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Orlando City vs. New York City FC: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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9 years ago

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Can’t we just play New York City FC all the time? By beating our fellow 2015 MLS expansion club 2-1 tonight, the Lions got their first win since July 31, snapping a four-game winless streak (0-2-2) and a two-game home losing streak. It’ll definitely make Monday feel better, as Orlando City is improbably still in the playoff race in the Eastern Conference.

New York City entered as the fresher and much hotter team, but the visitors failed to get much of a toehold on the game until the waning minutes when the Lions parked the bus a bit down the stretch. Orlando finished 2-0-1 against NYCFC this season and is 3-1-2 against the soccer Yankees in the all-time series.

Now, let’s get on with the individual performances.

Starters

GK, Joe Bendik, 6.5 – New York didn’t trouble Joe much until the second half. Neither of NYCFC’s two first-half shots were on target, but the Baby Blues were sharper in the attack after the break. Bendik’s three saves in the second half were all quite good he had to be quick off his line to beat David Villa to a late through ball, and he made two vital punches and caught one cross. However, he put his team in a bad spot on the goal by Steven Mendoza by deflecting the ball out in front rather than out to the side.

D, Luke Boden, 5.5 – Bodz started a bit slowly but seemed to get stronger as the game wore on, despite this being the third game in nine days. His passing stat line looks a bit pedestrian, at 72.2% accuracy, with only one of four accurate crosses and one of four accurate long balls, but he played a sound defensive game and got forward when he could to win corners and trouble New York City’s wide players. He finished with two tackles, an interception, and a clearance. He had one key pass, created one chance, and took a shot, but it was off target. Limited New York City’s effectiveness down the right offensive channel.

D, David Mateos, 7 – I thought this was a strong game from the Spaniard, like his game at Colorado. Defensively, he finished with one tackle, three interceptions, a clearance, and a blocked shot, but he did commit three fouls. He broke up a developing two-on-one break in the box in the 78th minute to preserve Orlando’s lead. Offensively, he completed 92.1% of his passes and nine of his 12 long balls were accurate. He even made a heads-up play to get forward to create a three-on-two counter attack off a set piece, although it eventually broke down. He tied Boden for the team’s most touches on the night (67), and rarely put a foot wrong.

D, Jose Aja, 7 – In only his second MLS start, the Uruguayan put in a solid shift against an outstanding offensive team. He led the back line with 93.3% passing, four interceptions, and six clearances. He also won two aerials, had one tackle, and blocked a shot. Nine of his 11 long balls were accurate. Most importantly, he and Mateos did a good job of not only cutting off the first New York attacker – usually David Villa, Tommy McNamara, and Steven Mendoza, but the duo also seemed aware of guys like Frank Lampard, making secondary runs into the area.

D, Tommy Redding, 6 – In a bit of an experiment, Redding started at right back, spelling Kevin Alston, who has rarely got a minute off in months. Redding was solid, if unspectacular, offering very little going forward, but helping keep the New York attack quiet. He completed 92.6% of his passes and two of his long balls were accuate. Defensively, he finished with two tackles, two interceptions, and two clearances. After halftime, NYCFC made more of an effort to attack his side of the field and found a bit more success crossing in from their attacking left side, prompting Jason Kreis to bring Alston on.

MF, Servando Carrasco, 5 – In my opinion, Serva was a bit off in this game – not terribly, but a bit. He offered little moving forward and failed to join the attack as expected a few times, leading to errant passes into areas in which his teammates expected him to run. His 85.4% passing accuracy was decent, but only three of his seven long balls were accurate, he created no real chances, and took no shots. Defensively, he posted one clearance, one interception, and one tackle. He did make one fantastic play on a takeaway from Ronald Matarrita at the corner of the penalty area and jump-started an Orlando City counter. Maybe his most important contribution was getting to a corner kick first and drawing a foul to alleviate pressure on the Orlando goal. Aside from those two plays, I didn't see as much from Servando tonight as I'm used to.

MF, Antonio Nocerino, 6.5 – The Italian continues to blossom under Jason Kreis, leading the club with a passing accuracy of 94.9% (OK, Brek Shea had 100% accuracy but he only passed it twice). Nocerino did a good job of jumping into passing lanes, forcing attackers back or to the sideline, and linking the back line with the attacking midfield. He had one key pass to create a chance, played a pivotal role in the first Orlando City goal, and racked up four interceptions, a clearance, and a tackle. He even took one for the team when he was booked for standing over the ball to prevent a quick restart on a free kick.

