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Orlando City

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

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7 years ago

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Another home game, another win for Orlando. Cyle Larin scored a brace en route to a 2-1 victory in front of another sold out crowd. The Lions battled on both sides of the field and let up their first goal of the season, but the team battled back from giving up a goal in the 52nd minute and managed to hold on to the win, even after some nervy moments at the end.

Let's get to the grades:

Starters

GK, Joe Bendik, 7 – Didn’t have much to do tonight, but came up big when he did. Besides the goal allowed, had a massive stop in stoppage time to help protect the victory as he punched away a Alejandro Bedoya header. Distribution tonight was much better than it was against New York City FC, as well.

D, Will Johnson, 7.5 – Another step-up game for the temporary right back. Had a big tackle in the 15th minute to clear the ball away from going out for a corner. On the ensuing play, however, he was out challenged for a header that almost found the net. Blocked a volley from Sapong in the 35th minute out for a corner. Had a goal-saving tackle in the 38th minute when he stopped Chris Pontius from getting a shot off. Led the team in tackles and was third on the team in clearances.

D, Jonathan Spector, 8.5 – A master class defensive performance from the American. Second on the team in clearances, led the team in interceptions and time and time again, came up with big plays. Won the ball in a crucial spot and came all the way up in attack in the 11th minute, delivering a pass to Rivas, which was just a bit too far for him to reach. Sent in a beautiful ball to Rivas in the 39th minute, who centered it for Larin for the first goal of the game. Received a yellow card for dissent in the 82nd minute.

D, Jose Aja, 7.5 – Along with Spector, Aja had a fantastic defensive performance. Most of the game, his job was to battle with Union forward C.J. Sapong and kept him contained until the goal in the 52nd minute, where he was caught away from the forward. Led the team in clearances and was second on the team in tackles.

D, Donny Toia, 7 – Toia was fairly decent on the defensive end, but was the weak link on a number of chances for Philadelphia. Was a bit too aggressive on a number of plays and was beaten for pace trying to recover. Did recover after getting beaten and blocked a cross in the 66th minute out of play.

MF, Servando Carrasco, 6.5 – A workman-like performance from Carrasco. Nothing too flashy, but did his job well. Third on the team in passing accuracy and fifth on the team in tackles. Started to fade as the game went along and came off in the 70th minute for Higuita.

MF, Antonio Nocerino, 7.5 – A solid performance from the Italian. Was aggressive in winning the ball in the midfield and had some excellent vision forward on some long balls. Was second on the team in interceptions, fifth on the team in passing accuracy and third on the team in total passes. Had a chance in the 22nd minute to score, but Andre Blake came out to deny his shot. Sent a long ball in for Rivas almost resulting in another Larin goal in the 76th minute.

MF, Giles Barnes, 7 – In Kaká’s stead, the Jamaican national had a very solid performance. Was strong on the ball in the attack and also helped out a lot in defense, winning the ball back on the wings very often, but at times, he tried to do a bit too much with the ball. He missed some great runs from Rivas and Larin that he could have laid the ball off to them, but instead took it himself. Had a spectacular run in the 26th minute that led to a free kick that he eventually took himself, but the shot was easily saved by Blake. Had another great run in the 28th minute leading to another free kick.

MF, Matias Perez Garcia, 7.5 – MPG was all over the place tonight, both on the offensive and defensive end of the pitch. His skill on the ball really helped Orlando maintain possession through the first half. Sent a great ball in for Nocerino in the 22nd minute, but Blake came out to stop the play. Had a spectacular threaded through ball to Larin for his second goal. Subbed out in the 81st minute.

F, Carlos Rivas, 8 – In his 50th appearance for the club, the DP did not disappoint. His speed was a complete game changer for the Lions. After the game, Head Coach Jason Kreis praised the work rate of Rivas, saying that he deserved a goal. Had a great pass in the ninth minute to free Larin on goal, but his first touch let him down and the ball was cleared away. Spectacular control from a Spector long ball found him in space and was able to put in a low cross for Larin for the goal. Great awareness in the 75th minute to keep the counter attack alive by switching field to MPG, almost resulting in another Larin goal. Received a yellow card for blocking a free kick in the 23rd minute. Came out in the 89th minute.

F, Cyle Larin, 8.5 (MotM) – It’s hard to not give the guy with two goals the man of the match. Larin and Rivas both worked well together and Larin benefited from the partnership. Great chance in the ninth minute to go one on one with Blake, but his first touch let him down. Scored on the back post cross from Rivas after making an intelligent run into the box. Timed his run on his second goal well also, staying even with the defense as MPG threaded the ball through to him.

Substitutes

MF, Cristian Higuita (70’), 6.5 – Came into the game for Carrasco and gave some new life to the team. Had some good stops on defense and preserved the lead.

