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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 at Philadelphia Union: Three Keys to Victory

What do the Lions need to do to earn all three points on the road against Philly?

Published

39 minutes ago

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April 3, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City is on the road yet again, this time heading to Pennsylvania to take on the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park Saturday night. The Lions will look to get a second road win in a row after the smash-and-grab victory against the LA Galaxy. Things don’t get any easier with the Union sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference, but a win would catapult Orlando City above Philadelphia in the standings. Here’s what Orlando City needs to do to earn all three points against the Philadelphia Union.

Tie up Tai

Tai Baribo leads the way-too-early-to-call Golden Boot race with six goals in five matches. The Union striker has taken 13 shots, putting eight on target and the aforementioned six in the back of the net. He scored a brace in the season opener against Orlando to bag a third of those goals. It’s a pretty easy call to say stopping the league leader in goals is an important part of shutting down the Philadelphia attack.

It will be up to Cesar Araujo and whichever center back pairing we get to shut Baribo down. Of course, he’s not the only one the Lions need to worry about since the Union also have striker Mikael Uhre, and midfielders Daniel Gazdag and Jovan Lukic providing goals and assists. The point is that Philadelphia is second only to the Lions in offensive production with 13 goals compared to Orlando City’s 15 goals.

Formation Change

In the last match against the LA Galaxy, the Lions struggled to get things going with Luis Muriel up top, Ojeda at the No. 10 spot and Ivan Angulo on the left. Once Duncan McGuire came on, Muriel shifted back, Ojeda went wide, and Angulo subbed off. That really opened up the attack and allowed the Lions to get the two goals needed to secure the victory.

Perhaps Oscar Pareja could start things off like that against Philadelphia. Angulo hasn’t been great the last few matches, and perhaps some time on the bench will get his head straight. McGuire is still early in his return from injury, but Ramiro Enrique can start up top with Big Dunc coming in later as he has the last few matches. I think making this change could help Orlando City get an early goal on the road.

Vengeance is Thine

When the two teams met on opening day, the Union dropped four goals on Orlando City in Inter&Co Stadium. You would think it a completely dominating performance, but the Lions actually had more shots, more shots on target, and more possession than the Union. Philadelphia simply put each of its four shots on target past Pedro Gallese. That type of luck is unlikely to happen again.

Since that time, the Orlando City defense has stiffened — at least a little bit — and the team has been more difficult to break down. I’m not saying the defense is as stalwart as last season, but it has improved. Orlando City needs to use that four-goal drubbing at the hands of the Union to galvanize the defense to enact revenge with a multi-goal victory of its own.

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: 4/3/25

Martin Ojeda in the MLS MVP mix early, Orlando Pride players won’t play for Zambia this window, Tierna Davidson out for the NWSL season, and more.

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5 hours ago

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April 3, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this week has been going well for you as we gear up for a busy Saturday filled to the brim with soccer to enjoy. Despite my blender’s protests, I’ve finally figured out how to make frozen coconut mojitos and plan on having those get me through the rest of the week. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy 28th birthday to Orlando City legend Rodrigo Schlegel!

Martin Ojeda’s MVP Credentials

Orlando City’s Martin Ojeda placed second in Sacha Kljestan’s MLS MVP power rankings this week. With four goals and three assists so far this season, Ojeda leads the league in goal contributions and is a major reason why the Lions have scored a league-high 15 goals. It’s great to see the 26-year-old take the reins of the offense after Facundo Torres’ departure. Inter Miami’s Luis Suarez tops Kljestan’s rankings, despite only having a goal in five games this season. Tai Baribo, Evander, and Lionel Messi round out the top five in what could be an interesting MVP race this year.

Pride Players Won’t Join Zambia For International Duty

Zambia will be without four NWSL players when it takes part in the Yongchuan International Tournament in China this month. Along with Bay FC forward Rachael Kundananji, Orlando Pride trio Barbra Banda, Grace Chanda, and Prisca Chilufya were withdrawn from international duty, with the Football Association of Zambia stating it was due to additional travel measures by the current U.S. administration. FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga expects the quartet to be available for future matches and both Banda and Kundananji played in friendlies in Zambia in February. Restrictions like this may limit the appeal of the NWSL to foreign players in the future.

