Connect with us

Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Seattle Sounders: Final Score 1-1 as Lions Steal a Point with Another Stoppage-Time Equalizer

Just four days after Jonathan Spector nicked a stoppage-time equalizer vs. Montreal, Scott Sutter said “hold my beer” and pulled out a 94th-minute, point-stealing goal at CenturyLink.

Published

on

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Just when you think it’s safe to write a game off as a loss, Orlando City reminds you — again — that every single second of stoppage time counts.

Despite falling behind early and playing in one of the tougher environments in MLS, the Lions (7-5-5, 26 points) scraped their way to a second straight point thanks to a goal in the dying moments of the second half. This time it was Scott Sutter getting on the end of a Kaká cross for a near-post header at the death to secure the 1-1 draw in front of 42,333 at CenturyLink Field. It was Orlando City’s first ever point against the Sounders (5-7-5, 20 points) in three tries.

The first half started positively for Orlando, as Kaká threaded a through ball from the center of the pitch to play Carlos Rivas into a 1-v-1 situation with Stefan Frei in the fifth minute, but the Colombian was unable to convert a golden chance with his weaker right foot as Frei got a leg on the low shot and deflected it straight up before collecting. It was the type of opportunity that could’ve set the tone immediately for City, but Rivas couldn’t capitalize.

About 15 minutes later, Seattle got a similarly golden opportunity, and the Sounders pounced. Will Bruin found himself alone with Joe Bendik on the left side of Orlando’s box after Jonathan Spector’s aggressive lunge to intercept the ball just missed and allowed Bruin to get in behind and finish inside the near post. It was an unfortunate moment for Spector, who read the play well but simply failed to get his whole foot on the ball to clear it away.

The American center back was tested again before the half, and he responded well. He recovered on two occasions to make sliding stops vs. Bruin, one on a breakaway shot just before the halftime whistle and the other to keep a Nicolás Lodeiro ball from reaching Bruin for a potentially dangerous chance.

While the Lions had a good start to the game, the goal shifted the momentum to Seattle’s side swiftly, and the Sounders were on the front foot for much of the rest of the frame. Kaká was doing his best to create chances for Orlando, though, and threaded nice passes down the right and left flanks, respectively, to Sutter and Rivas that didn’t quite materialize into real danger. Neither Ricky nor any of his running mates were creative enough in the final third, and it went to half 1-0 Seattle.

The second half was the Joe Bendik Show.

The Orlando City keeper was maligned for a couple of his efforts against Montreal last weekend, but he came up with some heroic saves to keep the Lions in the game, most notably in minute 58 when he made back-to-back-to-back diving efforts to stop a Clint Dempsey shot from close range, followed by a sweeping effort to deflect the ball away from an on-running Osvaldo Alonso, and then again dove to stop Alonso following the second rebound before collecting. It was another Save-of-the-Week-level effort from Bendik, who kept this match from getting out of hand in the second half, making five saves in total — although that number seemed higher in real time as Seattle mounted attack after attack en route to 13 shots.

Seattle’s Frei was up to the challenge, as well, following up his first-half stop vs. Rivas with another short-range save against the Colombian at the hour mark. Rivas got on the end of a Sutter cross in the six-yard box and tapped it toward the net, but Frei stopped the shot after it took a slight deflection off a sliding Román Torres. Ultimately, Rivas got both of Orlando’s best chances on the night and couldn’t convert, although Frei deserves credit for reacting quickly to both, not to mention the assist to Torres that might have given the keeper an easier stop on Rivas’ tap from close range.

Otherwise, the second half was a frustrating series of futile Orlando attempts and Seattle breakaways. Jordan Morris and Dempsey got out on the run repeatedly, with Morris in particular finding his way through Orlando’s back line several times to create danger. A combination of Bendik heroics and Orlando City resilience allowed Orlando to stay in it and steal the point at the last possible chance, alleviating some of that mounting frustration for Lions fans.

