Orlando City
Orlando City at Chicago Fire: Final Score 2-2 as Lions Let Lead Slip Away Late Again
Kaká and Cyle Larin found the back of the net, but the Lions lost their lead to a resilient Chicago side and poor set piece defense.
Orlando City went into Toyota Park needing a win to propel the team ahead of the New England Revolution and D.C. United and into the final playoff position in the Eastern Conference. The Lions (5-6-12, 27 points) had to settle for a 2-2 draw with the last-place Chicago Fire (4-11-7, 19 points) after failing to convert on their opportunities and breaking down on a late Chicago set piece. Orlando is in the midst of a 10-game winless streak on the road (0-5-5) since winning its first away match of the year.
It was a poor start for Orlando. After some nervy passing, Tommy Redding — playing for the suspended David Mateos (yellow card accumulation) — fouled David Accam at the edge of the area to set up a dangerous free kick that Bendik managed to punch free. The rebound landed at the feet of Fire midfielder John Goossens, who let loose a low blast from long distance that pinged off the post and past Bendik just six minutes into the match. For all the highlight saves Bendik has made this season, Goossens’ shot from well outside the area is one he’d no doubt like to have back.
Orlando responded quickly, lobbing passes over the defense until one finally found the foot of Cyle Larin. Kaká chipped a perfectly weighted ball over the top and the Canadian managed to get his left foot to the ball, poking it just out of reach of UCF alum Sean Johnson to level it for the Lions, just three minutes later. The goal brought Larin’s total to 12 for the season and was his fourth in the last five matches.
Orlando almost immediately managed to give a goal away as Servando Carrasco slipped on the turf and the ball dropped fortuitously to Accam, who used his speed to round Seb Hines. Luckily, Bendik managed to parry the attempt and relieve the danger. Bendik was tested constantly by Goossens and Accam during the first half, but managed to hold the Fire to one goal at the break.
The offensive game plan was to feed Kaká on the left, running the offense through the Brazilian even from the wide areas. The captain sent ball after ball into the area but couldn’t quite find Larin or Brek Shea on the other end. Johan Kappelhof did well to keep the Orlando captain at bay for the Fire, closing him down before he could get into dangerous positions.
Kappelhof couldn’t do anything on Orlando’s second goal, though. Matias Perez Garcia, in his first start for Orlando, found Carrasco on the right wing, who sent in a cross that reached Larin, but the Canadian striker’s header glanced off the left post. Kaká was there on the second chance and calmly put the ball in the roof of the net to give Orlando the lead. Kaká now has four goals this year, good enough for third on the team behind Larin and Kevin Molino. The captain managed to get all three of his shots on target and finished with a goal and an assist.
Perez Garcia almost created a third goal just before halftime, sliding in to intercept a Chicago pass from Eric Gehrig. Kaká picked up the loose ball and was through on goal. He crossed for Shea, but it was behind the winger and went across the box harmlessly. The Argentine did well in possession and used his vision to pull the strings in midfield whenever he saw the ball before being taken off for Molino in the second half.
Orlando did not start the second half well, either. The Fire saw the majority of possession and Orlando committed various fouls in dangerous areas. Kaká decided to change that, making a run the length of the field, sending Gehrig to the turf as he reached the end line before sending a cross in to Larin that just missed. Kaká seemed willing to shoulder the majority of the offensive load, testing Johnson from distance a few minutes later and forcing a diving save.
Redding had the unenviable task of keeping Accam in check and was booked for his troubles in the 18th minute. Redding finished with two fouls conceded and the speedy Ghanaian got the best of him a few times, but Orlando’s Homegrown defender managed to keep Accam off the scoreboard before Jason Kreis replaced him with Jose Aja near the hour mark for the Uruguayan’s debut.
Cristian Higuita’s return to the starting lineup didn’t last much longer, as he went down injured and was helped off the field in the 61st. Tony Rocha made his MLS debut after appearing twice with the first team in the U.S. Open Cup.
Larin almost bagged his second shortly after, but Johnson came off his line to stuff the Canadian and managed to keep him away from the ball long enough to collect it. Larin took a hit on the challenge, but referee Mark Geiger decided not to call a penalty. Orlando applied consistent pressure on the Chicago back line for the next 10 minutes with a combination of Molino, Rocha, and Kaká that tested Johnson but couldn’t produce a goal. Orlando commanded possession for the majority of the match with 54.7%, but the Lions couldn’t put the game away.
