Orlando City
Intelligence Report: Scouting Orlando City at Philadelphia Union

Orlando City will put its four-game, season-opening unbeaten streak on the line tomorrow night at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, PA, when the Lions pay a visit to the Philadelphia Union.
The Union are off to a 2-2-0 start after winning only 10 games in 2015. Not that the Lions had an easy time of it with Philly last year. Orlando City has yet to score a goal against the Union in Major League Soccer, drawing 0-0 at home last season and losing 1-0 on the road in the 2015 season finale. Neither team has a goal in the run of play in the series, with the Union bagging a penalty goal at home as the only tally between the two sides over the first two meetings.
The Lions finally got Kaká back on Sunday and in less than half an hour lost Cyle Larin to a hamstring injury. By halftime, center back Tommy Redding had picked up a knock in a clash of heads. So perhaps Orlando is simply never destined to play its first-choice starting XI. It happens. It’s soccer. Meanwhile, Philadelphia seems to be a team on the rise, despite their 1-0 loss at Chicago over the weekend. Weather conditions there made the soccer less than ideal and Warren Creavalle was sent off for the Union.
Here to help us scout an improved Philadelphia side is Eugene Rupinski from our SB Nation sister blog covering the Union, Brotherly Game. I’ve answered Eugene’s questions as well, if you’re interested in checking that out over on their site.
Who are Philadelphia’s key off-season additions and subtractions that we should know about and how have they affected Jim Curtin’s team and approach so far in 2016?
Eugene Rupinski: The Union revamped most of their entire starting XI during the offseason. They were able to trade players that didn’t fit the system (Cristian Maidana), didn’t work out (Andrew Wenger), or were just not very good (Steven Vitoria). Only five of the starters from the 2015 season opener are still with the team – and only two of those (CJ Sapong and Vincent Nogueira) made the starting XI during the first match of this season.
The addition of proven veteran players such as Ilsinho, Roland Alberg, and Chris Pontius help bring leadership as well as an upgrade on some of the talent up front. This compliments the addition of SuperDraft selection Keegan Rosenberry and USL product Ken Tribbett, who are both standouts on defense. This gives the Union an issue they’ve never really had before — depth. Having a group of guys outside of the starting XI that could come in and play at a high level has always been a luxury the Union couldn’t afford, so I think the learning curve will come in effectively managing the roster to get fringe guys minutes while keeping guys who start often fresh by giving them a game off.
Philadelphia is off to a good start, notwithstanding last weekend’s game in an intermittent blizzard at Chicago. Has the bright start changed Union fans’ views on what to expect from the team this season?
ER: The bright start has given some fans cause for optimism, however, this is Philadelphia. Fans here are used to teams either blowing the big game (Super Bowl XXXIX, 2010 Stanley Cup Finals, 2014 or 2015 U.S. Open Cup Finals) or being an absolute dumpster fire (last year’s 76ers, Phillies, or Union), so there’s always the sense that the other shoe is going to drop. There’s a portion of the fans who are even derisive toward the fans who had a sense of optimism and are just waiting for the Union to lose a couple in a row. But what can you do? Personally I’m feeling better about the team than I did at the end of last season. I think they’re going in the right direction, but they’ve certainly got a long way to go. There’s still 30 games left to play.
What kind of formation and tactics can we expect from the Union against Orlando City, and what do you view as the game’s key match-up?
ER: Look for the Union to go with the MLS standard 4-2-3-1, using the two central defensive midfielders as a double pivot. The Union are best on the counterattack, so don’t be surprised if Orlando winds up with most of the possession on the evening regardless of the outcome. The attacking midfield trio is dangerous regardless of which combination of Alberg, Ilsinho, Pontius, Tranquillo Barnetta, and Leo Fernades is put out by Jim Curtin. I think there will be two key matchups — the first is how Orlando’s defensive midfielders and center backs deal with the attacking threat of the Union’s midfield as well as CJ Sapong. There’s a lot of talent there — is Orlando up to the challenge? The second will be on the other side of the ball — can the Philadelphia defensive midfielders and center backs deal with Kaká, Cyle Larin, and Orlando’s high-powered offense? Putting up four on Portland is no small feat, and with defensive mid Warren Creavalle out on red card suspension, the Union may be a little more suspect to the attack.
What is your anticipated starting XI, key injuries/suspensions, and score prediction for Friday night?
ER:
Key injuries/suspensions: Maurice Edu (out – tibia stress fracture), Warren Creavalle (suspended – red card vs. Chicago Fire)
Projected Starting XI: Andre Blake; Fabinho, Richie Marquez, Ken Tribbett, Keegan Rosenberry; Brian Carroll, Vincent Nogueira; Chris Pontius; Roland Alberg, Ilsinho; CJ Sapong
Score prediction: It’s going to be cold (around 40 degrees at kickoff), and Orlando is taking a two-hour flight on short rest. 1-0 Union win.
* * *
Big thanks to Eugene from Brotherly Game for giving us some insight on the Philadelphia Union. Now let’s see if the Lions can score their first goal in the series.