The opportunity for the equalizer is credited to substitute fullback PC, who came on late and used his fresh legs and energy to charge at the Seattle defense a few times and create a spark for City. With less than 30 seconds before the end of the four-minute stoppage remaining, the Brazilian made another direct run and, after a one-two with Luis Gil, got past a couple Seattle defenders and was brought down outside the left side of the 18-yard box by Torres, who was shown a yellow.

Kaká stepped up for a free kick from an enticing spot for Orlando. The captain put it right on the dome of Sutter, who used his forehead to ping the ball past Frei’s right side, giving him no chance to react and make a near-post stop.

Head Coach Jason Kreis was going for it in this one, as he started a stronger lineup than he had in previous midweek games this season and played Kaká, Rivas, and other key starters the full length of the match on the field turf surface.


Orlando remains in fourth place in the East with the point, sitting on 26 points and just one point behind NYCFC, which does hold a game in hand. Orlando will be back at it on Saturday night at Chicago at 7:30 p.m., so we’ll see how Kreis reacts after playing a strong lineup in midweek.

Orlando City

Ranking Orlando City’s Home Kits

Where does the new Perfect Storm kit rank all time?

Published

on

Photo Courtesy of Orlando City / Mark Thor

Orlando City dropped the newest home kit yesterday. As such, I thought it appropriate to rank all of the MLS-era home kits for the Lions to see how the new “Perfect Storm” kit stacks up against those from the past. I will be the first to admit I’m no fashion guru, but I do know what I like.

We all get to have our own opinions on this type of thing, but since I’m writing the article, I get final say. Let’s rank Orlando City’s home kits.

Sixth Place

Photo of Chris Mueller wearing the Bring the Noise kit.

The 2019-2020 “Bring the Noise” kit starts things off in sixth place. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this kit, but it is pretty plain for it’s moniker. The shoulder stripes don’t stand out because they are black, the pattern is…fine, and it’s the first to sport the new Orlando Health logo. Putting it in sixth doesn’t mean I don’t like it or that there’s something wrong about it. It just means I like the other kits better.

Fifth Place

Kaka wearing the City Kit.

The 2015-2016 inaugural home kit — known as the “City Kit” — comes in at the fifth spot on the list. Consideration was given for it being the original kit of the MLS era, though that isn’t all it has going for it. The old school Orlando Health logo with the swirly circle,and the gold overlap collar contrasted with the white Adidas stripes…love it. You never forget your first, and this kit is no exception.

Fourth Place

A close-up photo of the Perfect Storm kit.

The new 2025-2026 “Perfect Storm” debuts in fourth place on our list. To be fair, I have not yet seen it in person, but I’m comfortable with the assessment. There are some things to like on the kit. I like the idea of each kit being unique because the pattern is random. That means your kit is really your kit. There’s a throwback element with the gold on the collar while using white trim for the logos and the shoulder stripes. The pattern is a little busy for me, but I get what they are going for with it. Not a bad addition for anyone’s collection.

Third Place

Benji Michel and friends wearing the Thick 'N Thin kit.

The 2021-2022 “Thick N Thin” kit has a lot going for it at the third spot on the list. I like the dark purple at the top, and the two-button collar is very cool. I like the consistency of the white trim around the sleeves with the white logos and shoulder stripes. There’s also the fact that this is the kit Orlando City wore when the Lions lifted the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy. Throw in a cowboy hat and it’s a classic.

Second Place

Kyle Smith photo in "The Wall" kit.

The 2023-2024 “The Wall” kit is absolutely outstanding. The bricks in the wall pattern representing the supporters’ section at Inter&Co Stadium (Exploria at the time) is a great tribute. The all-gold trim pieces on the shoulder stripes, the collar, the Adidas logo, and the sleeves look amazing. This kit is refined with a royal look. Like Kyle Smith, I give this kit two thumbs up. That’s why it’s number two on our list.

