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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Atlanta United: Final Score 1-0 as Lions Blow Chance to Solidify Playoff Positioning

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2 years ago

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Despite firing 20 shots toward the net and controlling most of the match, Orlando City put only three attempts on frame and lost 1-0 to rival Atlanta United at Exploria Stadium. Thiago Almada scored the game’s only goal.

With the loss, the Lions (12-12-6, 42 points) fell back below .500 at home (7-8-0) and to exactly .500 overall, and Orlando handed the Five Stripes (10-12-9, 39 points) just their second road win of the season despite doubling the visitors’ shots and having the better of the possession and passing throughout the match.

City’s sharpness was the difference and it was costly, as the Lions could have mathematically ensured that three more teams — Toronto, Chicago, and Atlanta — would finish below them with a win. D.C. United is already assured of finishing below Orlando in the standings.

“Difficult defeat obviously at this moment of the season when we need to add those points, especially (against) a direct rival, we come out with this result,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the game. “But, I’ve got to say that the boys put all the effort there. Their energy, their character was there. Simply, we didn’t do what we have to do in the last third and if you’re not sharp in those moments, it’s difficult. The other team may have one or two chances and that’s what they’re waiting for. Hopefully we can return to that sharpness on that piece of the field because we were not sharp today.”

Pareja’s lineup included Pedro Gallese in goal behind a back line of Joao Moutinho, Rodrigo Schlegel, Antonio Carlos, and Kyle Smith. With Cesar Araujo suffering from a non-COVID-related illness, Wilder Cartagena got the start in central midfield with Junior Urso, behind an attacking line of Ivan Angulo, Mauricio Pereyra, and Facundo Torres, with Ercan Kara up top.

The game was delayed nearly an hour due to inclement weather and the passing was a bit sloppy at times for both teams throughout the rainy first half. Orlando had more of a hold of the game in the early going. Torres fired a shot that Andrew Gutman blocked in the seventh minute and Angulo fizzed a shot from the right just inches wide of the left post a minute later.

Former Lion Dom Dwyer got a free header in the 12th minute when a cross deflected off of Moutinho and cleared the defense but the striker hit his shot wide.

Urso sent a header at Raul Gudino in the 21st minute for an easy save from a nice cross by Kara.

The Lions came close again five minutes later when Pereyra fed Torres a pass down the left side of the box. Torres sent the ball across for Kara but a sliding Alan Franco got a piece of it and Gudino was alert, making a sprawling effort and keeping it from reaching its intended target. Angulo tried to finesse the loose ball through the traffic but couldn’t get it through.

Orlando gave up a counter chance in the 37th minute that was nearly costly. Luiz Araujo rounded Gallese and sent a shot toward goal but Smith cleared it off the line.

Atlanta was growing in confidence late in the half and Thiago Almada’s shot was easy for Gallese in the 40th.

The best chance of the half for either side fell for Gutman in the first minute of first-half stoppage time. The fullback continued his run after passing off and got in behind the defense to find a return pass waiting for him. Gallese made himself big and sacrificed a sensitive part of his body to make the vital save.

Orlando had a free kick in a dangerous position late in stoppage time but Pereyra sent his entry ball over everyone’s head and that ended the half.

The Lions finished the opening half with more possession (56.5%-43.5%), shots (6-5), and passing accuracy (87.8%-82.9%), while Atlanta got more shots on target (3-1) and won more corners (3-0).

Orlando’s lack of precision was a major problem in the second half as the team simply could not find the net with any shot from anywhere. The first of the team’s chances came on a header in the 51st minute by Kara from a cross by Smith, but his effort was just wide to the left.

Six minutes later Carlos had a free header on a set piece from long range but his was wide to the right.

Pererya fired just off target twice in two minutes, hitting a shot about a yard wide to the right in the 65th minute and firing just over the bar in the 67th.

Atlanta nearly scored in the 72nd minute off a corner when Santiago Sosa got a free header but Gallese made a great diving save to keep it scoreless, but only for the moment.

The Lions got caught being too complacent on the ensuing play with Atlanta playing right down through the middle. Orlando seemed to have sufficient numbers back, but Almada made a good individual effort through some complacent defending. He simply skipped past second-half sub Benji Michel and split him and spectator Andres Perea with a pass to Gutman, then ran passed both without being tracked by either. The Atlanta fullback laid it back off for Almada who put a move on Carlos in space and then sent Gallese the wrong way before slotting home.

“(Almada) came in dribbling. I thought we should have stopped that play there,” Pareja said. “He came up through us and made us feel vulnerable and made us feel weak. We didn’t defend well that particular player and it hurts us.”

Orlando had a chance to pull that goal back quickly when Perea found himself in lots of space outside the area in the 74th minute but he sent his shot off the Heineken sign at the bottom of the upper deck. Two minutes later, substitute Jake Mulraney sent in a cross for fellow sub Tesho Akindele, who flicked it on target but Gudino made a diving stop to push it out for a corner. The ensuing set piece was knocked out to Mulraney outside the box but his shot was over the bar.