Chicago found the equalizer in the 79th minute. Fire defender Brandon Vincent found Razvan Cocis on a corner, who beat Bendik with a point-blank header to level the score.
For all of Orlando’s promise on offense, the defense couldn’t keep the Fire off the board. Aja gave the Fire life at the death, committing a foul on the edge of the area and earning a yellow card, but Accam’s ensuing attempt sailed wide of the mark.
The last few minutes of the match were filled with Chicago chances and not many threatening attempts by the Lions. The Fire appealed for a penalty when Boden collided with Arturo Alvarez, but Geiger let play continue. When the final whistle sounded, it was a disappointing result for Kreis’ men against a Chicago side floundering at the bottom of the table. The Lions still find themselves on the wrong side of the red line, behind D.C. United on the total wins tiebreaker.
Next week, Orlando travels to Commerce City, CO, to take on this year’s surprise contenders, the Colorado Rapids. You can catch the match Saturday at 9 p.m.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/2/24
Orlando City’s playoff run ends, Barbra Banda nominated for Best FIFA Women’s Player, USWNT draws against England, and more.
Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all of you had a good Thanksgiving weekend spent with your family and loved ones. Under Armour kept me busy all weekend, along with working at Wrigley Field for the Northwestern and Illinois college football game. Let’s all wish Orlando City goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar a happy birthday! It was frustrating to see Orlando City’s season end over the weekend, but let’s get to the links to catch up on all of the action.
Lions Fall to the New York Red Bulls in MLS Playoffs
Orlando City’s 2024 MLS playoff run ended on Saturday after a 1-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls at Inter&Co Stadium in the Eastern Conference final. Andres Reyes scored the lone goal to seal the win for the Red Bulls to advance to the MLS Cup final for the second time in club history. It’s the second time this postseason that the Lions have been shut out. Orlando didn’t beat the Red Bulls at all this year, drawing 1-1 at home and falling 1-0 on the road during the regular season prior to this playoff match. Orlando’s 2024 season ends just one round before reaching what would have been its first MLS Cup final appearance. Considering how Orlando’s season started, turning things around to finish as one of the final four teams in the playoffs gives the Lions something to build on next year.
Barbra Banda Nominated for Best FIFA Women’s Player Award
Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda has been nominated for the 2024 Best FIFA Women’s Player Award. Banda is coming off a stellar season in her first year with the Pride, leading the club with 17 goals and scoring the winning goal against the Washington Spirit to seal Orlando’s first NWSL Championship title. She scored a hat trick for Zambia in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris against Australia as well. USWNT players Sophia Smith, Lindsey Horan, Mallory Swanson, and Trinity Rodman are also in contention for the award. Other notable players nominated are last year’s winner, Aitana Bonmati, Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze, and Jamaican forward Khadija Shaw.
LA Galaxy Beat Seattle Sounders to Reach MLS Cup Final
In the Western Conference final, the LA Galaxy defeated the Seattle Sounders 1-0 on Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park. Dejan Joveljic scored a late goal in the second half to seal the win for the Galaxy and clinch a spot in the MLS Cup final. Joveljic has scored five goals in the postseason and the Galaxy return to the MLS Cup final for the first time since 2014. Riqui Puig added the assist on Joveljic’s goal and has three assists and four goals this postseason. Unfortunately, Puig suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during the match and will miss the final when the Galaxy host the Red Bulls on Saturday.
USWNT and England Play to Scoreless Draw in Friendly
On Saturday, the United States Women’s National Team fought to a scoreless draw against England in front of a record crowd at Wembley Stadium. The USWNT thought it had scored a goal in the second half courtesy of Lindsey Horan, but the goal was waived off due to offside. The USWNT was also given a penalty kick after it appeared defender Alex Greenwood handled the ball, but the decision was overturned after a VAR check. The USWNT will travel to The Hague to take on the Netherlands tomorrow at ADO Den Haag Stadium at 2:45 p.m. for its final match to close out the year.