First Place

Kaka posing with an award while wearing the collared jersey from 2017 and 2018.

The 2017-2018 home kit was so cool that they didn’t even need to give it a nickname. Whenever I want to let someone know which one I’m talking about I say it’s the one with the collar. This was the first kit to use gold on the shoulder stripes. The heathered material is different than any other kit, and the fact that it has a collar means you can wear it to work without getting in trouble.

It was also the first kit in the — at that time — Orlando City Stadium which is why it has the longitude and latitude coordinates for the stadium on the sleeve. This is one of the best kits ever produced for any club in my opinion. That is why it tops off our list in the number one spot.


There you have it. In case you’re wondering I will most likely be getting the new Perfect Storm kit for myself. As for the rankings, that’s just one man’s opinion on the topic, and I’d love to hear how you rank them in the comments below. For now, you can select the spot where you’d place the Perfect Storm kit in the poll below. Vamos Orlando!

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 2/13/25

Orlando City unveils 2025 primary kit, Orlando Pride sign two players to short-term contracts, FC Dallas signs Luciano Acosta, and more.

Published

on

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s been a fairly busy week for me, but it’s at least made the week fly by as we get another day closer to the return of Orlando soccer. In the meantime, I’m knocking out some more books for my reading goal this year and have a bachelor party of all things to attend this Valentine’s Day weekend. But for now, let’s dive into today’s links!

Meet Orlando City’s Perfect Storm Kit

We now know the new primary jersey Orlando City will wear for the 2025 season, as the club revealed the “Perfect Storm” kit. The most notable feature is that each jersey will have a unique design of the purple storm pattern meant to reflect Central Florida weather. It also features Orlando’s area code on the back of the neck arranged to look like a lightning bolt, which is a nice touch. Ultimately, I think I like the previous The Wall kit a bit more, but I do like the colors and how easily you can tell the difference between each jersey. It’s available now online and you can also head to Inter&Co Stadium to pick it up in person.

Orlando Pride Sign Two Non-Roster Invitees

The Orlando Pride signed midfielder Aryssa Mahrt and goalkeeper DeAira Jackson to short-term contracts ahead of the 2025 season. Both were non-roster invitees at Orlando’s preseason camp this year and fill a couple of active roster spots for the time being. Mahrt joins the Pride after recording 21 goals and 15 assists across 62 matches at the University of Wisconsin, leading the Badgers with 10 goals last year. As for Jackson, she had nine shutouts last year with Grand Canyon University and was named 2024 WAC Goalkeeper of the Year. She had a total of 16 clean sheets during her two seasons at Grand Canyon, breaking the school record.

Luciano Acosta Heads to FC Dallas

Midfielder Luciano Acosta was officially traded by FC Cincinnati to FC Dallas in exchange for just $5 million and up to another $1 million if performance-based metrics are reached. Cincinnati will also retain a percentage if Acosta is traded within MLS for cash in the future. The 30-year-old is one of the best playmakers in the league and had 14 goals and 19 assists last season. He now joins a Dallas team that missed the playoffs last year and bid farewell to Jesus Ferreira, Alan Velasco, and Paul Arriola in the time since.

As for Cincinnati, it will reportedly replace Acosta with Portland Timbers star Evander for $12 million, along with add-ons. Evander’s 19 assists last season was tied with Acosta for the league’s most, and he had a whopping 15 goals as well. The dominos continue to fall from there, as the Timbers are reportedly close to signing David da Costa from RC Lens for a $6 million transfer fee. Gosh, if only Orlando City had a major sale this winter so that it could get in on this kind of spending as well.

More MLS 2025 Kits Revealed

Orlando City isn’t the only club showcasing its new kit this week, as several clubs across the league shared new looks. My favorite of the bunch belongs to Portland, which celebrated its 50th anniversary with a green and gold design using a tree ring pattern to literally show the club’s age. I also like the Columbus Crew’s oozing “Goosebumps” kit designed by Columbus native R.L. Stine that has a slime pattern when under UV light.

