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Intelligence Report: Scouting Orlando City at New York City FC

Published

10 years ago

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Orlando City has two points in two matches. While two draws to open the season might have been applauded just a year ago, they smack of disappointment in 2016. The club had a man advantage for a significant number of minutes in both games and failed to capitalize. Too many chances have gone wanting and the final ball seems to be teasingly absent.

Still, another game gives us hope for that elusive first victory. Yankee Stadium seems an unlikely place to get it. Orlando City hasn’t fared well on the narrow baseball field configurations the team has seen in its first year as a Major League Soccer franchise (one in MLS and two friendlies against lower leagues). Orlando City won and drew NYCFC at home and lost on the road a year ago.

This year, the New Yorkers seem to be in better early season form than Orlando. But the game must still be played and anything can happen when Cyle Larin travels to the Big Apple. Here to help us scout tonight’s opponent is Jake Gofman from our NYCFC sister blog, Hudson River Blue. And if you want to see how I responded to their questions, you can check that out here.

What are New York City FC’s key off-season additions and subtractions that we should know about and how have they affected the team?

Jake Gofman: NYCFC focused on improving its porous defense this off-season, so many of our key signings are on that side of the ball. Our most high-profile additions were internationals, including LB Ronald Matarrita from Costa Rica, CB Frederic Brillant from Belgium, and CDM Federico Bravo from Argentina. I think Jack Harrison, who we acquired in the SuperDraft via trade, would be included as a big addition for the club but he has yet to see the field. We also added some depth on defense by bringing in MLS veterans Mikey Lopez and Ethan White.

Matarrita has been plugged into the starting XI and has played very well, doing an excellent job of defending on the outside and working the ball into the midfield following successful tackles. He has good control of the ball and has great speed on the outside, which allows him to contribute to the attack and track back when required.

Brillant, on the other hand, has had a shaky go of things to start his MLS career. The 30-year old was brought in to provide stability, but has looked vulnerable at times as he adjusts to MLS.

Federico Bravo is a big addition to the club because of how he allows us to play. He is a hybrid CDM-CB in our 3-2-4-1, providing cover at the back for Jason Hernandez and in front for Andrea Pirlo. Matarrita is likely our most talented signing, but Bravo may be our most important.

Many of the subtractions to the squad came from the defense as well, with our biggest being the losses of Angelino, Shay Facey and Chris Wingert. Facey and Angelino were expected to return back to Manchester City, so their departure was an inevitability. Wingert was a solid player who made 25 appearances for NYC, but his loss is not devastating and was also anticipated. The most surprising loss was our trade of CM Andrew Jacobson. Jacobson appeared in 33 games for New York, but was likely shipped out because the midfield was getting too crowded.

In all, I think NYC brought in much more talent than they lost, and the contributions from the new players have been encouraging to start the season.

NYCFC is on its second manager in just a little over a season in the league. How has Patrick Vieira changed things from the Jason Kreis days?

JG: All things considered, firing Kreis was probably unfair to the manager. He was asked to build a culture and philosophy with an incomplete squad, and it certainly didn’t help that two of our DPs sauntered into the team after their European domestic seasons ended. Kreis had a style he wanted to instill and the team looked like it was getting there in the summer, only for New York to stumble towards the end of the season. That being said, Kreis made some tactical and squad-related decisions that drove fans crazy, mostly with how he interchanged the defense almost every game. Many supporters questioned the firing, and the hiring of Vieira from the ranks at City Football Group was provocative to say the least.

Vieira gradually gained the trust of fans, however, with his transparent and humble demeanor. I think many supporters see him as genuinely interested in growing with the club, and his outgoing personality is a welcome change from Kreis’s prickly demeanor. Tactically, Vieira, like Kreis, wants to play a ball-control game that produces aesthetically pleasing play.

