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Orlando City vs. Vancouver Whitecaps: Final Score 1-0 as Rivero Breaks Through Late for Caps

Octavio Rivero’s header in the 96th minute sent Orlando City fans home unhappy and handed the Lions their first MLS loss. It was a harsh result for an Orlando side that largely controlled the game but couldn’t find a break-through goal.

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10 years ago

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Nick Leyva, The Mane Land

The Vancouver Whitecaps Twitter feed asked for the team to steal three points in Orlando and that’s exactly what they did.

Octavio Rivero broke Orlando City hearts with a stoppage-time header to steal a 1-0 victory in the Orlando Citrus Bowl in front of a crowd of 31,072. Vancouver (2-1-0) got a late free kick on a Darwin Ceren foul in the 96th minute that Pedro Morales sent into the area. Rivero got to it and flicked it into the far corner where goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts couldn’t reach it.

It was a harsh result for an Orlando City side that controlled most of the play and simply couldn’t find the final ball, missing a number of very close chances throughout the contest.

It was doubly harsh because it came just after second-half sub Jordan Harvey for Vancouver was booked for time wasting and Ceren’s foul came on the ensuing throw-in. Orlando City had intercepted the initial Harvey throw-in but referee Jorge Gonzalez pulled it back for a second throw.

“Do I think we should have won the game? Probably not. I think a draw would have been a fair result,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath after the game. “But we certainly didn’t deserve to lose it.”

Orlando out-shot Vancouver 12-9, made 21 crosses to Vancouver’s 12, and enjoyed a 62.6%-37.4% advantage in possession but has nothing to show for it due to missing the target. The Lions put only one shot on goal, allowing three — all to Rivero.

The Lions (1-1-1) tasted MLS defeat for the first time, but they came within inches of breaking through a number of times, including a Cyle Larin shot in the 90th minute. Larin took a pass from Kaká, made a nice turn and pushed it just wide.

Eric Avila was lurking just behind Larin unmarked but the Canadian national, making his MLS debut, either didn’t see him or chose to take it himself.

Aside from Larin’s opportunity late, Orlando City nearly scored on Pedro Ribeiro’s final touch, a beautiful curling left-footed shot that went inches high to find the roof of the net.

“Too many ‘nearlies,'” said Heath. “It was nearly a good play, it was nearly a good ball, it was nearly a good cross. Nearly is not going to be enough through the course of this season.”

Orlando City began the game in a 4-4-2 with Kaká playing up top with Ribeiro, starting for an injured Carlos Rivas. The other big change in the lineup was Avila playing in the midfield instead of Lewis Neal, who was left out of the 18 altogether.

The Lions controlled play early, holding a 60-40 possession advantage in the scoreless opening half, but they couldn’t seem to find the final touch or through ball to truly menace David Ousted’s goal. A chance eight minutes in went wanting when Kevin Molino passed when he should have shot off a nice pass from Kaká.

Orlando City’s best opportunity came at the 13-minute mark when Kaká’s shot from the top of the box was deflected just wide. Four minutes later, Ribeiro found himself in good position but the Vancouver defense collapsed on him to snuff out the threat.

At 26 minutes, Avila worked hard down the left side to earn a corner and was nearly — there’s that word again — rewarded on Kaká’s cross. Kendall Waston headed out the corner kick to Avila, who rifled a shot just high on the volley.

Vancouver’s speed posed problems for Orlando City at times, particularly in the later stages of the first half. Seb Hines may have been fortunate to avoid getting sent off and yielding a penalty for pulling back Rivero early, but the referee was well positioned and gave a goal kick. The Whitecaps spent much of the first 30 minutes probing with Kekuta Manneh down Rafael Ramos’ right side but to no avail.

The Whitecaps finally got a toehold in the game 34 minutes in, when Rivero blazed past the offside trap and got on the end of a brilliant through ball. Ricketts came off his line to thwart the chance, knocking it inches wide to make his first save of the season. Moments later, Rivero torched a shot off the crossbar with Hines and Brek Shea both marking Waston and leaving Vancouver’s DP unattended in the box.

Vancouver missed another opportunity in the 38th minute when Morales shot wide off a turnover when Orlando City misplayed a quick free kick deep in their own end.

The visitors played a chippy first 45 minutes, picking up three yellow cards (Gershon Koffie, Sam Adekugbe, Manneh) in the opening half and five in all. Each team had four shots and one shot on goal through the opening half.

The Lions moved to their traditional 4-2-3-1 after halftime, pushing Kaká out to the left side of midfield, and it seemed to work, as Orlando enjoyed even more possession, allowed fewer Vancouver counters, and appeared more dangerous in the final third. Still, that final through ball remains elusive and players are taking extra touches in the box to cut down their angles and making life easier for opposing goalkeepers.

“Even with a loss we had a lot of good things in this game,” Kaká said. “We have to improve a lot of things, we have to get better, to work some movements, most of our forwards, because we create a lot of opportunities but we couldn’t score tonight.”

Next up comes a trip to Canada to play Montreal Impact without several international players, including Larin, Shea, Molino and Ceren.

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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.

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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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