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PRO Referees and Orlando City: Which Referees Were Kindest to the Lions in 2016?

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8 years ago

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Since joining MLS in 2015, Orlando City and the Professional Referee Organization (PRO) have had a strained relationship. 2016 was much better in certain respects, but there were still some calls from different referees that left fans scratching their heads.

Last year, I decided to figure out who did what by compiling all the ref performances that were head officials during the season. I dove into the games that they reffed, how many cards they gave out, and how they could have affected the Lions' games. This time around, I did the same thing, but I also combined the referees that have spanned both years in MLS and provided their combined stats over that time. The object here isn't to dump on the referees, so much as to draw some statistical data from their performances to see what, if anything, we can take away from the matches they've officiated so far.

Let's begin the fun, shall we?

Referees That Officiated Orlando City Games in 2016 and 2015

Alan Kelly (two games in 2016): Reffed the 4-1 drubbing of the Portland Timbers and the scoreless draw at Toronto FC. Gave out four yellow cards against Orlando. Kelly was named MLS Referee of the Year for the second consecutive year.

Through two seasons, Kelly has reffed five of City's games, from which Orlando has a 2-2-1 record. He has also given 10 yellow cards and one red card.

Chris Penso (two games): Reffed the crazy 2-2 home opener against Real Salt Lake and the 2-1 loss in the August match-up against Toronto FC. Gave out four yellow cards and a red card against Darwin Cerén in the opener.

Through two seasons, Penso has reffed five games, from which Orlando has a 1-3-1 record. He has also given a crazy 17 yellow cards and one straight red card.

Jorge Gonzalez (one game): Only reffed the wild 2-2 draw in the Bronx against New York City FC where Kevin Molino scored the equalizing goal in the 94th minute. Dished out five yellow cards in that game alone and awarded NYCFC a penalty, which David Villa missed in hilarious fashion.

Through two seasons, Gonzalez has reffed four games, from which Orlando has a 1-2-1 record. He has given nine yellow cards to Orlando players, while giving 13 to the opposition.

Ted Unkel (two games): Reffed the lame 1-1 draw against Chicago Fire in the second game of the season and the 1-1 draw against New York Red Bulls at home in May. Dished out seven yellow cards to Orlando players, including one straight red to Cristian Higuita against New York. He also gave out seven yellow cards to the opposing teams, including a straight red to Chicago’s Michael Harrington.

Through two seasons, Unkel has reffed four games, from which Orlando has a 0-0-4 record. He has given 14 yellow cards to Orlando players, while giving 15 to their opponents, as well as one red card.

Ricardo Salazar (one game): Only reffed the 2-0 win in Philadelphia in the penultimate game of the season. Only showed one yellow card to José Aja, while giving three yellow cards to the Union.

Through two seasons, Salazar has reffed three games, from which Orlando has a 2-1-0 record. He has given only three yellow cards to Orlando players as well as a straight red for Rafael Ramos in Columbus, while giving six yellow cards to their opponents.

Jair Marrufo (one game): Just reffed the 2-1 loss to the Union in April, in which Tranquillo Barnetta scored the game-winning free kick while his teammates were offside. No yellow cards issued to Orlando players in that game, while only giving one to the Union.

Through two seasons, Marrufo has reffed three games, from which Orlando has a 2-1-0 record. He has given only three yellow cards to Orlando players, one of them being against Kaká for putting on Molino’s jersey. Also sent off Dom Dwyer in the SKC match in 2015, which was later overturned. Marrufo finished second in MLS Referee of the Year voting this season, and was third last year.

Allen Chapman (two games): Reffed the 1-0 win against NYCFC in New York in March and the 3-1 loss to the Seattle Sounders in August. Gave out five yellow cards to Orlando players and gave out five to the opponents.

Through two seasons, Chapman has reffed five games, from which Orlando has a 2-1-2 record. He has given only nine yellow cards to Orlando players, as well as a straight red for Brek Shea in San Jose last year. He gave out six yellow cards to opponents, hardly ever going two per game.

Silviu Petrescu (three games): Reffed the 4-0 loss in Texas against FC Dallas, which was Adrian Heath’s last game. He also reffed the 3-1 win over New England in Jason Kreis’ first game and the 4-1 win in Montreal over the Impact. Only gave out six yellow cards to Orlando players, while giving out six yellow cards to the opponents, with a straight red to Evan Bush of Montreal for a denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

Through two seasons, Petrescu has reffed six games, from which Orlando has a 3-2-1 record. He has given 11 yellow cards to Orlando players while giving out 14 yellow card to opponents, including two straight red cards to Bush and Michael Parkhurst of Columbus last year.

Juan Guzman (one game): Reffed the final game of the year, the 4-2 win over D.C. United. Did not hand out one disciplinary card in the match.

