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Orlando City vs. Portland Timbers: Player Grades And Man of the Match

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8 years ago

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Defending champ domination.

In the return of Kaká to the starting lineup, Orlando put on a performance to remember, dominating the reigning MLS champs, 4-1. Brek Shea and Kevin Molino scored their first goals in MLS for Orlando City and Hines got another set piece goal (first of the regular season). Definitely lots to like from this game going forward.

Let’s get right into the grades from this fun match.

Starters:

GK, Joe Bendik, 8 — For the second week in a row, Bendik came up big. Huge penalty stop in the 43rd minute against Adi and a great save in the 66th against Valeri. He also stopped Valeri’s free kick in the 68th. I was going to give him a higher grade, but I knocked off half a point for being caught out on Portland’s goal.

D, Rafael Ramos, 6.5 — In one of the better games for the team, Ramos had his most disappointing performance on the year. Had a bad giveaway in the 25th minute that gave Portland a good chance on goal, but, just in general, Ramos had times where he was okay, but just hasn’t been himself lately.

D, Tommy Redding, 7 — Had to battle with Fanendo Adi for the first 45 minutes and did a good job of it, but ended up coming out for Collin after sustaining a head injury and feeling dizzy. Although Adrian Heath made sure to mention his performance in the press conference and said that he wouldn’t have subbed him off if he didn’t have to.

D, Seb Hines, 8 — Seb and his magical forehead struck again. With Kaká back in the lineup and on set pieces, it was only a matter of time before he knocked in a header. Besides scoring the first goal, Hines was impressive on the defensive end. He came up with multiple attack-stopping tackles and held Adi, Asprilla and Melano quiet up top. Would have been my MOTM, but came in a close second.

D, Brek Shea — 7.5: Arguably the best game from Shea so far this season. Had a goal to remember in the first half, his first with Orlando in MLS play, and seemed to completely control the left side of the field. Shea was not only able to get forward often, but his ability to track back and shut down counter attacks was crucial in containing the Timbers attack. Adrian Heath also commented on his play and mentioned his “mind blowing” athleticism and how he hoped USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann was watching the fullback’s performance.

M, Cristian Higuita, 7.5 — Another great performance from the young Colombian. He and Darwin Ceren controlled the midfield as usual and Higuita made some key tackles. He also helped out in the attack getting forward a few times, including helping to start the counter attack that led to Kaká’s goal.

M, Darwin Cerén, 7 — Much like Higuita, Cerén had a successful run about in the midfield. Didn’t stamp his presence on the game with challenges or memorable moments, but did what needed to be done and kept Portland in check. Importantly, he and Higuita both kept their heads and didn’t pick up a yellow.

M, Adrian Winter, 7.5 — Winter was an absolute workhorse on both sides of the pitch and helped Kaká create chances in the final third. Had a hand in setting up Kaká’s goal in the 48th minute, holding off Portland defender Nat Borchers, and brought some creativity and pace to the game.

M, Kevin Molino, 7 — Yes, Molino drew and scored a penalty, but he was mostly quiet on the offensive end. The reason his grade is what it is is due to his defensive plays that he made throughout the game. He tirelessly tracked back from his forward position and made some key interceptions on the right side of the pitch. Even if he hadn’t scored a goal, his effort around the pitch definitely didn’t go unnoticed. He still needs to pull the trigger more often though.

M, Kaká, 8.5 (MOTM) — In his first game back from injury, the captain didn’t disappoint. He was fully involved in Orlando’s attack, grabbing two assists — on Hines’ set piece and Shea’s bullet of a goal — while also scoring one of his own. What put him over the top for MOTM was the fourth goal of the night. After Molino drew the penalty, the captain selflessly gave the ball to him and told him to trust in himself. That goal could go a long way for Molino’s confidence, so props to Ricky for the gesture.

F, Cyle Larin, 5 — Used his body and pace as he usually did, before he pulled his hamstring and had to be subbed off in the 24th minute.

Substitutes

M, Servando Carrasco (24′), 6.5 — Came in for Larin and shifted back into a defensive role, which he played up to standard. Played a role in Adi’s penalty when his header hit Shea’s arm through no fault of his own. Had a bad giveaway that led to a couple Portland scoring chances. Connected on 80.6% of his passes. Got involved quickly, finishing with more touches than Ceren, despite not starting.

F, Aurélien Collin (45′), 6.5 — In the 50th minute, he overplayed a challenge that turned into an opportunity for Nagbe, but Hines was able to bail him out. Also gave the ball away which led to Portland’s only goal. Still, he had a few good tackles. His 57.9% passing accuracy is simply not good enough.

M, Carlos Rivas — (80′), N/A — Rivas came in and did exactly what you would need him to do in that situation. Brought speed into the Orlando attack and stretched the defense a bit, but he’s still looking for that first goal in MLS play. I won’t give him a grade since he only managed four touches and one pass.

* * *

Well, those are my grades for the match. What do you think? Let me know in the comment section below and don’t forget to vote for your Orlando City Man of the Match.

Polling Closed

Player Votes
Kaka 362
Brek Shea 23
Joe Bendik 30
Seb Hines 4
Other 9
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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

2 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

5 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

1 day 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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