MF, Kaká, 7.5 (MOTM) – I’ll be honest. Without the two goals, the captain’s score wouldn’t be this high. He started the game slowly, dribbling into trouble a few times and giving the ball away with poorly weighted passes. But his determination on the first goal was vintage Kaká. He wouldn’t be denied in rounding Jefferson Mena and firing on goal from a tight angle, following his shot to score on his own rebound. He led Orlando City in shots (4) and shots on target (3), and not only scored the penalty kick, but also drew the foul that set it up. His passing (84.1%) was a bit better than it’s been in recent games. He had no accurate crosses on two attempts, registered no defensive stats whatsoever, and had no key passes. Still, he put the ball in the back of the net, and that’s what wins games.

MF, Matias Perez Garcia, 7.5 – MPG was the best man on the pitch most of the night. Without his defensive play and his pass wide to Kaká, the first goal would never have happened. He was superb at winning back possession on the night, with a team-high three tackles and an interception. He created two chances, completed 83.9% of his passes, took one shot, and drew two fouls. Moreover, his hustle and tenacity was contagious and he continues to combine better and better with his teammates.

MF, Kevin Molino, 5.5 – It pains me not to be able to put a higher score here. The Original had chances for heroics and to put the game out of reach. At 75.6%, he had the lowest midfield passing accuracy and had no accurate crosses on the night. He muffed a chance to get onto a Boden cross and the deflection took the ball out of reach for Cyle Larin as well. Later, he worked his way past goalkeeper Josh Saunders, then sent a soft shot at the empty net that allowed Ronald Matarrita to make a sliding save on. He was dispossessed three times but he also made three tackles to tie MPG for the most on the team.

F, Cyle Larin, 4.5 – I’ll take the heat for this grade again. The Canadian international is showing signs of fatigue after all the minutes he’s racking up, but to his credit, he worked hard to get into dangerous spots. Things just aren’t falling for him and his teammates seem unable to get him the ball, either through poor crossing or expecting the wrong run. Larin failed to register a shot and was dispossessed a game-high seven times, managing only 31 touches. He had the ball taken off his foot by Matarrita on a clear breakaway in the 86th minute. His passing accuracy was just 64.3%. Defensively, he chipped in two clearances and an interception.

Substitutes

D, Kevin Alston (56’), 6.5 – Kevin got a rest tonight and man did he look fresh in the second half . He earned his team a corner in the 60th minute with a hustle play on a nice forward run. His passing accuracy (60%) looks ba until you consider he only had five attempts. Finished with two tackles and blocked a Jack Harrison cross in the 92nd minute.

MF, Tony Rocha (68’), 5.5 – Tony came on to provide more defensive help for the final 22 minutes and didn’t get too much accomplished. He had one interception and completed four of his five passes with 11 total touches. It may have been confusing to come on for an offensive player, entering the game for Matias Perez Garcia.

MF, Brek Shea (74’), 3.5 – It’s very difficult to grade Brek for this game. He came on early enough that I can’t give him an N/A score, yet he managed only two touches of the ball in his 16 minutes. He completed both of his passes, which is good, I guess. But he registered zero stats of any kind, aside from one foul committed. He came on for Kaká, which may be one of the more bizarre substitutions we’ve seen in the team’s first two years, but Orlando City held on, so I guess you’d say it was more successful than not. Still, two touches in 16 minutes? Woof.

That’s how I saw tonight’s performances. Let us know what you thought below and be sure to vote for your Orlando City Man of the Match.

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Antonio Nocerino19
David Mateos7
Jose Aja18
Matias Perez Garcia91
Kaká130
Other5

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Lion Links: 7/3/25

Orlando Pride loan five players out, Orlando City academy players selected for All-Star Team, USMNT beats Guatemala, and more.

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2 hours ago

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July 3, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s been a weird week for me so far, as it’s felt simultaneously like it’s flying by and taking forever for the weekend to get here. All of the soccer has been nice at least, and I’ve been able to get some reading and painting done when not swamped. But enough about me, let’s dive into today’s links!

Orlando Pride Loan Multiple Players Out

The Orlando Pride loaned out five players for the rest of the 2025 season, with four of them joining USL Super League teams. Forward Amanda Allen, who was loaned to Lexington SC last year and injured her shoulder in December, is headed to her home country of Canada to join Halifax Tides FC in the Northern Super League. As for the players headed to the USL Super League, right back Brianna Martinez will join Carolina Ascent FC, goalkeeper Kat Asman and forward Mariana Larroquette were loaned to Lexington, and Aryssa Mahrt was sent to Spokane Zephyr FC. These loans should provide solid opportunities for minutes for these players, so hopefully they can make some noise with their respective teams.