The New England Revolution’s new secondary kit looks nice but feels like something plucked from Nigeria’s cutting room floor. LAFC’s 2025 kit is as blindingly white and gold as expected, and FC Dallas’ lacks red for something called “The Inferno” kit, apart from a hellish version of its badge that I do like. While the shades of pink in Inter Miami’s new primary reminds me of someone mixing red into a load of white laundry, my least favorite kit so far belongs to the Philadelphia Union. The yellow meant to represent electricity just isn’t bold enough in my opinion. I’ve seen some people say it looks like streaks of urine in snow and it’s difficult to see anything else after that.

Free Kicks

  • Retired defensive midfielders Dax McCarty and Osvaldo Alonso are two of the five new faces joining the MLS Season Pass broadcasting team for 2025. Former Lion Miguel Gallardo will remain part of the Spanish language coverage as an analyst.
  • The LA Galaxy officially acquired Christian Ramirez from the Crew in exchange for up to $500,000 in General Allocation Money. The 33-year-old has scored eight goals in the past two seasons.
  • Christian Pulisic stated he’s focused on his play on the field amid reports that AC Milan is nearing a contract extension with him through 2028 that would include a hefty pay raise.
  • In the UEFA Champions League, Club Brugge beat Atalanta 2-1, thanks to a penalty kick in stoppage time; Benfica won 1-0 against Monaco; Bayern Munich beat Celtic 2-1; and Feyenoord managed to win 1-0 over AC Milan in the rain in Rotterdam.
  • Here’s what to watch for in today’s slate of Europa League action. The first leg between Porto and Roma should be a close affair in Portugal, while Galatasaray will be without suspended forward Victor Osimhen when it takes on AZ Alkmaar.
  • Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United Kingdom revealed that alcohol will not be sold at the 2034 World Cup, including at hotels.
  • The final Merseyside derby match at Goodison Park was a memorable one for the home fans, as Everton’s James Tarkowski scored a late equalizer to draw 2-2 against Liverpool. After the final whistle, four people were sent off, including Liverpool manager Arne Slot.
  • The U-17 USMNT took care of St. Kitts & Nevis 7-0 and has now outscored its opposition 29-0 through two matches. The Baby Nats will face Cuba Saturday. The U.S. would win the group with a draw or better.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Thursday and rest of your week!

Continue Reading

Orlando City

Orlando City Unveils New Perfect Storm Kit Ahead of 2025 MLS Season

The Lions’ new kits are meant to represent the uniqueness and intensity of the Central Florida weather.

Published

on

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City unveiled the club’s new home “Perfect Storm” kit today. The new home purple kit is meant to evoke the intensity of the Central Florida weather, and features a lightning bolt (called a “thunderbolt” by the club) made out of the Orlando area code, 407, on the back of the neck and a jocktag with a doppler radar storm icon. Per the club, no two kits will have the exact same pattern.

The Perfect Storm kit will be available on MLSStore.com and on OCMobileShop.com, with pick-up at The Den at Inter&Co Stadium starting Thursday during regular business hours.

“This kit is a tribute to our fans who have supported us day in and day out, through everything, rain or shine,” said Orlando City Chief Marketing Officer Pedro Araujo in a club press release. “It is also inspired by our players’ ability to thrive in adverse weather conditions, and a reminder that Inter&Co Stadium is one of the toughest environments in Major League Soccer for visiting teams to compete in.”

The Perfect Storm Kit will be first available to fans at the club’s official jersey launch tonight at 6 p.m. at Canvas (1401 Florida Mall Ave.). Fans can purchase the new shirt and have it customized. The first 200 fans in attendance to purchase the new kit will receive an exclusive CITYiD patch

The Lions will first wear the new kit at their home opener against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, Feb. 22.

Here are some shots of the new kit:

Continue Reading

Trending