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Intelligence Report: Orlando City vs. D.C. United

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The last time Orlando City (8-11-14, 38 points) played D.C. United (11-9-13, 46 points), the Lions needed the win to get a leg up in the playoff race. Instead, United got the leg up and hasn’t lost since, winning four consecutive to clinch a playoff spot and put themselves in a good position for the postseason. The fortunes of the two sides have been so different since that Sept. 24 match-up that it’s hard to believe these teams were neck-and-neck for the sixth place in the East less than a month ago.

While United were climbing to fourth place in the Eastern Conference, the Lions were drawing at Toronto and losing at home to Montreal to fall out of the postseason race, before finally snapping their skid with a road win last week at Philadelphia.

So here we are, a month later, playing a game that means much more for D.C.’s efforts to stay above Montreal than it does for Orlando City. Not that this game means nothing to the Lions, though. This is Orlando’s final game in Camping World Stadium on Throwback Day, adding a bit of emotional weight to the contest from the home side. Jason Kreis will want to see his team step up and play the way it did last Sunday as he makes final evaluations about who will remain with the club for 2017.

Here again to give us the scoop on D.C. as we prepare for today’s season finale is Ben Bromley, a managing editor from SB Nation’s United blog, Black and Red United. I also answered Ben’s questions and you can check that out over at his place.

D.C. has been flying high of late and went from below the red line all the way up into fourth in the Eastern Conference. Is this just a product of the new acquisitions or has Ben Olsen done something to get this team playing its best at the right time of the year?

Ben Bromley: It is a little bit of both. The first thing that Ben Olsen has done is get the right personnel for what he wants to do. In are Luciano Acosta, Lloyd Sam, Patrick Nyarko, and Patrick Mullins; out are Fabian Espindola and Markus Halsti. But to take full advantage of these new players, Olsen, about halfway through the season, changed his formation from the 4-4-2 he had used for 2.5 years to a 4-1-4-1 with Patrick Mullins leading the line and Luciano Acosta pulling the strings.

Also, ever since Marcelo Sarvas got injured, two unheralded midfielders have really stepped up into key roles: Jared Jeffrey has emerged this season as one of Olsen's go-to box-to-box midfielders, and Rob Vincent has gone from a goal-scoring winger at the USL level to the defensive midfielder in Ben Olsen's system. Instead of the dour, defensive style he's played over the past few seasons, Olsen finally has the players he needs to play a more forward and proactive system, and the results have finally born out.

There’s a solid lineup in D.C. with quality in every position group, but if you’re picking one, who is United’s MVP this season and why?

BB: At this point, I would give my D.C. United MVP award to Patrick Nyarko. He was one of the only players playing well during the early part of the season, and when he missed time with a concussion coincided with United's worst run of form this entire year. Now, he, Sam, Mullins, and Acosta have formed a dynamic attack, the likes of which United has not seen in years. But Nyarko has been the constant and Nyarko has been the provider, so he gets my vote for MVP.

D.C. enters on a four-game winning streak and is unbeaten in six. Meanwhile, Orlando City won its last game at Philadelphia, so both teams are obviously equally hot right now*. After several close matches, United was able to rip Orlando apart in the last meeting. What are you expecting from Sunday’s match with United needing points to ensure they stay ahead of Montreal?  

*OK, maybe not equally hot per se.

BB: I expect D.C. United to run out their full first-choice lineup and try and keep the hot streak alive. They need a win on the road to guarantee a home playoff game. Road wins have been hard to come by for United, so if they can take advantage of their current form to get one, that would be crucial. But other than that, I expect Ben Olsen to be generous with his substitutions, and try and get key players rest when able, either through the fact that United is ahead or behind in this game. 

Are there any suspensions/injuries we should know about? Can you hit us with your projected starting lineup and final score prediction?

BB: Sean Franklin and Marcelo Sarvas are the two regular starters who are out injured, though Sarvas should be back soon. The lineup will be Bill Hamid; Nick DeLeon, Steve Birnbaum, Bobby Boswell, Taylor Kemp; Rob Vincent; Patrick Nyarko, Luciano Acosta, Jared Jeffrey, Lloyd Sam; Patrick Mullins. As for the result, I think that United can keep the streak going and end the year with five wins in a row: give me a 2-1 victory for the Black-and-Red. 