Unlike Kreis, Vieira has shown himself to be more aggressive with the formation. The manager worked with the team in preseason on implementing a back three with Bravo playing as the hybrid, and he only waited one match before implementing it against Toronto FC. Vieira has also shown his resolute nature early, sending strong messages to the players for what he expects. For example, he came out early and told the media that Lampard and Pirlo were not going to play together in a three man midfield at any point. Additionally, he has been critical of Kwadwo Poku and has indicated that Poku must learn the game before he plays with the first team.

So far, so good for Vieira, with four points out of six, but his hiring was certainly a bit of a shock and if things go sour fans may not give him the same amount of patience they gave Kreis.

What kind of formation and tactics can we expect from New York City FC this weekend against what is most likely going to be some variation of a 4-3-2-1 or 4-3-3 by Orlando City, and what do you view as the game’s key match-up?

JG: I would expect another three man back line again, with Bravo starting in between the midfield and the back three. The formation would be a 3-2-4-1 and it allows us to flex our muscle in the midfield and control the pace of the game. It can also leave us exposed at the back, and requires a full team effort for 90 minutes. This formation also highlights the importance of having athletic, two-way wingers who can track back defensively as well as initiate the attack and take their defenders on one-on-one. Khiry Shelton has been excellent so far in this role, and has provided plenty of cover for Frederic Brillant who is still settling into the team.

The key to the game will be these matchups on the outside. When Shelton and fellow winger Tony Taylor are caught out on attack, it leaves NYC exposed to the counter and requires strong one-v-one defending. I would anticipate Cyle Larin and Kevin Molino looking to exploit these opportunities and match-ups. How they play out on Friday could be the determining factor in the game.

What is your anticipated starting XI and score prediction for tonight?

JG: I think we see a similar formation to what we played against Toronto with the inclusion of Andoni Iraola at RB instead of Frederic Brillant.

Here’s our lineup prediction: Josh Saunders; Ronald Matarrita, Jason Hernandez, Andoni Iraola; Andrea Pirlo, Federico Bravo; Tony Taylor, Thomas McNamara, Mix Diskerud, Khiry Shelton; David Villa.

As for the match, I think both clubs have the firepower to make this a high-scoring affair. I see a 3-2 NYCFC win this, with goals coming from Larin and Molino, and on NYCFC’s side, from Villa, Shelton, and Mix.

* * *

Big thanks to Jake from HRB for giving us some insight on Orlando City’s fellow 2015 expansion side. These opposing team bloggers keep predicting Kevin Molino goals. It’s bound to happen sooner or later!

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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Atlanta United: Three Keys to Victory

What do the Lions need to do to win back-to-back matches against Atlanta United?

Published

13 hours ago

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May 14, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

This is a two-for-one deal since Orlando City plays Atlanta United in back-to-back matches in a four-day span. First up is a regular-season match at Inter&Co Stadium followed three days later by a U.S. Open Cup match — also at home. The Lions are coming off a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Union. What must the Lions do to earn all three points against Atlanta Saturday evening and advance in the U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday night?

Find a Defense

Atlanta United has scored 13 goals this season. That is the same amount that the Philadelphia Union scored after Wednesday’s match against Orlando City. As I’m certain you remember, the Union scored three goals in that match. It was an indictment on the defense to give up that many goals to the bottom team in the Eastern Conference that had scored just 10 all season entering Wednesday. The Lions now face a similar challenge of stopping a bad offensive team from scoring heaps of goals. Orlando City was not able to do that against Philadelphia.

The biggest challenge for the Lions — other than poor passing — is stopping Atlanta’s top scorer Aleksei Miranchuk. He has scored five goals and added two assists this season. His fellow Designated Player, Emmanuel Latte Lath, has produced only two goals and two assists but is still a threat. This is likely a historically bad Orlando City defense, but the players need to pull it together to win a match they should win and, hopefully, advance to the Open Cup semifinals.

