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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Final Score 1-1 as Molino Scores Again

The Lions played much better in Round 2 against the Red Bulls in Kaká’s return but split the points after going down to 10 men late in the match.

Published

10 years ago

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Matt Starkey, The Mane Land

Orlando City is still unbeaten at home (1-0-4) but is now winless in five matches after a hard-fought 1-1 draw against New York Red Bulls (3-6-1, 10 points) in front of 31,264 fans at Camping World Stadium. Kevin Molino’s second-half goal rescued a point for the hosts, who played much better than in a 3-2 loss against the same opponents on the road two weeks ago.

The Lions (2-2-5, 11 points) may have been fortunate to earn the point, finishing the game on 10 men after Cristian Higuita was sent off late in the second half.

Head Coach Adrian Heath had more or less his entire roster to choose from and started the same back five (back line plus Joe Bendik), with a central midfield of Antonio Nocerino, Higuita and Darwin Ceren, with Kaká and Molino attacking behind Cyle Larin up top.

The Lions finished with a slight possession advantage (50.5%-49.5%), out-shot New York 12-5 (4-2 in shots on target) and earned seven corners without conceding one. The Red Bulls were good on 50/50 balls though, with a 69-44 advantage in duels won. It was a good performance, but the goalkeeping of Luis Robles and some missed chances by Orlando played a factor in yet another draw for the Lions.

“I thought we deserved more this evening. I’m disappointed for the players,” Heath said after the match. “I thought the effort they put in tonight could have warranted three points. But you never, ever underestimate a point against a really good team. I’m delighted with the boys this evening.”

As usual, the Red Bulls opened with high pressure that bothered Orlando’s back seven. New York punished the Lions for making slow, lazy passes, turning them over and building attacks. Still, Orlando got the game’s first good opportunity when Larin got behind the defense. He tried to chip Robles but instead the ball sailed over the bar.

Bradley Wright-Phillips opened the scoring just 19 minutes in when Sacha Kljestan threaded a pass into the box and Seb Hines lost track of the Red Bulls’ striker. Bendik tried to come off his line to challenge the shot but he could not get out in time and BWP slotted home.

Things got chippy in the first, with Aurelien Collin earning a yellow for a foul on Molino. Orlando apparently felt Ted Unkel wasn’t calling the game evenly as both Rafael Ramos and Kaká picked up first-half bookings for dissent.

After the goal, the Red Bulls sagged back a bit more and Orlando saw more of the ball, possessing the ball 52.7% of the first half. Despite more possession, the Lions’ attack broke down time and again due to an errant pass, a misread movement, or a timely Red Bulls interception.

Robles preserved New York’s lead in the 39th minute when Kaká found space and ripped a shot on target. The goalkeeper made a diving stop but left a juicy rebound for Larin, who fired low enough for Robles to parry away. Larin should have done better with the shot but it was a great save.

Orlando looked to have a golden opportunity to tie the game in the dying seconds of the first half when Collin fouled Hines in the box. Unkel pointed to the spot but the assistant referee ruled Hines just offside and yet another close decision this season went to the side not wearing purple, giving New York the 1-0 lead at the break.

The Lions picked up where they left off after the break, getting balls into the box but New York’s maligned back line dealt with them well. Ronald Zubar in particular cut out a couple of dangerous crosses. New York got an opportunity when Mike Grella was fouled just outside the box but nothing came of the free kick.

Kaká nearly put the Lions on the board with a near-post effort that got side netting in the 56th. Six minutes later, Larin headed over the bar as Orlando City kept the pressure on.

That pressure finally paid off in the 67th minute, when Larin got on the end of a Ceren long ball, cut into the box with a heavy touch, and the ball bounced between defenders, behind Kaká, right to Molino, who buried it past a helpless Robles to tie the game.

A few yellow cards later, Kljestan nearly broke that tie in the 72nd minute with a volley opportunity he hit over the bar. Five minutes later, New York should have taken the lead but a Felipe shot was deflected out off of Gonzalo Veron for a goal kick with Ramos defending desperately.

New York settled in and waited patiently after that, content to get a road point but a scramble just outside the box turned disastrous for Orlando City when Higuita was sent off for a two-footed challenge on Kljestan. The New York midfielder has now earned two yellow cards and a red card on the Colombian.

Orlando City got a final opportunity with the ball ping-ponging around in the box, but no one in purple could get on the end of it and the final whistle blew on a 1-1 draw.

The Lions are back in action in nine days with a trip to play Sporting Kansas City.

I leave you with a limerick in honor of tonight’s referee, Ted Unkel (who actually made the right call on Higuita but made a mess of a lot of other things on this night):

There once was a man named Ted Unkel
Did his job like a pile of junkel
He handed out reds
And filled fans with dread
And refereed like he was drunkel

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Opinion

Likes and Dislikes from the Fifth Week of Orlando City Preseason

Let’s examine some good and some bad from this week of Orlando City’s preseason preparations.

