Orlando City
Orlando City vs. D.C. United: Final Score 2-0 as Lions Break Six-Match Winless Run
Cyle Larin and Giles Barnes provided the offense and Joe Bendik kept a clean sheet as Lions returned to their winning ways at home.

The city of Orlando experienced its worst drought since 1907 at the beginning of May, but on Wednesday night Mother Nature decided to give back some of the water that she had apparently been holding back from the City Beautiful. Orlando City hosted D.C. United in the midst of a downpour for much of the evening, and, just as Central Florida’s drought seemed to end, so did City’s six-game winless run, thanks to a 2-0 win over D.C. led by goals from Cyle Larin and Giles Barnes.
The win came in front of the first non-sellout in OCS history, but still a good crowd of 24,112.
“Really, really pleased with the guys’ efforts and commitment level tonight,” Orlando City Head Coach Jason Kreis said. “I think they got what they deserved, they got the three points.”
Orlando (7-5-2, 23 points) controlled the possession for most of the first half, claiming 59% of the ball, but the Lions never looked particularly dangerous despite that advantage. City totaled nine shots in the first 45 minutes, but only three came inside the box and none were particularly challenging for United keeper Bill Hamid to corral.
Orlando’s best chance came in the waning moments of the first half, when Luis Gil played Larin forward on the break following a D.C. turnover, but the Canadian was unable to steer his shot far enough across the face of goal from the left side of the box, and MLS save leader Hamid safely claimed it. After a no-call on a Scott Sutter penalty shout, the half ended at an appropriate 0-0, with little to no creativity in the center of the pitch for OCSC and 10 D.C. fouls illustrating the sloppiness of the first 45 on a rain-soaked pitch.
The only bit of flash for City came when Matias Perez Garcia skillfully chipped a ball to play Carlos Rivas into the box, but the Colombian was unable to make anything of the cross he played afterward.
The rain subsided at the break, but the second half continued in much the same fashion until the substitution of Barnes injected some much-needed energy into Orlando City. The English-Jamaican brought fire to the side immediately, sliding in vigorously on a tackle seconds after entering the match and taking off from there.
Just six minutes later, Barnes won a free kick outside the left side of the box by drawing contact with a winding run through three defenders. Barnes rose to his feet and urged the supporters’ section to get loud, and that set the stage for Orlando’s first goal of the night on the ensuing free kick. Will Johnson sent an in-swinging ball off his right foot that barely missed the rising head of Jose Aja before finding the dome of Larin, who had powered his way inside of Steve Birnbaum to nod home and give City a 1-0 advantage.
“It’s nothing short of amazing that he continues to score those types of goals,” Kreis said following the match when asked about Larin’s ability to continually use his physicality to generate goals. “I think every opponent is keen on being very physical with him. It’s a credit to Cyle that he can continue to score through those types of challenges.”
The goal was Larin’s eighth of the year and ended a 266-minute goal drought for Orlando.
The energy that Barnes ignited continued to pulsate, as City stayed on the front foot and created a few more chances, one of which could’ve resulted in another Larin goal had it not been blocked at the edge of the box after Barnes pulled a ball back to set him up.
Things almost came crumbling down in the 74th minute, however, when Aja sent an errant back pass toward Joe Bendik that was badly underhit, leaving the keeper alone with a charging Lamar Neagle. Bendik’s attempt to sweep the ball away failed, and Neagle found himself 1-v-1 with only center back Jonathan Spector to beat, but Spector channeled 2015 Brek Shea and blocked the shot into the air with his knee, allowing Bendik to rush back and punch it away off the line and preserve the lead. Go ahead and mark it down as the MLS Save of the Week, with Spector and Bendik sharing honors on what was a spectacular effort to stop what appeared to be a certain goal for D.C. (4-7-2, 14 points).
Orlando proceeded to try to ride out the remainder of the match and cling to the one-goal advantage, when it got a nice break to cap things off. Barnes was rewarded for his high-energy shift with a bit of fortune when the usually reliable Hamid turned in a howler and completely whiffed on a 25-yard effort from Barnes, deflecting a soft goal across the line to seal the victory for the Lions after it hit him directly in the gloves.
