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

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8 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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Lion Links: 6/5/25

MLS All-Star voting update, Kerry Abello shines with USWNT, Sergio Zapata earns recognition, and more.

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17 hours ago

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June 5, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this week has been treating you well as we enjoy some international soccer and prepare for the return of NWSL action this weekend. Before we jump right into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando City B midfielder Dylan Judelson!

Pair of Lions Lead MLS All-Star Voting

Voting for this year’s MLS All-Star Game remains underway and an update was provided on which players are leading at each position. Orlando City defender Alex Freeman leads all right backs as he enjoys a breakout season. I was aware of the buzz he’s been getting this year, but it’s still surprising to see a Lion as an All-Star frontrunner. What’s even more surprising is that Pedro Gallese leads the voting for goalkeepers. The Peruvian made a rough gaffe last week, but has otherwise had a stellar season with Orlando that’s included seven clean sheets. Voting will close on June 11, so make sure to get those votes in before then.

Kerry Abello Impresses With USMNT

Orlando Pride defender Kerry Abello made her first appearance for the United States Women’s National Team Tuesday, playing every minute of the 4-0 win over Jamaica. The versatility she’s shown with the Pride translated well in Head Coach Emma Hayes’ system, as she was able to hold things down defensively and contribute to the attack as well. Abello could end up bringing solid depth to the USWNT as Hayes figures out the team’s future core of players. Enjoy this video from the USWNT that provides a look behind the scenes of Abello’s international debut.

Sergio Zapata Named Player of the Month

Sergio Zapata scored a whopping 11 goals for Orlando City’s U-19 team over the course of just four matches in May, winning the honor of MLS NEXT Player of the Month. He had three hat tricks last month, including one against Hoosier Premier at MLS NEXT Fest. Zapata committed to Cornell, so hopefully we’ll get to see him tear it up in the Ivy League over the next couple of years.

Zack Steffen Sustains Knee Injury

Goalkeeper Zack Steffen injured his knee at the United States Men’s National Team’s training camp and will reportedly miss this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup. It’s rough news for the 30-year-old, as he was expected to compete with Matt Turner for the starting job with the USMNT. He’s been having a great season with the Colorado Rapids and returned to the club for further evaluation on the injury.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 6/4/25

USWNT wins as Abello gets first cap, Orlando Pride’s Concacaf W Champions Cup draw, Club World Cup in Orlando, and more.

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2 days ago

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June 4, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Tuesday was a busy soccer day, especially on the women’s side. We have plenty of Orlando Pride news, and the USWNT secured yet another victory. I’m hoping the good vibes continue since I’ll be coming down to Orlando for the Pride’s match this Saturday. If you’re going to the match, let me know, as I’d love to meet as many of our readers as possible. For now, let’s get to the links.

USWNT Blanks Jamaica

The USWNT defeated Jamaica 4-0 in a friendly at Energizer Park in St. Louis. The Orlando Pride’s Kerry Abello got her first start and her first cap in the match. She went the full 90 minutes and almost had her first international goal in the second half, but the chance went a bit wide of the right post. Ally Sentnor and Lynn Biyendolo each scored a brace as the U.S. rolled to an easy win.

Pride Internationals

Abello wasn’t the only Pride player to make an international appearance. Marta returned to international duty for Brazil getting the start and the captain’s armband in a 2-1 win over Japan. Both Grace Chanda and Barbra Banda started for Zambia in the 2-0 loss to South Africa in the Three Nations Challenge. Congratulations are also due to Zara Chavoshi, who earned her first cap with the Canadian Women’s National Team in the match against Haiti.

Concacaf W Champions Cup Draw

The Concacaf W Champions Cup draw happened yesterday and the Orlando Pride are in Group A with Club America Femenil, CF Pachuca Femenil, LD Alajuelense, and Chorrillo FC. Group B consists of NJ/NY Gotham FC, the Washington Spirit, CF Monterrey Femenil, Vancouver Rise FC Academy, and Alianza Women FC. The competition kicks off Aug. 19-21.

FIFA Loves Orlando

FIFA President Gianni Infantino sat for an interview with Jamie Seh of WKMG Orlando. Infantino spoke about the upcoming Club World Cup matches at Inter&Co Stadium and Camping World Stadium. FIFA loves Orlando enough for the city to host the Club World Cup, but not the actual World Cup. Here is the schedule for the matches in Orlando. We will be bringing you coverage of these matches.

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That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the return of the Orlando Pride this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 6/3/25

Orlando City B announces signings, details of Concacaf W Champions Cup, UEFA Nations League preview, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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June 3, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

Good morning, everyone. It’s been a pretty brutal last two games for Orlando City, there’s no getting around that fact. While it’s never fun to not have the team in action, a two-week break between games maybe isn’t the worst thing in this particular case. Even though it’ll be a minute before the Lions are back in action, we still have plenty of things to talk about, so let’s get into today’s links.

Orlando City B Announces Signings

Orlando City B announced on Monday that it has signed Clovis Archange and Jackson Platts to MLS NEXT Pro contracts. The pair are graduates of the Orlando City Development Academy and were part of the team that won the U-18 Generation Adidas Cup earlier this year. The 18-year-old Platts captained the team in the final, while Archange was named as one of the players to watch before the tournament started. They’ve both featured for their countries at the youth level, with Platts appearing for the United States U-16 and U-18 teams, and Archange suiting up for Canada’s U-17 side. Congratulations to both players!

Concacaf Announces W Champions Cup Details

Concacaf has named the 10 teams that will participate 2025-2026 Concacaf W Champions Cup and has announced the pots for tonight’s draw. The Orlando Pride are one of three American teams participating in the second year of the competition, and have been placed into Pot 2. Teams will be divided into two groups of five, with each team facing every club in its group once, and the top two sides from each group then advancing to the semifinals. The winner gets a spot in the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, and the FIFA Women’s Club World Cup, which is set to be held for the first time in 2028. The draw takes place tonight at 8 p.m.

UEFA Nations League Preview

The UEFA Nations League returns this week, with the semifinals set for tomorrow and Thursday, and the third-place game and final taking place on Sunday. Things get started on Wednesday afternoon with Germany facing off against Portugal in Munich. Germany put away Italy 5-4 on aggregate in the quarterfinals to get to the semis for the first time, while Portugal beat Denmark 5-2, and is hunting for its second Nations League trophy. Thursday has Spain taking on France in Stuttgart. The Spanish beat the Netherlands on penalties in the semis to get here, while France took out Croatia on penalties to punch its ticket. There’s plenty of recent history in this one as these teams also met in the semifinals of Euro 2024 last year, with Spain claiming a 2-1 win.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

The transfer rumor mill has kicked into full swing, so let’s catch up on some of the big talking points. Starting in England, Manchester United has reportedly increased its interest in Brian Mbuemo, with the Brentford forward said to also be interested in moving to the club. There are said to be a number of Premier League teams interested in signing Southampton midfielder Tyler Dibling after his team was relegated to the Championship this season. Jobe Bellingham will reportedly follow in his brother Jude’s footsteps, as he’s reportedly decided to join Borussia Dortmund. Finally, Inter Milan is reportedly interested in signing Marcus Rashford as the Italians look to rebuild the squad following a brutal defeat in the UEFA Champions League final.

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  • Here’s a first look at Alex Freeman in his USMNT kit:

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

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