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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Philadelphia Union: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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9 years ago

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Orlando City’s season is over, as is the five-game winning streak the club took to Philadelphia with them. They return empty-handed and it’s no consolation that the Lions didn’t get the result they needed from New York City FC game either.

The Lions turned in a rather tame performance, weathering the typical early storm but never responding with any biting attack of their own. A frustrating evening of officiating couldn’t have helped, but the fact is Orlando City wasn’t good enough on this night and somehow failed to register a single goal in two meetings with one of the league’s worst defensive teams. No one else has had any trouble scoring against the Philadelphia Union but for some reason Orlando could not find the net.

Chris Penso’s officiating was, well, interesting at times. For example, who gives two minutes of stoppage in a second half that saw Fabinho lay on the pitch injured for about four minutes in the final 10 minutes of the match? Penso came in with a reputation for being quick to go to the pocket, and was giving a red card every three matches. But I don’t think anyone saw eight yellows, a sending off and a penalty all being piled on Orlando’s dinner plate of woes.

“I was disappointed with the sending off, disappointed at some of the things we did, some of it was a bit silly,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath after the match. “I’m at a loss about the referee’s performance. I really am. I’m at a loss with it. I don’t want to say anymore, I don’t want to say anything about him.”

That’s probably smart because Don Garber is quick to issue those fines if you dare criticize those beyond-reproach PRO referees.

Here are my player grades from a really stupid game that should never be spoken of again:

Starters

GK, Josh Ford, 8.5 (MOTM) – Making his first MLS start, Ford was outstanding. He came up with several big stops early, including a pair of early back-to-back saves and a tap to push a shot off the right post. He did a nice job cutting off crosses and with his general positioning all night. He couldn’t do much about the penalty in the 41st minute and deserved a better fate than a 1-0 loss in his first league start.

D, Luke Boden, 7 – A good, solid outing for Bodz, but nothing too spectacular. Got forward when he could and his crosses were decent but nothing really stood out as exceptional. His corner in first-half stoppage time was plenty dangerous, but the deflection it took went straight to Philadelphia goalkeeper Andre Blake.

D, Aurelien Collin, 8 – Solid night for the big Frenchman, who did well in the air, per usual. Just about had a goal in the 37th minute off a corner kick but the whistle blew as the ball went in due to Seb Hines colliding with Blake. Made a few vital challenges in the box and was his usual stalwart self.

D, Seb Hines, 8 – Good night for Seb, who worked his tail off. Did bump the keeper which may have cost the team a goal, but it wasn’t intentional, as he was attacking the ball in the air. Got a bit out of position a few times but always seemed able to make up for it. Along with Collin, Hines did a good job of defending crosses and corners. Won a game-high six aerials. The team didn’t play well as a whole, but the center backs had a good night overall.

D, Brek Shea, 6 – Shoehorned into the right back slot once too often, apparently. Shea never looked comfortable crossing the ball with his weaker foot and was eventually replaced by Rafael Ramos, moving forward to take Adrian Winter’s spot at midfield for awhile. He got caught forward a few times and was forced into a jersey tug that earned him a yellow card. Just generally never affected the game from right back or midfield and was subbed off in the 75th minute.

MF, Cristian Higuita, 5.5 – Higuita drew five Philadelphia fouls. Unfortunately, he committed six of his own, two of which drew yellow cards. He was also responsible for the foul in the box that resulted in Sebastien Le Toux’s penalty, and, therefore, the only goal of the game. It was just a little nudge, but it was also unnecessary. All the breakup play and solid passing in the world means nothing if you can’t stay on the pitch or allow the other team scoring opportunities.

MF, Darwin Ceren, 6.5 – Wasn’t quite as sharp as his normal self on this night. Completed 87.5% of his passes and provided two accurate crosses and six of eight accurate long balls, with a team-high 62 passes. That part was fine, but he seemed a bit off with his positioning or a step slow on this night and that led to six fouls committed and one of Orlando City’s eight yellow cards. Didn’t draw a single foul or take any shots.

