Orlando City B

Orlando City B vs. Harrisburg City Islanders: Final Score 0-0 as Young Lions Still Can’t Find the Net

Published

8 years ago

August 2, 2017

Orlando City B might never score again.

The young Lions are left lamenting missed opportunities after out-playing the visiting City Islanders with both teams just a point below the playoff line. Scott Thomsen’s second-half miss in the 63rd minute from nine yards away with a gaping empty net was the team’s most glaring wasted opportunity for a team that failed to score for the third time in four games.

Thomsen later had a chance to redeem himself late in stoppage time when a ball fell perfectly for him in nearly the same spot but he hit his one-time shot right at the goalkeeper and OCB (5-6-9, 24 points) was left with its third 0-0 draw in four outings in front of 1,061 against the Harrisburg City Islanders (6-9-6, 24).

The young Lions are unbeaten in six games but have drawn the last five in a row and scored only three goals in that span — but only one goal in the last four outings. The young Lions have not scored since stoppage time against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on July 13.

“Frustrating night again,” Head Coach Anthony Pulis said. “I feel like that’s deja vu as — what’s that, the last probably four home games now — I’m probably going to say exactly the same thing, wher we’ve had the majority of the ball and some really good passages of play. Just the end product again, as you’ve seen. We’re creating the chances. We just can’t finish them off at the moment.”

With another game coming up on Saturday and Zach Ellis-Hayden out with a yellow card suspension, Anthony Pulis did a little bit of squad rotation, getting some first-team players involved. Earl Edwards Jr. took his usual spot in goal, with a back line of (L-R) PC, Leo Pereira, Zach Carroll, and Youmeni Jules. The midfield of the 4-4-2 consisted of (L-R) Ryley Kraft, Jordan Schweitzer, Scott Thomsen, and Pierre Da Silva — returning from a three-game suspension. Albert Dikwa and Michael Cox played on the attacking line up top.

Harrisburg countered with Brandon Miller in net behind a back four of (L-R) Abass Mohammed, Lee Nishanian, Tiago Calvano, and Shawn McLaws. Defensive midfielder Rasheed Olabiyi sat behind a line of four including (L-R) James Thomas, Paul Wilson, Danny DiPrima, and former OCB midfielder Jonathan Mendoza, with Ropapa Mensah as the lone striker at the top of the formation.

The visitors nearly got a gift four minutes into the match. Jules, playing for the suspended Ellis-Hayden, made a horrific pass into the middle of the pitch in his own third, straight to Wilson of the City Islanders. Wilson tried to chip Edwards but his shot stayed high and thumped off the crossbar.

Moments later, Michael Cox nearly got onto a long ball behind the defense but his touch was a bit heavy and he went down under contact but nothing was called. In the 10th minute, Mendoza stung a ball toward goal against his old team but found only the outside netting from the right side of the penalty area. A minute later, Schweitzer tried a shot from 35 yards out, trying to catch the keeper napping but his drive hit the Heineken sign at the bottom of the upper deck.

OCB had difficulty finding a way through Harrisburg’s midfield for the first 12 minutes or so against the City Islanders’ 4-1-4-1 formation. But then, the young Lions began to work the ball better around the outside, although the final entry ball was difficult to find.

Da Silva got down the left flank in the 12th minute and McLaws grabbed his shoulders and pulled him down, giving the Lions the first decent free kick of the game. But Pierre’s delivery was low and easily cut out. Two minutes later, Cox got into the left side of the box but opted to pass instead of shoot and his cross for Dikwa was easily intercepted. Just after that, Da Silva was clotheslined just above the box but it wasn’t called.

In the 16th minute, Da Silva sent in a corner kick cross that was headed straight for Pereira but Miller got a punch to it just before the Brazilian could nod it home. Ten minutes later, the Lions nearly struck after Cox earned a free kick near the touch line just about even with the top of the penalty area. Da Silva sent an in-swinger on goal that Miller got a hand on at the last second and knocked it off the crossbar. The ball cycled back in to the box but Pereira nodded over the bar.

27' | Pierre almost catches Harrisburg off guard on the free kick! 😲

0-0 | #ORLvHAR pic.twitter.com/UrH5RdqBqM

— Orlando City B (@OrlandoCityB) August 3, 2017

A odd-man break developed for Orlando City B, putting five attackers up against only the two Harrisburg center backs in the 34th minute, but the Lions mucked it up as Cox passed for Kraft and his cross attempt was cut out by the defense.

The teams traded a couple of half-chances over the final 16 minutes of the opening period but nothing menacing and went to the break deadlocked at 0-0. OCB controlled 53.5% of the possession, and completed 85.2% of its passes compared to the City Islanders’ 80.8% with each team attempting three shots. None were on target. Apparently Da Silva’s set piece delivery was ruled a cross because it was certainly on goal.

