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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. San Jose Earthquakes: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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8 years ago

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Orlando City came out with pride and the supporters were treated to an excellent effort with a gut-wrenching result. The team gave it their all tonight and that needs to be applauded. Many of the players laid down on the field after emotionally and physically giving their fullest effort.

The fans and community at Camping World Stadium tonight were the true players of the game. Here are our player grades and Man of the Match:

Starters

G, Joe Bendik, 6.5 – Made some big saves when he needed to. Nothing he could do on the Earthquake goals. He did his job tonight. This is the life of goalkeeper — do everything in your power to keep the ball out of the net and sometimes it just doesn’t go your way.

D, Kevin Alston, 5 – Slightly below average night for him. Alston looked at fault for the Chad Barrett goal in the 85th minute. His crosses seemed off and looks like the two games in the week caught up to him tonight. He was arguably Orlando City’s worst player on the field tonight not counting one of the subs.

D, Tommy Redding, 5.5 – It wasn’t his best night but it wasn’t a nightmare. Tommy was in good position for most of the match and did well to run down Quincy Amarikwa and kept him to a quiet night. Another player who looked gassed in final moments when Orlando City needed to finish off the match.

D, Seb Hines, 7 (MOTM) – Seb had his best game since preseason. Hines had a golden opportunity on a Boden corner kick in the 31st minute that he sent over. However, he was was able to redeem him self in the 66th minute with a headed goal off a Winter corner kick. He defended well and although this was a team performance he gets our Man of the Match by the smallest of margins.

D, Luke Boden, 7 – He was dangerous on the flank and he was making runs all night long for Orlando City. Boden’s services both from corner kicks and the outside were challenging the San Jose back line. Luke defended well and was the best player who played tonight and also played on Wednesday night.

M, Adrian Winter, 6.5 – Winter again was the workhorse tonight, running down balls and winning possession for Orlando City. Winter missed a great opportunity in the 36th minute when he was one-on-one with Earthquakes goalkeeper David Bingham, only to send it over the bar. Winter’s service was on point in the 66th minute when his corner found Hines on the goal.

M, Servando Carrasco, 6.5 – Carrasco had an excellent strike in the 56th minute that Bingham made an excellent save on in traffic. He possessed the play well and was in hard on tackles. He was at the wrong place at the wrong time when he tried to get his foot to clear a ball at the end, which deflected right to Salinas for the tying goal.

M, Cristian Higuita, 6.5 – Higuita connected most of the attack in the first 45 for Orlando City. He obtained his normal yellow card in the 69th minute. Connected on most of his passes tonight and did well with Molino to facilitate the possession in Kaká’s absence.

M/D, Brek Shea, 5.5 – Brek had some dangerous runs in the first half but wasn’t able to connect some of his passes. He looked more at home on the wing. Brek had a chance to clear a ball that could have ended the game, but he wasn’t able to get enough on it and San Jose was able to push forward one final time. Shea was gutted after the match as he and the team really wanted the three points.

M, Kevin Molino, 6.5 – Molino was all over the pitch tonight trying to fill the number 10 role. There were streaks where he was connecting the dots and creating in the attack and other times his first touch failed him. Molino was in the middle of it all as he drew multiple yellow cards. He could have put the game out of reach on the breakaway in the second half only to be chased down by Marvell Wynne.

F, Cyle Larin, 6.5 – Cyle’s blue collar work tonight might have gone unnoticed until 65th minute when he applied some pressure to a San Jose defender and forced a corner kick that helped to set up the Hines goal. Larin had some great runs that extended the San Jose back line. A couple of dangerous chances that he wasn’t able cash in on, though.

Substitutes

M, Julio Baptista (62′), 7 – World class touch and turn by the Brazilian in stoppage time. Absolutely brilliant strike by Baptista. One of the best goals of the season. He did well to hold the ball and came in and occupied the space in the middle of the field that San Jose was conceding.

M, Antonio Nocerino (78′), N/A – Nocerino did not play a factor in this game. He occupied space and tried to get the team to lock in after the the Baptista goal. The way Harrison Heath has been playing he might have been a better option.

M, Carlos Rivas (87′) N/A – Helped to stretch the field after the San Jose goal. He brought a spark to the team and his entrance helped to bring energy back into the crowd. His ball in to Baptista was amazing for only coming in a few moments before.

Those are the grades in this 2-2 draw. Let us know who you think is your Man of the Match by voting below, and feel free to add your comments about the game.

