga, Crown Legacy, Huntsville City, and rival Inter Miami II. The reserve version of the Tropic Thunder rivalry will play out over three meetings in 2025. The Young Lions will travel IMG Academy to face the Baby Herons on April 15, with the home match in Kissimmee coming May 17. The teams will meet again in Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 14.
MLS NEXT Pro teams will again only play opponents from their own conference, limiting travel. The Young Lions will play each team in the Southeast Division three times, including Atlanta United 2, and Chattanooga twice at home and once away, and Carolina Core, Crown Legacy, and Huntsville City once each at home and twice away. OCB will play the teams from the Northeast Division once, except Columbus and New England, which the Young Lions will face both at home and away. Orlando City B will face FC Cincinnati 2, New York City FC II, New York Red Bulls II, and Toronto FC II only at home in the regular season, while facing Chicago Fire II and Philadelphia Union II only on the road.
The busiest months for OCB this season will be June and August, when the Young Lions will play five matches. They’ll play four times in April and July, three times in March, May, and September, and once in October. The most common day the Young Lions will play is on Sunday (13 games). Additionally, they have five games on Saturday, four games each on Wednesday and Friday, and one game each on Monday and Tuesday. The most common kickoff time is 7 p.m.. The Young Lions will play 18 games with that start time, three times each at 3 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 8 p.m., and once at 1 p.m. (Decision Day).
Once again, the postseason will include 15 games this year, concluding with the MLS NEXT Pro Cup. The higher playoff seeds will again select their opponents for the matchups in the first two rounds.
The majority of regular season games and all playoff games will again air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. The remaining games will be streamed live on mlsnextpro.com.
As far as viewing conflicts go for Orlando City and Pride fans, there are a few overlaps in 2025. OCB plays at 7 p.m. on April 5 at Chattanooga with the MLS Lions playing at 7:30 p.m. at Philadelphia that night. On May 23, OCB plays at Atlanta United 2 at 7:30 p.m. and the Pride and Royals kick off in Utah at 9:30 p.m. just as that game is concluding. On June 25, OCB plays at home at 7 p.m. against Toronto FC II, with Orlando City at St. Louis City at 8:30 p.m. OCB’s game July 25 at Huntsville City will kick off 30 minutes after the senior side begins playing at Columbus. The Young Lions start at home on Aug. 3 against NYCFCII an hour after the Pride and Utah Royals kick off at Inter&Co Stadium. OCB and the Pride are both home on Aug. 9 as well, with the Young Lions and Chattanooga getting underway at 7 p.m. at Osceola County Stadium, just 30 minutes before the Pride and Racing Louisville battle at Inter&Co Stadium. On Aug. 23, OCB will play at 7 p.m. at home against Atlanta United 2, with the senior Lions and Nashville SC kicking off at 8:30 p.m.
Orlando City B’s 2025 Schedule
- Sunday, March 9 — vs. Columbus Crew 2, 7 p.m.
- Sunday, March 16 — vs. Atlanta United 2, 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 26 — at Crown Legacy FC, 7 p.m.
- Saturday, April 5 — at Chattanooga FC, 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 9 — vs. New England Revolution II, 7 p.m.
- Tuesday, April 15 — vs. Inter Miami II (at IMG Academy in Bradenton), 7 p.m.
- Sunday, April 27 — vs. New York Red Bulls II, 7 p.m.
- Friday, May 2 — at Chicago Fire FC II, 8 p.m.
- Saturday, May 17 — vs. Inter Miami II, 7 p.m.
- Friday, May 23 — at Atlanta United 2, 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, June 1 — vs. Chattanooga FC, 7 p.m.
- Friday, June 6 — at Huntsville City FC, 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, June 11 — at Carolina Core FC, 7:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, June 25 — vs. Toronto FC, 7 p.m.
- Monday, June 30 — at Philadelphia Union II, 3 p.m.
- Sunday, July 6 — at Crown Legacy FC, 7 p.m.
- Sunday, July 13 — vs. Carolina Core FC, 7 p.m.
- Sunday, July 20 — at New England Revolution II, 3 p.m.
- Friday, July 25 — at Huntsville City FC, 8 p.m.
- Sunday, Aug. 3 — vs. New York City FC II, 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 9 — vs. Chattanooga FC, 7 p.m.
- Sunday, Aug. 17 — at Columbus Crew 2, 3 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 23 — vs. Atlanta United 2, 7 p.m.
- Sunday, Aug. 31 — vs. Crown Legacy FC, 7 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 14 — at Inter Miami II, 7 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 21 — vs. Huntsville City FC, 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 27 — at Carolina Core FC, 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 5 — vs. FC Cincinnati 2, 1 p.m.
Orlando City B
Orlando City B Signs Goalkeeper Tristan Himes
The 24-year-old former academy goalkeeper returns to the club after a four-year collegiate career.
Orlando City announced this afternoon that the club has signed former academy goalkeeper Tristan Himes to an MLS NEXT Pro contract to play with the club’s reserve side, Orlando City B. The 24-year-old returns to the club following the conclusion of his collegiate career.
“This is an exciting first step for us this year on the path to achieving our goals for 2025 and beyond,” Orlando City Vice President of Soccer Operations and Technical Director Ricardo Moreira said in a club press release. “Tristan is a player that is homegrown, that we’ve seen develop in our academy here in Orlando, and a bright young player. He’s someone whose path took him to play and get more experience in college and now we’re excited to bring him back home to Central Florida.”
The DeBary native attended the University of South Carolina after his time in the Orlando City Academy, making seven appearances in two seasons. He conceded 13 goals in 546 minutes while making 22 saves. He stopped 62.9% of his shots faced for the Gamecocks, recording one shutout and an assist. The goalkeeper played 543 minutes during his freshman season but only three minutes during his sophomore campaign, coming off the bench on Oct. 1, 2022, against West Virginia.
Himes transferred to Coastal Carolina University for his junior season but was forced to sit out all of 2023 due to injury. He returned for his senior campaign, making 10 appearances and playing 855 minutes while conceding 20 goals and making 35 saves. He finished his time with the Chanticleers completing two shutouts while recording a 2.11 goals-against average and stopping 63.6% of his 122 shots faced.
Despite coming through the Orlando City Academy, the goalkeeper was eligible for the 2025 MLS SuperDraft but wasn’t selected. The signing is the first in a string of expected deals as the club looks to rebuild its MLS NEXT Pro roster. Following the 2024 season, the contracts of six of the 10 players on MLS NEXT Pro deals expired.
Himes’ signing could see him replace Carlos Mercado, who started the majority of OCB’s games in 2024. The goalkeeper eventually signed a first-team deal late in the season, but his option was declined by the club. Depending on the recovery of first-team backup goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar, Himes could start for the Young Lions or will play behind Homegrown product Javier Otero.
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