The problem with OCB in the first half was simply not moving the ball more quickly and often playing backward just as attacking players were making runs. With this particular 11, however, it’s no surprise that the chemistry was a bit off, as the group featured a lot of rare starters.

Conor Donovan replaced PC at the half, as the left back did well in his rehab stint and Pereira moved out to fullback as Donovan slotted into the middle next to Carroll. The defense, regardless of who played on the back line, was outstanding all night, with the only threat from Harrisburg really coming on counter attacks due to sloppy giveaways in the offensive third by OCB.

Cox registered the game’s first shot on target in the 53rd minute but didn’t get much sting into his shot which was right at Miller. Two minutes later, Mensah did essentially the same thing for City Islanders. Dikwa fizzed a ball through the six-yard box at the 58-minute mark but it was inches away from Cox’s outstretched foot.

A minute later, Edwards made his best save of the night when he dove to his right to deny Wilson after an offensive turnover led to a break for the Islanders. Carroll nearly found a breakthrough on a set piece in the 60th minute as a ball fell for him in the box but he didn’t make good contact with all the traffic in the box and a defender was in the way to block it.

60' | Zach Carroll almost puts away a loose ball in the box off a free kick!

0-0 | #ORLvHAR pic.twitter.com/lCE6jDrWv0

— Orlando City B (@OrlandoCityB) August 3, 2017

Thomsen’s golden opportunity came moments later, when second-half sub Tony Rocha took the ball deep into the box down the left and crossed a ball that deflected off Miller and fell right at the midfielder’s feet. Thomsen was one of three Lions in the box with the keeper helpless but the ball fell for him and it was his shot that sliced over the bar from just outside the six.

That was the last good chance for either side until the 87th minute, when the Lions sent an errant pass in the attacking half that Harrisburg easily picked out to ignite the counter. Mensah fired just wide of the target for the visitors.

Dikwa and Da Silva tried to make some late-game magic happen to rescue all three points as time wound down. Dikwa’s fizzed cross for Hadji Barry was deflected away by a defender at the last second early in stoppage time. Then Da Silva managed to get to the byline twice in rapid succession. His first cross was right onto Dikwa but the teenager from Cameroon mistimed his header and it bounced around until Da Silva was able to get back on it. The second cross was too close to Miller, who collected.

A subsequent stoppage-time cross fell perfectly for Thomsen at nearly the exact same spot as his earlier miss. This time he one-timed a shot on target but right at Miller who made a reaction save. Pereira nodded the ensuing corner over the bar.

“First off, we’re creating chances, so that’s a positive,” Carroll said after the match. “It’s one thing if we’re getting these 0-0 score lines and not creating chances but that’s not the case with us right now. The chances are there and on another night we put both of those away. The advice we give to those guys is ‘just keep shooting and they’ll fall eventually.’”

Referee Jonathan Weiner blew his whistle while OCB was trying to counter attack and the game ended, 0-0. The young Lions held 52.2% of the possession for the game, a 13-8 advantage in shots (2-3 on target), and a better passing percentage (82.8%-79.2%) but simply couldn’t finish chances again.

“Training sessions have been excellent all year. The attitude and the application of the guys every day has been first class,” Pulis said. “So I’m not going to sit here and criticize them because as you’ve seen, they’ve given their all again tonight. I think we could have easily won all four of those home games that we tied. It’s not going for us at the moment, it’s not dropping, but I’ll make sure that their heads are right for what’s going to be a massive game at Cincinnati on Saturday.”

Da Silva was noticeably tired at the end of the game and Pulis said he thought the rust showed after Pierre had missed the three games. He also said Da Silva threw up at halftime as he battled a bit of a stomach bug. Still, it was Pierre that created the best chances down the stretch for his teammates.

The young Lions will be back in action Saturday night when they visit FC Cincinnati at 7 p.m. It will be the third meeting of the year for the two clubs. OCB is 1-0-1 against FC

Starting XI: Earl Edwards Jr.; PC (Conor Donovan – 46’), Zach Carroll, Leo Pereira, Youmeni Jules; Ryley Kraft, Jordan Schweitzer (Tony Rocha – 62’), Scott Thomsen, Pierre Da Silva; Albert Dikwa, Michael Cox (Hadji Barry – 62’).

Unused Subs: Jake Fenlason, Austin Martz, Fernando Timbo, Joe Gallardo.

Yellow Cards: HAR- Calvano (51’).

Orlando City B

Orlando City B Signs Bernardo Rhein, Justin Ellis to MLS NEXT Pro Deals

OCB adds two signees ahead of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season.

