Connect with us

Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Montreal Impact: Player Grades and Man of the Match

Published

8 years ago

on

Well, that was bad. Orlando City dropped a 1-0 match to the Montreal Impact, who were in a bad run of form coming into the match. One simple counter attack was all it took for a defensive-minded team to take the lead and sit back the rest of the game. Not for the lack of trying, Orlando tried to pull one back, but just could not find the back of the net.

With the loss, Orlando is now mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.

Let’s just get on with the grades.

Starters

GK, Joe Bendik, 5 – Really didn’t have much to do in the game other than pass the ball around. The entire defense was caught out on the goal and left him on an island, so not entirely his fault on the only goal of the game. He did manage to come off his line to deny Montreal star Ignacio Piatti a good scoring chance.

D, Kevin Alston, 5 – Had some chances going forward, but his first touch let him down at times. At times he was in good position on the wings and tracked back fairly well on the counters. Had a cross in the 68th that almost led to a goal, but the ensuing shot from Baptista was skied over the bar.

D, Jose Aja, 5 – Put himself in decent position at times, but like with the rest of the defense, really wasn’t called on to do too much in the match. Part of the collective that was caught too high in the defensive line leading to the goal.

D, David Mateos, 5.5 – Had a solid outing defensively through the first half, maintaining the shape of the defense and shutting down the few chances going forward Montreal had. However, a clash in the early parts of the second half forced him to come out with a knee injury. Ended his day third in passing accuracy with 90%. He also spent some prolonged time in the attack after corner kicks, as there was little threat coming from Montreal.

D, Luke Boden, 5.5 – Overall, not a bad game from the fullback. Was able to get forward and put tantalizing balls into the area, but no one was able to score on the day. On the other end, tracked back well, except for playing Dominic Oduro onside and having to chase him down for the only goal of the game. Had an effort from the top of the box in the 54th that just flew over the bar. Shown a yellow card in the 78th minute after taking down Dominic Oduro. Led the team in interceptions. Best moment was a perfect one-time cross in for Cyle Larin, but Evan Bush made a spectacular point-blank save on it.

MF, Servando Carrasco, 5.5 – Wasn’t the best of matches for Carrasco. Seemed a bit slow in terms of moving the ball around the field, but still provided solid defensive depth. Subbed out in the 64th to go with a more attacking shape.

MF, Antonio Nocerino, 8 (MOTM) – Arguably the best player on the pitch for Orlando. Completed all but two of his 73 passes, giving him a 97% passing accuracy. Looked like the only player for Orlando that actually cared to run around throughout the game and really pushed the offense forward as well as gave cover for the defense. Led the team in tackles, passing percentage and number of passes. He picked out Boden on the left with a perfect ball for the one-time cross mentioned above.

MF, Matias Perez Garcia, 6.5 – Attempted to create some offense in the final third, but found himself taking on two or three defenders with no outlet to pass. Found his groove a bit more in the second half and spread out more to the wing, taking on defenders one-on-one. Finished the match second on the team in key passes.

MF, Kevin Molino, 4 – A day to forget for the Trinidadian. Couldn’t get anything going on offense and constantly turned the ball over in bad positions. Subbed out after 45 minutes

MF, Kaka, 6.5 – The captain tried his damndest to get a goal for his team, but it just wasn’t his day. Constantly a threat going forward in the attack, taking on defenders and beating them on his way towards goal. The final product on the day, however, was severely lacking on all parts. Great run in the 17th minute to earn a corner. Kicked one right at Evan Bush

F, Cyle Larin, 5.5 – An extended down period for the striker, Larin has struggled recently to do a lot in the box. Jason Kreis talked about Larin’s lack of final product in the post-game press conference. The Canadian had an individual run in the 33rd to earn a corner with no one in the box. Decent try in the 42nd min from outside the box that went just wide. Had a golden chance in the 62nd but a great save from Bush denied him. Denied again in the 88th minute with a header off a corner which was parried over the bar by Bush. So, the chances were there, but the finish, just like everyone else, was missing. But it wasn’t through lack of effort.

Substitutes

F, Julio Baptista (45′), 6 – Had a solid game getting into the right positions to be dangerous, but his strike on the day was really off. Had a free header on the run into the box in the 68th, but the effort went wide. Another golden opportunity in the 70th minute in which his shot in the middle of the box was skied over the bar. Also hit a free kick into the wall and whiffed on the follow-up in the 76th, which forced Boden to take a tactical foul for a booking.

D, Seb Hines (52′), 5 – Forced to come in after the injury to David Mateos just after halftime. His first touch of the math sent Kaká down the left side, allowing the captain to get a dangerous cross into the box that Larin couldn’t quite get onto. Was unlucky on the Montreal goal as the ball played through by Mancosu skipped off his foot and deflected right to Oduro. Shut down a counter attack in the 65th. Other than that, another ‘meh’ day for Seb, although he was the only defender to register a shot on target.

