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Orlando City at New York Red Bulls: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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7 years ago

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That was an ugly one.

Orlando City took an early lead on the road for the third week in a row, but were tied with the New York Red Bulls heading into halftime and a slow start to the second half cost them as the Lions ended up falling to the Red Bulls, 3-1. Kaká saw himself being sent off in stoppage time thanks to video review, and the club ended its string of three straight on the road with just one point from three games as the Lions head back home to take on the Columbus Crew next Saturday, Aug. 19.

Anyway, on to grades.

Starting XI

GK Joe Bendik, 6.5 — It was a tough night overall for Bendik. Not only did he allow three goals, but he suffered a slash on his right cheek on Bradley Wright-Phillips’ goal in the second half — it wasn’t the first time he’s taken a hit to the face playing at Red Bull Arena, by the way. But Bendik did make a couple of big saves not much earlier, making a stop on Alex Muyl in the 47th minute, then an even bigger diving stop on the ensuing corner kick, ranging down to his right to save the ball off the line.

D, Donny Toia, 5.5 — The first thing that jumps out about Toia’s night is his 54% passing accuracy, which is pretty poor. But it’s reasonable that his passing would suffer from lack of chemistry, playing next to the inexperienced Leo Pereira and behind Yoshimar Yotun in his first MLS start. Still, it was a mixed night. Toia was more active getting forward on the offensive end than we’ve seen from him lately, with one key pass. Defensively, he led all players with eight interceptions and added two clearances. However, the second Red Bulls goal came from his side, as did the cross for Wright-Phillips’ near-miss on a bicycle kick.

D, Tommy Redding, 6 — Redding finally cracked his way back into the starting lineup with Jonathan Spector sidelined, and he did what he had to do. He made a strong, clean first-half tackle on on Wright-Phillips in the penalty area in the 29th minute to clear the area of danger, but did get beat by Muyl on BWP’s second-half goal; Muyl ran right between him and Donny Toia, Redding could get to Muyl in time and he sent in the cross to BWP, who was just to Tommy’s left, for the goal.

D, Leo Pereira, 4 — Leo was responsible for the Red Bulls’ first goal of the night when his attempt to clear Sacha Kljestan’s cross into the box instead went into his own net. He was also tied for a team-high three fouls on the night. In fairness, it was his first MLS match since June 4.

D, Scott Sutter, 6.5 — Sutter played a sound game defensively, as he often does, and on the offensive side of the ball finished with 84 percent passing, four crosses, and five accurate long balls forward. A quietly exceptional night for the right back.

MF, Will Johnson, 7 — Johnson was very much himself throughout the night. He brought passion and energy early on, and his fight for the ball started everything off for Orlando City on the goal, winning the ball in midfield and getting it to Cyle Larin, who quickly found Kaká before he passed off to Rivas. Johnson passed for 86 percent on the night, had a game-high four tackles and three interceptions. All in all, a good night.

MF, Antonio Nocerino, 6 — Nocerino was six inches away from finally opening his MLS account, bending a shot around the outside post in the 70th minute, but outside of that it was a pretty meh night for the Italian midfielder, who got the start in the holding role over Cristian Higuita. Nocerino finished with 74 percent passing, two interceptions, and just one tackle, but he did make a solid play in the 14th minute to save Orlando from danger, taking the ball away from a Red Bulls player before they could dribble into the box.

MF, Yoshi Yotun, 8 (MOTM) — A very solid debut for the team’s newest Designated Player. Yotun looked comfortable, collected, and nothing like a guy playing his first game with a new team. He was active on both ends in the first half, and was clearly making a noticeable impact, but the second half was much different, and probably not his fault, as he struggled to spread the first like he did in the first half, and was mostly contained to the left side of the midfield. He did have a long-range ball down the field in the second half to find Carlos Rivas, who split the defenders to reach it, but the Colombian’s shot attempt was blocked. He was fouled three times, was credited with one key pass, and finished with an 83 percent overall in the passing game. He also should have scored the equalizing goal for in the 77th minute, hitting a shot off of the crossbar. An unlucky break in his debut.

