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Orlando City

Orlando City at Philadelphia Union: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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8 years ago

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Well, look at that. We won! While we may not have eliminated Philly from the playoffs, we did make their lives harder, and when you’re already out that’s about as much as you can ask for. Oh, and it was a shutout. Those are always nice. On to the grades!

Starters

G, Joe Bendik, 7 – Joe didn’t have much to do in the first half, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that he had five saves in the game, several of which came in the dying minutes as Philadelphia was pressing and trying to even up the score. He had a particularly good save in the 67th minute to preserve the shutout. Bendik has only given up one goal in the last three games, and has mostly been a bright spot all season. He certainly held up his end today.

D, Mikey Ambrose, 5 – Mikey didn’t make much noise during the game other than drawing the yellow on Fabian Herbers in the 44th minute. He was a mixed bag, as the back line didn’t give up a goal, but he was certainly beat more than a few times on his side.

D, Seb Hines, 5.5 – For the most part, Seb played a solid, if not great, game. He did give away a corner on a ball he should have cleared for a throw-in, but he also had an excellent save on one of Philadelphia’s breakaways, and another header back to Bendik when the Union were pressing. He was also active getting up the field and did get his head on the ball on a Philadelphia corner kick that led to Carlos Rivas’ goal.

D, Jose Aja, 5.5 – Orlando’s newest defender had a pretty good game, despite drawing a yellow card for a foul on CJ Sapong in the 57th minute. He had two shots, one a header that went over the goal. He did a good job anchoring the center of the back line with Seb, and at the end of the day, he helped keep Philly scoreless.

D, Rafael Ramos, 4.5 – Rafa seemed to get beat, especially early in the game. The whole field was bunched up early, which might explain some of it, but even as the game opened up, he kept getting beat along the right side. However, even with two fouls committed, he did no harm, even if he wasn’t great. He also had one nice shot from long distance, but it didn’t find the back of the net.

MF, Cristian Higuita, 5.5 – Cristian did a good job pressing early, and Philly wasn’t able to completely own the midfield. He did even out on fouls by committing two and drawing two. One of those fouls was a dangerous play, but it did not result in a yellow.

MF, Antonio Nocerino, 6 – Antonio was solid, being where he needed to be and moving the ball forward. That being said, he didn’t amaze or stand out either. He did take a corner kick, but unfortunately it amounted to nothing.

MF, Kaká, 5.5 – Kaká is still Kaká, but not as much Kaká as he used to be. It might be harsh to grade him based on what he still shows flashes of, but he is the captain, and so I hold him to a higher level. While he did create some chances, he also gave away some balls you wouldn’t expect. Late in the game it was apparent that it’s late in the season, and he knows he can’t beat some of these younger guys to the ball. That’s fine since he is then able to make an adjustment and sometimes get the ball back. The three free kicks he took weren’t his best, and didn’t result in any chances. However, he did almost force an own-goal on Philly, but the post decided to be a homer.

MF, Matias Perez Garcia, 6 – MPG would have had a grade of 8 if he could have scored on any of the three chances he had. Two of the three should have certainly been in the back of the net. Chalk it up to someone jinxing him, or good play by Philly keeper, Andre Blake, but he couldn’t make it happen today. He did draw a foul on Richie Marquez that resulted in a yellow. I just feel that he was doing the right things, but just couldn’t finish it out.

F, Carlos Rivas, 7.5 (MOTM) – Head Coach Jason Kreis went with a 4-4-2 with Rivas and Larin up top. Carlos had five shots on the day. He drew four fouls, while only committing one, and took a shot on a free kick that went way long. Most importantly, he got loose on a breakaway, and despite putting the ball a bit too far out front, was able to deflect his shot over Blake and it dribbled into the goal. That was despite a determined effort by Keegan Rosenberry to try and save the goal. Those of us watching assumed it was an own-goal, but credit was given to Rivas for the score, and that is what sealed the Man of the Match for him this week.

F, Cyle Larin, 5 – Cyle is sitting three goals behind his rookie season total of 17, with only one more game to play. Before the game started, I expected him to come out strong and get at least one goal. It was not to be. To be fair, the Philadelphia defense marked him early and often, which opened up opportunities for Rivas. However, there were times when he seemed to give up on the ball. Don’t get me wrong, he has 14 goals on the season, with a chance to add to that total. There are plenty of forwards that would love to have his stats, but I was hoping for more from the young Canadian today.