Keep the Offense Rolling

Orlando City has scored 14 goals in the last five MLS matches and 18 goals across all competitions in the last six. As a result, the goal differential which was in the upper 20s at one point is now “only” -17. That is obviously still extremely bad but loads better than before. Given the shoddy defense I mentioned above, it is crucial that Orlando City continues to find the back of the net in these two matches against Atlanta.

Martin Ojeda is tied for fourth in the league with nine goals. Duncan McGuire, Tyrese Spicer, Justin Ellis, and Marco Pasalic all have three goal contributions so far this season. Scoring four goals against lower ranked opponents isn’t something to brag about, but it is helpful in getting results. Orlando City is likely to give up some goals and will need to overcome that with offensive firepower as the Lions did against Philadelphia.

180 Minutes

Coaches will tell you that they take things one game at a time. That is, of course, coach speak, though at least partially true. However, the idea that coaches don’t plan out farther than one match at a time is ludicrous. If Martin Perelman isn’t at least somewhat combining the planning for these two matches, then that is a problem. While he cannot predict what will happen in the first match, he has hopefully made contingencies for various general outcomes.

Having the two matches be against the same opponent makes the task both easier and more difficult. If the two matches were against different teams, lineups could be adjusted based on the tactics needed to approach the different players and styles of each team. With it being the same team, that is less of an option. There will be some rotation through the two matches, but given there are the same sets of players available — barring injuries or red cards — tactics are likely similar for each match. Orlando City has occasionally put together 45 minutes of decent play. Now, the Lions need to quadruple that.

That is what I will be looking for on both Saturday and Tuesday nights. This is an opportunity to build momentum heading into the World Cup break. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!

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Orlando City vs. Philadelphia Union: Five Takeaways

Here’s what we learned from Orlando City’s 4-3 home victory vs. Philadelphia.

Published

16 hours ago

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May 14, 2026

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Image of Duncan McGuire celebrating his goal against the Philadelphia Union.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City won a topsy-turvy and very nervy match on Wednesday night, giving away a two-goal lead but rallying to score a late winner and defeat Philadelphia 4-3. The Lions could have put the game to bed several times, but they clearly wanted kids to stay up extra late on a school night. Wins are wins, however, and earning three points is worth staying up all the way until the final whistle.

Here are my five takeaways from the match.

Ojeda Opened and Closed

Martín Ojeda probably could have scored five goals against the Union, but while he only scored two, the brace was enough to help get the win. Ojeda failed to score on two early breakaways but the third one was a charm, as he ran onto a Justin Ellis through ball and was subsequently fouled by Philadelphia goalkeeper Andrew Rick in the box, earning a penalty kick. The Argentine converted the penalty, giving Orlando City the early lead. Ojeda then had two decent chances to score midway through the second half but failed to convert either, and Philadelphia took that opportunity to score two of its own in rapid succession and tie the game. As the clock ticked toward stoppage time, Ojeda made a near-post run and headed Adrián Marin’s cross past Rick, restoring Orlando City’s lead for good and earning the Lions all three points.

Supersub Spicer Strikes Again

Our Five Takeaways from the previous game against CF Montréal noted that Tyrese Spicer generally performs better off the bench than as a starter, and wouldn’t you know it but the Trinidad & Tobago man came off the bench against the Union and made it four consecutive games with a goal contribution as a sub. Spicer led a three-on-one counterattack with Ojeda on his left and Duncan McGuire on his right, and drew in the defender just enough to open up space for McGuire, who took Spicer’s pass and converted it with a low driving shot to turn that three-on-one on the field into a score of 3-1 on the scoreboard. A dash of Spice was quite nice, as it has been in most of his appearances off the bench since joining Orlando City.

