Orlando City
Orlando City vs Toronto FC: Player Grades and Man of the Match

Orlando City snapped its meager one-game winning “streak” in absolutely horrific fashion, being taken to the woodshed by an under-powered Toronto FC. The Lions are now 0-2 against Toronto and get one more chance in two weeks’ time to avenge both upsetting defeats.
In a game like this there can’t be too much said that would come in the way of positives. There was a lack of energy, a lack of form and, below all else, a lack of fight.
Here are our player grades and our Man of the Match from tonight’s game:
Starters
G, Tally Hall, 6.0 — It is hard to blame Tally for all that transpired tonight when a team lets 21 shots fly. We can pick and choose and say he should have come out quicker on Giovinco’s last goal or maybe positioned the wall better on his free kick, but what can you do when your team is trampled all night?
D, Corey Ashe, 6.5 — Corey played well for his time on the pitch, being subbed in the 62nd. He took space when it was there and his through ball early in the first sent Cyle Larin running in on Toronto’s keeper all alone. There was a slight injury scare to his hand and we are hopeful that all is right in that realm as nobody wants Orlando to lose another player to injury.
D, Seb Hines, 5.0 — Not much can be said about a center back tandem that was thoroughly thrashed all night, except our team was beat 57-38 on duels. Hines started off the night early with a well deserved yellow card and played hesitant the rest of the night while the “Atomic Ant” was all over the back line and could have possibly had four or five goals. Can anyone say “David Mateos?”
D, Aurelien Collin, 6.0 — If Hines played hesitant after his deserved yellow, Collin was the complete opposite after giving up the penalty. I was surprised to see him get away card free with the challenge on Giovinco, who went down with a foot drag, but he continued to get into the mix all night. Now, do not take that as he was getting into the mix and doing a good job of it — he was continually making bad passes and had some bad giveaways that could have led to more goals.
D, Tyler Turner, 5.5 — The problem with Turner is that he is just too young, he plays like he is waiting for something to happen rather than being proactive and making things happen. He was beat on the flank by Giovinco all night, but so was everyone else. It was always going to be a tough task for a 19-year-old, and he proved his age continually tonight. His youthful giveaway up field led to Toronto’s counter that resulted in the penalty to open the scoring. He also turned the ball to concede possession just prior to the second goal.
MF, Cristian Higuita, 6.0 — Higuita was not himself tonight. Even though he covered ground well, his passes were off the mark and the midfield was dominated from the start. A positive, he had the assist on Luke Boden’s wonderfully taken goal.
MF, Darwin Ceren, 5.5 — When people ask who the unsung hero of Orlando has been all year I always fall back on Ceren. He has probably been the most consistent performer for the Lions all year. Well, tonight was not the case. His constant buzzing and strong tackles, especially the one on Giovinco in the first half showed his fight, but I felt like he was the only one out there willing to put it all on the line. His passing didn’t play up to his motor, as he was continually off the mark. His foul early in the second half drew a yellow card and led to Giovinco’s free kick goal.
MF, Servando Carrasco, 4.5 — It is really hard to rate a player that you only saw a few times throughout the entire 90 minutes. Honestly, did Carrasco play tonight or was Alex Morgan somewhere in the stands? Maybe they were engaged in a good conversation. After showing signs of being a good addition against Columbus, where he moved the ball from side to side so well, Carrasco was a shadow of that player tonight. Seriously, I think his shadow was playing tonight.
MF, Luke Boden, 7.0 (Man of the Match)— Somebody has to get it right, so why not the guy with the only goal? Boden has been a bright spot over the past two matches and tonight, even though all of Orlando may not have gotten off the plane to play in Toronto, Luke was there and had a decent go at it. Congrats Luke, you got Man of the Match with a well struck goal.
