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Orlando City vs. Seattle Sounders: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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Orlando City’s home unbeaten streak of more than a year came to an end in emphatic fashion, as the Lions fell 3-1 to Seattle on the strength of a Clint Dempsey hat trick. Missing starter Kevin Molino who tweaked his hamstring in training yesterday, according to Orlando Sentinel reporter Alicia Delgallo, Orlando’s midfield never was able to get much control of the game.

So, Jason Kreis won’t go undefeated as Orlando City’s head coach. Apparently.

It hurts the Lions, who were poised to go above the red line with a draw or better, knocking New England below. Playing a team with only one road win on the season would seem to favor the undefeated home side but after an early goal by Seb Hines it was all Seattle and the chance to move up went wanting.

Let’s get to the grades from tonight’s 3-1 loss.

Starters

GK, Joe Bendik, 7 -€” Not the busiest night for Joe but he was left all by himself far too often. He made a vital save on Jordan Morris at the top of the box in the 44th minute and stopped a Dempsey flick in the 20th, finishing with two saves on five shots on target. Had some help from his goal posts late against Nelson Valdez.

D, Luke Boden, 5 -€” Bodz really missed Molino on the night, trying to combine with Brek Shea and later with Carlos Rivas, and not really being all that successful. His passing accuracy was 82.5%, besting only Seb Hines among the team’s defenders. He took one curling shot from distance that missed wide and didn’t create any chances. His crosses didn’t find teammates.

D, David Mateos, 4.5 -€” Had a lot of trouble with Seattle’s runners throughout the evening and he and his back line mate Seb Hines struggled with trying to maintain their high line. Nicolas Lodeiro and others were able to pick the central defenders apart by playing passes between and over the pair to Morris and Dempsey.

D, Seb Hines, 5.5 -€” Hines did well to get onto crosses on the night, including his opening goal, however, he missed a golden opportunity to throw the Lions a lifeline in the 71st minute, heading the ball down (as you’re supposed to) but directly at goalkeeper Stefan Frei. The ball bounced off Frei and along the goal line only to hit the right post before it was cleared. He was only 75.5% accurate on passes, but he did try more long balls than his back line mates. He finished with a team high five shots. Nearly sent in Shea all alone in the 65th but put a tad too much weight on the through ball. Like Mateos, he got blistered by the Seattle runners.

D, Kevin Alston, 5.5 – Earned a corner with good hustle in the 12th minute to hound Joevin Jones into a mistake. Had a couple of crosses for Larin that were served just the slightest bit high, forcing the Canadian striker to only be able to get underneath them. Led the back line with an 83.6% passing percentage, creating three chances.

MF Servando Carrasco, 5.5 -€” An extremely quiet night for Servando, which is usually a good thing for a defensive midfielder. He completed a team-high 92.1% of his passes but he was at least partially culpable for allowing Nicolas Lodeiro too much room to operate.

MF, Antonio Nocerino, 5.5 -€” Although he continues to look more comfortable every week -€” completing 90.6% of his passes and getting a shot attempt off tonight -€” the Italian doesn’t look comfortable defending in this formation. Even so, with a midfield of Dempsey, Lodeiro, and Ivanschitz to contend with, he led the team with four tackles.

MF, Brek Shea, 5 -€” Just 33 touches for Shea on the evening in 66 minutes of work, as he struggled to find space to play in and was often forced back rather than take on defenders. A switch to the right side helped some, as he started to come into the game more, but unfortunately it was just before he was subbed off. He created one chance and was one of the lowest rated passers on the team.

MF, Kaká, 7 (MotM) -€” The captain had to fight through heavy traffic all night. Without Molino to work with, he had Shea and Hadji Barry instead, and wasn’t able to create as many good opportunities as usual. His cross on the goal was vintage Kaká for his seventh assist on the year. He created three chances and had one shot, which was on target, completing 88.9% of his passes. He just didn’t have enough help in the attacking third. This is one of those “Man of the Match by default” things. He didn’t have a great game by his usual standards but it was solid enough if he’d only had some help.

MF, Hadji Barry, 4.5 – A relatively ineffective night for the rookie, who wasn’t able to use his speed much. A microcosm of his first half was standing and waiting for a pass, allowing Joevin Jones to run around him to reach it first and ignite a dangerous counter attack down the left flank. Had a team-low 15 first-half touches, showing an inability to find space where his teammates could give him the ball. He finished with the fewest touches of any starter. The rookie will have better nights.