Published

7 hours ago

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February 13, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

We’ve (almost) made it to the end of another week, with Orlando City’s final preseason match against the Colorado Rapids looming large Saturday night. The season opener will be here before you know it, and things will only speed up from there. For the final time this preseason, let’s take a look back at the week that was and talk about what I liked, and what I didn’t.

Likes

A New Signing

Orlando City announced the long-awaited signing of Brazilian center back Iago on Saturday, making him the third and presumably final MLS U22 Initiative arrival of the off-season. While he’s only 20 years old, he’s likely to be one of the two starting center backs on opening day alongside David Brekalo, so him getting a couple weeks of preseason to get settled in is vital. It of course would have been ideal for him to have even more time, but transfer dealings with Brazilian clubs rarely seem to be straightforward affairs, and two weeks is better than none at all. Crucially, Iago played over 5,000 minutes for Flamengo’s senior and U-20 sides, so he’s no stranger to the professional game, and hopefully that helps him to hit the ground running as a Lion.

A New Kit

Continuing the trend of shiny new things, the Lions unveiled their new away kit on Tuesday. It’s a gold jersey with purple shorts that’s been dubbed the ‘Sunken Treasure’ kit, and it’s the club’s first jersey to heavily use the team’s secondary color of gold. All things considered, I quite like the new threads. As with a lot of jerseys these days, the finer details like the Lion in the background of the front and the two patches, won’t be visible unless you’re up close to it. That being said, those details look pretty nice in the close-up shots of the jersey that the club provided, and when viewed from a distance, the shirt is striking. I also like the decision to go with purple shorts, as I think going with gold all the way would be a bit too much.

Dislikes

All Quiet on the Rumor Front

Things have gone a little quiet when it comes to transfer rumors regarding Orlando City. The club still has a Designated Player slot that it intends to use on an attacker, but we haven’t seen any hints as far as who the brass might be looking at. It’s not necessarily a reason to panic, as the team has made it a habit to be methodical in the transfer window and hasn’t been afraid to take its time pursuing players it thinks will be the right fit, rather than rushing business and potentially making an unwise signing as a result. All the same, it’s always nice to hear that a specific name is being pursued, particularly when OCSC still has a DP slot burning a hole in its proverbial pocket in addition to some areas of the field that need to be strengthened with additional depth. I trust the business to get done and done well, but I’m also not going to pretend I wouldn’t love a juicy signing rumor or two right about now.

With a little luck, next week will bring a couple of positive transfer rumors and three points to start the season off on a strong note. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 2/13/26

Hannah Anderson challenging herself in Orlando, Luana called up by Brazil, broadcasting changes ahead of MLS season, and more.

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11 hours ago

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February 13, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Today is Friday the 13th, so make sure to steer clear of black cats, ladders, and any other bad omens out there. Orlando City’s season opener is next weekend and the last thing we need to do is accumulate bad luck before the Lions take the field. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and dive into today’s links!

Hannah Anderson Prepares for First Season in Orlando

Defender Hannah Anderson was drafted by the Chicago Stars in the third round of the 2024 NWSL Draft and spent two seasons there before the Pride traded for her in January for $70,000 in intraleague funds. Chicago conceded twice as many goals as Orlando last season, and now Anderson is challenging herself with an opportunity to improve as a defender with the Pride.

“I don’t really look at it as pressure, I think it’s an opportunity,” she said. “The challenge is what’s going to help me grow. When you’re never challenged, you can’t grow. It’s kind of like how you see that challenge. Yeah, it could be pressure, but I also think it’s exciting to be a part of a group that’s been there, because the experience will help you get there again.”

The 24-year-old also spoke on what it’s like to go up against Orlando’s attacking stars in training, as well as her decision to join the Pride while engaged to Chicago Cubs pitcher Jack Neely. With Emily Sams on the other side of the country, hopefully Anderson can have a breakout year to help fill the void.

Luana Returns to Brazil National Team

Orlando Pride midfielder Luana was called up for Brazil’s friendlies against Costa Rica, Venezuela, and Mexico in a few weeks. It’s great to see her back with the national team after all she’s been through and Head Coach Arthur Elias spoke on her return.

“Calling up Luana is a joy, but the greater joy was when she overcame cancer, a disease diagnosed during a period with the National Team. It was a huge shock for all of us. Luana has an incredible history in football, she is a woman of great strength, who showed this and set many examples for those around her,” he celebrated.

She will bring some experience to a Brazil roster that doesn’t include any other Pride players, although former Pride player Adriana was called up. Brazil has already secured qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup as its host, so the focus will be on playing quality opponents until then.