MF, Eric Avila, 5.0 — Eric was not playing soccer (or football) tonight. Oh, you wanted analysis; giveaway, giveaway, giveaway, not covering the back post…
F, Cyle Larin, 6.0 — With a chance to break the MLS rookie record tonight of 11 goals in a season, Cyle is leaving Canada with “only” scoring five goals in the past three games. He had a few good chances and kept making nice runs until the 70th minute, when he seemed to tire. His first look may have been the only one he should have put in the back of the net, but I can’t blame a guy who has been so “en fuego” that we stopped really shopping for forwards…or did we?
Substitutes
F, Pedro Ribeiro (62′), 6.0 — Didn’t do much. Showed nice touch, that he can play with his back to the goal, and that he is slower than a…well, OK, he just isn’t fast.
MF, Lewis Neal (62′), 6.0 — Lewis made his return from a nagging Achilles injury tonight — that is a good sign. His play however was always a bit off. He seemed to miss his touch tonight with the other nine field players (two being shadows) running around and he may need some extra time to get back into the swing of things.
Vote in our poll below and let us know who your Man of the Match was. This might be the least competitive poll we’ve had for MotM all season.
Polling Closed
Player | Votes |
Cyle Larin | 3 |
Darwin Ceren | 10 |
Luke Boden | 83 |
Corey Ashe | 5 |
Cristian Higuita | 0 |
Other (please let us know who in the comments section) | 5 |
Lion Links
Lion Links: 7/2/25
Big names leave Toronto FC, hot conditions in Club World Cup match, FIFPRO makes ACL recommendations, and more.

Happy Wednesday, everyone. It already feels like it’s been a long week, as I just got home from being out of town traveling up and down the East Coast for the last few days. The soccer world hasn’t stopped in my absence though, and as usual we have a lot to cover today. Let’s wish a happy birthday to OCB defender Tahir Reid-Brown, and jump into today’s links!
Italians Leave Toronto FC
It’s the end of an era at Toronto FC, as the club has parted ways with both Federico Bernardeschi, and Lorenzo Insigne. The Reds used both of their two buyouts of guaranteed contracts this season in order to get the transactions done, so the club was pretty keen to get them out the door. It’s hard to blame the Reds, as Insigne was the second-highest paid player in the league while Bernardeschi was the fifth highest. They didn’t have much to show for it though, as Bernardeschi had 26 goals and 22 assists in 99 games across all competitions, while Insigne had 19 goals and 17 assists in 76 matches. TFC never made the playoffs while the duo was on the team, and the decision to turn the page is an understandable one.
Difficult Conditions in Juventus vs. Real Madrid
The Club World Cup Round of 16 concluded on Tuesday, with Real Madrid knocking off Juventus 1-0 in afternoon match. Kylian Mbappe made his tournament debut for Madrid as a substitute, but it was Gonzalo Garcia’s 54th-minute goal that made the difference in the game. Juve boss Igor Tudor highlighted the difficult conditions in Miami, saying in his postgame press conference that 10 different players asked to come off the field during the game. Tudor didn’t outright blame the loss on the high heat and humidity during the 3 p.m. kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium, but noted that they were among several factors that made the game a very difficult one for his side.
FIFPRO Makes Recommendations to Curb ACL Tears
Amid a rash of ACL injuries to women’s soccer players, FIFPRO has made some recommendations to cut down on the rate at which they occur. Rather than focusing on things that can’t be controlled, the federation has suggested modifying the calendar, number of games, and the playing surfaces. FIFPRO member Alex Culvin is calling for minimum standards in the women’s game relating to pitch conditions and access to physiotherapists. More research around risk factors is also necessary, as is implementing preventative exercises at the youth levels of the game.
Transfer Rumor Roundup
Summer transfer business is in full swing, so let’s catch up on some of the hot rumors currently flying around. First up, Arsenal is said to be in the final stages of signing Viktor Gyokeres to a five-year deal. Staying in the Premier League, Manchester United is reportedly interested in signing midfielder Fabian Ruiz from Paris Saint-Germain. Juventus reportedly is close to signing Jonathan David after his contract with Lille expired. Finally, Bayern Munich is reportedly preparing a formal offer for Liverpool for Colombian winger Luis Diaz.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City is down a spot to no. 9 in the MLS.com power rankings.