F, Hadji Barry (81’), 6.5– Played some solid defense after coming on for MPG and helped Orlando preserve the lead.

M, Pierre Da Silva (89’), N/A– Made his first appearance for the MLS side and made some history in the process, becoming the first academy and OCB player to make an MLS appearance. Other than that, he didn’t get much of a chance to do too much.

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
Cyle Larin114
Jonathan Spector60
Carlos Rivas69
Antonio Nocerino16
Matias Perez Garcia9
Other (tell us who in the comments section)2

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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. FC Cincinnati: Three Keys to Victory

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

Published

11 hours ago

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May 2, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City looks to bounce back from the disappointing 2-1 loss to Toronto FC Saturday night at Inter&Co Stadium. Cincinnati has twice as many points as Orlando City and more than twice as many wins. FCC has only scored one more goal than Orlando City, but with only nine goals conceded compared to Orlando City’s 17, it’s easy to see why Cincinnati is sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference.

What I’m trying to say is that the task doesn’t get any easier this weekend. What does Orlando City need to do to secure all three points at home against FC Cincinnati?

Accost Acosta

Cincinnati’s attack revolves around Luciano Acosta. The attacking midfielder has four goals and five assists so far this season. To put that into perspective, Duncan McGuire — Orlando City’s leading scorer — also has four goals but only one assist. If we look at the Lions’ attacking midfielders, Facundo Torres has one goal and one assist, Ivan Angulo and Nico Lodeiro both have one goal and two assists, and Martin Ojeda has zero goals and only one assist. Luis Muriel is still at double zeroes.

The defensive midfield and the back line must do everything possible to mark him out of the match. It’s not enough to keep him from scoring, they must also keep him from setting up chances for his teammates. Most importantly, the defense must do that for 90 minutes plus stoppage time. There is no room for the mental lapses we’ve seen throughout the first part of this season.

Break Through

Cincinnati is stingy on defense. As I mentioned above, the club has only allowed nine goals this season. The back line is formidable with the likes of Matt Miazga, Miles Robinson, and Ian Murphy. On the wings are DeAndre Yedlin and Luca Orellano. This is a tough defense, and whether it is McGuire or Muriel who gets the start, they must find the spaces in between.

Just as importantly, Torres, Angulo, Ojeda, and Lodeiro — depending on who is in at any given moment — must be able to thread the passes in for McGuire, Muriel, or each other to create quality chances. On top of that, the Lions must convert on those chances, which is not something that has been a strength so far this season. If the Orlando City defense continues to give up cheap goals, then the offense will need to one-up the competition when it comes to scoring.

Deal with an Unknown

FC Cincinnati recently signed Venezuelan forward Kevin Kelsy from Ukrainian Premier League club Shakhtar Donetsk. Kelsy comes in as an MLS U22 Initiative player and is eligible to play against Orlando City. Even though Kelsy is only 19, he has 68 professional appearances, including UEFA Champions Leagues matches. At 6-foot-3, he can be a challenge for defenders, especially in the air.

Kelsy hasn’t had much time with the team, but he could be a second-half substitution for Cincinnati. Given that Orlando City just gave up two late headers against Toronto FC, the back line will need to be careful that Kelsy doesn’t hurt the Lions in the same manner — especially if he comes on late when legs and minds are tired.

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: 5/2/24

The Pride win big, OCSC celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month, USMNT news, and more.

Published

14 hours ago

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May 2, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

It’s Thursday, Mane Landers. Of course, the name Thursday comes from Thor’s day, and as such, it isn’t a big leap for us to consider it Thorhallsson’s day. Though I suppose that is a bit of a mouthful, so we’ll just keep things the way they are, but do hold Dagur Dan close to your heart today. Also, let us wish a happy birthday to the Orlando Pride’s Luana. Despite the devastating news that dropped about her health earlier this week, we hope that her spirits are high and we wish her nothing but happiness today. It’s also Dagur Dan Thorhallsson’s birthday today, so we’re celebrating him as well. Let’s get to the links.

The Pride Dominate the Courage

The Orlando Pride defeated the North Carolina Courage 4-1 in a midweek match at Inter&Co Stadium. The Pride did indeed dominate the Courage as much as the score line indicates. It was once again the Barbra Banda show, with the Pride’s newest player contributing a brace and an assist on the night. It is the Pride’s fourth straight victory and the undefeated run continues.

OCSC Celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month

Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are doing their part this May to observe Mental Health Awareness Month. The club is sponsoring and attending events and forums available to the general public, as well as holding club staff workshops around promoting mental health. I have to say my favorite is the therapy dogs visits that will be available to the staff. There’s nothing as good for my personal mental health as the joy and unconditional love a dog can bring. If I didn’t have dogs of my own, I’d be really jealous.