MF, Kaká, 7 — All things considered, it was a good night for the captain. Kaká’s fifth assist of the season helped put Orlando up in the first half. He was credited with three key passes, two tackles, one interception, and had a great run from midfield all the way into the penalty area in the 73rd minute that ended with winning his side a corner kick. The red card in stoppage time shouldn’t do anything to put a damper on his otherwise solid outing.

F, Carlos Rivas, 6.5 — Rivas missed a golden opportunity to score in the 17th minute; with nobody but Luis Robles to beat, and he sailed the shot over the bar. But he made up for it not even a minute later, finishing off an assist from Kaká for his fifth goal of the season. Rivas was a menace throughout the first half, doing a great job of making runs in behind the Red Bulls’ defense; they couldn’t contain him. But the second half, again, was a different story, and he struggled to make an impact.

F, Cyle Larin, 6 — Larin looked dangerous in the first half, and had a couple of really good opportunities to put the ball in the net. In the 24th minute, he received a throw-in in the box on the near side, turned and forced Robles into a acrobatic save to keep the Lions off the board. A couple of minutes later, he got loose in the box on a Kaká free kick from roughly 40 yards out but flat out missed the ball in the air. A golden opportunity wasted. Story of the day, he was active in the first half but disappeared in the second as New York choked off the Lions in midfield. He did have 27 touches and drew four fouls before being subbed off in the 86th minute.

Substitutes

F, Giles Barnes (81’), N/A — Barnes entered for Will Johnson late and didn’t have enough time to make an impact.

MF, Cristian Higuita (81’), 1 — Higuita came on for Nocerino at the same time Barnes did, right after New York’s third goal, and didn’t have enough time to make an impact, but he did stay on the field long enough to get a yellow card in stoppage time during the scuffle that also included Kaká’s red card. Peak Cristian Higuita move to earn that yellow right before the whistle.

MF, Richie Laryea (86’), N/A — Richie got into the game in the final moments, and while he did get a shot off in the 87th, moments after coming on for Cyle Larin, it wasn’t enough to earn him a grade.

That’s how I saw the individual performances. What did you think? Let us know in the comments and vote for your MotM in our poll below.

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Carlos Rivas27
Yoshimar Yotun39
Will Johnson5
Kaká25
Other6

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Opinion

Likes and Dislikes from this Week of Orlando City’s Preseason

Orlando City’s third week of preparation had some good things and some not so good things.

Published

9 hours ago

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January 31, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

We have another week of Orlando City’s preseason in the books, and while it seems hard to believe, it’s been almost three weeks since the Lions got back in the lab and started preparing for the 2025 campaign. There have been lots of new talking points this week too, and its been a bit of a mixed bag. Let’s have a look at some of the good and bad from this past week.

Likes

Victory (Kind of) vs. Atletico Mineiro

Okay, so it technically wasn’t a victory since the game ended in a scoreless draw. The Lions did get the job done from the penalty spot though, as they won the shootout 6-5 to claim whatever the Inter&Co Trophy is. More important than the result though, was the fact that OCSC played pretty well. Orlando created a good amount of opportunities, but as seems to be the fatal flaw with this team, the finishing was definitely on the rusty side. It was perhaps unlucky that some of the Lions’ best chances fell to youngsters, but the good news is that the chances were being created. It was a positive first showing that the team can hopefully build on.

Back in the U.S. Open Cup

A lot of fans, myself included, had big issues with the Lions not being a participant in the U.S. Open Cup last year. It’s a tournament that is near and dear to a lot of Orlando fans, given that OCSC has won the whole damn thing once, had other special moments like The Running of the Wall, and has generally made decent runs in the competition. It was welcome news to hear that Orlando will be back in the competition this year, along with 15 other MLS teams that will enter the competition during the Round of 32. The tournament has a charm and a special place in my heart, and it’s exactly where the Lions should be.

