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Orlando City vs. D.C. United: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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8 years ago

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On a rainy evening in Orlando, the Lions came away with a very wet 2-0 win over D.C. United to break the team's losing streak and get their first win in May.

After a weather delay pushed the kickoff back an hour, Orlando managed to fight through sloppy play and find its form in the second half and push through the final 25 minutes to win the first match in a three-game home stand.

Without further ado, let’s get into the grades.

Starters

GK, Joe Bendik, 7.5 — An incredible performance by the Lions keeper tonight. Started off the match quickly getting involved. Parried away a dangerous cross in the 13th minute that no one was around to clear. Had a quick save in the 25th minute from Jared Jeffery that bounced right in front of him. Had great timing on a low ball into the box that he snapped up in the 27th minute right away from Lamar Neagle. Almost got caught out as he tried to punch away a free kick in the 42nd minute and was forced into a diving stop to save a Julian Buescher effort. He was shown a yellow in the 65th for arguing with the ref after a no call. Produced an unbelievable save in the 74th minute, along with Spector, to deny the game-tying goal from D.C.

D, Donny Toia, 6.5 — A solid night for the fullback in his return to the starting lineup. Defensively, he was decent, leading the team in interceptions. Had a good recovery run in the 20th minute to stop a Buescher counter attack. Tried a header from outside the box in the 29th minute that almost gave Bill Hamid a problem as he was barely able to get to it. Received a yellow card for taking down Sam on a run in the midfield in the 35th minute. Took a volley from outside the box in the 64th minute, but it curled away from goal.

D, Jonathan Spector, 7.5 — A return to form for the center back, who had his best game all month. Led the team in clearances and blocked shots, including an incredible last ditch effort to stop a Neagle shot after he rounded Bendik following a Jose Aja turnover. Stabbed away a ball in the 57th minute to break up a D.C. attack. Stopped a dangerous Alhaji Kamara cross in the 85th minute.

D, Jose Aja, 6 — Honestly, it was a mixed bag for Aja. Defensively, he was solid. Stepped in to shut down a lot of early balls through the midfield, as well as some dangerous counter attacks. Made a number of poor turnovers throughout the game, the most notable came in the 74th minute that led to a surefire goal for D.C., but Spector and Bendik managed to somehow stop the shots. Somehow, despite the turnovers, led the team in passing accuracy with a 90% clip. Also led the team in clearances, with six.

D, Scott Sutter, 7 — A decent night for the Swiss fullback, but fairly quiet. Got forward into the attack a number of times and put in some dangerous crosses into the box. Defensively, he stayed at home and shut down a lot of attacks down the right side. Was second in the team in passing accuracy and third in key passes.

MF, Luis Gil, 6.5 — Not a great performance from the midfielder, but not a terrible one. Had a good number of defensive stops, but also turnovers. Was second on the team in tackles and tied for third in key passes. Had a poor turnover in his own half of the field that almost led to a counter, but Aja stopped play with a foul. Had a chance to run onto a ball in the box, but slipped on the wet surface in the 18th minute. Tried a shot from outside the 18 in the 39th minute, but it sailed wide off his foot. Came out in the 59th minute for Giles Barnes.

MF, Cristian Higuita, 6.5 — Much like the rest of the midfield, it was a lot of good and bad for the Colombian. Was second on the team in key passes, led the team in tackles, and was fourth in passing accuracy. On the other side of things, there were a number of turnovers, especially in the very wet first half, that could have been avoided. Did a great job patrolling the midfield early on and being aggressive, winning the ball in dangerous areas.

MF, Will Johnson, 6 — Through the first half of the match, it was a very poor showing from the veteran midfielder. Lots of turnovers in his own half of the field and poor passes, but he turned it around in the second half. Finished the game fifth in passing, and led the team in key passes. Had a few good setups, including on a Rivas shot in the fifth minute. Got caught waiting in his own box in the eighth minute and almost committed a costly turnover, but managed to clear it away. Turnover in his own half in the 29th minute that sent the team scrambling back on defense. His service provided the first goal and earned him an assist but his set piece crosses were inconsistent to say the least.

MF, Matias Perez Garcia, 7 — A bounce-back performance for MPG. Despite not scoring, his speed and dribbling ability was the creativity Orlando needed to create chances in the first half of the game. Finished second on the team with four shots on goal, second on the team in tackles, and led the team in fouls drawn. Had a glancing effort from outside the box in the seventh minute that went just wide. Had a number of good sends upfield for Rivas, but he was unable to do anything with them. Had a few chances between the 30th and 40th minute that provided some flair. Great hold-up play and pass to Toia in the 50th minute to create a chance in the final third. Had a chance to finish off a rebound in the 71st minute, but scuffed the shot wide. Came out in the 73rd minute for Tony Rocha.

F, Carlos Rivas, 7 — Carlos was his usual ball of energy throughout the match. A much improved performance from the Colombian. Took a curling effort in the 21st minute that just missed wide. Tried to send in Larin with a quick one-touch pass, but the ball was too strong. Set up a good scoring chance in the 67th after he ran for a loose ball down the sideline. Took a bit of a heavy touch in the 71st minute when Barnes played him in and scuffed the shot. Came out in the 83rd for Antonio Nocerino.

F, Cyle Larin, 6.5 — An all right night for the striker tonight. Through the first half, he struggled to make an impact, but found his game in the second half. Used his strength in the box in the 66th minute to score his first goal since Sporting Kansas City early in the month. Played solid defense. Had a breakaway in the 45th minute, but his shot was straight at Hamid.

Substitutes

MF, Giles Barnes (59’) (MOTM), 8 — Talk about instant impact. Barnes came into the match with 30 minutes to go and gave the team a much-needed spark. Made some good overlapping runs in the beginning, but then really started to make his presence known. He was pulled down in the 66th minute after splitting two defenders and earned a free kick, which turned into Larin’s opening goal. Had a beauty of a ball in to Rivas in the 71st minute, but neither he nor MPG were able to finish it off. Drove forward in the 88th minute through the midfield and tried a long effort on goal, and somehow the ball was too hot to handle for Bill Hamid, giving the Jamaican his first goal as a Lion.

MF, Tony Rocha (73’), 5.5 — Came in for MPG for a more defensive shape. Looked a bit apprehensive in the attack, though he did help start a counter and fed in Larin in the 78th minute. Outside of that, had a few poor turnovers and some good recoveries.

MF, Antonio Nocerino (83’), N/A — Subbed in for Rivas to help preserve the win. Didn’t really have time to impact the match much, outside of a few clearances

That is what the individual performances looked like to me. What did you think? Be sure to vote below for your OCSC Man of the Match. 

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Giles Barnes124
Joe Bendik38
Carlos Rivas6
Cyle Larin1
Jonathan Spector60
Other6

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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.

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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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