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Orlando City vs. Columbus Crew: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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9 years ago

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Orlando City’s first road match of the season was a tough one as the Lions fell to the Columbus Crew, 2-0. For a defense that was so promising to start the campaign, the back line struggled to contain a potent Crew attack at times. It’s not easy to win away from home in MLS, and Orlando certainly proved that today, looking a shadow of the team that took six points in its first two matches.

Here are the grades:

Starters

GK, Joe Bendik, 5 — The defense left him out to dry early on, forcing him into a few solo situations with Columbus attackers. He stopped Ola Kamara, who was flagged as offside, but couldn’t duplicate it against Justin Meram, who beat Joe to his left. Meram’s second would have been just as tough for Joe to get to; he did the best he could with what he was given.

D, Will Johnson, 4.5 — His third start at fullback was easily his worst. He was nonexistent for Meram’s first goal and struggled to keep up on the defensive end. When he finally switched back to midfield, his play improved dramatically. He had some of Orlando’s best chances in the final 10 minutes (he led the team with four shots) but couldn’t turn them toward goal. Hopefully next week we’ll see more of Will in midfield.

D, Jonathan Spector, 4.5 — Credit to Spector for being one of the only Lions defenders that played to the whistle on Columbus’ first goal. His sliding challenge wasn’t enough to prevent the inevitable, but the defense as a unit struggled for most of the afternoon. Spector made his fair share of challenges and saving tackles, but it was definitely an off-night for him after some stellar play in the last two matches.

D, Jose Aja, 4 — It wasn’t Aja’s best outing in purple. He and the rest of the back line were consistently tested by the Crew and were often bailed out by the linesman’s flag. Bad went to worse as he exited with a hamstring issue just before halftime and he didn’t have an opportunity to redeem himself after a collectively poor half.

D, Donny Toia, 5.5 — Toia had the best of Orlando City’s opportunities in the first half but the fullback couldn’t make them count. He managed to keep Ethan Finlay at bay for the majority of the match while the Crew did most of their damage through Meram and Ola Kamara. Donny got forward well and did what he could all along the left sideline. The veteran fullback continues to be a solid solo defender, if not a threatening presence on offense.

MF, Servando Carrasco, 4.5 — Servando was hard-done with the booking, but he struggled to make an impact before being taken off. Central midfield was overrun for much of the game. Even though he managed to connect on most of his passes, the majority were lateral or backward. He managed to record two tackles, but couldn’t hold his own against the talented attack of Columbus.

MF, Antonio Nocerino, 5 — Nocerino had similar problems to Carrasco, though he was the more positive of the two going forward. It was a sloppy afternoon for the Italian with a few crucial miscues that cost the Lions. Nocerino managed to snag a trio of interceptions and won the ball high up the field in a few instances, but he also gave the ball up cheaply several times.

MF, Matias Perez Garcia, 5 — MPG just couldn’t get anything going this afternoon. His touches in the final third failed to connect, his shot was high over the crossbar. When he got the ball on the counter, he often rushed in without support and was swarmed, losing possession.

MF, Giles Barnes, 6.5 (MotM) — Barnes was the only consistent threat on the offensive end. He ran at defenders, set up his teammates, and had a few goes at goal for himself. Barnes was the only spark for an otherwise lackluster Orlando attack, moving all over the field to try and jump start something. Sent Larin down the left side of the box in the 51st but the Canadian chose to cross instead of shooting. It was futile in the end, but it was another positive showing for Orlando’s newest Designated Player.

F, Carlos Rivas, 5 — The biggest question surrounding Rivas at this point in his career is his consistency. After two great performances to start the year, he fell off in this one. He couldn’t find space to stretch the defense and didn’t have that same creativity we’ve seen from him so far this season. He managed to whip in some of his classic crosses — especially when he was pushed out wide at the end of the match — but we also saw him sky a few balls over the crossbar again.

F, Cyle Larin, 6 — The first half showed some worrying signs of seasons past with Larin growing frustrated and walking back onside. He made up for it in the second half and looked good on the ball, trying to create some things for his teammates. Cyle ended with a disappointing single shot on goal and ended his scoring run at two games.

Substitutes

D, Tommy Redding (43’), 5.5 — The defense didn’t get burned quite as often as it did in the first half, but still struggled to contain the Crew’s attack. Tommy made a couple of clutch tackles that kept things from getting out of hand and stayed composed on the ball.

MF, Cristian Higuita (62’), 5.5 — There wasn’t much energy in midfield until Higuita made his appearance just after the hour mark. He made his presence known in both attack and defense, but couldn’t provide the right touch. His giveaway in midfield on an off-target pass intended for Nocerino sparked the Crew’s second goal, but he was the biggest presence in central midfield for Orlando all afternoon.