Two minutes later, Mulraney had Michel and Schlegel crashing the net but the winger sent his cross straight to the goalkeeper. Just seconds after that, it was Michel’s turn to miss the target.

Akindele got his head to a ball over the top in the 89th minute, but with his back to goal he could only flick it toward goal and hope, but that shot too went wide. The Lions finally got their third and final shot on goal on the final play of the game when a corner kick cross was headed straight at Gudino by Perea.

Orlando finished with more possession (55.6%-44.4%), shots (20-10), and passing accuracy (84.1%-79.9%) but Atlanta got more shots on target (5-3) and each team finished with four corners.

“It was a tough result,” Smith said. “I thought we controlled the game for most of the game. I don’t think they had many chances until the goal. And then at the end of the game we were trying to put balls in the box and they were doing well crowding the box and clearing the ball.”

The Lions have another quick turnaround with Toronto FC visiting Exploria Stadium on Saturday night.

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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Toronto FC: Three Keys to Victory

What does Orlando City need to do to ensure a victory over Toronto FC Saturday at home?

Published

19 hours ago

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April 25, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

After a successful, four-point road trip, Orlando City returns from Montreal to the friendly confines of Inter&Co Stadium to face one of the other Canadian clubs, Toronto FC. The Lions are hoping to add to a four-match unbeaten streak. A win offers the opportunity to take another step up the standings.

What does Orlando City need to do to secure all three points at home against Toronto FC?

No Early Mistakes

In the last three matches, Orlando City has conceded the first goal of the match. Worse than that, each of those goals happened within the first 21 minutes. Yes, coming from behind for two draws and one win is good, but not giving up those early goals may have meant three wins instead.

Last season, Orlando City’s defense was good. We didn’t see nearly so many mental mistakes by the defense, especially so early in the match. What is frustrating is that these mistakes were seemingly preventable. The back line, the defensive midfielders, and Pedro Gallese need to tighten up in the early going so that the Lions are not chasing the match so early on.

Take Advantage of Tired Legs

Toronto FC played a match against Simcoe County Rovers in the Canadian Championship tournament on Wednesday. I’m in no way saying that Toronto trotted out their first choice lineup for the match, but even if only some of the players got a run out, that could create some tired legs for the match against Orlando. Add in the travel from Canada to Florida on short rest and it could be good news for the Lions.

If the Lions can possess the ball and make Toronto FC chase them, or if Orlando can get the first goal (see above) so that Toronto is chasing the match as well, it might pay dividends in the second half. Orlando City is good enough in the passing game to do so, though it will be interesting to see whether Martin Ojeda rejoins the starting lineup or if Nico Lodeiro gets the nod again.

One Down, Two to Go

Facundo Torres was the first of Orlando City’s three Designated Players to score a goal in the regular season. While it didn’t come in the run of play, it might still spark him to add some more since he usually starts slow and then catches fire at about this point in the season. Of course, both Luis Muriel and Ojeda contributed to the scoring against Montreal. Muriel drew the penalty that Torres took, and Ojeda provided the assist to Ivan Angulo.

Now it is time for either Muriel or Ojeda — or both — to join Torres on the scoreboard. Standing in their way will be a good keeper in Sean Johnson. So far this season, he has allowed seven goals and has 22 saves, with three clean sheets. Muriel seems to be getting closer to scoring with each shot taken, and Ojeda has missed some close ones. If all three of Orlando City’s Designated Players can start scoring regularly, this team will become dangerous quickly.

That is what I will be looking for Saturday night. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/25/24

Duncan McGuire is an Olympic frontrunner, Orlando Pride get ready for the Washington Spirit, Colin Guske signs with Orlando City B, and more.

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23 hours ago

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April 25, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this work week hasn’t been too stressful for you as we get ready for another weekend packed with Orlando soccer. All of the European soccer this week has been enjoyable as well, as teams fight for silverware and survival. It should be a fun next few days, although most of my match following will be digital. I’m hoping to get out to the stadium for a game or two over the next couple of months as well. But for now, let’s dive into today’s links!

Duncan McGuire Likely to Play in Olympics

Orlando City forward Duncan McGuire was listed as one of the frontrunners to join the U.S. for this year’s Olympics. It won’t be much of a shock if McGuire is in Paris this summer, as he’s been impressive in the time since being drafted sixth overall in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft by the Lions. The 23-year-old has followed up a strong rookie year with three goals and an assist so far this season. It will be interesting to see who McGuire could compete with for minutes in the Olympics, with Ricardo Pepi noted as another possible option up top for the U.S. Overall, it’s nice to see McGuire is doing what’s needed to stay in the contention for Paris. I think that staying in Orlando rather than going to England has definitely helped his case.

Orlando Pride Prepare for the Washington Spirit

The Orlando Pride are riding a five-game unbeaten streak and will take it to the nation’s capital for a difficult road match against the Washington Spirit Friday night. The Pride have won their past two games and will face a Spirit side that has won four of its five games this season. Both teams have been defensively sound, each conceding just four goals, so it may come down to moments of individual brilliance to make the difference. Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke about the difficulty of the matchup, Orlando’s grit this season, and the impact Barbra Banda had in her debut last weekend.