Getting Ready for More MLS on Apple TV

We’re gearing up for the fourth MLS season streamed through Apple TV and the biggest difference this time around is that MLS Season Pass is a thing of the past. It’s a major boon for fans, as all games will be through an Apple TV subscription rather than a separate platform at an additional cost. For those of us who like to watch MLS games at our favorite bar, an agreement with EverPass Media should increase the reach of the league in commercial venues. Saturday night matches with increased production value, announcers returning to the actual stadiums to call games, and the removal of the Spanish version of MLS 360 are some of the other notable changes heading into this season.

Nottingham Forest Fires Manager…Again

Just a day after Thomas Franks was fired by Tottenham, Nottingham Forest sacked Sean Dyche following the club’s scoreless draw with Wolverhampton this week. Dyche joined the club in October and was just nominated for Manager of the Month for his team’s results in January. However, Forest is just three points above the relegation zone and has now fired its third coach of the season. Vitor Pereira will reportedly replace Dyche as the club’s fourth coach of the season, which would be a league record. ESPN dove into how English Premier League teams that made multiple firings in the same season performed and it’s grim news for Forest.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau went under the microscope to field a variety of questions. I’m pretty interested in why Duncan McGuire would be the first person he’d call if he found a dead body in his hotel room.
  • Construction is underway at Camping World Stadium as it begins its $400 million renovation to expand seating and improve the facilities.

That’s all I have for you on this fine Friday. I hope you all have a lucky day and that all of your Valentine’s Day plans this weekend go off without a hitch!

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Orlando City

Ranking Orlando City’s MLS Away Kits

Where does the new Sunken Treasure kit rank all time?

Published

1 day ago

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February 12, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

With the release of Orlando City’s newest away kit, I thought it appropriate to rank all of the Lions’ MLS-era away kits to see how the new “Sunken Treasure” kit stacks up against those from the past. As I said last year regarding the home kit rankings, I’m no fashion guru, but I do know what I like.

I welcome everyone’s opinions on this topic, but since I’m writing the article, I get final say. Let’s rank Orlando City’s away kits.

Seventh Place

The Heart and Soul kit has the misfortune of coming in last place in the rankings. It is not a bad or ugly kit, I just think the others are better. For me, it’s the stark shoulder separation that I don’t like. It feels disjointed, like the color on the front was an add-on or that someone forgot to extend it up to the rest of the kit. While I don’t mind the three stripes being oriented front to back on just one side, I like the more traditional two-sided Adidas stripes formation.

Sixth Place

The look of the second-ever away kit was so close to being fantastic. First the good. The purple sleeves look great, especially with the gold ring near the cuff. And seeing the original Orlando Health logo certainly brings back memories. Now the not so good. I always prefer to have the Adidas stripes on the shoulder, though they’re not horrible running down the sides. The faux collar is the downfall of this kit. If it had a real collar it would be much higher up the rankings.

Fifth Place

The Sunshine Kit brought the first splash of color other than purple to the away kit. The way it blended into — or more accurately out of — the purple shorts looked very good. It also didn’t have the cutoff shoulder feel of the Heart and Soul kit. In fact, we get the traditional stripes with a ringer around the collar. It’s a nice touch.

Fourth Place

There is definitely something to be said about an almost completely white kit. The Origin Kit was so clean that it only needed two colors. Even the crest is monochromatic purple rather than the usual gold, purple, and white. Purple-accented Adidas stripes, cuff rings and a thin ringer at the V-neck are the only splashes of color to be found. It’s the type of kit you can wear out to a nice dinner. Just don’t order the spaghetti.

Third Place

You never forget your first…away kit. The amount of thought that went into the Inaugural City kit is impressive. It is seemingly simple and straightforward but full of little details. I love the overlapping collar with just a bit of gold. The Adidas stripes in the proper place and the original Orlando Health logo make this the classic it deserves to be. It might be at third place in the rankings, but it will always be the first.

Second Place

The new Sunken Treasure kit is striking. It is the first kit that uses gold as the primary color. The sublimated lion head is picturesque in detail. The Adidas stripes are in the right place, and the triple stripe at the cuffs and neckline are a nice touch. Paired with the purple shirts, I know that this is going to be a sought-after jersey for years to come. My only personal issue is I don’t look good in yellow. However, as I said on The Mane Land PawedCast, I will reserve final judgment on my potential purchase of the kit until I see it in person. I also want to add that the social media release of the kit was very well done.

https://twitter.com/OrlandoCitySC/status/2021252822549807290

First Place

As much as I like the new kit, it will be hard to ever top the Legacy Kit. We have the return of the Three Lions crest and the red color from the USL days. The very light purple used as the primary color is subtle, original, and looks really good. I like the three-color combo and button on the collar. The matching shorts bring the whole thing together like The Dude’s rug. This is such a departure from normal away kits that I literally have it framed on my wall.

There you have it. As for the kits, I’d love to hear how you rank them in the comments below. For now, you can select the spot where you’d place the Sunken Treasure kit in the poll below. Vamos Orlando!

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