Couldn’t Control Cavan

Philadelphia had to make an early substitution, removing Jovan Lukic and bringing on young phenom Cavan Sullivan. The 16-year-old was electric against Orlando, creating five chances while scoring his first MLS goal and picking up an assist as well. The Lions could not contain him as he attacked down their left flank, and they were lucky that he did not pick up a second assist when Nathan Harriel’s shot beat Maxime Crépeau but was just a bit high and went off the crossbar. Neither David Brekalo or Marin could lock Sullivan down on the left side, and it was easy to see why Manchester City has high hopes for Sullivan in the future. Orlando City did just enough to hold him off and eke out the win, but Sullivan’s entrance changed the game for the Union as they outscored Orlando City 3-2 during his 46 minutes running Philadelphia’s offense.

D&D Played Their Roles Well

I do not play Dungeons and Dragons, but I am familiar with the role-playing game. And speaking of playing their roles, both Griffin Dorsey and Duncan McGuire fulfilled theirs on Wednesday. Dorsey got the start and constantly made aggressive runs up the right side, and could, and perhaps should, have scored two goals on the night. He “only” scored one, but it was a great instinctive play as he took the ball off of Tiago’s foot in traffic and roofed it past Rick to give Orlando City a 2-0 lead. Dorsey stretched the defense in a major way with how he played on the right side, and McGuire did the same when he came on for Ellis. McGuire was all gas during his appearance, scoring his first goal since mid-March and nearly creating a second with a great hustle play to block an attempted clearance from Rick. The D&D boys scored the two non-Ojeda goals and delivered max effort all game long, and if they can produce like this in future games, Orlando City may well be able to get this ship turned around.

Ellis Was On Point

He finished the game with nothing to show for it in the box score, but the Homegrown attacker had one his best games of the season against Philadelphia. Ellis was in complete command of the ball and constantly played dangerous balls to his teammates, giving the Orlando offense a dimension that it did not have early in the season. Ellis created two big chances and three chances total, and had Ojeda not been fouled in the box Ellis would have picked up his third assist, as it was his through ball that put Ojeda in on goal. Speaking of three, the Orlando City Development Academy product produced a moment of magic late in the first half, as he showed all the youthful confidence in the world by beating not one, not two, but three Philadelphia players off the dribble inside his own box (you might say he left them on Ellis Island), and just missed springing a breakaway with the long ball he attempted afterwards. Despite not racking up any goal contributions, Ellis was outstanding, looking completely comfortable running the offense while playing with and against MLS veterans, despite being only 18 years old (until today that is, when he turned 19).

Those are my takeaways from Orlando City’s “drunk OCB”-esque 4-3 victory over Philadelphia. Congratulations as well to Dorsey, who celebrated his goal with a demonstration that usually indicates a baby is on the way, which he confirmed after the game. The Lions do not have a long break, but at least they will play at home again Saturday night, when Atlanta United comes to Inter&Co Stadium in another matchup of teams currently outside of the playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.

Let us know your thoughts about the Philadelphia match in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 5/14/26

Orlando City beats the Philadelphia Union at home, MLS All-Star voting begins, Luan Silva called up, and more.

Published

19 hours ago

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May 14, 2026

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Image of Justin Ellis after he scored a goal against Chicago Fire II.
Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Justin Glatt

I’m not sure if my heart can take much more of these Wednesday wins by Orlando City, but it will have to persevere if it means the Lions keep winning. Now, if only we could find a way to trick the team into thinking every day is Wednesday. Before we get to today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando City forward Justin Ellis! The Homegrown Player started in last night’s game and turns 19 today.

Orlando City Wins in Dramatic Fashion

The Cardiac Cats were back in full force Wednesday night, with Orlando City scoring late to beat the Philadelphia Union 4-3 at home. The Lions never trailed at any point of the match, but it was a rollercoaster of emotions as they created plenty of chances but allowed the Union to come back time and time again. The defense continues to bleed goals, even if against one of the worst offenses in the league this season. Regardless, a win is a win, and Orlando will look to carry this momentum into Saturday’s rivalry match against Atlanta United.