Orlando City Academy Players Make All-Star Team

The rosters for the 2025 MLS NEXT All-Star Game are out and Orlando City B midfielders Gustavo Caraballo and Dylan Judelson were both selected for the event. The East All-Stars will be coached by Orlando City SC Academy Director Javier Carrillo, who also coached Orlando’s U-18 team to victory in the Generation Adidas Cup this year. Caraballo was named MVP of that tournament’s U-18 age group and scored 16 goals over the course of the MLS NEXT season. Judelson appeared in 32 games for Orlando this season and could factor into Canada’s U-17 World Cup plans come November. The MLS NEXT All-Star Game will take place on July 21 and can be viewed on the MLS YouTube channel.

USMNT Takes Down Guatemala in Gold Cup

The United States Men’s National Team secured a spot in the Concacaf Gold Cup final after winning 2-1 against Guatemala in St. Louis. The Yanks got off to a hot start thanks to Diego Luna’s brace in the first 15 minutes of the match. The offense wasn’t able to extend the lead beyond that though, and a late goal by Olger Escobar made the match a bit more tense the U.S. would have liked. Regardless, the U.S. got the job done in the end and will play in Sunday’s final in Houston.

USWNT Breezes Past Canada in Friendly

The United States Women’s National Team beat Canada in convincing fashion, shutting out its northern rival 3-0 in a friendly. Sam Coffey and Claire Hutton scored in the first half to give the USWNT a nice lead, and Yazmeen Ryan came off the bench to put the nail in the coffin with a late goal. The defense did well to claim its third clean sheet of this series of summer friendlies. Emily Sams didn’t make an appearance for the U.S., and Zara Chavoshi didn’t come off the bench for Canada either.

NWSL Announces Layout For 2026 Schedule

The 2026 NWSL regular season will kick off on March 13 and finish on Nov. 1 according to the league’s announced framework for next year’s action. Although there will be 16 teams next year, the playoff format remains the same and the top eight teams in the standings will qualify, with the 2026 NWSL Championship set for Nov. 21. There will once again be a balanced schedule, with each team playing 30 matches over the course of 27 weeks. The league will also notably be on break for a majority of June due to the FIFA World Cup, citing expectations to accommodate stadium demands in markets where World Cup games will take place

Free Kicks

  • Boston Legacy FC signed American midfielder Annie Karich as its first player ahead of its inaugural season next year. Karich spent the past two seasons with SC Freiburg in Germany and joins Boston as a free agent.
  • San Diego FC forward Anders Dreyer was named MLS Player of the Month after recording three goals and six assists in June. He leads the league with 23 goal contributions this season and is a major reason behind San Diego’s rise to the top of the Western Conference standings.
  • Atlanta United bolstered its defense by signing Albanian center back Enea Mihaj to a contract through 2028. The 26-year-old joins as a free agent after spending the past three seasons with FC Famalicao in Portugal top flight.
  • The 2025 Women’s European Championship kicked off in Switzerland, with Finland beating Iceland 1-0 in the first match of the tournament. Switzerland struck first against Norway, but Ada Hegerberg scored an equalizer and an own goal by Swiss defender Julia Stierli gave Norway the 2-1 win.
  • It seems the Concacaf co-hosts for next year’s World Cup will be able to serve suspensions in friendlies rather than missing out on the World Cup.

That’s all I have for you all this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links: 7/2/25

Big names leave Toronto FC, hot conditions in Club World Cup match, FIFPRO makes ACL recommendations, and more.

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1 day ago

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July 2, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Wednesday, everyone. It already feels like it’s been a long week, as I just got home from being out of town traveling up and down the East Coast for the last few days. The soccer world hasn’t stopped in my absence though, and as usual we have a lot to cover today. Let’s wish a happy birthday to OCB defender Tahir Reid-Brown, and jump into today’s links!

Italians Leave Toronto FC

It’s the end of an era at Toronto FC, as the club has parted ways with both Federico Bernardeschi, and Lorenzo Insigne. The Reds used both of their two buyouts of guaranteed contracts this season in order to get the transactions done, so the club was pretty keen to get them out the door. It’s hard to blame the Reds, as Insigne was the second-highest paid player in the league while Bernardeschi was the fifth highest. They didn’t have much to show for it though, as Bernardeschi had 26 goals and 22 assists in 99 games across all competitions, while Insigne had 19 goals and 17 assists in 76 matches. TFC never made the playoffs while the duo was on the team, and the decision to turn the page is an understandable one.