Orlando City
Orlando City vs. Inter Miami: Photo Gallery
An album of images from Orlando City’s hard-fought draw at home against the Herons.

The Lions brought much more roar on Sunday night to face their southern rivals but had trouble finding the net, allowing the Herons to nick a point even while short staffed. None of Miami’s high-priced talent traveled for the match after facing Toronto midweek, and physicality ensued, firing up the sold-out crowd at Exploria Stadium.
Talking with some of the other photographers on the sideline who had flown in for this match, they rated the Orlando atmosphere top-notch; in their experience, other cities don’t compare to the in-stadium fan enthusiasm.
The Lions were in “the net is lava” mode, with Duncan McGuire and Iván Angulo each missing prime one-on-one chances with Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender in each half, McGuire leaving it straight at Callendar, and Angulo badly missing the net after a missed first touch. So of course Miami struck first, with David Ruíz scoring early in the second half.
This fired the Lions up even more and Martín Ojeda pinballed McGuire in behind the Miami back line, allowing Duncan to do what Duncan does to draw the score level. The Lions generally looked the more dangerous team for most (but not all) of the night. However, it is scoring goals that actually counts, leaving both teams unchanged in their respective Eastern Conference standings. Orlando remains second at 14-7-9, while Miami stays in 14th at 9-15-5.
The Lions continue to control their own destiny in terms of getting a top-four finish as they look to lock up home field advantage for a best-of-three matchup in the MLS Cup playoffs.
With home dates left against Montreal and a sputtering-but-dangerous New England remaining, there’s still plenty of time to be part of that world-class gameday atmosphere by going out to support the team as they push for a strong finish.
We hope that you enjoy these images from a hard-fought, come-from-behind draw against Inter Miami at Exploria Stadium.
Orlando City
Orlando City vs. Inter Miami: Five Takeaways
Here’s what we learned from Orlando City’s 1-1 draw at home against Inter Miami.

Orlando City returned to Exploria Stadium after a midweek loss to New York City FC and had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Inter Miami. The Lions did well to equalize after conceding first, but will likely feel that they left opportunity knocking as the Eastern Conference remains tight near the top. Here are my five takeaways from the third Tropic Thunder clash this year.
Lack of Execution Plagues the Lions
Orlando’s offense struggled to put the ball in the back of the net in this match. That’s not to say they didn’t create quality chances, as the Lions served up good crosses and dangerous long balls throughout the match. Only three of Orlando’s 16 crosses found their mark in the end. The execution just wasn’t there when it came to finishing attacks, whether it be poor decision-making when the time came to play the final ball or just missing the target completely. Of Orlando’s 13 shots, six were on target and only a couple of those gave Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender much difficulty. Ivan Angulo missing the goal entirely after Dagur Dan Thorhallsson picked out a perfect pass for him stands out. Expecting every promising attack to end with a goal is unfair, but weak finishing cost the Lions from claiming a big win at home.
Corner Kicks Gave the Lions Headaches
While the Lions didn’t have any corner kicks in the match, Inter Miami had seven and created some of its best chances with them. In the 61st minute, a corner kick taken by Robert Taylor found Leonardo Campana all alone in the center of the box. The Ecuadorian forward’s header mercifully went wide, but it was indicative of how Orlando had its hands full on set pieces. Pedro Gallese had to come up with a remarkable save in the first half as well after Campana barreled through Cartagena to head the ball at goal. Even though the Lions didn’t concede from a set piece, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s something focused on this week just to ensure the team is organized enough to overcome uncalled fouls without needing its star goalkeeper or some luck.
Plenty of Physicality in Rivalry Match
It was easy to tell these two teams didn’t care much for each other, as they both fought hard on and off the ball. There were 27 fouls and seven yellow cards handed out by referee Armando Villarreal. Miami committed 16 of those fouls and received five of the yellow cards as they did whatever it took to slow down Orlando’s progress. Facundo Torres suffered the brunt of it and was fouled four times so that he couldn’t work his magic against Miami’s defense. It was the kind of physical match that can be expected of two rivals and made for an intense match that will likely have players from both sides seeking an ice bath. The Lions did well to stay composed for a majority of a very chippy match.
Duncan McGuire Shakes Off the Rust
Forward Duncan McGuire got back to his scoring ways with a crucial equalizer for his ninth goal of the MLS season. It was an important goal for reasons beyond the scoreline as well, as McGuire had squandered a golden opportunity to score earlier in the match by not being able to get his shot past Callender. He was also kicking himself for not getting on the end of a few other chances as well. His 84 minutes on the field were the most from him in one game this season, and the Lions will need him more often now that Ercan Kara is in Turkey. It was the rookie’s first goal since July and, although not perfect, the kind of performance to build upon moving forward.
Orlando Showcased Its Depth and Versatility
Head Coach Oscar Pareja switched things up at halftime, replacing Cesar Araujo with Martin Ojeda and having Mauricio Pereyra sit a bit deeper in the midfield to potentially create chances on the break a bit quicker using his service. Although Ojeda didn’t get a goal or an assist, his presence was notable on both sides of the ball and he played a key role in Orlando’s goal. Having a player of his caliber able to come off the bench has been a boon for Orlando this season, letting Pareja really kickstart the changes he wants to make to the team. Similar things could be said about Orlando’s other substitutes: Junior Urso, Ramiro Enrique, Gaston Gonzalez, and Michael Halliday. Their energy and skill kept Orlando pushing for more and gave the sense that a winner would have come had the game lasted a bit longer.
That’s what I took away from Orlando’s 1-1 draw with Inter Miami. Let me know what you gathered from the match in the comments below
Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/25/23
Orlando City draws with Inter Miami, Viviana Villacorta out for the season, OCB wins last game of the regular season, and more.