F, Carlos Rivas (64′), 5.5 – Gave Orlando more chances after coming on with some of his services into the box. Had his usual long shot in the 67th minute that went all the way into row Z. Had a great cross in the 68th that Baptista headed wide. Free kick in the 72nd just missed the top corner and tipped over the bar. Tried another shot from outside the box in the 80th which again went high. Some of his latter crosses were over-hit, however, trying to find teammates at the back post.

Well, there you have it. Orlando is now eliminated from playoff contention. Still two more games to evaluate players and finish out the season. Vote for your player of the game below and let us know what you thought of the performances.

Polling Closed

Player Votes
Antonio Nocerino 77
Kaká 23
Matias Perez Garcia 10
Carlos Rivas 1
Other (Comment Below) 5
Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Orlando City

Intelligence Report: Orlando City vs. Toronto FC

Get the inside scoop on Toronto FC ahead of Saturday’s match.

Published

23 hours ago

on

April 26, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Another Orlando City matchday is almost upon us, and the Lions will try to extend a four-game unbeaten streak Saturday night and finish off an undefeated month of April. OCSC will do so back in the comfortable confines of home, as Toronto FC travels south for the first of two games between the teams this season.

A visit from Toronto means I caught up with Tomas Karageorgos of Waking the Red. As usual, he was very helpful in bringing us up to speed on TFC ahead of the upcoming match.

This is John Herdman’s first year in charge of Toronto. What sort of style does the team play under him?

Tomas Karageorgos: John Herdman plays a variation of a 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1 formation that prefers to build plays out of the back. Herdman also relies on his center midfielders to win possession back and push the ball to either flank. German striker Prince Owusu’s constant pressure on opposing defenses has caused some turnovers in TFC’s favor. Owusu’s style of play has not only helped his teammates but himself as well — he has scored five goals in the club’s last six matches.

Run me through some of the additions and departures that took place during the off-season. Who are some new faces to keep an eye on?

TK: The four major additions that the club made was signing defensive midfielders Deiby Flores and Matty Longstaff; Canadian fullback Richie Laryea is back for a third time; and Irish center back Kevin Long. Flores has been described as a dog in the sense of not being afraid to get stuck into tough challenges. Longstaff was signed from Newcastle United and is beginning to play consistent minutes — he still has room to grow as he’s a young player. Long was signed from Birmingham City and has been a rock in the center of the back three. A strong aerial presence and calmness has helped to contribute to Toronto’s six clean sheets across all competitions this season. There’s not much to say about Laryea that hasn’t been said, he’s arguably the best defender in MLS when healthy. Another underrated signing was French defender Nicksoen Gomis from Sheffield United, he has had quiet-yet-consistent performances. Notable departures include Salvadoran goalkeeper Tomás Romero, Norwegian striker Adama Diomande, and club legend Michael Bradley, who retired at the conclusion of the 2023 season.

TFC has quite the list of injured players at the moment. Who has been filling in for the missing faces, and how have they looked?

TK: Lorenzo Insigne, Richie Laryea, and Shane O’Neill continue to miss action due to thigh injuries. Midfielder Brandon Servania is slated to return during the middle of the season as he is recovering from knee surgery. First overall draft pick Tyrese Spicer has filled in for Insigne and has two goals in his account for the club — he has a high work rate on both sides of the ball. Canadian youngster Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty is gaining more experience on the right side while Laryea is sidelined. Gomis and Sigurd Rosted have been taking turns covering O’Neill, and Alonso Coello is continuing to build on an impressive first season with the club in the absence of Servania.

Which players will be unavailable due to injuries, suspensions, etc.? What is your projected starting XI and score prediction?

TK: The names I noted above who are injured will be unavailable. Also, attacker Deandre Kerr is listed as questionable.

Predicted starting XI: Sean Johnson; Nickeson Gomis, Kevin Long, Sigurd Rosted; Tyrese Spicer, Alonso Coello, Deybi Flores, Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty; Jonathan Osorio, Federico Bernardeschi, Prince Owusu.

Score prediction: 1-1. 

Thank you to Tomas for his insight into Toronto FC. Vamos Orlando!

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/26/24

Orlando City gets ready for Toronto FC, Thiago Silva linked with Orlando, Marta announces international retirement, and more.

Published

1 day ago

on

April 26, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

I don’t know about you, but I sure am glad it’s Friday. It’s been a bit of a brutal week for me, but the weekend is nearly upon us, and I plan on spending it with my family for my dad’s birthday. I’m also hoping to find some time to read the new book that came out this week from my favorite author, Emily Henry. For now though, let’s enjoy these links from around the soccer world!