Scouting Report on the Netherlands
Stars and Stripes FC unveiled its scouting report on the Netherlands. The USWNT will face the Netherlands for the 11th time, winning eight of the past matches. Their last meeting was a 1-1 draw in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup group stage. Some notable names on the Dutch roster include forward Chasity Grant, goalkeeper Lize Kop, and defender Dominique Janssen. Kop is known for her quickness to get to the ground and possesses the physical strength to absorb contact from her opponents when going after aerial balls. Veteran defender Danielle van de Donk is another player to keep an eye out for, as she can still provide a spark and identify gaps in the opposition’s defense. Even though this is a friendly, this match will provide another test for Head Coach Emma Hayes to give opportunities to the younger players while building chemistry for the squad.
Free Kicks
- Orlando Pride midfielder Angelina and forward Adriana were both in action for Brazil in a friendly on Sunday. Brazil won 2-1 over Australia.
- Christian Pulisic added an assist over the weekend to help AC Milan defeat Empoli 3-0 and extend its unbeaten run to six matches across all competitions.
- The match between Fiorentina and Inter Milan was suspended in the first half after midfielder Edoardo Bove collapsed during the match and was rushed to the hospital. The match was abandoned shortly afterward.
- Bayern Munich defender and Canadian national team captain Alphonso Davies has been banned from driving in Germany for one month after being found to be driving under the influence of alcohol.
- Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane strained his hamstring during Saturday’s match against Borussia Dortmund and had to be subbed off in the first half. The club has stated he will be out for the time being, and didn’t indicate when he could return.
- Despite being down to 10-men early in the first half, Botafogo defeated Atletico Mineiro 3-1 to win its first Copa Libertadores title.
- Manchester City was defeated by Liverpool 2-0 on Sunday, extending its winless streak to seven matches across all competitions.
- Toronto FC Head Coach John Herdman resigned over the weekend, leaving the club after just 15 months.
- Saudi Arabia is reportedly set to host the 2034 World Cup, which would be played in the winter months. FIFA is expected to announce the hosts of the 2030 and 2034 World Cups on Dec. 11.
- That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday and I’ll see you next time.
Orlando City
Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Five Takeaways
Here’s what we learned from Orlando City’s disappointing playoff exit against the Red Bulls.
Orlando City looked to advance to the MLS Cup final as the club hosted the Eastern Conference final for the first time in its history. Unfortunately, for the sold-out crowd at Inter&Co Stadium, the Lions came up just short and lost a 1-0 defensive battle to the New York Red Bulls. Getting to the Eastern Conference final is no small achievement, but the loss likely leaves many with a sense of “what if,” as the postseason finally has arrived. What follows are our final five takeaways of the Lions’ 10th year in MLS.
Bland Start
For a team that usually does not dominate possession, the Red Bulls came out of the gate on the front foot and likely surprised Orlando City with their early aggression. The Red Bulls started the game with the type of drive and desire that I would have assumed to see from Orlando City as the results during the playoff run where OCSC has been the aggressor were far more desirable. Instead, Orlando looked content to let the visitors dictate the pace of the game and attempted to find attacks on the counter. While there were some such chances, they proved unsuccessful.
Lack of Connectivity
Throughout the match, Orlando committed many careless giveaways. Several of these came in the team’s defensive third throughout the first quarter hour of play, but as the game wore on, some promising buildups collapsed with errant passes in the attacking half. The Lions’ passing rate in the first half was below 75%, which is uncharacteristic of their usual quality. While New York’s pressure was responsible for some of that, Orlando City players looked at times like they expected different runs or positioning from their teammates once they started to enter the final third.
Golden Opportunity Missed
Orlando City grew into the first half and started to inject more of its preferred style of play as the game hit the half-hour mark. Orlando’s best chance came in the 32nd minute when a pass from Wilder Cartagena released Designated Player Martin Ojeda down the left side of the field. Ojeda did well to run onto the ball with pace and draw the remaining two Red Bulls defenders toward him before squaring a pass for fellow DP Facundo Torres. The Uruguayan had time and space in the box to pick out a spot, but he may have felt rushed and fired his shot far too close to goalkeeper Carlos Coronel. Torres will likely lament his shot placement and a missed opportunity that could have put his team ahead before halftime. It was a relatively easy save for the goalkeeper, and in that moment, one would expect a player of Torres’ quality to do better after Orlando had executed a perfect buildup.