D, Scott Sutter (71’), 4 — The Swiss international finally made his debut but it wasn’t pretty. Justin Meram nearly toppled him over for his second goal of the match. He also let a few crosses fly in that made life tough in the penalty area in the short time he was on.

That’s how I saw this afternoon’s match. Let us know what you thought below and be sure to vote for your Orlando City Man of the Match.

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Joe Bendik2
Cyle Larin0
Giles Barnes42
Donny Toia10
Carlos Rivas7
Other (tell us who in the comments section)14

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/22/26

Orlando City match day, Barbra Banda heads to WAFCON, OCB ranked, and more.

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2 hours ago

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July 22, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It is match day as Orlando City heads to California to take on the San Jose Earthquakes. It’s going to be a late one, so I hope you got your beauty sleep last night. There’s a lot of excitement with the arrival of Antoine Griezmann and the return of Daryl Dike heading into the second part of the season. Let’s get to the links.

Lions Head West

Orlando City resumes the season tonight with a late night match against the San Jose Earthquakes. This will likely be Griezmann’s first official appearance for the Lions. Thanks to the World Cup break, Orlando City enjoyed the equivalent of a second preseason. This will be the first opportunity to see if the extra time and the presence of Griezmann can turn the season around. It won’t be an easy task as San Jose sits in second place in the Western Conference.

Banda to WAFCON

As much as the Orlando Pride need Barbra Banda — and they really do — she is headed off to play for Zambia at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. She won’t be alone, as several NWSL players will also be playing in the competition. You’ll be familiar with Temwa Chawinga, Rosemonde Kouassi, and Racheal Kundananji, among others. Zambia’s first match is against Egypt on Tuesday, July 28. The matches will be available on beIN Sports Connect.

Orlando City B Ranked

If you aren’t watching Orlando City B, I think you should give the team a chance. No matter the result, it’s usually interesting to watch. MLS NEXT Pro has the Young Lions sitting in seventh place in the current power rankings. It’s even more impressive since you never know who will be on the pitch any given match. OCB will be back in action Sunday against Huntsville City.

Red Card Rescinded

In my opinion, Leandro Paredes earned a post-match red card for his actions against several Spanish players. The official match tracker showed Paredes with a red card, but it was later deleted, and now FIFA says he didn’t receive the red card. FIFA also says that multiple Argentina players and coaching staff members will be subject to investigation around the incidents in the match against Spain and the political sign held up after the match against England.

Free Kicks

  • Premier League referee Anthony Taylor is retiring.
  • I’m just going to leave this here as the butt of the joke.

That will do it for today. Check back with us tonight for coverage of Orlando City’s match. You can also follow The Mane Land on Bluesky for updates during the match. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/21/26

Catching up with Daryl Dike, Antoine Griezmann’s impact, Giles Barnes leaves Orlando Pride, and more.

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1 day ago

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July 21, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Good morning, everyone, and happy Orlando City matchday eve. It seems like an eternity since the Lions played way back in late May, but a competitive OCSC game is finally almost upon us, and we’ll have our first chance to see both a new face and a familiar one. We’ve got a lot to talk about this morning, so let’s get into the links.

Catching Up with Daryl Dike

Daryl Dike is wearing Orlando City purple for the second time in his career, and he took some time to express his thoughts and feelings about returning to the club where he got his start. He emphasized how much fun he had during his first stint with the Lions and said the happy memories from his time with OCSC were a big factor in wanting to come back. Despite Robin Jansson being the only teammate left from his first spell with the team, Dike spoke about things feeling very familiar and welcoming. Dike was part of the first Orlando team to ever make the playoffs, and he’s focused on keeping that streak alive for the club now that he’s a Lion once more.

Antoine Griezmann’s Impact

Antoine Griezmann has yet to play an official game for Orlando City,but he’s already making an impact on the team. Interim head coach Martin Perelman praised his presence in the locker room and highlighted the Frenchman’s humility and energy. He certainly brings a lot of experience at the highest level and has the trophy cabinet to prove it, so the club is hoping some of that rubs off on the Lions. After all, the club isn’t that far away from the playoff line, has a U.S. Open Cup semifinal looming in mid-September, and will begin Leagues Cup play in just over two weeks. Here’s hoping his off-field impact carries over onto the field too.