- Landon Donovan says he has insider information that there are building tensions between Jesse Marsch and both players and officials within the Canadian Soccer Federation.
- The New York Cosmos will reportedly be back as a USL League One team that is set to begin play in the 2026 season.
- Haslam Sports Group has sold a 10% stake in the Columbus Crew.
- A drone not belonging to the United States Men’s National Team was spotted filming training on Tuesday.
That’s all I have for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 7/1/25
Pride signings, OCB draws, both U.S. national teams in action Wednesday, and more.

Welcome to July, Mane Landers. If you’re like me, you balanced the excitement and dread of the USMNT advancing on penalty kicks the other night. It was one thing watching Guatemala take out Canada but a whole other level of heart palpitating stress while watching the U.S. avoid a similar fate. There’s no time to relax with plenty of soccer to watch as we head towards Independence Day. Before we get to the links, please join us in wishing Orlando Pride/USWNT defender Emily Sams and OCB defender Clovis Archange each a happy birthday.
Orlando Pride Signings
The Orlando Pride announced a pair of transactions Monday. Midfielder Viviana Villacorta and the club have agreed to exercise the midfielder’s mutual option for the 2026 season. Villacorta was the No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft. The Pride also signed midfielder Ally Lemos to a new contract through the 2027 season with a mutual option for 2028. The Pride selected Lemos with the No. 9 overall pick of the 2024 NWSL Draft. Orlando continues to lock down current players ahead of time. Now, we wait to see if any new players will be added.
OCB Earns a Point on the Road
Orlando City B played Philadelphia Union II to a 1-1 draw in a Monday afternoon match. Unfortunately, the Young Lions lost the end-of-regulation shootout 4-2 and did not get the additional point. Gustavo Caraballo assisted Jackson Platts on the early goal for OCB. Philadelphia equalized early in the second half. Carlos Mercado was the difference maker in the match, recording a career-high 12 saves.
USMNT’s Gold Cup Run Continues vs. Guatemala
The USMNT will face Guatemala Wednesday night in a 2025 Gold Cup semifinal match. The U.S. advanced past Costa Rica on penalties thanks to a stellar performance from goalkeeper Matt Freese. Guatemala stunned Canada with a second-half equalizer and advanced on penalty kicks. Guatemala has been the overachieving underdog of the competition so far. This will be the USMNT’s 17th Gold Cup semifinal appearance.
USWNT Hosts Canada
The USWNT will host Canada in a third friendly of this international window Wednesday at Washington, D.C.’s Audi Field. The U.S. is coming off two 4-0 victories over the Republic of Ireland. Canada should prove a tougher opponent for Emma Hayes’ squad. There is a possibility that the match will feature two Orlando Pride players — Emily Sams for the U.S. and Zara Chavoshi for Canada. Kerry Abello has returned to her club team after picking up a knock.
Free Kicks
- The Orlando Pride’s Anna Moorhouse is one of many NWSL players that may feature in the 2025 UEFA Women’s Euro competition.
- Kristie Mewis is leaving West Ham United after only four appearances in 18 months. He time was limited due to injuries and then pregnancy.
- Global players’ union FIFPRO has concerns about the potential intense heat at the FIFA Club World Cup next year.
- Botafogo fired coach Renato Paiva after Brazilian rival Pal defeated Botafogo in the Club World Cup. Paiva was only in the job for four months.
- USMNT midfielder Malik Tillman may be headed to Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
- Former Orlando Pride midfielder Erika Tymrak has retired from professional soccer.
That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for Orlando City’s match against Charlotte FC this weekend. Vamos Orlando!
Orlando City
Orlando City Striker Ramiro Enrique Hindered By Inconsistency
Ramiro Enrique’s inconsistent play raises the question if he can be the go-to striker Orlando City desperately needs.

Orlando City’s strike force has been inconsistent this season, to say the least. At times, the players up top have looked like they can score at will, but at other times, they struggle on chances they should finish. Nobody displays that inconsistency better than Ramiro Enrique.