Published

1 week ago

February 13, 2025

Michael Citro

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Orlando City B announced this morning that the club has signed two Orlando City Academy players — midfielder Bernardo Rhein and forward Justin Ellis — to MLS NEXT Pro contracts. Rhein signed through 2025 with a club option for 2026, with Ellis’ deal running through 2026. Both players featured Saturday night in Orlando City’s preseason scrimmage against CF Montreal.

“Bernardo and Justin are two more great examples of young players that have shown belief and trust in the development pathway we have set up here at Orlando City,” Orlando City SC Vice President of Soccer Operations and Technical Director Ricardo Moreira said in a club press release. “By signing with OCB, Justin and Bernardo have shown trust in us, the pathway, and in Head Coach Manuel Goldberg. They both put in the work since their early academy days; took the opportunities that they were given to continue developing their skill sets; and have shown us that they’re ready to take the next step along that pathway, and we’re excited to see how they both continue to progress these next few years.”

The 17-year-old Rhein (known as Bernardo Goncalves in 2024), appeared in six matches with OCB a year ago, coming off the bench each time and playing a total of 33 minutes. The Windermere native and Brazilian national did not record a goal contribution, attempting one shot, which he put on target, and completing 81.8% of his 22 pass attempts. Rhein subbed on for the latter stages of Saturday’s preseason scrimmage against Montreal and looked good, getting himself into scoring position but firing just over the bar in the extra 30-minute sesson.

Ellis, also 17, appeared in 18 matches with OCB in 2024 (three starts), scoring two goals and putting eight of his 13 shots on target. He did not record an assist, but passed well from the forward position, logging three key passes and completing 76.7% of his total pass attempts. The Wellington native traveled with the MLS squad to Mexico for the team’s week-long camp in Cancun. On the international stage, Ellis was called up to the U-18 USMNT in September, scoring two goals in two appearances.

What It Means for OCB

This is positive news for both OCB and the Orlando City Academy. Ellis was a regular contributor last season at a young age, while Rhein got his feet wet with a few appearances at the MLS NEXT Pro level. At just 17, both have shown a lot of potential upside already. Ellis will turn 18 in May, while Rhein won’t reach his 18th birthday until Sept. 21. Both will get a chance to further their development with OCB.

While neither player will be expected to make an impact with the first team in 2025, Duncan McGuire’s injury absence may require Shak Mohammed to spend more time with the first team, meaning Ellis would be in line to get more minutes with the Young Lions in the early part of the season.

Orlando City B

Orlando City Signs Goalkeeper Carlos Mercado to a New Contract

Carlos Mercado signs a new contract to remain Orlando City’s third-choice goalkeeper.

Published

3 weeks ago

January 30, 2025

Sean Rollins

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City announced this morning that the club has signed goalkeeper Carlos Mercado to a new contract. The deal is through the 2025 season with club options for 2026 and 2027.

“Carlos did a great job for us last year with Orlando City B and continued to provide a positive work ethic and atmosphere every day in training up with the first team and showed his skill and ability to compete every chance he got,” Orlando City Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi said in a club press release. “He’s part of a strong goalkeeping unit here at the club and we feel confident in the future of that entire position group moving forward.”

Mercado originally joined Orlando City prior to the 2024 season to back up Javier Otero. However, when Mason Stajduhar broke his tibia and fibula in a June 28 game against New York City FC, Otero became the primary backup to Pedro Gallese and Mercado was the starter for the Young Lions.

In his debut season in purple, Mercado started 20 games — including a playoff game in Chicago — playing 1,830 minutes. He conceded 30 goals for a goals-against average of 1.48 and saved 81 of 111 shots faced for a save percentage of 73%. He kept three clean sheets and compiled a record of 9-5-6 (W-L-D) while saving two of the four penalties he faced in regular play.

The 25-year-old signed a short-term deal following Stajduhar’s injury with his lone game on the team sheet being on the bench for a July 3 game against Toronto FC. He went on to sign a first-team contract on Sept. 20 through the 2024 season with options for 2025, 2026, and 2027. However, his 2025 option was declined following the season.

Mercado played for the FC Dallas academy in his youth, earning call-ups to the United States U-16 National Team and Mexico U-18 National Team. He played collegiately at the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX, before joining San Antonio FC of the USL Championship.

The goalkeeper made his professional debut in 2021, coming on for the final 29 minutes in a 3-0 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. He stayed with San Antonio FC through the 2023 season before joining OCB.

What It Means for Orlando City

As previously mentioned, Mercado’s option for 2025 was declined following the 2024 MLS season since the club already had three other goalkeepers. However, signing another goalkeeper became necessary when Orlando City traded Stajduhar to Real Salt Lake on Jan. 15, leaving the club with two under contract.