Last night’s Orlando City match wasn’t the best, but it wasn’t the worst either. It’s a pretty fitting feeling on a Monday, as we all get back into the swing of the work week after a nice weekend of soccer. There are plenty of ups and downs from a rollercoaster Sunday, so let’s dive right into today’s links!
Orlando City Draws With Inter Miami
In the latest edition of the Tropic Thunder rivalry, Orlando City and Inter Miami split the points at Exploria Stadium in a 1-1 result. Miami struck first, but the Lions did well to find an equalizer, even though they couldn’t find a winner in the end. It wasn’t Orlando’s best game by any means, but it was a decent response to a 2-0 loss on the road to New York City FC. Orlando now has 51 points, tying its club record for the most points in a season, set in 2021. The Lions will have a chance to break that record on Saturday when they host CF Montreal.
Viviana Villacorta Out for the Season
Orlando Pride midfielder Viviana Villacorta will miss the remainder of the NWSL season after suffering an ACL tear in her left knee during training. The 24-year-old was selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft, but was not able to make her debut until 2022 due to sustained an ACL tear in her right knee that kept her out for all of the 2021 season. This year, she has 21 appearances across all competitions for the Pride and notched the first assist of her career in a big road win against the San Diego Wave on April 29. This is a tough blow to the Pride’s midfield with just three games remaining as she has ended her season early due to injury for the third straight year. The Pride are only a point out of a playoff spot and are back in action on Oct. 2 against Angel City FC.
Orlando City B Wins On Decision Day
On the final day of the MLS NEXT Pro regular season, Orlando City B won 2-1 at home over FC Cincinnati 2. The Young Lions had already clinched a spot in the postseason heading into this match, but the win secured their spot as the fifth seed. Jack Lynn briefly held the Golden Boot lead after scoring, but ended up tied at 19 goals with New York City FC II’s Matt Myers and Colorado Rapids 2’s Remi Cabral. The trio ended in a three-way tie for the league’s Golden Boot honors. OCB will hit the road for its first MLS NEXT Pro playoff game, although the opponent is not yet known thanks to the new rule where higher seeds choose which team they want to face.
USWNT Wins in Megan Rapinoe’s Final Match
The United States Women’s National Team beat South Africa in a 2-0 win at Soldier Field. Trinity Rodman and Emily Sonnett scored and the defense did well to secure its second shutout against South Africa after a 3-0 win this past Thursday. This game also marked forward Megan Rapinoe’s final game with the USWNT, with the 38-year-old subbed off for the last time in the 54th minute. These were solid wins from the USWNT following the World Cup and it will aim to keep the momentum rolling next month in a pair of friendlies against Colombia.
Free Kicks
- Three Orlando City academy sides came up with shutout victories this weekend.
- Before the USWNT’s friendly with South Africa, U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker stated that plans remain in place for a new head coach to be at the helm in time for the training camp in December
- American midfielder Yunus Musah did well in his AC Milan debut, playing all 90 minutes in a 1-0 win over Verona.
- A match in the Netherlands between Ajax and Feyenoord had to be abandoned due to fans throwing fireworks onto the field while Feyenoord led 3-0. According to police, tear gas had to be used to stop unrest outside the stadium after the match, and Ajax later fired Sven Mislintat, its director of soccer.
- Newcastle became the first English Premier League team to have eight different players score in a match after crushing Sheffield United, 8-0.
- Atletico Madrid ended Real Madrid’s perfect start to the season by beating its rival 3-1, with Alvaro Morata bagging a brace.
That’s all I have for you today, Mane Landers. I hope you all have an easy Monday and rest of your week!
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