Jeff Radcliffe, Original Voice of Orlando City, Loses Battle with Cancer

Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Jeff Radcliffe following his passing. Radcliffe was the original broadcast voice of the club, starting in Orlando’s inaugural USL season and continuing for many years across multiple platforms. Radcliffe had fought an initial cancer diagnosis that went into remission, but he soon faced another battle with the disease. We here at The Mane Land were appreciative of Radcliffe’s time and encouragement in our earliest days and we consider him a friend. We are saddened by his loss. The club honored Radcliffe prior to Wednesday night’s win over Philadelphia.

MLS All-Star Voting Begins

Voting for this year’s MLS All- Star team has officially begun and will stay open through May 21. This year’s MLS All-Star Game will take place in Charlotte on July 29 and will once again pit the best in MLS against the best players from Liga MX. Of the 26 players who will make up this year’s team, 11 will be voted in, 13 will be selected by Charlotte FC Head Coach Dean Smith, and the other two will be picked by MLS Commissioner Don Garber. Former Lion Alex Freeman was voted in last year and Martin Ojeda may be the Lion with the best chance at earning the honor in 2026. Make sure to vote!

Luan Silva Called Up for International Tournament

Orlando City academy goalkeeper Luan Silva was called up for the United States U-15 National Team’s roster for the 2026 Vlatko Marković International Tournament in Croatia. Silva has been stellar for Orlando’s youth teams and it’s nice to see him continuing to earn international attention as well. The U.S. will face South Korea in the tournament’s group stage on May 19 before facing Switzerland on May 20 and Portugal on May 22. The Chicago Fire’s Alex Bayraktarov is the only other goalkeeper on the roster, so hopefully Silva can get some solid playing time in Europe.

Keeping Up With European Title Races

All of the drama is in Great Britain, with the Scottish Premiership and English Premier League title races coming down to the wire. It looked as if Hearts would’ve clinched things in Scotland with a game to spare after a 3-0 win over Falkirk, but Celtic scored deep in stoppage time after American defender Auston Trusty won a penalty to beat Motherwell 3-2 and remain just a point behind Hearts. Celtic and Hearts play for the title on Saturday.

Manchester City won 3-0 against Crystal Palace to stay two points behind Arsenal in the EPL title race with two games left for both teams. At the other end of the table, the relegation fight between Tottenham and West Ham remains tight. Elsewhere in Europe, Paris Saint-Germain beat Lens 2-0 to clinch the Ligue 1 title, Inter Milan won 2-0 against Lazio to lift the Italian Cup trophy and complete the double, and Barcelona’s ambitious quest for 100 points in a season fell short after a 1-0 loss to Alaves.

Free Kicks

  • Julian Hall became the youngest player in MLS history to score a hat trick, lifting the New York Red Bulls to a 3-2 win over the Columbus Crew. The 18-year-old now has nine goals so far in this breakout season for him.
  • The NCAA announced that the Division I men’s soccer season will be split so that it takes place in both the fall and spring, starting in the fall of 2027.
  • The Chicago Fire’s new stadium, which is set to open in 2028, will be known as McDonald’s Park after a partnership between the club and the fast-food giant. Forgive the pun, but I think this makes St. Louis City their archrival.
  • Just a few months after resigning from the position due to a family health issue, Dick Advocaat was hired by Curacao once more to serve as its head coach before the World Cup. The 78-year-old will be the oldest head coach in World Cup history when Curacao makes its tournament debut against Germany on June 14.
  • If you’re a tactic fanatic, you’ll love this analytical dive into the impediment of goalkeepers on corner kicks in the EPL. From the graphics to the term “meat wall era,” the article is a fantastic read.
  • FIFA is reportedly axing the single-player walkouts that were done before Club World Cup games, although another new format may be coming. I have no clue why FIFA is intent on fiddling with that part of the proceedings, but I’m sure it will end up being sponsored by the time the World Cup gets here.

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

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