MF, Carlos Rivas, 6 – The Colombian didn’t have one of his best nights. Only one of his seven crosses was accurate and he continually was careless in his passing, knocking the ball off opponents’ shins time after time. Completed just 69% of his passes. Only one of his four shots was on target and that one went straight at the goalkeeper on a chance he really should have buried. Did have two key passes but wasn’t his usual dangerous self, drawing only one foul.

MF, Kaká, 6.5 – The captain didn’t get a lot of help on this night. He was sometimes playing chess while his teammates played checkers, not giving him the right movement he either expected or wanted. Hit 84% of his passes and a shot on target, but had trouble getting the ball in dangerous areas.

MF, Adrian Winter, 5.5 – Had one shot on target, one cross and one key pass. The Swiss had a low passing rate (66.7%) and stayed behind Kaká on a counter attack, earning a scolding from the Brazilian for not using his movement to open up space. Ironically, he did end up getting his shot on goal out of that sequence. Disappeared for stretches and was subbed off in the 61st when Ramos came in at right back, bumping Shea up to the midfield.

F, Cyle Larin, 6 – A quiet night for the Canadian international, who tallied one shot, but it wasn’t on frame. He made only 19 passes on the evening, his first touch was a tad heavy at times, and he had trouble in hold-up play. While it’s true he didn’t get a lot of help and was often isolated, and that he didn’t get the service off the wings that he’s gotten in recent weeks, this is one of those matches where you remember that for all the good Kid Fantastic did this season, he was still playing in his rookie season. I can’t say why Bryan Rochez wasn’t in the 18, but his absence (muscle strain) was missed, as there was no clear like-for-like substitute available.

Substitutes

D, Rafael Ramos (61′), 6 – Rafa’s insertion into the game changed the dynamic immediately but the Lions couldn’t take an advantage. Made two key passes and completed 88.2% of his passes, but also earned a yellow card with his petulance after being called for a foul. It was a frustrating night for everyone and it wasn’t the only challenge Orlando City got whistled for that didn’t appear to be a foul, but by now he should know by now to keep his anger in check.

F, Pedro Ribeiroz (75′), 7.5 – Came on for Shea and did some good things. Completed all eight of his passes and did well with the ball in tight spaces. Got two shots off, with one forcing a good save from Blake. Generally made the most of his 15 minutes, plus the two paltry minutes of stoppage time that Chris Penso allowed.

Those are my player ratings. Vote below for your Orlando City Man of the Match.

Polling Closed

Player Votes
Seb Hines 0
Aurelien Collin 7
Josh Ford 49
Darwin Ceren 1
Other (tell us who in the comments section below) 1
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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. FC Cincinnati: Three Keys to Victory

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

Published

12 hours ago

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May 2, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City looks to bounce back from the disappointing 2-1 loss to Toronto FC Saturday night at Inter&Co Stadium. Cincinnati has twice as many points as Orlando City and more than twice as many wins. FCC has only scored one more goal than Orlando City, but with only nine goals conceded compared to Orlando City’s 17, it’s easy to see why Cincinnati is sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference.

What I’m trying to say is that the task doesn’t get any easier this weekend. What does Orlando City need to do to secure all three points at home against FC Cincinnati?

Accost Acosta

Cincinnati’s attack revolves around Luciano Acosta. The attacking midfielder has four goals and five assists so far this season. To put that into perspective, Duncan McGuire — Orlando City’s leading scorer — also has four goals but only one assist. If we look at the Lions’ attacking midfielders, Facundo Torres has one goal and one assist, Ivan Angulo and Nico Lodeiro both have one goal and two assists, and Martin Ojeda has zero goals and only one assist. Luis Muriel is still at double zeroes.