Joining the Lions in 2023, Enrique has primarily served in a backup role for Ercan Kara, Duncan McGuire, and Luis Muriel. The young Argentine has had the occasional start, but ultimately ends up back on the bench, entering later in games.
Orlando City acquired Muriel prior to the 2024 season when it appeared McGuire was on his way to Blackburn Rovers. However, the English side’s struggle with simple paperwork resulted in the Omaha, NE, native returning to Orlando. It left Oscar Pareja with some decisions to make.
The Lions often employ a 4-4-2 formation with a single striker and Muriel playing underneath. As a result, the three forwards all saw plenty of action in 2024. Enrique started 12 games, Muriel 14, and McGuire was listed 18 times in the starting lineup. However, Enrique’s strong form near the end of the season saw him start 11 of the final 12 regular-season games and all five playoff contests.
Aiding Enrique’s playing time were injuries to McGuire. The 6-foot-1 striker suffered a shoulder injury on Nov. 9 in an MLS Cup playoff game against Charlotte FC, guaranteeing a starting spot for Enrique. As McGuire continued to work towards his return at the start of the year, Enrique took his place.
At times, it looks like Enrique is more than a substitute for Muriel or McGuire and can be the go-to scorer the Lions have struggled to find since Daryl Dike. But his inconsistency eventually returns, making it hard for Pareja to depend on the young attacker. That issue has been most noticeable during the two most recent games.
Putting shots on frame has been a struggle for the Lions this year, but it wasn’t for Enrique Wednesday night in St. Louis. After the Lions lost back-to-back games against Atlanta United and the Chicago Fire, Enrique was inserted into the starting lineup for Muriel. He took advantage of his opportunity in St. Louis, placing three of his five shots on target. He scored a first-half brace, giving his team a commanding three-goal lead after just 22 minutes.
In the seventh minute, Martin Ojeda sent a strong ball across the box that Enrique ran onto with perfect timing. He didn’t try to do too much, tapping the ball in on the slide. After Marco Pasalic made it 2-0, a bad turnover in the 22nd minute gave the striker a second chance. He was in on goal and made no mistake, slamming the ball past Roman Burki to make it 3-0.
The performance had many wondering if the team had finally found the striker it had been looking for since McGuire went down. But it wasn’t to be as Enrique reverted to his inconsistency with a poor performance in Saturday night’s 2-1 loss to FC Cincinnati.
The striker was unable to put any of his three shots on target, but that’s only part of the story. It’s how he failed to score that was the bigger problem.
In the 51st minute, Pasalic forced Brian Anunga into a turnover just outside the Cincinnati box. Enrique made a run toward the near post and Pasalic found him. The striker should’ve had no problem putting the shot on target, but he hit the ball with his left foot as his right came through, knocking the ball out of play for a goal kick.
He had a chance to redeem himself in second-half stoppage time with the Lions looking for an equalizer. Rafael Santos played a beautiful ball to the near post that only required a slight touch to beat Roman Celentano. However, the striker sent his header well wide, squandering a golden opportunity to claim a point.
These two games show the inconsistency that has plagued Enrique throughout his Orlando City career. He’ll look to be in excellent form and ready to claim the starting striker role, only to follow it up with a poor performance. It’s something that has held the Argentine back since his arrival and continues to do so this year.
Even more troublesome, it leaves Orlando City without a dependable striker. McGuire can’t seem to get over his shoulder problems, and he is currently on the sidelines again while he recovers from surgery on the opposite shoulder to the one he hurt in last year’s playoffs. Muriel and Ojeda often partner each other up top, but both are more comfortable in midfield positions.
Injuries and players in uncomfortable positions provide Enrique with the perfect situation. Consistent scoring would assure Pareja that he can depend on the 24-year-old to produce the goals his team has been searching for. But the striker can’t seem to put it together over the span of multiple games.
He’ll have plenty of opportunities in the near future to win the position he undoubtedly craves. McGuire’s absence due to injury and Muriel’s preference to play underneath means Enrique will likely get more playing time. However, he needs to show more consistency if he wants to hold onto the starting spot long-term.
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