One is Enough
It is ironic that the deciding and lone goal of the match came from a set piece, as Orlando was one of the league’s best during the year in not conceding goals from set pieces. The shocking moment came before most fans were likely back in their seats from their halftime beverage run and bathroom breaks. Ivan Angulo committed an unnecessary foul on the right side of the penalty box, setting up a free kick by the left-footed John Tolkin. The kick had plenty of pace and was swinging in toward the far post. Andres Reyes made an unimpeded run to the post as the Orlando City defense left him completely unmarked. Reyes made good contact with his free header, leaving no chance for Pedro Gallese to make a save. It was New York’s only shot on target of the night, meaning the Orlando defense allowed just one shot on target — and 14 total shot attempts — in the team’s final two playoff games of 2024.
No Late Magic Off the Bench
The final 45 minutes plus stoppage time of game play after the breakthrough goal involved Orlando sending on every attacking component that the coaching staff could muster, looking for an equalizer. Duncan McGuire, Luis Muriel, Jack Lynn, and Nico Lodeiro all entered the match as second-half substitutes, looking to change the outcome. The Lions were unable to muster many successful looks, as New York looked to pack in the defense and grind out the game. Ultimately, with no goal to show for their efforts and by allowing the NYRB to score on their only shot attempt on target, the Lions came up just a little short of advancing to the clubs’ first-ever MLS Cup final.
Those are our takeaways from a 1-0 home playoff loss to the New York Red Bulls. The 2024 season will be remembered as a long and winding one, which started in Victoria, British Columbia and ended with the first conference final appearance in team history. Let us know what your takeaways were in the comments below and as always, vamos Orlando!
Orlando City
Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Final Score 1-0 as Toothless Lions Fall at Home
Orlando City’s playoff motto for 2024 was “All Teeth,” but the team again showed no bite offensively in a 1-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls at Inter&Co Stadium in the Eastern Conference final. A redirected John Tolkin free kick by Andres Reyes early in the second half was the difference as the Lions were shut out for the second time in these playoffs — finishing with four goals in five 2024 postseason matches. It was the fourth time in the club’s last nine postseason matches. Despite conceding only twice across five playoff games, Orlando City is out.
The team had its chances, although they were few, but lacked lethality in front, particularly on a first-half chance that could have put the visitors on their heels. As a result, Orlando finished 0-2-1 in three games against New York in 2024, without scoring a goal against the opposition. The lone draw featured a goal in Orlando’s favor, courtesy of a Red Bulls own goal by Noah Eile.
“Obviously, a few words will not tell the whole story about how we feel tonight after not getting this result,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “I thought we had a good season and we had a bunch of things just to be proud of, but it’s very painful at this moment that we’re not achieving that objective. And that tells us that we have grown. This is a playoff game. I thought New York had two shots. It was a very rocky game for both. But in those options they took it and we didn’t take ours when we had the chance.”
Pareja’s lineup had no changes, with goalkeeper Pedro Gallese starting behind a back line of Rafael Santos, Robin Jansson, Rodrigo Schlegel, and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson. Cesar Araujo and Wilder Cartagena started in central midfield behind an attacking line of Ivan Angulo, Martin Ojeda, and Facundo Torres, with Ramiro Enrique up top.
The game was cagey from the onset, with New York holding more of the ball than it normally does. Orlando stayed well organized and didn’t give up many good looks, but also rarely broke down the Red Bulls’ attack to go the other way. The Lions were untidy in their passing as well, which broke down opportunities to get into the final third.
The game was back and forth for more than half an hour before a scoring chance materialized, and it was a good one. Cartagena unlocked the defense with a pass to Ojeda, sending the Argentine down the left side. Ojeda did well to draw two defenders toward himself and fed a pass to Torres in the box. Torres had time and space but fired his shot too close to goalkeeper Carlos Coronel, who made a good, if not difficult, save to keep the match scoreless in the 32nd minute.
New York’s first shot came two minutes later when Lewis Morgan went down softly, drawing a free kick from referee Rosendo Mendoza. The kick was from at least 30 yards out so the service was sent short, as Dante Vanzeir deflected it out front. The redirection didn’t miss the upper right corner by much.
The Lions should have had a good opportunity to score in the 39th minute when Enrique stole a ball in the attacking half. Entering the box on the right side, he had a trailing defender and rather than rip a shot with his right foot, he tried to make a move to improve his positioning inside, but he couldn’t finesse it past and the chance evaporated.
Vanzeir got inside of Santos in the 42nd minute but his angle was severe and he put a shot into the outside netting.