The defensive midfield and the back line must do everything possible to mark him out of the match. It’s not enough to keep him from scoring, they must also keep him from setting up chances for his teammates. Most importantly, the defense must do that for 90 minutes plus stoppage time. There is no room for the mental lapses we’ve seen throughout the first part of this season.

Break Through

Cincinnati is stingy on defense. As I mentioned above, the club has only allowed nine goals this season. The back line is formidable with the likes of Matt Miazga, Miles Robinson, and Ian Murphy. On the wings are DeAndre Yedlin and Luca Orellano. This is a tough defense, and whether it is McGuire or Muriel who gets the start, they must find the spaces in between.

Just as importantly, Torres, Angulo, Ojeda, and Lodeiro — depending on who is in at any given moment — must be able to thread the passes in for McGuire, Muriel, or each other to create quality chances. On top of that, the Lions must convert on those chances, which is not something that has been a strength so far this season. If the Orlando City defense continues to give up cheap goals, then the offense will need to one-up the competition when it comes to scoring.

Deal with an Unknown

FC Cincinnati recently signed Venezuelan forward Kevin Kelsy from Ukrainian Premier League club Shakhtar Donetsk. Kelsy comes in as an MLS U22 Initiative player and is eligible to play against Orlando City. Even though Kelsy is only 19, he has 68 professional appearances, including UEFA Champions Leagues matches. At 6-foot-3, he can be a challenge for defenders, especially in the air.

Kelsy hasn’t had much time with the team, but he could be a second-half substitution for Cincinnati. Given that Orlando City just gave up two late headers against Toronto FC, the back line will need to be careful that Kelsy doesn’t hurt the Lions in the same manner — especially if he comes on late when legs and minds are tired.

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: 5/2/24

The Pride win big, OCSC celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month, USMNT news, and more.

Published

15 hours ago

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May 2, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

It’s Thursday, Mane Landers. Of course, the name Thursday comes from Thor’s day, and as such, it isn’t a big leap for us to consider it Thorhallsson’s day. Though I suppose that is a bit of a mouthful, so we’ll just keep things the way they are, but do hold Dagur Dan close to your heart today. Also, let us wish a happy birthday to the Orlando Pride’s Luana. Despite the devastating news that dropped about her health earlier this week, we hope that her spirits are high and we wish her nothing but happiness today. It’s also Dagur Dan Thorhallsson’s birthday today, so we’re celebrating him as well. Let’s get to the links.

The Pride Dominate the Courage

The Orlando Pride defeated the North Carolina Courage 4-1 in a midweek match at Inter&Co Stadium. The Pride did indeed dominate the Courage as much as the score line indicates. It was once again the Barbra Banda show, with the Pride’s newest player contributing a brace and an assist on the night. It is the Pride’s fourth straight victory and the undefeated run continues.

OCSC Celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month

Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are doing their part this May to observe Mental Health Awareness Month. The club is sponsoring and attending events and forums available to the general public, as well as holding club staff workshops around promoting mental health. I have to say my favorite is the therapy dogs visits that will be available to the staff. There’s nothing as good for my personal mental health as the joy and unconditional love a dog can bring. If I didn’t have dogs of my own, I’d be really jealous.

The Billionaires Clubs

Orlando City and Orlando Pride owners, the Wilf family, are not the only billionaire owners in the NWSL. There are more and more owners and ownership groups that fall into that category. The influx of more money is a growth opportunity for the league and potentially for those owners. It’s a bit of a “rising tide lifts all boats” mentality for these owners as they do better when the league as a whole does better. It’s not just the owners who think so. The NWSL was ranked No. 5 on the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2024. I’m just glad the Pride are in the club.

USMNT News

I hate starting off a section with bad news, but Sergino Dest tore his ACL in training with PSV Eindhoven and will miss the Copa America. Dest will require surgery though there is no time frame yet for when he may return. The loss of Dest is a blow to the U.S. defense heading into the competition this coming June. The USMNT plays Bolivia on June 23.

