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2021 Orlando City Season in Review: Mauricio Pereyra

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4 years ago

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Uruguayan midfielder Mauricio Pereyra just completed his third season in Major League Soccer, and was again an influential presence for Orlando City. The Lions signed Pereyra as a Designated Player on July 30, 2019 on a free transfer from Russian top flight side FC Krasnodar, but nagging injuries limited his playing time for the remainder of the 2019 season.

His full abilities were on display in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season as he looked every bit the part of a DP attacking midfield, pulling the strings and connecting with the team’s forwards.

Let’s look back on his 2021 MLS campaign. 

Statistical Breakdown

The Montevideo, Uruguay native only missed five regular-season matches in 2021 (the first two due to a suspension dating back to a red card incident in the 2020 playoffs), finishing the year with 29 appearances (26) starts, and playing 2,166 minutes. These were all easily new highs in his MLS career. He scored one goal and reached double figures in assists for the first time as a Lion, recording 10 to lead the club. Seven of his 10 were primary assists and three were of the secondary (or “hockey”) variety. His 25 shot attempts and nine shots on target were also new career highs as a Lion. He attempted one penalty but was unsuccessful, seeing his shot saved in a 2-1 home loss to the New York Red Bulls on July 3.

His passing percentage of 83% was just half a percentage point lower than last season, but he contributed 53 key passes and he averaged 1.1 successful crosses and 2.6 successful long balls per game.

Defensively, Pereyra won 28 of 51 tackle attempts for a 54.9% success rate. He finished with 16 interceptions, five clearances, and two blocked shots. Pereyra was shown seven yellow cards but was not sent off in 2021.

The Uruguayan started and played 90 minutes in Orlando City’s playoff match at Nashville, assisting on Daryl Dike’s goal with an excellent corner kick delivery in the 14th minute. He passed at just a 74% rate in the match and committed three fouls while only drawing one, and he was shown a yellow card.

Pereyra started and played 87 minutes in the Lions’ Leagues Cup match against Santos Laguna. He did not score or assist on a goal, attempting two shots (neither on target). He committed two fouls in the match.

Best Game

There were a number of strong games in contention for this section but I’ll go with his two-assist performance on July 22 in a 2-1 home win over the Philadelphia Union. Pereyra not only helped the Lions score both goals in the match, but he was also accurate on 90.24% of his 41 passes — his third-best passing percentage of the season. He attempted one shot but did not get it on target. He had an accurate through ball and an accurate long ball.

Pereyra’s first assist was this ridiculous seeing-eye pass through the defense to Benji Michel, who nearly stumbled over the ball, but the Homegrown winger had enough time to recover and calmly slot home to give the Lions a 1-0 lead just 10 minutes in. I mean, look at this filth.

The midfield maestro nearly doubled the lead three minutes after his assist, firing just inches wide of the left spot from around the penalty spot.

Pereyra helped the Lions double the lead early in the second half with a secondary assist. He sprayed a pass out to the right to Nani, giving the captain plenty of space to pick out a perfect cross for Andres Perea, who nodded inside the far post to make it 2-0 in the 59th minute.

Although Philadelphia pulled a goal back, it was a great 73-minute performance for Pereyra. He finished with 50 touches, which was topped by only four other Lions, but three of them went the full 90 and Nani came off about 10 minutes after Pereyra did.

2021 Final Grade

The Mane Land staff gave Pereyra a 7.5 composite rating on the 1-10 scale, which equals his rating from 2020. He did not play enough minutes to earn a rating for his 2019 campaign. Pereyra had some hot and cold streaks in 2021 and the latter were often related to playing through nagging injuries. There were times he tried to force some passes through some of the league’s stingier defenses, such as Nashville’s, and he still turns down too many opportunities to shoot, but he is the unselfish leader of the Orlando City midfield and the team was noticeably better in that part of the field when he was out there. His 2021 stats compare well with those from 2020, but his assist numbers should have been higher. However, some of his better passes fell victim to poor touches or a lack of clinical finishing on the other end by some of his teammates.

2022 Outlook

Although Pereyra was out of contract after the 2021 season, the Lions re-signed him to a one-year deal for 2022 just last week. It is likely that he’ll remain a Designated Player after earning $1.8 million in 2021, but the terms of his new deal weren’t announced and the club doesn’t have to declare its DP slots until rosters are due to the league prior to the season. Pereyra will be the string puller in the attacking midfield again in 2022 and will have to do it without Nani, so we’ll have to wait to see who the club adds to the attack. He’ll be expected to put up another double-digit assist season, but at the moment it’s unclear who will score the goals on the end of those amazing Pereyra passes.

Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/22/26

Orlando City hosts Charlotte tonight, the Orlando Pride prep for Louisville trip, NWSL expansion coming to Columbus, and more.

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3 hours ago

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April 22, 2026

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Image of Kaka celebrating a goal.
Nick Leyva, The Mane Land

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s match day for Orlando City. That’s as much a warning for your mental health as it is a notification if you decide to watch the match tonight. Perhaps you could catch up on Pluribus, or rewatch Ted Lasso. I’m simply saying you have options that might not raise your blood pressure. On a brighter note, join me in wishing Orlando City legend Kaká a very happy birthday. More on him below. Let’s get to the links.

Lions Host Charlotte Tonight

Orlando City is looking to rebound against Charlotte FC tonight at Inter&Co Stadium. It’s no secret that the Lions are having a rough time of it so far this season, and with Charlotte sitting in third place in the Eastern Conference, it doesn’t get any easier. That doesn’t stop Martin Perelman and the players from thinking they are getting better and having a plan for the match tonight. What was it Mike Tyson said about everyone having a plan? Can the Lions turn things around on short rest?

Orlando Pride Return to NWSL Play Friday

The Orlando Pride return to action Friday against Racing Louisville FC. The match is at Louisville where the Pride have yet to win. Despite that, the players are ready to pick up where they left off before the international break. The break provided much-needed rest for many of the players. The Pride will play six matches during the month of May before the league takes a break for the World Cup.

Osceola Heritage Park Expansion Funding Moves Forward

Osceola County leaders have agreed to have Orlando City expand the club’s footprint at Osceola Heritage Park. Orlando Sports Enterprises (OSE a.k.a. the Wilf family) will match the $25 million that the county is putting up for the project. OSE will assume repair, maintenance, and operating costs for the facility. A hotel and free-standing restaurant are also in the plans. This is a good investment for the club’s future in the arms race that is professional sports.

NWSL Coming to Columbus

The owners of the Columbus Crew have been awarded an NWSL franchise. The Haslam Sports Group paid a record $205 million expansion fee to obtain the 18th NWSL club. The new club will renovate and play at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field downtown. The organization will also build a training center at McCoy Park that had previously been slated to be renovated for local residents, including features that would enable physically disabled people to use the park.

The NWSL called and Columbus answered 📞 Columbus joins the league as team No. 18!

— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) 2026-04-21T19:44:42.987Z

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That will do it for today. Check back later today for our coverage of the Orlando City match this evening. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/21/26

Takeaways from MLS matchday eight, USWNT stock watch, transfer rumor roundup, and more.

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1 day ago

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April 21, 2026

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Image of Ignacio Gomez making his MLS debut with Orlando City vs. Houston.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone. It was a frustrating weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams, as Orlando City lost a close game to the Houston Dynamo, and Orlando City B blew a two-goal lead against Carolina Core FC, and had to settle for the two points that come with a shootout victory after a draw. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on your viewpoint), OCSC will have a chance to get right back on the horse when Charlotte FC comes to town on Wednesday. We’ve got lots to talk about this morning, so let’s have a look at the links.

MLS Matchday Eight Takeaways

Major League Soccer’s eighth round of matches is in the books, and there are plenty of talking points to go over. The San Jose Earthquakes ended the weekend on an emphatic note by dismantling LAFC 4-1 on the road, adding to an impressive list of scalps that also includes the Vancouver Whitecaps and San Diego FC. They’re tied with Vancouver atop the Western Conference and continue to look like one of the league’s best teams. Meanwhile, Charlotte FC, Orlando City’s next opponent, kept things organized in a 4-4-2 block and scored from two of its three shots on goal to take down NYCFC 2-1. That result puts the club in third place in the Eastern Conference.

USWNT Stock Watch

The United States Women’s National Team wrapped up its three game slate against Japan over the weekend, so let’s check in on how the matches affected the standing of several players. Lindsey Heaps was name-dropped by Emma Hayes as having had a great run of three matches, while 20-year-old Claire Hutton wore the captain’s armband during the series and looked far more poised and ready than one would expect given her age. At the opposite end of the spectrum, winger Emma Sears struggled to make an impact in the final third, and while her speed makes her a tempting option to have in the squad, the depth at her position means she’s always going to face a battle for a place.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

The summer transfer window will be here before we know it, and that means the rumors are already flying thick and fast. We begin with Arsenal, which is said to be interested in signing Julian Alvarez this summer, but will likely face competition from Barcelona. Speaking of Barcelona, club president Joan Laporta has reportedly held talks with Robert Lewandowski about extending his stay with the team, while the Chicago Fire also interested and reportedly having submitted a bid to the striker’s representatives. Liverpool is said to be ready to spend in excess of  €100 million to sign Red Bull Leipzig forward Yan Diomande as a replacement for the outgoing Mohamed Salah. Finally, center backs Hiroki Ito and Min-Jae-Kim could both reportedly leave Bayern Munich this summer if interested teams are willing to meet the German club’s valuations of them.