That was about it for the good looks at goal in the first half, as the teams went to the break without a goal on the board.
The visitors held the halftime advantage in possession (57.4%-42.6%), shots (4-1), corners (1-0), and passing accuracy (80.4%-74.3%). The Lions had more shots on target (1-0). But it was mostly a dull half with few chances and little play of note from the Lions.
“We had two or three chances in the first half that were really good chances for us that could have changed the game,” Ojeda said.
The decisive play came just moments after the restart on an unnecessary foul by Angulo just to New York’s attacking right side of the penalty area. Tolkin sent in the cross to the back post, where no one bothered to mark Reyes, who knocked it off the inside of the post and in to make it 1-0 in the 47th minute.
“A very unnecessary foul,” Pareja said about conceding the set piece. “We’re dealing with this obvious frustration. I have not seen (the goal on film). But what I saw in the game is not just that (Reyes) came out free, but the ball was very tight. I would have to see it. In this kind of games, it seems that those things sometimes are the tiebreaker.”
That was all the scoring the visitors needed, as Orlando rarely threatened Coronel’s goal frame, putting two more shots on frame in the second half, but neither was much of a threat.
Orlando managed to win a few set pieces over the next several minutes but couldn’t do anything with them. Jansson had a ball come off of him in the box in the 59th minute that pinged around but didn’t threaten goal. He felt he was knocked down from behind in the aftermath, and there was some contact, but no foul was given and it was a speculative shout for a penalty.
Chasing the match, Pareja sent Duncan McGuire and Luis Muriel on in the 61st minute for Enrique and Thorhallsson, moving Angulo to right back. The move nearly paid off three minutes later, when Reyes, already on a yellow card, raised a high boot that caught McGuire in the head. Mendoza inexplicably didn’t give the obvious second yellow card, allowing New York to keep 11 men on the pitch. There could hardly be an easier yellow card decision, but none was forthcoming.
Reyes then took a shot to the face from an Ojeda free kick a few minutes later and left the match either for precautionary reasons or because he’d gotten away with a second yellow offense already and the Red Bulls didn’t want to push their luck.
New York cleared a corner kick in the 78th minute that fell to Santos well outside the box. The Brazilian fired a shot on target but it was from too far out to trouble Coronel, who made the save. A minute later, McGuire ran onto a good ball over the top and fired with his weaker left foot from the left side, but the ball squirted off his foot sideways and sailed wide.
The Lions got a chance in the 84th minute on a Santos cross that skipped off the head of a defender and fell near the back post. Angulo knocked it just wide of the right post. Moments later, Ojeda won a corner and then picked out Torres in front, but the Uruguayan couldn’t get much power on his knockdown header, which bounced straight at Coronel.
Orlando again shouted for a penalty in the second minute of stoppage time. A set piece into the ball was cleared to the top of the box and looked as if it may have caught Cory Burke’s outstretched arm. It wasn’t given, and Burke streaked down the field on a breakaway. Gallese came well out of his box and did well to knock it away and Schlegel prevented further danger by holding a player back, picking up a yellow card for the professional foul.
The Lions couldn’t mount much of anything after that, and the full-time whistle blew on Orlando City’s 2024 season.
The Lions finished with the advantage in possession (60%-40%), shots (9-7), shots on target (3-1), corners (5-2), and passing accuracy (79.6%-71.6%). The Red Bulls got their smash-and-grab spot in the MLS Cup final on their lone shot on target.
“They’re a really tough team to play against,” Ojeda said. “They really take away those spaces that we like to play into, and they press really high. And it’s a situation where I think we have to have a little bit more patience and a little bit more calm in those moments.”
“Everybody is disappointed,” Jansson said. “Didn’t really get out what we wanted from this game. We didn’t really break through their pressure. We had some good chances in the first half to put it in the goal, and in these types of games we have to put the goals in there.”
“It was there for us and we didn’t take it, and it’s difficult,” Pareja said. “And I said to the players in the locker room that I was not going to prepare any speeches to lift their souls. It’s painful. We did have a bunch of things that we would be proud of and we will feel that this club is growing in a great direction, but I’m not going to mention that today because my frustration’s bigger than that. We will die for this club. Today, we have to accept that we’re not in the final of the MLS Cup.”
That’s a wrap on the season. Orlando went further than ever before but came up short on its own home field against a team it failed to score on in three matches.
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