Major thanks to Ben for once again providing his insight into Orlando City’s opponents for tonight, but I’m not giving him anything. His team has to earn that win on the field if it wants our three points.

Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/29/24

Lions brace for the Red Bulls, Pride take on Chicago, OCB will play Inter Miami II in Bradenton, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday! Today marks one year since we here at The Mane Land published our first story here at our new independent home. It’s a bit hard to believe that it’s already been a year. Thank you all for sticking with us or checking us out since our move. That kind of support goes farther than you might think. I joined the team back in October of 2016 as an editor and it’s only just now hitting me that I’ve been here for nearly a quarter of my entire life. Here’s hoping for another great year of independence and Orlando soccer!

Orlando City Set to Host New York Red Bulls

Orlando City’s match at home Saturday night against the New York Red Bulls was noted as one of the top matches in the league this weekend. The Lions earned their first win of the MLS season last weekend and will look to build on that momentum heading into tomorrow. The Lions will also get a boost from players returning from international duty, with Duncan McGuire, Facundo Torres, David Brekalo, and Peruvian duo Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena back. They’ll have their hands full against a New York team that’s coming off of a 4-0 win over Inter Miami. Lewis Morgan had a hat trick in that match and Orlando’s defense will have to find a way to keep him and the rest of the Red Bulls from running rampant.

Orlando Pride Take On Chicago Tonight

The Orlando Pride’s third match of the NWSL season kicks off tonight at 7 p.m. when they host the Chicago Red Stars. The Pride enter this match following a gritty 1-1 draw against Angel City FC, with Brazilians Angelina and Marta linking up on a corner kick for a late equalizer. One thing to keep an eye on in tonight’s match will be how the Pride’s shorthanded defense can limit Chicago’s attack. The Pride have targeted versatile players while rebuilding, and that proved to be worth it last week as multiple players stepped up to fortify the back line. The last time these two sides squared off in Orlando was in August of last year, with the Pride coming up with a big 5-0 win. Hopefully we get to see a similar result tonight.

OCB Match Will Be Part of Generation Adidas Cup

Tuesday’s MLS NEXT Pro match between Orlando City B and Inter Miami II will take place at IMG Academy in Bradenton and will be part of this year’s Generation Adidas Cup. The participating teams of the tournament were invited to attend the match, along with their families, and fans can watch the match for free on the league website. The match will be broadcast in English, but a new AI dubbing platform will be used to instantly translate it into Spanish, French, and Portuguese. It will supposedly maintain voice and tone, so I’m morbidly curious to hear just how artificial it will sound.

Generations Adidas Cup Kicks Off Tomorrow

Speaking of the Generation Adidas Cup, the youth tournament kicks off tomorrow. All MLS academy teams will compete alongside some of the top youth teams from around the world in both the U-15 and U-17 age groups. Orlando City’s U-15 side was noted as one to watch after a strong run of form this year. Caleb Trombino has been solid defensively and Jakob Garcia has the attacking talent to light it up in this tournament. The team can make a statement when it takes on Arsenal’s U-15 squad at 10 a.m. this Sunday. That match, along with 27 others, will be broadcast on MLS Season Pass.

Free Kicks

  • The Lions received some special visitors for their training.
  • Somehow, the Seattle Reign’s Ji So-Yun beat Marta to win NWSL Goal of the Week.

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. New York Red Bulls: Three Keys to Victory

What does Orlando City need to do to earn a second victory in a row at home this Saturday?

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City is coming off its first win of the MLS regular season and will look to carry that momentum into Saturday night’s Eastern Conference matchup against the New York Red Bulls. The Lions will have several players back from international duty, making Oscar Pareja’s job a bit easier, although some of them will be on short rest. What does Orlando City need to do to earn all three points against the Red Bulls?

Stop Morgan

Lewis Morgan has been on a tear this season with five goals in five matches. That is more than every Orlando City player combined so far this season. The Red Bulls were held scoreless in two matches, meaning those five goals have come in three matches, with Morgan scoring a hat trick against Inter Miami. I love that he took it to the Herons like that, but I’m going to need him to cool off a bit against the Lions.