Through two seasons, Guzman has reffed three games, from which Orlando has a 2-1-0 record. He has given seven yellow cards to Orlando players, including a second yellow send-off to Luke Boden at the end of last year’s FC Dallas game.

Sorin Stoica (four games): Reffed the 2-2 draw against the Union in May, the 2-0 loss at Red Bull Arena in July, the scoreless draw in Colorado, and the 4-1 loss at D.C United in September. Gave out a whopping 12 yellow cards to Orlando players, with straight reds to David Mateos against the Union and Antonio Nocerino against D.C. Also gave out seven yellow cards to the opponents.

Through two seasons, Stoica has reffed five games, from which Orlando has a 0-2-3 record. He has given 14 yellow cards to Orlando players, and three red cards (Mateos, Nocerino and Kaká, his only career straight red card). Only gave eight yellow cards to opponents.

Baldomero Toledo (one game): Reffed the 2-2 draw against New England and called the very controversial total crap handball on Servando Carrasco in the 96th minute, which led to the game-tying penalty kick. Only gave one yellow card to each team in that game.

Through two seasons, Toledo has reffed only two games, from which Orlando has a 0-0-2 record. He has given three yellow cards to Orlando players, and three yellow cards to opponents. Toledo finished third in MLS Referee of the Year voting and second last year.

Mark Geiger (two games): Reffed the 2-1 win over Montreal in May and the 2-2 draw in Chicago in August. Gave out seven yellow cards to Orlando players and only two to opponents.

Through two seasons, Geiger has reffed three games, from which Orlando has a 1-1-1 record. He has given 10 yellow cards to Orlando players, and three yellow cards to opponents.

Fotis Bazakos (one game): Reffed the scoreless draw against Houston in the first game after Adrian Heath was fired. Bazakos showed no cards to either team.

Through two seasons, Bazakos has reffed only two games, from which Orlando has a 0-1-1 record. He has given only one yellow card to Orlando players, but red carded Larin (with the help of fourth official Ted Unkel) in the game against the Red Bulls last year, but that was eventually rescinded — not that it helped City retroactively against New York.

Officiated Orlando City Games for the First Time in 2016

Hilario Grajeda (two games): Reffed the 3-2 loss at Red Bull Arena in April and the 2-2 draw in Vancouver. Gave out four yellow cards to Orlando players and only one each to the Red Bulls and Whitecaps.

Robert Sibiga (three games): Reffed the 2-2 comeback draw at New England in April, the 2-2 emotional draw against San Jose after the Pulse shooting, and the 2-1 win over NYCFC at the end of August. Gave out seven yellow cards to Orlando players and six to the opposition.

Ismail Elfath (three games): Reffed the 2-1 loss at Sporting Kansas City, the dramatic 3-2 win over Toronto FC with Kaká’s 100th-minute penalty, and the 4-2 loss out in LA against the Galaxy. Gave out three yellows to Orlando players and six yellows to opponents, with a straight red to Toronto’s Josh Williams.

Drew Fischer (two games): Reffed both Columbus home and away games, finishing with a 4-1 defeat and 2-2 draw, respectively. Handed out six yellow cards to Orlando players and only one for Columbus' Gaston Sauro.

Armando Villarreal (one game): Reffed the 1-0 loss at home against Montreal that officially eliminated the Lions from playoff contention. Only gave out one card to each team.

Did Not Officiate an Orlando City Game in 2016

Kevin Stott (two games last year): Reffed the 2-0 win at the Portland Timbers and the 0-4 loss at the Seattle Sounders. A tale of two games for Stott. The Portland match was favored for Orlando City, but the Seattle game was very much against the Lions. A total of six yellow cards were given to Orlando, including a second yellow send-off to Tyler Turner in the Sounders game.

José Carlos Rivero (three games last year): Reffed two out of three games against Toronto FC (0-2 loss at home and 0-5 loss in Toronto) as well as the 1-0 victory at home against D.C. United. Gave out nine yellow cards, with two red cards (a straight red to Ramos and a second yellow send-off to Adrian Winter, both in Toronto).

Edvin Jurisevic (two games last year): Reffed two games against the Montreal Impact. The 0-2 loss in Montreal and the 2-1 win in Orlando. Gave five yellow cards in those two games, two of them resulting in yellow card accumulation suspensions for Kaká and Brek Shea. Also missed the controversial goal scored by Dominic Oduro in the game in Orlando but that’s more on the assistant ref than the head ref, although his positioning could have been better.

* * *

The three finalists for MLS Referee of the Year officiated four OCSC games combined, with Kelly doing the most (two).

So, now comes the fun part, which I will leave up to you, the reader. Just like last year, which of the aforementioned referees were the best or worst for Orlando City? Let me know in the comments and, before you mention it, you cannot say that all of them were terrible. That wouldn't be any fun.