Difficult Conditions in Juventus vs. Real Madrid

The Club World Cup Round of 16 concluded on Tuesday, with Real Madrid knocking off Juventus 1-0 in afternoon match. Kylian Mbappe made his tournament debut for Madrid as a substitute, but it was Gonzalo Garcia’s 54th-minute goal that made the difference in the game. Juve boss Igor Tudor highlighted the difficult conditions in Miami, saying in his postgame press conference that 10 different players asked to come off the field during the game. Tudor didn’t outright blame the loss on the high heat and humidity during the 3 p.m. kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium, but noted that they were among several factors that made the game a very difficult one for his side.

FIFPRO Makes Recommendations to Curb ACL Tears

Amid a rash of ACL injuries to women’s soccer players, FIFPRO has made some recommendations to cut down on the rate at which they occur. Rather than focusing on things that can’t be controlled, the federation has suggested modifying the calendar, number of games, and the playing surfaces. FIFPRO member Alex Culvin is calling for minimum standards in the women’s game relating to pitch conditions and access to physiotherapists. More research around risk factors is also necessary, as is implementing preventative exercises at the youth levels of the game.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

Summer transfer business is in full swing, so let’s catch up on some of the hot rumors currently flying around. First up, Arsenal is said to be in the final stages of signing Viktor Gyokeres to a five-year deal. Staying in the Premier League, Manchester United is reportedly interested in signing midfielder Fabian Ruiz from Paris Saint-Germain. Juventus reportedly is close to signing Jonathan David after his contract with Lille expired. Finally, Bayern Munich is reportedly preparing a formal offer for Liverpool for Colombian winger Luis Diaz.

Free Kicks

Apparently a non -#usmnt drone has crashed the training session. US Soccer staff aiming to identify it.

— Jeff Carlisle (@jeffreycarlisle.bsky.social) 2025-07-01T17:25:12.954Z

That’s all I have for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/1/25

Pride signings, OCB draws, both U.S. national teams in action Wednesday, and more.

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2 days ago

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July 1, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Welcome to July, Mane Landers. If you’re like me, you balanced the excitement and dread of the USMNT advancing on penalty kicks the other night. It was one thing watching Guatemala take out Canada but a whole other level of heart palpitating stress while watching the U.S. avoid a similar fate. There’s no time to relax with plenty of soccer to watch as we head towards Independence Day. Before we get to the links, please join us in wishing Orlando Pride/USWNT defender Emily Sams and OCB defender Clovis Archange each a happy birthday.

Orlando Pride Signings

The Orlando Pride announced a pair of transactions Monday. Midfielder Viviana Villacorta and the club have agreed to exercise the midfielder’s mutual option for the 2026 season. Villacorta was the No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft. The Pride also signed midfielder Ally Lemos to a new contract through the 2027 season with a mutual option for 2028. The Pride selected Lemos with the No. 9 overall pick of the 2024 NWSL Draft. Orlando continues to lock down current players ahead of time. Now, we wait to see if any new players will be added.

OCB Earns a Point on the Road

Orlando City B played Philadelphia Union II to a 1-1 draw in a Monday afternoon match. Unfortunately, the Young Lions lost the end-of-regulation shootout 4-2 and did not get the additional point. Gustavo Caraballo assisted Jackson Platts on the early goal for OCB. Philadelphia equalized early in the second half. Carlos Mercado was the difference maker in the match, recording a career-high 12 saves.

USMNT’s Gold Cup Run Continues vs. Guatemala

The USMNT will face Guatemala Wednesday night in a 2025 Gold Cup semifinal match. The U.S. advanced past Costa Rica on penalties thanks to a stellar performance from goalkeeper Matt Freese. Guatemala stunned Canada with a second-half equalizer and advanced on penalty kicks. Guatemala has been the overachieving underdog of the competition so far. This will be the USMNT’s 17th Gold Cup semifinal appearance.

USWNT Hosts Canada

The USWNT will host Canada in a third friendly of this international window Wednesday at Washington, D.C.’s Audi Field. The U.S. is coming off two 4-0 victories over the Republic of Ireland. Canada should prove a tougher opponent for Emma Hayes’ squad. There is a possibility that the match will feature two Orlando Pride players — Emily Sams for the U.S. and Zara Chavoshi for Canada. Kerry Abello has returned to her club team after picking up a knock.

Free Kicks

Sources: Bayer Leverkusen are finalizing a deal to sign USMNT attacker Malik Tillman from PSV.Deal in region of $40m.

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2025-06-30T20:36:24.359Z
  • Former Orlando Pride midfielder Erika Tymrak has retired from professional soccer.

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for Orlando City’s match against Charlotte FC this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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