Fan Banned For Hateful Language Towards Banda

NJ/NY Gotham FC announced that the fan who directed hateful language towards Banda has been banned following an investigation that included interviewing witnesses and reviewing security footage. The incident took place at the Pride’s match against Gotham on March 23 at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The fan was found to be in violation of the NWSL Code of Conduct and their season ticket was revoked as well. Gotham also encouraged fans to report inappropriate behavior through the team’s encrypted text message service to inform the stadium’s incident management team.

USWNT Defender Tierna Davidson Out for the NWSL Season

American center back Tierna Davidson will miss the remainder of the 2025 NWSL season after tearing the ACL in her left knee in the club’s draw against the Houston Dash. It’s tough news for her, Gotham, and the United States Women’s National Team, as she captains the NWSL club and featured heavily in the Olympics last year. Davidson sustained an ACL injury in her right knee back in 2022, which contributed to her missing out on the 2023 World Cup. Gisele Thompson replaced Davidson for the USWNT’s upcoming friendlies with Brazil, and Pride defender Emily Sams will likely receive more playing time as the team prepares for the 2027 World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City received $100,000 in General Allocation Money in exchange for former academy goalkeeper Zack Campagnolo’s Homegrown Player rights. The Lions will receive another $100,000 in GAM if conditions are met, and they retain a sell-on percentage if Campagnolo is transferred.
  • San Diego FC added Milan Iloski on loan from FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark through July of this year. Iloski is a San Diego native and won the USL Golden Boot for Orange County SC in 2022.
  • New England Revolution midfielder Carles Gil won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his free kick against the New York Red Bulls.
  • El Farolito SC, which is named after a burrito chain and bar local to San Francisco, has reached the third round of the U.S. Open Cup for the second straight year. The National Premier Soccer League side took down Monterey Bay FC to reach this point of the tournament.
  • Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 to book its ticket to the Copa del Rey final, where it will face rival Real Madrid on April 26.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a terrific Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/2/25

Orlando Pride players on International duty, NWSL power rankings, USWNT friendlies, and more.

Published

1 day ago

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April 2, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. There is plenty of Orlando Pride news today, which is good considering we’re heading into an international break. That means we can look forward to some women’s international matches in addition to Orlando City’s next bout against the Philadelphia Union. Before we jump into today’s news, please join us in wishing Orlando City midfielder Cesar Araujo a happy 24th birthday. Let’s get to the links.

International Duty, Pride Edition

Four players from the Orlando Pride have been called up for international duty. Anna Moorhouse (England), Angelina (Brazil), Emily Sams (U.S.), and Zara Chavoshi (U.S. U-23 training camp) will all head to their respective national teams. Moorhouse’s England will compete in the UEFA Women’s Nations League, while Angelina and Sams will face off in a pair of friendlies between the USWNT and the Brazil Women’s National Team.

Pride Still on Top

It seems that there are more outlets providing NWSL power rankings every week, but as long as they keep the Pride on top, I’ll keep letting you know about it. Given that the Pride are undefeated, with the most goals scored and the best goal differential, it isn’t surprising that the club is sitting atop the official standings along with these “highly scientific” power rankings. Goal.com, Sports Illustrated, and All For IX all rank the Pride in first place just above the Kansas City Current. I suppose even power rankings are occasionally correct.

Orlando’s Various World Cup Ties

You probably know that Orlando wasn’t selected to be one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As disappointing as that was, there’s still a chance that the city, and Orlando City SC’s training grounds at Osceola Heritage Park will host team training during the event. The top notch facilities, plus the relatively close proximity to host cities Miami and Atlanta, make Orlando a good option.

On a more positive note, Orlando was chosen as a host city for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Camping World Stadium will see Club León vs. CR Flamengo, and Juventus vs. Manchester City. The Group H runner-up vs. Group G winner match and one of the quarterfinal round matches will also be in Orlando. There’s plenty to see and do in the City Beautiful, including some great soccer.

USWNT Youth Movement

Sams won’t be the only younger player in Emma Hayes’ lineup for the friendlies against Brazil. Hayes wants to deepen the player pool, which means bringing in players with an average age of just over 25 years old, and the average number of appearances is less than 35. Hayes also believes this is a chance for the younger players who appeared in the loss to Japan in the SheBelieves Cup. The first of the two matches is this Saturday at 5 p.m., with the second coming up Tuesday at 10:30 p.m.

Free Kicks

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Orlando City and OCB matches this weekend. Hopefully, you have two screens since the match start times overlap. Vamos Orlando!

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