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Lion Links: 1/21/25

Orlando Pride release preseason camp roster, scouting Costa Rica, women’s soccer transfer grades, and more.

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17 hours ago

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January 21, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone! If you had yesterday off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, then I hope you enjoyed some restful time off. If not, then I hope you got your week started off on a good and productive note. There’s a lot going on around here this week as the United States Men’s National Team is in town, and Orlando City will play its first preseason match on Saturday. That means we have plenty to discuss, so let’s dig into today’s links.

Orlando Pride Drop Preseason Roster

Monday might have been a holiday but the Orlando Pride were busy, as they announced the roster for their upcoming preseason camp. Almost all of the usual suspects from the 2024 season are back, as the Pride return 98% of the player-minutes from last season and every single scorer. Mariana Larroquette is on the list although she’s currently on loan in Argentina, and Amanda Allen is likewise included after her loan at Lexington Sporting Club was terminated due to a torn labrum. The biggest intrigue comes from the trio of non-roster invitees: goalkeeper DeAira Jackson, midfielder Aryssa Mahrt, and forward Simone Jackson.

Scouting Costa Rica

The USMNT takes on Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium to wrap up the team’s annual January camp. Like the U.S., Costa Rica is bringing a roster devoid of the majority of its important players. Costa Rica also has a new manager at the helm in Miguel Herrera, who will take charge of the team for the very first time on Wednesday. Herrera typically lines his teams up in a 5-3-2 where the wingbacks take on a very important role and the team looks to hit on the counter while staying compact at the back. This will be the last time we see the USMNT in action until the Concacaf Nations League semifinals in early March.

Women’s Soccer January Transfer Grades

January has been a busy time for transfers in the women’s soccer world, so which teams have done the best business? Well, the Orlando Pride received an A grade for signing Marta to a new two-year deal, retaining a player who helped the team win its first ever trophies. Liverpool got an A for signing Julia Bartel on loan from Chelsea. Leicester City made an interesting call by transferring goalkeeper Lize Kop to Tottenham despite just being a point above the relegation zone. The Foxes get a C for the move, while Spurs get a B+ for adding a capable netminder.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans taking part in some very important games over the course of this week. Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Juventus face Club Brugge today in the UEFA Champions League, while Ricardo Pepi, Richy Ledezma, Esmir Bajraktarević, Malik Tillman and PSV Eindhoven take on Crvena Zvezda in the same competition. Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will play Girona in the UCL on Wednesday, while Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Celtic take on Young Boys. On Friday, John Tolkin could make his Bundesliga debut when his new team, Holstein Kiel, travels to face Wolfsburg.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando Pride players reported for their preseason physicals on Monday.
  • Meanwhile, Orlando City took on the dreaded beep test during Monday’s training session.

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

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Orlando City

Striker Suddenly a Position of Need for Orlando City

Departures and a key injury mean Orlando City needs a striker heading into the 2025 MLS season.

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2 days ago

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January 20, 2025

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Image Courtesy of Orlando City SC

Orlando City reached the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in 2024, a milestone for the club. The core of the team was locked up through the 2025 season, so there was no reason to believe it needed to add much this off-season. Unfortunately, injuries and departures have created a serious problem for the team.

The group of forwards last year consisted of Duncan McGuire, Ramiro Enrique, and Jack Lynn. McGuire scored 15 goals in 2023 and was expected to depart for Blackburn Rovers before a clerical error allowed the Lions to keep their target man. The team’s primary striker scored 11 goals in 37 games — the same number as the previous season — but split time starting with Enrique. The Argentinian improved greatly in 2024, increasing his total goal tally from four to 12. Even Lynn showed tremendous improvement last year, playing a greater role in the team and scoring his first two MLS goals.

The future also seemed bright for the Orlando City forwards because of their ages. Lynn is the oldest of the trio at just 25 years old. Meanwhile, McGuire and Enrique are only 23, so there was no reason to believe this group couldn’t produce this coming season.

The problem at striker began in the postseason when McGuire was pulled down by Charlotte FC midfielder Djibril Diani in the final first round game of the playoffs. McGuire suffered a shoulder injury during the challenge that required surgery on Dec. 13. It’s expected that the striker could take four to five months to return to action, possibly leaving him out until May or June.

Another blow to Orlando’s attack occurred Saturday when Lynn surprisingly announced his retirement from professional soccer. In just over a month, Orlando City went from having three strikers to having just one as preseason training starts.

With McGuire injured and Lynn gone, one option would be to have Designated Player Luis Muriel play up top. However, the Colombian prefers to play a more withdrawn position and proved to be effective in that role last year. Since Head Coach Oscar Pareja prefers to play a 4-2-3-1 formation, the Lions need someone up top to control the ball and involve the midfielders in the attack. That’s not Muriel’s game.

The result of these issues is that nobody is currently behind Enrique when the season begins. If the Argentinian gets tired, hurt, or simply needs rest, Pareja is limited in his options. 