Orlando City B Signs Colin Guske

Midfielder Colin Guske, who joined Orlando City’s academy back in 2020, signed an MLS NEXT Pro contract with Orlando City B through this 2024 season. The 17-year-old made his OCB debut in the team’s season opener this year and scored the game-winning goal. He’s carved out a spot in OCB’s midfield this season, starting in four of the team’s five games. Guske has two brothers who have also gone through the club’s academy and played with OCB. A solid year with the Young Lions from Guske could result in a Homegrown Player contract for the senior team.

Columbus Crew SC Wins First Leg Against Monterrey

The Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals are here and the Columbus Crew are the only MLS team still in the tournament. They came up with a big 2-1 home win in the first leg of their matchup against Monterrey. Cucho Hernandez gave the Crew the lead in the first half and 21-year-old Jacen Russell-Rowe scored the winner in the second. An away goal by Monterrey could prove crucial though due to the tiebreakers, and the second leg will take place on May 1. The winner of this matchup will take on either Club America or Pachuca in the final on June 2.

Free Kicks

  • Former Lion Dom Dwyer is reportedly headed out west to sign with Oakland Roots SC in the USL Championship.
  • Toronto FC traded away $200,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money (GAM) to Atlanta United in exchange for winger Derrick Etienne Jr. The 27-year-old has not received much playing time this season, and Atlanta could earn another $175,000 in GAM if performance-based metrics are met.
  • The San Jose Earthquakes have reportedly signed Hernan Lopez from Godoy Cruz. It would give a-needed boost to the team, which has just three points from nine games this season.
  • St. Louis City winger Celio Pompeu won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his great strike from outside the box in his team’s 3-3 draw with Sporting Kansas City.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/24/24

Orlando City and Orlando Pride power rankings, USMNT player news, USWNT will host Costa Rica, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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April 24, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s that time of the week for some tasty links. Two seven-point weekends for Orlando’s soccer teams is nothing to sneeze at, unlike the pollen that coats my hometown of Tallahassee. It’s the time of the year that I make my money back with the unlimited car wash next to my work. Enough with my weather-related car issues, let’s get to the links.

Lions Move Up (and Down) in Power Rankings

There’s nothing that shows the value of “power rankings” better than when you can compare two different ranking lists for the same week for any given club. We all know Orlando City is undefeated in its last four matches thanks to the late heroics of Ivan Angulo to draw CF Montreal over the weekend. But, did you know that was both good and bad?

In ESPN‘s MLS power rankings, Orlando City dropped a spot from 16th to 17th despite “treading water” with a point on the road in Montreal. Meanwhile, the Lions roared ahead three spots from 21st to 18th in MLSsoccer.com’s power rankings. So, do you like that Orlando is 17th in the ESPN piece despite the drop? Or do you prefer the positivity of a three-spot jump to 18th in the MLSSoccer.com rankings?

Orlando Pride Rise in Power Rankings

Forget everything I wrote up there regarding power rankings — at least as far as the Orlando Pride are concerned. After starting the season with three draws, the Pride now have two wins in a row. As such, ESPN moved the Pride up three spots from eighth to fifth in its NWSL power rankings. Their move up the list is entirely deserved and the writer was correct in their assessment. Of course, I’m kidding but it’s still nice to see the Pride get recognized for their results. Now, we just need the Pride to continue the winning streak.

Keeping Up With USMNT Players Abroad

As we shared yesterday, Sergino Dest will likely miss this summer’s Copa America thanks to a knee injury suffered during PSV Eindhoven training. That means the USMNT has a right back situation to address and there are quite a few well known candidates to step in for Dest.

Meanwhile, Weston McKennie has reportedly rejected Juventus’ latest extension offer. I can understand his decision given it doesn’t include any additional salary. McKennie has been very good for Juve, with 10 assists on the season. He’s not the only American making a difference, as Tim Weah provided the assist on Arkadiusz Milik’s goal to send Juventus to the Coppa Italia final.

USWNT Olympic Send-Off Match

The United States Women’s National Team will play a match against Costa Rica at Audi Field on July 16. It will be the final match for the USWNT prior to the Olympics that start nine days later against Zambia. New coach Emma Hayes will join the team on June 1, which isn’t a ton of time before the Olympics start, but she has been a part of the process for months.

Free Kicks

  • The New England Revolution have acquired veteran defender Xavier Arreaga from the Seattle Sounders for a 2025 international roster slot, and up to $75,000 in General Allocation Money depending on performance.
  • Inter Miami’s Jordi Alba will be out for several weeks due to a hamstring injury. Fortunately, he is expected to be back in time for the match against Orlando City on May 15. Where did I put the sarcasm font?

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Pride’s match against the Washington Spirit this Friday, and Orlando City’s match against Toronto FC on Saturday. Vamos Orlando!

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