F, Cyle Larin, 5.5 –€” The Canadian had trouble getting touches, as the Sounders paid particular attention to him, with both Chad Marshall and Brad Evans marking his every move. His passing percentage of 73.9% wasn’t particularly high and he often failed to read what his teammates were about to do in the final third. Got his head onto a few crosses but they were a tad above the height where he could get on top of them and drive them on goal. His runs were good despite the service lacking a bit and he did manage to win four fouls.

Substitutes

MF, Matias Perez Garcia (55′), 6.5 -€” Making his debut, the Lions’ diminutive new midfielder did make an impact in his time on the pitch after coming on for Barry and finishing with two more touches than the rookie. He made an impact, drawing three free kicks in good spots and creating two chances in his 35 minutes. For only having been with his new team for two days of training, he completed 87.5% of his passes, showing good awareness of space and movement.

F, Julio Baptista (67′), 6 -€” Although The Beast didn’t get a lot of touches in his 23 minutes (just 12), he made them count. His header in the 71st hit the crossbar, which led to Hines’ chance on the rebound. He drew a free kick in a dangerous spot and two free kicks overall in the attacking third down the stretch. He finished with two shots, which was second only to Hines. His passing rate was a tad low (75%) but he was involved.

MF, Carlos Rivas (78′), N/A -€” Wasn’t really able to get involved much after being introduced. He completed both of his passes, but the fact that he attempted only two passes and had only 12 touches says a lot about how little involvement he had. He created no chances and took no shots and really didn’t have much time to make an impression on the game.

That’s the way I saw the match. Let me know what you thought and vote for your Orlando City Man of the Match below.

Polling Closed

Player Votes
Joe Bendik 12
Seb Hines 9
Kaká 73
Matias Perez Garcia 31
Other 46

Orlando City

Orlando City, Nico Lodeiro Mutually Agree to Terminate Contract

The club is off the hook for an $800,000 salary and the Uruguayan midfielder is free to pursue other opportunities.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Veteran midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro’s days as a Lion are over. Orlando City announced that the club and player have mutually agreed to terminate Lodeiro’s contract, allowing him to become a free agent. Per the club, Orlando City has utilized one of its two buyouts for 2025 in this transaction.

Tom Bogert reported Monday that a deal was in the works for Lodeiro to join the Houston Dynamo, and this move paves the way for that to happen. As he was going to be out of contract after the season anyway, the Lions had limited options to sell the midfielder and in the end opted to free up room under the cap, allowing the player to move on to a situation where he could get more minutes.

“This was certainly a difficult decision as Nico has been a great addition to the team since joining us at the beginning of last season,” Orlando City Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi said in a club press release. “Ultimately, we feel this is the best move for both the team and Nico at this time. Nico has integrated in such a seamless way that it feels like he’s been part of our club for much longer than just one season. On top of being a tremendous player and teammate, Nico is a fantastic human being. Our doors will always be open to Nico, and we hope he can one day rejoin us and be an integral part of the Club’s future.”

Orlando City signed Lodeiro as a free agent on Jan. 4, 2024, after his stellar eight-year run with the Seattle Sounders. The hope was that he would step in and elevate a position that had been occupied by previous captain Mauricio Pereyra. Lodeiro managed 16 starts and played in all 34 regular-season matches for the Lions in 2024, but he was displaced in the starting lineup by Martin Ojeda. That relegated Lodeiro to coming off the bench in the second half in most of his appearances from August onward. His final start in the regular season came July 20, 2024, vs. New York City FC, and his last start in any competition was July 26 in Leagues Cup play against CF Montreal.

The 35-year-old leaves Orlando after 34 regular-season appearances (16 starts). He logged 1,697 minutes in the regular season, scoring one goal and contributing 11 assists, which matched his third-highest total in MLS. He attempted 36 shots and put 10 of them on target. Lodeiro completed 87.5% of his passes, which was his best-ever completion percentage in an MLS season, as he delivered 1,215 of 1,389 accurately. He also recorded 46 key passes, 20 completed long balls, and 20 successful crosses. On defense, he notched 36 tackles, 14 interceptions, eight clearances, and three blocks.