Polling Closed

Player Votes
Seb Hines 23
Luke Boden 12
Julio Baptista 50
Kevin Molino 17
Joe Bendik 2
Other 14
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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/3/24

MLS roster profiles revealed, Marta’s best moments, Kelley O’Hara announces her retirement, and more.

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2 hours ago

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May 3, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

Happy Friday! We’ve reached the homestretch of the week and I couldn’t be happier. A busy weekend awaits me, but I’m hoping for some quiet, nice moments to offset some of the hustle and bustle. It’s also another weekend packed with Orlando soccer to enjoy, so make sure to plan your next couple of days accordingly. But for now, let’s get to the links!

MLS Unveils Club Roster Details

There’s a little more transparency in Major League Soccer after the league released helpful snapshots of each club that detail the composition of each roster. From Designated Players and MLS U22 Initiative Players to international roster slots and contract lengths, the graphics are easy to comprehend and give a nice look behind the curtain on each team. Using this, we can see that Orlando City midfielder Cesar Araujo no longer takes up a U22 Initiative slot and that the team also has an open international roster slot. It should be a fairly nice reference guide for fans moving forward, as well as a way to check out how other MLS teams are building their rosters.

Emily Sams Earns Recognition as Potential USWNT Player

Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams was mentioned as one of the top 20 eligible Americans who have yet to make an appearance with the United States Women’s National Team according to Pro Soccer Wire. The shout out is well deserved, as Sams has helped anchor a Pride defense that’s only given up seven goals this season. Only time will tell if Sams will earn a call-up once Emma Hayes is at the helm of the USWNT, but it does feel inevitable given how she’s been playing. Other notable players on the list include Ajax’s Lily Yohannes, Washington Spirit rookie Croix Bethune, and Angel City FC defender Sarah Gorden.

Marta’s Top Moments

All For XI compiled some of the best moments from Marta’s career into a tidy top five. Considering how prolific she has been for Brazil over the years, it was nice to see a pair of goals from her time with the Pride receive some recognition. Both of those moments were from 2018, with her free kick to equalize against the Seattle Reign placing fifth and her solo effort to stun the Spirit taking third. It’s fitting though that the top moment on the list showcases the impact she’s had off the field, as it’s Marta’s emotional speech after Brazil’s exit in the 2019 World Cup.

Kelley O’Hara Will Retire After 2024 Season

USWNT defender Kelley O’Hara announced that she will retire from professional soccer following the 2024 season. Over the course of her international career, she’s played in four World Cups, three Olympic Games, and was named to the FIFA FIFPro World XI in 2019. O’Hara has played in every NWSL season since the league’s inception, winning the title with the Spirit in 2021 and again with NJ/NY Gotham FC last year. She joined Gotham as the first free agent signing in NWSL history and she is set to close out her illustrious career there.

Free Kicks

  • Curve Fragrances was named the official fragrance partner of Orlando City. As part of the partnership, there will be giveaways and product sampling at select games this season.
  • Wrexham’s women’s squad for The Soccer Tournament this summer will include a trio of former Pride players, with Bridget Callahan, Danica Evans, and Nickolette Driesse all taking part. I can’t wait to see if Callahan will make SkoRed a rallying cry at the tournament.
  • Orlando City won’t have to contend with FC Cincinnati forward Aaron Boupendza tomorrow, as he will miss the next six to eight weeks due to a broken jaw suffered in an off-field incident.
  • The Europa League semifinals are underway and Bayer Leverkusen extended its unbeaten run to 47 games after a 2-0 road win against Roma. In the other matchup, Atalanta and Marseille drew 1-1 in France.
  • American midfielder Johnny Cardoso hasn’t been with Real Betis for long, but he’s doing well enough that Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, and Borussia Dortmund are among the clubs reportedly interested in signing the 22-year-old.
  • Lucas Hernandez suffered an ACL injury in Paris Saint-Germain’s loss to Borussia Dortmund and will miss out on this summer’s Euros with France.
  • Reims and Will Still have mutually agreed to part ways, with the coach leaving now despite just having three games left in the Ligue 1 season. It will be interesting to see where the 31-year-old coaches next, as he had a notable 19-game unbeaten stretch with Reims last season.
  • Here’s a detailed dive into the obstacles Everton has faced in recent years, as well as how the club has avoided relegation amid another difficult season.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!

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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

22 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

1 day 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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