Two Games, Two Clean Sheets

Nic Josey has gone on the record stating that Orlando City will need strong, steady performances from its defense if the team wants to avoid a slow start to the season like we saw in 2024. It’s only preseason, and we shouldn’t get too carried away, but so far so good, as the Lions have recorded a clean sheet in each of their two preseason games. Whether that will mean a damn thing once the regular season starts is anyone’s guess, but it’s a hell of a lot better than giving up buckets of goals in the preseason.

Dislikes

Wilder Cartagena’s Injury

We still don’t have official confirmation on the injury that Wilder Cartagena suffered during Saturday’s preseason match, but all the reports point to an Achilles Tendon injury, with ESPN’s Diego Montalvan going as far to say that he’ll be undergoing surgery. If that proves to be the case then it’s a doomsday scenario indeed for the Lions, as Cartagena could miss anywhere from six months to a whole year. He’s proven to be a vital part of what makes Orlando City tick, and replacing him is going to be far from an easy task.

Summer Fixture Frenzy

Along with the U.S. Open Cup, the Lions will once again be participating in Leagues Cup, and that’s presented them with a hellish slate of matches to finish out the summer. In a stretch from mid-July to mid-August OCSC will play a positively hellish eight games in 29 days, with that number potentially rising even higher if the club goes deep in the Open Cup (unless the two competitions decide to play nice and work with each other on scheduling). Not to mention that six of those eight games will take place at home in the punishing Florida heat and humidity. Either some guys are going to need to get signed, the kids are going to get some good experience, or something is going to give. Speaking of…

The Continued Wait for Reinforcements

Orlando City has made a couple signings in the last two weeks, with the most notable of those being winger Nicolas Rodriguez, with goalkeeper Carlos Mercado getting re-signed on Thursday. That’s a start, but Cartagena needs to be replaced, Jack Lynn’s retirement and Duncan McGuire’s shoulder injury mean the striker corps is dangerously thin, and the team could use help with depth at midfield and fullback. That’s a hell of a lot of business that needs to get done, and there hasn’t been much in the way of substantive chatter in the transfer rumor mill lately. The sooner signings are made, the more time they have to get integrated with their new surroundings before the season starts, but time is fast running out for that to happen.

There you have it folks. Life is full of peaks and valleys, and this week for Orlando City was a good reflection of that. What things jumped out to you this week, and what are you hoping to see as we move into the fourth week of preseason? Be sure to have your say down in the comments. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/31/25

Orlando Pride transfer Adriana for record fee, Orlando City re-signs Carlos Mercado, new Leagues Cup format revealed, and more.

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12 hours ago

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January 31, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! Today ends the first month of 2025 and my resolutions are mostly intact. I’d like to walk a bit more in the afternoons than I currently am, but I’ll take what I can get. I don’t have too many plans lined up this weekend beyond working, catching some sports, and board games with friends. But for now, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world.

Adriana Transferred For Orlando Pride Record Fee

The Orlando Pride have transferred Adriana to Al Qadsiah FC in the Saudi Women’s Premier League for a club record fee of reportedly $500,000. Adriana requested the move after two seasons with the Pride since joining in January of 2023. The versatile attacker recorded 12 goals and five assists in 46 regular-season appearances with the Pride. This move opens up an opportunity for more minutes for the team’s young players, and that transfer fee should help improve the Pride’s roster.

Carlos Mercado Re-Signs With Orlando City

Orlando City signed goalkeeper Carlos Mercado to a new contract through the upcoming 2025 season, with club options for 2026 and 2027. The club declined the option on his previous contract following the 2024 season, but he’s back in purple after Mason Stajduhar’s trade to Real Salt Lake. The 25-year-old will likely feature as Orlando City B’s starting goalkeeper this season, with Javier Otero backing up Pedro Gallese on the first team. Mercado started 20 games for the Young Lions last season, so he has some playing time and familiarity with the team under his belt ahead of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season.

Leagues Cup Reveals New Format for 2025

Orlando City was one of only 18 MLS clubs to qualify for this summer’s Leagues Cup and we now know what the new format for the tournament will be. The group stage is gone and in its place is a convoluted first phase that can be simplified as there being six sets of six teams —three from MLS and three from Liga MX. Each team will play one match against the three teams from the opposing league, and then only the top four teams overall from each league will advance to the quarterfinals. This means that there will be MLS vs. Liga MX matchups every game until possibly the semifinals. One rule that stuck around though is that there will still be a penalty shootout for an additional point if two teams draw.