In addition to appearing in every regular-season match, Lodeiro saw the field in each of Orlando’s five postseason games — all as a substitute — and played 58 minutes. He did not record any goal contributions or shots, although he had the assist on a would-be Facundo Torres winner in Game 2 against Charlotte FC which was ultimately ruled offside. He completed 77.4% of his passes and accurately delivered two key passes, two crosses, and two long balls. Defensively, he made three tackles and chipped in with a clearance.

Nico appeared in all four of OCSC’s Concacaf Champions Cup matches, starting both games against Tigres and coming on as a sub in both legs against Cavalry FC for a total of 270 minutes. He took four shots (one on target), and provided a goal and an assist in the home game against Cavalry. He completed 86% of his passes and provided one key pass and the aforementioned assist. Defensively, he contributed two tackles and one clearance.

He also started one of the Lions’ Leagues Cup matches and came on as a substitute in the other two, for three total appearances, amassing 83 minutes. He did not score on his four shots (one on target), but he provided an assist in the 4-1 win over CF Montreal. He passed with 81.5% accuracy, completed one cross, and provided three key passes.

What It Means for Orlando City

Lodeiro’s departure after just one season in Orlando clears an $800,000 salary from the books, which is too sizable a contract for a player who would have been a bench player when the team had its full complement of starting players. Lodeiro is still a useful player, as evidenced by his double-digit assist totals a year ago, but he has clearly lost some pace and some of his effectiveness in the box. His goal-scoring has dropped off dramatically in recent years, although he is still a threat on set pieces, as shown by his free kick goal late in the CF Montreal preseason match on Feb. 8.

Ultimately, Lodeiro helped the Lions bridge the gap at the No. 10 spot between Pereyra and Ojeda claiming the job. Ojeda continues to show growth in that position and is coming off a one-goal, one-assist performance Friday against Inter Miami in preseason action. His departure will mean there isn’t an ideal backup for Ojeda on the current squad, although that role could be filled by Luis Muriel or Eduard Atuesta if need be.

If Houston completes the signing of Lodeiro, it would put the Uruguayan on a team that isn’t scheduled to face Orlando City this season.

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Orlando City Trades Homegrown Right Back Michael Halliday to the Houston Dynamo

Orlando City has acquired a first-round draft pick in 2026 for fullback Michael Halliday.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City announced today that the club has traded Homegrown right back Michael Halliday to the Houston Dynamo for the club’s natural first-round pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft. The move ends the Apopka native’s stay with his hometown club, which started in 2016 when he joined the academy. It’s the second time this year that the club has traded away a long-serving Homegrown player, having sent backup goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar to Real Salt Lake on Jan. 15.

Tom Bogert first broke the news Monday that a deal for Halliday was in the works between Orlando and Houston, and now it has been completed. The club will also retain a sell-on percentage in the event Houston transfers Halliday to another club.

The 22-year-old defender signed as the club’s eighth-ever Homegrown Player on July 15, 2020, coming out of the academy. At the time of his signing, he was the youngest player to sign for the club since Tommy Redding in 2014 at 17 years, five months, and 23 days.

He initially joined the club in 2016, playing for the U-13 side and made his way up the academy ranks, eventually reaching the U-19 team before making his professional debut for OCB on Aug. 1, 2020. He made seven appearances for the Young Lions that year with six starts and 561 minutes, recording an assist. He was an unused substitute three times for the first team in 2020.

Halliday’s first appearance for the first team came on May 29, 2021 in a 2-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena. He bounced between the first and second teams over the next four years, making 12 total appearances for OCB with 11 starts and 966 minutes, recording just the one assist. He made 43 appearances for the MLS side with 18 starts, recording 1,841 minutes with two assists.

The right back recently signed a new contract with the club on Jan. 16, 2024. It was a two-year deal that was to keep him in town through the 2025 season with club options for 2026 and 2027.

However, the Apopka native saw a significant decrease in playing time in 2024. After appearing 21 times with 12 starts in 2023, he only made seven appearances with one start in all competitions last season.

Halliday received his first season grade by The Mane Land in 2023, reaching the threshold with 1,109 minutes of action. After getting a 5.5 out of 10 for the season, he didn’t play enough to receive a grade in 2024.

In addition to his club play, Halliday has found a place with the U.S. Men’s National Team youth setup. He began playing with the U-20 national team in 2022, was a member of the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship team, and played four games at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

What It Means for Orlando City

Halliday was primarily a right back for Oscar Pareja’s side. He started the 2023 season on the right with Luca Petrasso on the left. However, both were soon supplanted. Dagur Dan Thorhallsson took over for Halliday and Rafael Santos took over for Petrasso. The left back also left the club following the 2024 season.