If Orlando City is to stop Morgan it will take excellent defending from the Lions’ back line and of course Pedro Gallese, who is returning from international duty. Orlando City also gets Wilder Cartagena and David Brekalo back, meaning more of the first choice lineup will be available to keep a clean sheet. With the match at home, earning a clean sheet is all the more important.

Proper Rest and Preperation

It might seem silly to say, but having more than a few days between matches is conducive to earning points. When Orlando City was participating in the Concacaf Champions Cup, the Lions never had time to properly recover or train with a game plan for the next match. Now, the Lions are able to do so, and the result against Austin FC reflects that.

Pareja is a top level MLS coach. We know that he has a plan for about the first 20 minutes of any match, and then makes adjustments throughout the remainder of the match. Even so, many of those adjustments have been planned out prior to the match. That, paired with a more rested roster, allows the Lions to be the protagonists Pareja wants them to be.

Shots, Shots, Shots

Orlando City was able to create plenty of chances against Austin FC, and will need to do so again against the Red Bulls. The Lions took 22 shots Saturday night, with eight on target, and they put two in the back of the net against Austin. Hopefully, Orlando City can be more efficient going forward, but if you don’t create opportunities, you won’t score.

The Red Bulls have some decent defenders who Orlando City will have to deal with, including fullback John Tolkin and Carlos Coronel at keeper. If the Lions can pass even close to the way they did against Austin, the opportunities will come, and if that is the case, hopefully the goals will come. Orlando City still has a sizable goal deficit, thanks to the early part of the season, that can only be corrected with more goals on the other end.


That is what I will be looking for this Saturday night at Inter&Co Stadium. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/28/24

Getting to know Rafael Santos, Orlando Pride prepare for Chicago, Midge Purce out for the season, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope the work week has been treating you well as we gear up for another weekend of soccer. March flew by for me and April is shaping up to be a pretty busy month as well. In other news, I’m looking into adopting a cat and gathering the supplies to make that happen. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Getting to Know Rafael Santos

Orlando City left back Rafael Santos was the latest Lion to field questions as part of the club’s video series for fans to learn more about its players. The 26-year-old spoke about the decision process behind joining Orlando and playing outside of Brazil for the first time in his career after five years with Cruzeiro. He’s brought his attack-minded style of play to the team, particularly in terms of providing lethal crossing from the wing. Make sure to check out the full video as Santos also shared photos of his newborn and showcased his skill with a cavaquinho.

Orlando Pride Prepare to Host Chicago

After a pair of draws to start their season, the Orlando Pride will have a chance to claim their first win of the season when they host the Chicago Red Stars tomorrow night at 6 p.m. Head Coach Seb Hines spoke about how the Pride have shown plenty of resilience so far this young season. The team managed to secure a point in last week’s 1-1 draw with Angel City FC despite a patchwork back line due to injuries. That defense will likely have its hands full against Mallory Swanson and a Chicago team that won both of its first two games. Hines spoke about how the Pride are preparing for Chicago and how they will need the home crowd to bring the support tomorrow night.

Sophia Smith Signs Record-Breaking New Deal

American forward Sophia Smith signed a new contract with the Portland Thorns that will make her the highest-paid NWSL player, according to the club. The new deal will last through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026 as well. The 23-year-old was drafted by the Thorns with the first overall pick in the 2020 NWSL Draft and has gone on to score 34 regular-season goals. Smith re-signed with the club in 2022 and was set to become a free agent following this season, but will instead stay in Portland.

Midge Purce Out for NWSL Season

NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Midge Purce will miss the remainder of the NWSL season after tearing her ACL. The 28-year-old will undergo surgery and suffered the injury in her team’s 1-0 victory over the Portland Thorns this past weekend. She’s been with Gotham since 2020 and assisted on both goals in her team’s 2-1 win in the 2023 NWSL Championship. It’s a tough blow for the United States Women’s National Team too, as she will not be representing the U.S. during this summer’s Olympics in France.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City B’s match against Carolina Core FC on April 14 has been rescheduled.

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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