In better news, Tim Weah provided the assist for Juventus on Arkadiusz Milik’s goal against Lazio. Juventus entered the second leg of the Copa Italia semifinal up 2-0, but Lazio drew level before Milik’s goal. Juventus advanced 3-2 on aggregate and will play in the final.

Free Kicks

That will do it for today. There’s plenty more soccer to come this weekend with all three teams playing. Check back for more as we get you ready for those matches. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/1/24

Mason Stajduhar was arrested, Orlando Pride play at home tonight, Colin Guske discusses his signing, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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May 1, 2024

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,
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday and welcome to May, Mane Landers. Don’t forget that the undefeated Orlando Pride are in action tonight, so check back for our match preview and the latest episode of SkoPurp Soccer: An Orlando Pride PawedCast for additional pre-match coverage. In the meantime, let’s get to the links.

Mason Stajduhar Arrested Early Sunday

Orlando City goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar and his wife Tatiana Stajduhar were both arrested on disorderly conduct charges following an incident at a nightclub overnight Saturday in the early hours of Sunday morning. The couple were reportedly disrespectful to the club’s staff and got into an altercation with the security guards. Mason stated he was only resisting the security guards to re-enter the club because the bouncers allegedly hit his wife. Tatiana allegedly pushed the police officers after they arrived, and she was not charged with battery on a law enforcement officer. The couple were released Monday after posting a bond. Orlando City provided the following statement to WESH 2 News:

“The Club is aware that goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar was arrested early Sunday morning. We are currently gathering more information and will have no further comment at this time.”

Orlando Pride Host the North Carolina Courage Tonight

After a 3-2 win on the road last Friday against the Washington Spirit, the Orlando Pride are back in the City Beautiful and will take on the North Carolina Courage tonight. Unbeaten in their six games so far this season, the Pride have also won their past three games and sit fourth in the standings. They’re tied on points with a Courage team that beat the Seattle Reign Saturday. Orlando has scored at least one goal in every match this season. Forward Barbra Banda had a great performance in that win against the Spirit, so hopefully the scoring trend continues tonight for the Pride.

Orlando City/Pride Earn Golden Brick Awards

Have you enjoyed the new food options at the stadium? I know I have, and I’m looking forward to trying even more. The efforts made by Orlando City’s front office to feature more local food and beverage options did not go unnoticed, as the club won the Hospitality & Dining category in the Downtown Orlando Partnership’s 2023 Golden Brick Awards. The Orlando Pride’s 2023 Highway Woman Kit also won the award in the Arts & Culture category. The home jersey was inspired by the work of Mary Ann Carroll, the sole woman in the famed Highwaymen artists from decades ago.

Colin Guske Speaks On Signing First Pro Contract

Orlando City Development Academy player Colin Guske signed his first professional contract with the club last month and spoke on the importance of this moment in his career. The 17-year-old is now on an MLS NEXT Pro contract with Orlando City B, and he has started in nearly every game for the Young Lions this year. Both of Guske’s brothers have also played for Orlando City’s academy over the years, and he thanked his family for helping him reach this point.

“It’s awesome to represent the Guskes,” Colin said. “Thanks to my brothers for always pushing me through early mornings and late nights, always putting in the work, doing video sessions, everything. My sister as well, for always being there for me and my parents, too. They’re always helping me and what was the best for me.”

Free Kicks

  • Enjoy all of the sights and sounds from the Pride’s big win over the Spirit in the nation’s capital.
  • The Champions League semifinals are underway and Real Madrid and Bayern Munich played to a 2-2 draw in Germany. The second leg will take place on May 8 in Madrid.

That will do it for today. If you can make it out to the stadium tonight to catch the Pride in action, I strongly suggest you do so. Barbra Banda is about to take the NWSL by storm and you’ll want to see it in person. Vamos Orlando!

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