While the goal was certainly one that Hamid will be embarrassed to have allowed, it was emblematic that Barnes’ relentless energy paid off for him and the team, regardless of the fashion the goal came in.
“That’s your prototypical ‘why you make a substitution,’” Kreis said of Barnes’ game-changing performance. “You want a substitute to change the game and lift the energy, and I think that’s exactly what Giles did.”
Kreis even noted that he told Barnes that he thought his first Orlando goal would come in a strange way just this week, noting that the forward had been pressing and trying to do too much at times to make it happen. Those words proved prophetic Wednesday evening when Barnes locked up the three points for the Lions.
It wasn’t the prettiest of matches, but it was exactly what Orlando City needed to get off the schneid and back into the win column for its first win in May on its final match of the month.
It was Orlando’s second straight win over D.C. and it evens the all-time series since the Lions began MLS play in 2015 at three wins apiece. Orlando ended the night with 57% of the possession and 19 shots, seemingly breaking through after failing to score on 20 shots vs. Minnesota last weekend.
The Lions are back in action Sunday night against the Chicago Fire, once again inside the friendly confines of Orlando City Stadium.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 7/2/25
Big names leave Toronto FC, hot conditions in Club World Cup match, FIFPRO makes ACL recommendations, and more.

Happy Wednesday, everyone. It already feels like it’s been a long week, as I just got home from being out of town traveling up and down the East Coast for the last few days. The soccer world hasn’t stopped in my absence though, and as usual we have a lot to cover today. Let’s wish a happy birthday to OCB defender Tahir Reid-Brown, and jump into today’s links!
Italians Leave Toronto FC
It’s the end of an era at Toronto FC, as the club has parted ways with both Federico Bernardeschi, and Lorenzo Insigne. The Reds used both of their two buyouts of guaranteed contracts this season in order to get the transactions done, so the club was pretty keen to get them out the door. It’s hard to blame the Reds, as Insigne was the second-highest paid player in the league while Bernardeschi was the fifth highest. They didn’t have much to show for it though, as Bernardeschi had 26 goals and 22 assists in 99 games across all competitions, while Insigne had 19 goals and 17 assists in 76 matches. TFC never made the playoffs while the duo was on the team, and the decision to turn the page is an understandable one.
Difficult Conditions in Juventus vs. Real Madrid
The Club World Cup Round of 16 concluded on Tuesday, with Real Madrid knocking off Juventus 1-0 in afternoon match. Kylian Mbappe made his tournament debut for Madrid as a substitute, but it was Gonzalo Garcia’s 54th-minute goal that made the difference in the game. Juve boss Igor Tudor highlighted the difficult conditions in Miami, saying in his postgame press conference that 10 different players asked to come off the field during the game. Tudor didn’t outright blame the loss on the high heat and humidity during the 3 p.m. kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium, but noted that they were among several factors that made the game a very difficult one for his side.
FIFPRO Makes Recommendations to Curb ACL Tears
Amid a rash of ACL injuries to women’s soccer players, FIFPRO has made some recommendations to cut down on the rate at which they occur. Rather than focusing on things that can’t be controlled, the federation has suggested modifying the calendar, number of games, and the playing surfaces. FIFPRO member Alex Culvin is calling for minimum standards in the women’s game relating to pitch conditions and access to physiotherapists. More research around risk factors is also necessary, as is implementing preventative exercises at the youth levels of the game.
Transfer Rumor Roundup
Summer transfer business is in full swing, so let’s catch up on some of the hot rumors currently flying around. First up, Arsenal is said to be in the final stages of signing Viktor Gyokeres to a five-year deal. Staying in the Premier League, Manchester United is reportedly interested in signing midfielder Fabian Ruiz from Paris Saint-Germain. Juventus reportedly is close to signing Jonathan David after his contract with Lille expired. Finally, Bayern Munich is reportedly preparing a formal offer for Liverpool for Colombian winger Luis Diaz.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City is down a spot to no. 9 in the MLS.com power rankings.