This trade might say more about another player than it does about Halliday. The club signed 20-year-old right back Alex Freeman to a Homegrown deal on Feb. 15, 2022. The defender has been playing with OCB for the last couple of years but saw significant minutes this preseason. The club might see more possibilities with the younger right back moving forward. Halliday had seemingly slipped to fourth on the depth chart at right back behind Thorhallsson, Kyle Smith, and Freeman.

After the club traded Stajduhar, Halliday became the longest-tenured Homegrown player at the club. With his departure, that designation now belongs to center back Thomas Williams, who signed a Homegrown contract on June 15, 2021, and a new two-year contract earlier this offseason.

This move gives Halliday an opportunity to compete for more minutes to further his professional development. The full value of the trade for Orlando remains to be seen and will depend on how the club uses the draft pick and whether a future Halliday transfer brings any cash back to OCSC.

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Wilder Cartagena Officially Out for the 2025 Season After Surgery

The Peruvian midfielder will miss all of the 2025 season after surgery to repair his left Achilles tendon.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

The worst fears about Wilder Cartagena’s injury have come to pass, as the standout central midfielder will miss the entire 2025 season after undergoing surgery to repair his left Achilles tendon. The Peruvian international suffered the injury in Orlando City’s preseason opener against Atletico Mineiro on Jan. 25 and had surgery at the end of last month, per his Twitter account.

Orlando City confirmed today that the injury will keep him out throughout the 2025 campaign and the Lions have placed Cartagena on the Season-Ending Injury list. The procedure was performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Steven Choung at the Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute in Orlando on Jan. 29.

“These are the first days for Wilder on the road of a long recovery process and we’re thankful for our partners at Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute and their amazing care,” said Director of Medical & Performance Gonzalo Rodríguez in a club press release. “We plan to fully support Wilder during his recovery process and help him get stronger and we look forward to seeing him back and fully healthy.”

Orlando City initially acquired Cartagena on loan through the 2022 MLS season. After a successful end of the year, the club exercised the option to extend the loan through the 2023 season. He became a key player in the starting lineup for the Lions that season, resulting in the club signing him to a permanent deal on Dec. 14, 2024. 

The 30-year-old native of Lima, Peru, is coming off a solid season. He appeared in 27 matches during the regular season (25 starts), playing 2,192 minutes. He did not score a goal but recorded an assist on his 24 total shots, putting eight on target. He completed 89% of his passes with 16 key passes, one successful cross, and 25 completed long balls. On the defensive side, he recorded 76 tackles, 20 interceptions, 42 clearances, and nine blocks. He committed a team-leading 48 fouls, suffered 28, and received seven yellow cards and one red card, which he picked up after the conclusion of the game against Minnesota United.

During the playoffs, Cartagena started all five matches, playing 431 minutes with no goals or assists. He took two shots, putting one on target, and he completed 87.2% of his passes with one key pass. Defensively, he recorded nine tackles, four interceptions, 11 clearances, and one block. He drew eight fouls and committed nine, and he was booked twice, with both being yellow cards.

In his first three seasons in Orlando, Cartagena has one goal and three assists in 59 games (52 starts). More importantly, he has formed one of the more cohesive central midfield partnerships in the league with Cesar Araujo.

What It Means for Orlando City

The Lions not only free up a spot on the senior roster by placing Cartagena on the Season-Ending Injury List, but the club could sign a replacement without taking a double salary cap hit. If Orlando signs a player prior to the roster freeze date (Sept. 12, 2025) and designates that player officially as an injury replacement for Cartagena, then as long as that player does not make more than the Peruvian’s compensation of $520,250 the club will not eat Cartagena’s salary budget charge.

Losing Cartagena is a blow to the team’s defense, as he has become one of the most reliable defensive midfielders in the league. His absence could be mitigated by Eduard Atuesta’s arrival. Atuesta is a better passer and has more attacking talent, so if Atuesta can play near Cartagena’s level on the defensive end, it would be huge for the Lions. However, it is unlikely Atuesta would be as adept at dropping into the back line and becoming a third center back when circumstances warrant it as Cartagena did last season to great effect.

Cartagena’s injury is unfortunate, but hopefully he’ll make a full recovery, which would give the Lions some coverage in case Araujo departs as was rumored throughout the off-season.

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