Whether there was a lack of strikers or a lack of goals from the position previously, that problem was resolved by the club’s all-time leading goal scorer. Facundo Torres scored 20 goals in 2024, becoming the first player in Orlando City’s MLS history and the second player in club history to do so. He went on to set a new club record for total goals of 47.

However, Orlando City sold its best player to Brazilian side Palmeiras on Dec. 20. It was a gut punch to fans as Torres had signed a new contract on Jan. 10, 2024 that ran through the 2026 season. There had been talk for the last couple of years that the attacker would look for a move to Europe and rumors of a move to South America arose this off-season. Still, it created a huge gap the club has to fill.

There are players on the roster that can make up for the injury and departures. Martin Ojeda had a strong season in 2024, finishing with seven goals and 13 assists. His seven goals ranked fourth on the team and his 13 assists topped the squad alongside Nico Lodeiro. Muriel came on strong later in the season, finishing with five goals and eight assists. But those numbers are a long way from the 20 goals that Torres tallied last year.

Even if you consider all goal contributions, Ojeda and Muriel fall well short of Torres. Ojeda had a total of 20 goal contributions in 2024 while Muriel had 13. In addition to Torres’s 20 goals, he added nine assists for a team-leading 29 goal contributions.

All of this information leads to one undeniable fact — Orlando City needs to sign a striker prior to the season. And there’s not much time for Luiz Muzzi to act. The European transfer window closes on Feb. 3 and many MLS teams have already been filling similar needs. With the season starting in just over a month, the options will be limited if the Lions don’t do something soon.

After the best postseason finish in Orlando City’s MLS history, things were looking good heading into 2025. While the back line and most of the midfield is returning, McGuire’s injury and the departure of Torres and Lynn have left the Lions in a tough spot offensively. If they don’t do something in the next couple of weeks, it could be a long 2025.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/20/25

Orlando City signs Nicolas Rodriguez, Jack Lynn announces retirement, USMNT defeats Venezuela in friendly, and more.

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2 days ago

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January 20, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope you’re all having a good holiday weekend as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Over the past week, I’ve been working and covering high school ice hockey. It will be a busy week in Orlando, with the United States Men’s National Team’s match against Costa Rica on Wednesday and Orlando City’s first preseason match against Atletico Mineiro on Saturday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Signs Nicolas Rodriguez

Orlando City announced on Friday that the club has signed forward Nicolas Rodriguez from Fortaleza CEIF in Colombia’s top flight. The deal is through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028, and Rodriguez will occupy a MLS U22 Initiative slot. Rodriguez made 19 appearances for Fortaleza, recording 1,607 minutes, five goals, and three assists during the 2024 Primera A Clausura season. The Lions add a young attacking player the club can develop and Rodriguez can play on the right wing, the right side of a three-man midfield, or in the No. 10 spot.

Jack Lynn Announces Retirement

Orlando City forward Jack Lynn announced his retirement from professional soccer on Saturday. Lynn was drafted by Orlando in the first round of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. He became a regular starter for Orlando City B, scoring a team-record 38 goals in over three seasons with the MLS NEXT Pro side. Lynn also won the Golden Boot with 19 goals during the 2023 season and became the first OCB player to be named MLS NEXT Pro MVP. He played sparingly with the first team, but he scored twice last season as his role increased. The Lions will likely look to add another striker for more depth up top.

Orlando Pride Acquire Allocation Money in Trade

On Friday, the Orlando Pride announced that the club has acquired $50,000 in Allocation Money from the Washington Spirit. In exchange, the Pride sent the Spirit a 2025 international roster spot. The Pride will face the Spirit in the NWSL Challenge Cup final on March 7 at Inter&Co Stadium.

USMNT Defeats Venezuela in Friendly

The USMNT defeated Venezuela 3-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday in a friendly. Jack McGlynn and Patrick Agyemang scored in the first half to give the USMNT a 2-0 lead just before halftime. Matko Milijevic scored the third goal for the Americans in the second half, with Venezuela pulling one back thanks to a goal from Jorge Yriarte. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has led the USMNT to winning four out of its first five matches since he took charge last September. The USMNT’s next match will be against Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium.

Alyssa Naeher Named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year

On Saturday, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was voted 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. Naeher won 40% of the vote, while defender Naomi Girma finished in second with 32%. In her final year with the USWNT, Naeher ended 2024 with 18 starts, playing 1,170 minutes and only conceding 11 goals. She played a crucial role with clutch saves to help the USWNT win the 2024 SheBelieves Cup, 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup, and gold at the Olympics in Paris. Naeher is the second goalkeeper to win the award since Hope Solo won it in 2009.

Free Kicks

  • Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has reached an agreement with the club on a record-breaking contract that extends his deal through 2034.

That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

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