Jonathan Klinsmann Suffers Broken Neck

American goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann suffered a broken neck while playing for Serie B side Cesena on Saturday. The son of former United States Men’s National Team manager Jurgen Klinsmann, the shot stopper was stretchered off the field after colliding with a Palermo player and was diagnosed with a fractured first cervical vertebra after being taken to the hospital. Klinsmann confirmed on social media that his season is over, which will leave him unavailable for Cesena’s promotion push. The team is currently eighth in the second division, which is the final playoff promotion spot.

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That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/20/26

Lions fall to Houston Dynamo, OCB draws Carolina Core, Pride players on international duty, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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April 20, 2026

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Image of the starting XI from OCB's home match against Carolina Core FC.
Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Justin Glatt

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been staying busy at work. Let’s wish a happy belated birthday to Orlando City defender Iago, who turned 21 Saturday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Lose to Houston Dynamo at Home

Orlando City fell 1-0 to the Houston Dynamo Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium. After a scoreless first half, Hector Herrera’s goal in the second half was enough for the visitors to walk out of Orlando with a win on the road. Despite conceding one goal, the Lions put up a better defensive performance, but the attack was hardly a threat and Orlando couldn’t score a late equalizer. With that result, Orlando City drops to last in the MLS table with four points through eight matches. It will be another busy week for the Lions, taking on Charlotte FC Wednesday at home before traveling to face D.C. United Saturday at Audi Field.

Orlando City Hires Sebastian Setti as Interim Assistant Coach

Orlando City announced Friday that the club has hired Sebastian Setti as interim assistant coach, adding to Martin Perelman’s interim technical staff. Setti was previously an assistant coach with Club Necaxa in Liga MX in 2025. He was also an assistant coach with K.M.S.K. Deinze in Belgium in 2024 and with CF Montreal in 2023, and he led CD Laudio in Spain from 2018 to 2021.

OCB Wins Penalty Shootout After 2-2 Draw vs. Carolina Core

Orlando City B drew Carolina Core 2-2 at Osceola County Stadium Sunday after throwing away a 2-0 lead in the second half. Gustavo Caraballo converted a penalty kick to give the Young Lions the early lead in the first half. Pedro Leao added a goal to make it 2-0 just before halftime. However, in the second half, Carolina rallied and scored two goals in three minutes to tie the match, with the second coming off a mistake by goalkeeper Tristan Himes. OCB won the penalty shootout 6-5 to earn a second point. After six matches, the Young Lions are eighth in the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference standings with 10 points. OCB will be on the road against Chicago Fire II Sunday at SeatGeek Stadium.

Pride Players on International Duty

Multiple Pride players were in action for their national teams over the weekend, bringing the international break to a close. Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda scored a goal for Zambia in a 1-1 draw against South Korea in a friendly. Midfielder Angelina came off the bench for Brazil in the second half in a 1-0 win over Canada, also in friendly competition. Goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse was on the bench as England beat Iceland 1-0 in a UEFA World Cup qualifying match. Forward Solai Washington started for the Reggae Girlz, as Jamaica defeated Guyana 2-0 in a 2026 Concacaf Women’s Championship qualifier match.

USWNT Bounces Back to Win Third Friendly vs. Japan

The U.S Women’s National Team rebounded from a 1-0 loss with a 3-0 win against Japan Friday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO. After a scoreless first half, Naomi Girma scored the opening goal in the second half. Rose Lavelle extended the Yanks’ lead 2-0, and Kennedy Wesley scored her first international goal to put it away. The USWNT closed out the April international window by winning two of three matches against Japan.

Free Kicks

  • Former Lion Daryl Dike scored his first EFL Championship goal since May 2025 in the second half as West Bromwich Albion defeated Preston North End 2-0 Saturday.
  • Former OCB forward Shak Mohammed scored his first goal in Major League Soccer for Nashville SC Saturday.

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

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