Mercado will likely continue to be the club’s third goalkeeper and is the presumed starter for Orlando City B when the MLS NEXT Pro season starts in March. He’ll have to join the first team if Gallese goes away on international duty with Peru and Otero enters the starting lineup. Barring unavailability of Gallese and Otero, it’s unlikely he’ll see any MLS action.

Orlando City B

Orlando City B Announces Schedule for 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Season

Find out where, when, and who the Young Lions of OCB will play in 2025.

Published

4 weeks ago

January 27, 2025

Michael Citro

Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

The 2025 MLS NEXT Pro schedule was r eleased this afternoon, telling us where, when, and who Orlando City B will play in the team’s fourth year in the league. The league will again feature 29 teams in 2025, with three teams set to enter the league next year. There are 27 MLS affiliated clubs in the league and two independents — Carolina Core FC and Chattanooga FC.

The schedule remains at 28 games, with Orlando City B playing 14 at home, 13 away, and one at a neutral site at IMG Academy in Bradenton. OCB home games will take place at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee again this season.

OCB will start the 2024 season with a two-game home stand, opening the season on Sunday, March 9 against Columbus Crew 2 at 7 p.m. A week later, Atlanta United 2 will visit Osceola County Stadium. The Young Lions will then hit the road for the team’s first two away games starting Wednesday, March 26 at Crown Legacy FC and following with a match at Chattanooga FC on Saturday, April 5.

In addition to opening the season at home, OCB will close the regular season by hosting FC Cincinnati 2 at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5. Last year, the Young Lions opened and closed the season on the road. All Decision Day games in the Eastern Conference will start at 1 p.m. and all Western Conference matches will kick off at 4 p.m. (ET).

OCB will compete in the 15-team Eastern Conference as part of the Southeast Division. The other teams in the division are Atlanta, Carolina Core, Chattanooga, Crown Legacy, Huntsville City, and rival Inter Miami II. The reserve version of the Tropic Thunder rivalry will play out over three meetings in 2025. The Young Lions will travel IMG Academy to face the Baby Herons on April 15, with the home match in Kissimmee coming May 17. The teams will meet again in Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 14.

MLS NEXT Pro teams will again only play opponents from their own conference, limiting travel. The Young Lions will play each team in the Southeast Division three times, including Atlanta United 2, and Chattanooga twice at home and once away, and Carolina Core, Crown Legacy, and Huntsville City once each at home and twice away. OCB will play the teams from the Northeast Division once, except Columbus and New England, which the Young Lions will face both at home and away. Orlando City B will face FC Cincinnati 2, New York City FC II, New York Red Bulls II, and Toronto FC II only at home in the regular season, while facing Chicago Fire II and Philadelphia Union II only on the road.

The busiest months for OCB this season will be June and August, when the Young Lions will play five matches. They’ll play four times in April and July, three times in March, May, and September, and once in October. The most common day the Young Lions will play is on Sunday (13 games). Additionally, they have five games on Saturday, four games each on Wednesday and Friday, and one game each on Monday and Tuesday. The most common kickoff time is 7 p.m.. The Young Lions will play 18 games with that start time, three times each at 3 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 8 p.m., and once at 1 p.m. (Decision Day).

Once again, the postseason will include 15 games this year, concluding with the MLS NEXT Pro Cup. The higher playoff seeds will again select their opponents for the matchups in the first two rounds.

The majority of regular season games and all playoff games will again air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. The remaining games will be streamed live on mlsnextpro.com.

As far as viewing conflicts go for Orlando City and Pride fans, there are a few overlaps in 2025. OCB plays at 7 p.m. on April 5 at Chattanooga with the MLS Lions playing at 7:30 p.m. at Philadelphia that night. On May 23, OCB plays at Atlanta United 2 at 7:30 p.m. and the Pride and Royals kick off in Utah at 9:30 p.m. just as that game is concluding. On June 25, OCB plays at home at 7 p.m. against Toronto FC II, with Orlando City at St. Louis City at 8:30 p.m. OCB’s game July 25 at Huntsville City will kick off 30 minutes after the senior side begins playing at Columbus. The Young Lions start at home on Aug. 3 against NYCFCII an hour after the Pride and Utah Royals kick off at Inter&Co Stadium. OCB and the Pride are both home on Aug. 9 as well, with the Young Lions and Chattanooga getting underway at 7 p.m. at Osceola County Stadium, just 30 minutes before the Pride and Racing Louisville battle at Inter&Co Stadium. On Aug. 23, OCB will play at 7 p.m. at home against Atlanta United 2, with the senior Lions and Nashville SC kicking off at 8:30 p.m.