- Landon Donovan says he has insider information that there are building tensions between Jesse Marsch and both players and officials within the Canadian Soccer Federation.
- The New York Cosmos will reportedly be back as a USL League One team that is set to begin play in the 2026 season.
- Haslam Sports Group has sold a 10% stake in the Columbus Crew.
- A drone not belonging to the United States Men’s National Team was spotted filming training on Tuesday.
That’s all I have for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 7/1/25
Pride signings, OCB draws, both U.S. national teams in action Wednesday, and more.

Welcome to July, Mane Landers. If you’re like me, you balanced the excitement and dread of the USMNT advancing on penalty kicks the other night. It was one thing watching Guatemala take out Canada but a whole other level of heart palpitating stress while watching the U.S. avoid a similar fate. There’s no time to relax with plenty of soccer to watch as we head towards Independence Day. Before we get to the links, please join us in wishing Orlando Pride/USWNT defender Emily Sams and OCB defender Clovis Archange each a happy birthday.
Orlando Pride Signings
The Orlando Pride announced a pair of transactions Monday. Midfielder Viviana Villacorta and the club have agreed to exercise the midfielder’s mutual option for the 2026 season. Villacorta was the No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft. The Pride also signed midfielder Ally Lemos to a new contract through the 2027 season with a mutual option for 2028. The Pride selected Lemos with the No. 9 overall pick of the 2024 NWSL Draft. Orlando continues to lock down current players ahead of time. Now, we wait to see if any new players will be added.
OCB Earns a Point on the Road
Orlando City B played Philadelphia Union II to a 1-1 draw in a Monday afternoon match. Unfortunately, the Young Lions lost the end-of-regulation shootout 4-2 and did not get the additional point. Gustavo Caraballo assisted Jackson Platts on the early goal for OCB. Philadelphia equalized early in the second half. Carlos Mercado was the difference maker in the match, recording a career-high 12 saves.
USMNT’s Gold Cup Run Continues vs. Guatemala
The USMNT will face Guatemala Wednesday night in a 2025 Gold Cup semifinal match. The U.S. advanced past Costa Rica on penalties thanks to a stellar performance from goalkeeper Matt Freese. Guatemala stunned Canada with a second-half equalizer and advanced on penalty kicks. Guatemala has been the overachieving underdog of the competition so far. This will be the USMNT’s 17th Gold Cup semifinal appearance.
USWNT Hosts Canada
The USWNT will host Canada in a third friendly of this international window Wednesday at Washington, D.C.’s Audi Field. The U.S. is coming off two 4-0 victories over the Republic of Ireland. Canada should prove a tougher opponent for Emma Hayes’ squad. There is a possibility that the match will feature two Orlando Pride players — Emily Sams for the U.S. and Zara Chavoshi for Canada. Kerry Abello has returned to her club team after picking up a knock.
Free Kicks
- The Orlando Pride’s Anna Moorhouse is one of many NWSL players that may feature in the 2025 UEFA Women’s Euro competition.
- Kristie Mewis is leaving West Ham United after only four appearances in 18 months. He time was limited due to injuries and then pregnancy.
- Global players’ union FIFPRO has concerns about the potential intense heat at the FIFA Club World Cup next year.
- Botafogo fired coach Renato Paiva after Brazilian rival Pal defeated Botafogo in the Club World Cup. Paiva was only in the job for four months.
- USMNT midfielder Malik Tillman may be headed to Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
- Former Orlando Pride midfielder Erika Tymrak has retired from professional soccer.
That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for Orlando City’s match against Charlotte FC this weekend. Vamos Orlando!
Orlando City
Orlando City Striker Ramiro Enrique Hindered By Inconsistency
Ramiro Enrique’s inconsistent play raises the question if he can be the go-to striker Orlando City desperately needs.

Orlando City’s strike force has been inconsistent this season, to say the least. At times, the players up top have looked like they can score at will, but at other times, they struggle on chances they should finish. Nobody displays that inconsistency better than Ramiro Enrique.