Orlando City Prepares for Toronto FC

After a shaky start to the season, the Lions are unbeaten in their past four games and can make it five when they host Toronto FC Saturday night. Toronto has lost three of its past four games, but is coming off of a 1-0 win over the New England Revolution. In the time since Oscar Pareja took over as head coach, Orlando City has won six of its seven games against Toronto. It will be the first meeting between the two with John Herdman at the helm of Toronto, so we will see if the trend of recent Orlando dominance continues. It should be a great game and is another opportunity for the Lions to climb up the table.

Thiago Silva Linked With Orlando City

Brazilian defender Thiago Silva’s contract with Chelsea ends this summer and Orlando City was mentioned as one of many reported clubs interested in signing him. Beyond the surface-level facts that Silva is an incredibly talented defender and Orlando City is a popular landing spot for South Americans who want to play in MLS, the move would not make much sense. The club signed David Brekalo this off-season and Rodrigo Schlegel is a solid option off the bench as well. Even if Orlando does want Silva, there will be plenty of competition. Returning to Fluminense is the expected choice, but Silva could stay in Europe or make the move to Saudi Arabia.

Marta Will Retire From National Team After 2024

Orlando Pride star Marta announced that 2024 will be her last year playing for Brazil. You will need a translating tool for more of the details from her interview with CNN, but she spoke on how she’s at peace with her decision to stop playing at the international level once the year is over. She made her international debut in 2002 and has since played in five Olympics for Brazil. Marta may play in her sixth this summer, and there would be global attention to see one of the greatest players ever to lead Brazil one last time. Her contract with the Pride also ends after this season, but only time will tell if this is her final season in Orlando.

Orlando’s Academy Teams Get Results Against New England

With the Generations Adidas Cup behind them, Orlando City’s U-17 and U-15 teams earned some important points against the New England Revolution’s youth squads. The U-15 team dominated New England in a 4-1 result that included a hat trick from Jakob Garcia. The match between the U-17 sides was a closer affair, as they split the points in a 1-1 draw. Orlando’s teams will play again tomorrow, with a pair of home games against Nashville SC.

Free Kicks

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

Continue Reading

Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Toronto FC: Three Keys to Victory

What does Orlando City need to do to ensure a victory over Toronto FC Saturday at home?

Published

2 days ago

on

April 25, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

After a successful, four-point road trip, Orlando City returns from Montreal to the friendly confines of Inter&Co Stadium to face one of the other Canadian clubs, Toronto FC. The Lions are hoping to add to a four-match unbeaten streak. A win offers the opportunity to take another step up the standings.

What does Orlando City need to do to secure all three points at home against Toronto FC?

No Early Mistakes

In the last three matches, Orlando City has conceded the first goal of the match. Worse than that, each of those goals happened within the first 21 minutes. Yes, coming from behind for two draws and one win is good, but not giving up those early goals may have meant three wins instead.

Last season, Orlando City’s defense was good. We didn’t see nearly so many mental mistakes by the defense, especially so early in the match. What is frustrating is that these mistakes were seemingly preventable. The back line, the defensive midfielders, and Pedro Gallese need to tighten up in the early going so that the Lions are not chasing the match so early on.

Take Advantage of Tired Legs

Toronto FC played a match against Simcoe County Rovers in the Canadian Championship tournament on Wednesday. I’m in no way saying that Toronto trotted out their first choice lineup for the match, but even if only some of the players got a run out, that could create some tired legs for the match against Orlando. Add in the travel from Canada to Florida on short rest and it could be good news for the Lions.

If the Lions can possess the ball and make Toronto FC chase them, or if Orlando can get the first goal (see above) so that Toronto is chasing the match as well, it might pay dividends in the second half. Orlando City is good enough in the passing game to do so, though it will be interesting to see whether Martin Ojeda rejoins the starting lineup or if Nico Lodeiro gets the nod again.

One Down, Two to Go

Facundo Torres was the first of Orlando City’s three Designated Players to score a goal in the regular season. While it didn’t come in the run of play, it might still spark him to add some more since he usually starts slow and then catches fire at about this point in the season. Of course, both Luis Muriel and Ojeda contributed to the scoring against Montreal. Muriel drew the penalty that Torres took, and Ojeda provided the assist to Ivan Angulo.

Now it is time for either Muriel or Ojeda — or both — to join Torres on the scoreboard. Standing in their way will be a good keeper in Sean Johnson. So far this season, he has allowed seven goals and has 22 saves, with three clean sheets. Muriel seems to be getting closer to scoring with each shot taken, and Ojeda has missed some close ones. If all three of Orlando City’s Designated Players can start scoring regularly, this team will become dangerous quickly.

That is what I will be looking for Saturday night. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!

Continue Reading

Trending