Giles Barnes Leaves Orlando Pride

Giles Barnes has departed from his position as an assistant coach for the Orlando Pride. The former OCSC forward has agreed to become the new head coach of Al Qadsiah FC, a team in the Saudi Women’s Premier League. Barnes had been an assistant with the Pride since the 2022 season, when he joined on an interim basis with then-interim head coach Seb Hines. He helped lead the team to the 2024 NWSL Championship and 2024 NWSL Shield. As a player, Barnes spent the 2017 season with Orlando City as a Designated Player. This will be Barnes’ first head coaching gig, and we wish him the best of luck!

FIFA Will Investigate Post-Final Clashes

FIFA has begun a disciplinary investigation into the clashes that took place at the end of the World Cup final, which saw several Argentine coaches and players involved in physical altercations with Spanish players. Argentina’s Nahuel Molina and Leandro Paredes were seen hitting Spain’s Eric Garcia and Rodri, while Argentine assistant coach Roberto Ayala appears to have hit Dani Olmo. Lionel Scaloni and multiple players attempted to defuse the situations that were playing out, one of which included a verbal confrontation between Nicolas Otamendi and former Manchester City teammate Rodri. FIFA has opened a review of the postgame scenes, and suspensions could well be on the way for the worst offenders.

Free Kicks

  • Barbra Banda has been called up to represent Zambia at WAFCON.
  • Marco Pasalic was still absent from training as of Monday morning, amidst rumors surrounding a possible summer departure. Perelman said he will be back soon, however.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/20/26

Pride fall to Utah Royals, OCB draws Chattanooga FC, Orlando City signs Clovis Archange, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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July 20, 2026

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Image of Pedro Leao taking a penalty against Carolina Core FC.
Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been busy at work, but I checked out a Noah Kahan concert and watched the World Cup final while catching up with friends over the weekend. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando Pride Fall at Utah Royals

The Orlando Pride fell 1-0 to the Utah Royals at America First Field Saturday night. Narumi Miura scored the lone goal for Utah to secure the win, while the Pride have lost back-to-back matches after losing to Boston Legacy Wednesday. That result also dropped Orlando below the playoff line, as the club sits ninth in the NWSL table with 20 points. The Pride will return home for their next match against the Chicago Stars Friday at Inter&Co Stadium.

OCB Wins Penalty Shootout After 1-1 Draw vs. Chattanooga FC

Orlando City B drew Chattanooga FC 1-1 on the road at Finley Stadium Saturday. Pedro Leao scored the opener for the Young Lions in the first half. However, in the second half, Chattanooga FC scored the equalizer. The Young Lions won the penalty shootout 4-3 to earn a second point. OCB will be back in action at home Sunday, facing Huntsville City FC at Osceola County Stadium.

Orlando City Signs Clovis Archange to Homegrown Player Contract

Orlando City announced Friday that the club has signed defender Clovis Archange to a Homegrown Player contract with the first team. The deal is a three-year contract lasting through the 2027 calendar year, with club options in 2028 and 2029. Archange has made six appearances across all competitions for OCB during the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro season.

Latest MLS Transfer Roundup

According to Tom Bogert of The Athletic, there is no movement on the rumored Orlando City forward Marco Pasalic’s potential transfer to Hull City, but the English Premier League side has reportedly inquired about a loan deal.

The Columbus Crew have signed former Manchester United and Real Oviedo center back Eric Bailly. The contract runs through June 2027, with club options for the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 seasons. Liga MX side CF Monterrey is reportedly finalizing a deal to sign Chicago Fire forward Hugo Cuypers.

LAFC has reportedly reached an agreement with Hammarby on a transfer fee to move midfielder Amin Boudri to the Swedish club. Lastly, San Diego FC is reportedly finalizing a deal to sign winger Elias Achouri from FC Copenhagen.

🇹🇳 Sources: San Diego FC is finalizing a deal to sign Tunisia int'l winger Elias Achouri from FC Copenhagen.Achouri, 27, joins San Diego as a Designated Player. He had 5g/7a in 2,368 mins (37 apps) last year & played in all 3 games for Tunisia at the World Cup

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2026-07-18T16:37:04.314Z

Spain Wins World Cup

Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, Sunday to win the World Cup for the second time since 2010. Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez was sent off in stoppage time after committing a foul on Spain defender Pau Cubarsi. The match went to extra time, and Ferran Torres scored the winning goal for Spain in the 106th minute. Argentina was unable to find a late equalizer to send the match to penalties. Argentina was looking to repeat as champions but had only two shots in the game (both in extra time) and failed to record a shot on goal. As for the FIFA World Cup awards, Spain midfielder Rodri took the Best Player Award, while France striker Kylian Mbappe won the Golden Boot Award with 10 goals, the Golden Glove Award went to Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon, and Cubarsi won the Young Player Award.

Free Kicks

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

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