Joining the Lions in 2023, Enrique has primarily served in a backup role for Ercan Kara, Duncan McGuire, and Luis Muriel. The young Argentine has had the occasional start, but ultimately ends up back on the bench, entering later in games.
Orlando City acquired Muriel prior to the 2024 season when it appeared McGuire was on his way to Blackburn Rovers. However, the English side’s struggle with simple paperwork resulted in the Omaha, NE, native returning to Orlando. It left Oscar Pareja with some decisions to make.
The Lions often employ a 4-4-2 formation with a single striker and Muriel playing underneath. As a result, the three forwards all saw plenty of action in 2024. Enrique started 12 games, Muriel 14, and McGuire was listed 18 times in the starting lineup. However, Enrique’s strong form near the end of the season saw him start 11 of the final 12 regular-season games and all five playoff contests.
Aiding Enrique’s playing time were injuries to McGuire. The 6-foot-1 striker suffered a shoulder injury on Nov. 9 in an MLS Cup playoff game against Charlotte FC, guaranteeing a starting spot for Enrique. As McGuire continued to work towards his return at the start of the year, Enrique took his place.
At times, it looks like Enrique is more than a substitute for Muriel or McGuire and can be the go-to scorer the Lions have struggled to find since Daryl Dike. But his inconsistency eventually returns, making it hard for Pareja to depend on the young attacker. That issue has been most noticeable during the two most recent games.
Putting shots on frame has been a struggle for the Lions this year, but it wasn’t for Enrique Wednesday night in St. Louis. After the Lions lost back-to-back games against Atlanta United and the Chicago Fire, Enrique was inserted into the starting lineup for Muriel. He took advantage of his opportunity in St. Louis, placing three of his five shots on target. He scored a first-half brace, giving his team a commanding three-goal lead after just 22 minutes.
In the seventh minute, Martin Ojeda sent a strong ball across the box that Enrique ran onto with perfect timing. He didn’t try to do too much, tapping the ball in on the slide. After Marco Pasalic made it 2-0, a bad turnover in the 22nd minute gave the striker a second chance. He was in on goal and made no mistake, slamming the ball past Roman Burki to make it 3-0.
The performance had many wondering if the team had finally found the striker it had been looking for since McGuire went down. But it wasn’t to be as Enrique reverted to his inconsistency with a poor performance in Saturday night’s 2-1 loss to FC Cincinnati.
The striker was unable to put any of his three shots on target, but that’s only part of the story. It’s how he failed to score that was the bigger problem.
In the 51st minute, Pasalic forced Brian Anunga into a turnover just outside the Cincinnati box. Enrique made a run toward the near post and Pasalic found him. The striker should’ve had no problem putting the shot on target, but he hit the ball with his left foot as his right came through, knocking the ball out of play for a goal kick.
He had a chance to redeem himself in second-half stoppage time with the Lions looking for an equalizer. Rafael Santos played a beautiful ball to the near post that only required a slight touch to beat Roman Celentano. However, the striker sent his header well wide, squandering a golden opportunity to claim a point.
These two games show the inconsistency that has plagued Enrique throughout his Orlando City career. He’ll look to be in excellent form and ready to claim the starting striker role, only to follow it up with a poor performance. It’s something that has held the Argentine back since his arrival and continues to do so this year.
Even more troublesome, it leaves Orlando City without a dependable striker. McGuire can’t seem to get over his shoulder problems, and he is currently on the sidelines again while he recovers from surgery on the opposite shoulder to the one he hurt in last year’s playoffs. Muriel and Ojeda often partner each other up top, but both are more comfortable in midfield positions.
Injuries and players in uncomfortable positions provide Enrique with the perfect situation. Consistent scoring would assure Pareja that he can depend on the 24-year-old to produce the goals his team has been searching for. But the striker can’t seem to put it together over the span of multiple games.
He’ll have plenty of opportunities in the near future to win the position he undoubtedly craves. McGuire’s absence due to injury and Muriel’s preference to play underneath means Enrique will likely get more playing time. However, he needs to show more consistency if he wants to hold onto the starting spot long-term.
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