Substitutes

F, Julio Baptista (72’), 7 – The Beast came on and immediately started pressing and pushing the ball forward. He was rewarded for his efforts when he timed a counter attack perfectly and scored to put Orlando City ahead for good. This is exactly how Baptista is supposed to be used for Orlando City, and today he delivered.

MF, Kevin Molino (81’), 5.5 – Molino was only in for about 15 minutes, and did do a pretty good job of trying to push the ball forward. He did commit one foul, though it didn’t affect the results.

MF, Servando Carrasco (87’), N/A – Servando didn’t have much to do other than try to lock down the midfield against a team fighting for a playoff spot. He wasn’t out there long enough to really warrant a grade, but he didn’t hurt the team either.

Well, there you have it. Orlando only has pride to play for, though the players might be playing for their jobs. There is still one more game for them to prove their worth before the end of the season. Vote for your player of the game below and let us know what you thought of the performances.

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Carlos Rivas60
Julio Baptista6
Matias Perez Garcia9
Joe Bendik6
Other (comment below)4

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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.

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3 hours ago

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April 26, 2024

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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!

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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

23 hours ago

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April 25, 2024

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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!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/25/24

Duncan McGuire is an Olympic frontrunner, Orlando Pride get ready for the Washington Spirit, Colin Guske signs with Orlando City B, and more.

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1 day ago

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April 25, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this work week hasn’t been too stressful for you as we get ready for another weekend packed with Orlando soccer. All of the European soccer this week has been enjoyable as well, as teams fight for silverware and survival. It should be a fun next few days, although most of my match following will be digital. I’m hoping to get out to the stadium for a game or two over the next couple of months as well. But for now, let’s dive into today’s links!

Duncan McGuire Likely to Play in Olympics

Orlando City forward Duncan McGuire was listed as one of the frontrunners to join the U.S. for this year’s Olympics. It won’t be much of a shock if McGuire is in Paris this summer, as he’s been impressive in the time since being drafted sixth overall in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft by the Lions. The 23-year-old has followed up a strong rookie year with three goals and an assist so far this season. It will be interesting to see who McGuire could compete with for minutes in the Olympics, with Ricardo Pepi noted as another possible option up top for the U.S. Overall, it’s nice to see McGuire is doing what’s needed to stay in the contention for Paris. I think that staying in Orlando rather than going to England has definitely helped his case.

Orlando Pride Prepare for the Washington Spirit

The Orlando Pride are riding a five-game unbeaten streak and will take it to the nation’s capital for a difficult road match against the Washington Spirit Friday night. The Pride have won their past two games and will face a Spirit side that has won four of its five games this season. Both teams have been defensively sound, each conceding just four goals, so it may come down to moments of individual brilliance to make the difference. Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke about the difficulty of the matchup, Orlando’s grit this season, and the impact Barbra Banda had in her debut last weekend.

Orlando City B Signs Colin Guske

Midfielder Colin Guske, who joined Orlando City’s academy back in 2020, signed an MLS NEXT Pro contract with Orlando City B through this 2024 season. The 17-year-old made his OCB debut in the team’s season opener this year and scored the game-winning goal. He’s carved out a spot in OCB’s midfield this season, starting in four of the team’s five games. Guske has two brothers who have also gone through the club’s academy and played with OCB. A solid year with the Young Lions from Guske could result in a Homegrown Player contract for the senior team.

Columbus Crew SC Wins First Leg Against Monterrey

The Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals are here and the Columbus Crew are the only MLS team still in the tournament. They came up with a big 2-1 home win in the first leg of their matchup against Monterrey. Cucho Hernandez gave the Crew the lead in the first half and 21-year-old Jacen Russell-Rowe scored the winner in the second. An away goal by Monterrey could prove crucial though due to the tiebreakers, and the second leg will take place on May 1. The winner of this matchup will take on either Club America or Pachuca in the final on June 2.

Free Kicks

  • Former Lion Dom Dwyer is reportedly headed out west to sign with Oakland Roots SC in the USL Championship.
  • Toronto FC traded away $200,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money (GAM) to Atlanta United in exchange for winger Derrick Etienne Jr. The 27-year-old has not received much playing time this season, and Atlanta could earn another $175,000 in GAM if performance-based metrics are met.
  • The San Jose Earthquakes have reportedly signed Hernan Lopez from Godoy Cruz. It would give a-needed boost to the team, which has just three points from nine games this season.
  • St. Louis City winger Celio Pompeu won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his great strike from outside the box in his team’s 3-3 draw with Sporting Kansas City.

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

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