The Billionaires Clubs

Orlando City and Orlando Pride owners, the Wilf family, are not the only billionaire owners in the NWSL. There are more and more owners and ownership groups that fall into that category. The influx of more money is a growth opportunity for the league and potentially for those owners. It’s a bit of a “rising tide lifts all boats” mentality for these owners as they do better when the league as a whole does better. It’s not just the owners who think so. The NWSL was ranked No. 5 on the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2024. I’m just glad the Pride are in the club.

USMNT News

I hate starting off a section with bad news, but Sergino Dest tore his ACL in training with PSV Eindhoven and will miss the Copa America. Dest will require surgery though there is no time frame yet for when he may return. The loss of Dest is a blow to the U.S. defense heading into the competition this coming June. The USMNT plays Bolivia on June 23.

In better news, Tim Weah provided the assist for Juventus on Arkadiusz Milik’s goal against Lazio. Juventus entered the second leg of the Copa Italia semifinal up 2-0, but Lazio drew level before Milik’s goal. Juventus advanced 3-2 on aggregate and will play in the final.

Free Kicks

That will do it for today. There’s plenty more soccer to come this weekend with all three teams playing. Check back for more as we get you ready for those matches. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/1/24

Mason Stajduhar was arrested, Orlando Pride play at home tonight, Colin Guske discusses his signing, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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May 1, 2024

By

,
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday and welcome to May, Mane Landers. Don’t forget that the undefeated Orlando Pride are in action tonight, so check back for our match preview and the latest episode of SkoPurp Soccer: An Orlando Pride PawedCast for additional pre-match coverage. In the meantime, let’s get to the links.

Mason Stajduhar Arrested Early Sunday

Orlando City goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar and his wife Tatiana Stajduhar were both arrested on disorderly conduct charges following an incident at a nightclub overnight Saturday in the early hours of Sunday morning. The couple were reportedly disrespectful to the club’s staff and got into an altercation with the security guards. Mason stated he was only resisting the security guards to re-enter the club because the bouncers allegedly hit his wife. Tatiana allegedly pushed the police officers after they arrived, and she was not charged with battery on a law enforcement officer. The couple were released Monday after posting a bond. Orlando City provided the following statement to WESH 2 News:

“The Club is aware that goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar was arrested early Sunday morning. We are currently gathering more information and will have no further comment at this time.”

Orlando Pride Host the North Carolina Courage Tonight

After a 3-2 win on the road last Friday against the Washington Spirit, the Orlando Pride are back in the City Beautiful and will take on the North Carolina Courage tonight. Unbeaten in their six games so far this season, the Pride have also won their past three games and sit fourth in the standings. They’re tied on points with a Courage team that beat the Seattle Reign Saturday. Orlando has scored at least one goal in every match this season. Forward Barbra Banda had a great performance in that win against the Spirit, so hopefully the scoring trend continues tonight for the Pride.

Orlando City/Pride Earn Golden Brick Awards

Have you enjoyed the new food options at the stadium? I know I have, and I’m looking forward to trying even more. The efforts made by Orlando City’s front office to feature more local food and beverage options did not go unnoticed, as the club won the Hospitality & Dining category in the Downtown Orlando Partnership’s 2023 Golden Brick Awards. The Orlando Pride’s 2023 Highway Woman Kit also won the award in the Arts & Culture category. The home jersey was inspired by the work of Mary Ann Carroll, the sole woman in the famed Highwaymen artists from decades ago.

Colin Guske Speaks On Signing First Pro Contract

Orlando City Development Academy player Colin Guske signed his first professional contract with the club last month and spoke on the importance of this moment in his career. The 17-year-old is now on an MLS NEXT Pro contract with Orlando City B, and he has started in nearly every game for the Young Lions this year. Both of Guske’s brothers have also played for Orlando City’s academy over the years, and he thanked his family for helping him reach this point.

“It’s awesome to represent the Guskes,” Colin said. “Thanks to my brothers for always pushing me through early mornings and late nights, always putting in the work, doing video sessions, everything. My sister as well, for always being there for me and my parents, too. They’re always helping me and what was the best for me.”

Free Kicks

  • Enjoy all of the sights and sounds from the Pride’s big win over the Spirit in the nation’s capital.
  • The Champions League semifinals are underway and Real Madrid and Bayern Munich played to a 2-2 draw in Germany. The second leg will take place on May 8 in Madrid.

That will do it for today. If you can make it out to the stadium tonight to catch the Pride in action, I strongly suggest you do so. Barbra Banda is about to take the NWSL by storm and you’ll want to see it in person. Vamos Orlando!

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