NWSL Awards Franchise to Denver

The NWSL officially announced that the league’s 16th franchise will be in Denver. The new club will take the field in 2026 and is finalizing plans to build a stadium for the team. Rob Cohen, who founded the Denver Sports Commission to help bring major sporting events to the city, will serve as the club’s controlling owner and governor, while Mellody Hobson will be the alternate governor. Denver’s team doesn’t have a name, colors, or a logo just yet, but I think anything other than DEN Nation FC would be a good idea.

Free Kicks

  • Former Pride player Emily van Egmond joined Birmingham City on a two-and-a-half-year contract after three years with the San Diego Wave. Birmingham is at the top of the Women’s Championship in a tight race for promotion to the Women’s Super League.
  • Manuel Cocca, whose contract with Orlando City B expired after last season, has joined Arsenal de Sarandi in Argentina’s second division.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!

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Opinion

Orlando City’s Lack of Off-Season Signings Starting to Become a Concern

The Lions’ roster hasn’t gotten any bigger in the last few weeks, so it’s understandable if fans are getting a bit antsy.

Published

1 day ago

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January 30, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Three weeks ago I wrote that there was no reason to panic about Orlando City’s lack of off-season signings. It was early in January, and the club typically does a lot of its business throughout the first month of the year. Since then, the club signed Nicolas Rodriguez, but the Lions also traded Mason Stajduhar, and forward Jack Lynn retired. That is more subtraction than addition for a team looking to make it to the next level. Is it now time to panic?

The departure of Stajduhar hits Orlando City supporters in the feels given how long he was with the club, but one may assume the coaches have seen enough from Javier Otero to be confident in his ability to back up Pedro Gallese. The club still needs to bring in another keeper [Editor’s note: this story was written prior to the club signing Carlos Mercado this morning], but Stajduhar’s departure isn’t as big of a problem as it might first seem.

We don’t know how long Duncan McGuire will be unavailable once the season starts. Even if he’s back sooner than expected, Orlando City will still be lacking at the striker position. Ramiro Enrique has proven he can be a starter, but with Jack Lynn’s departure, there isn’t anyone behind him. While Luis Muriel is technically a striker, he tends to play further back in a facilitator role rather than as an actual No. 9. We haven’t seen any transfer moves for a new striker.

The Lions got a big influx of cash, thanks to the Facundo Torres deal. Replacing the goal production of Orlando City’s all-time leading goal scorer is a priority. So far, the club has brought in Rodriguez as an MLS U22 Initiative player. Despite the similarities between the two, Rodriguez is not a replacement for Torres. It is unrealistic to expect the young man to score double-digit goals his first year in MLS.

I’m not even worried about the attacking midfield. As I mentioned above, Muriel is best as a facilitator, Martin Ojeda is now wearing the No. 10 jersey, and Ivan Angulo can play on either side. It’s Torres’ goal contributions I’m worried about missing. Orlando City needs to replace that production sooner rather than later or another slow start seems certain.

I’m not going to address the Wilder Cartagena injury until we know more, but that is also potentially very bad news. That brings us to today. The team is already deep into its preseason trip to Mexico. This is the trip that in the past has been the time when the team truly bonds. Any players brought in at this point will obviously miss that valuable time.

Additionally, unless a signing is someone who has already played in MLS — which is incredibly rare for this front office — it is going to take them time to adapt to the league as well as the club and their new teammates. That brings us back to the real potential for another slow start to the season.

When you have roster turnover, the idea is to bring in players that are better than the players that departed. We know that the ownership is serious about winning. The 2022 Open Cup victory and the Orlando Pride’s two 2024 trophies are a testament to that. Now, it’s time to see that commitment with some substantial signings for City. In some ways, I feel the club has left it a little late, but I’ll take what I can get at this point.

I’m not saying it’s time to panic — though I won’t tell you not to do so — but I’m definitely getting a bit concerned. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

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