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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. New England Revolution: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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7 years ago

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Can you believe that? Returning home tonight became a purple smoke party as Orlando City notched a number of firsts — most goals in a match in MLS play, first goals for players, first assists for players, and a massive statement made as the Lions beat the New England Revolution, 6-1, in a match that saw less than 22 players finish the match. Luck was our side though, as it was the Revs that had to play a man down. There’s so much to cover from that match, so let’s just jump right in and see how the players scored.

Starting XI:

G, Joe Bendik, 6.5 — Solid match for Joe, even though he really didn’t have to do much in the second half. Lee Nguyen’s free kick got by him in the 46th minute, but some good clears prior. The back line did its job well, which meant Joe had a fairly quiet night.

D, Donny Toia, 6 — Mixed reviews for Toia this evening. He did a great job standing Teal Bunbury up at 8’. Captured a rebound of a corner and ripped it towards goal and gets another corner. Main complaint is that he was caught a number of times out of position, and his passes and touches forward looked heavy. A good night, regardless.

D, Leo Pereira, 7 — Had to hustle to cover for Toia on numerous occasions. Leo communicated really well with Seb. He picked up a yellow on a challenge on Kei Kamara that was a questionable card at 34’. Sent a great ball over the top that just missed Barnes on a run between the center backs in the 49th minute. A very solid outing for Leo.

D, Seb Hines, 8.5 — Warning. Seb Hines was an absolute candidate for MOTM. Seb played what I believe was his best match yet for the first team. Great reads, great reactions, and excellent communication with teammates. Xavier Kouassi’s slide tackle of Seb was VAR’d in the 11th, leading to a red card. Had a good look at a ball from a corner in the 27th, and then buried the ball in the back of the net with his head in the 32nd. Did very well against Kamara and stood him up or tackled balls away from him numerous times late in the match, especially in the 53rd on what would have been a one-on-one with Joe if he had not. Fantastic match for Seb.

D, Scott Sutter, 7 — Solid first half with good runs. Missed a touch in the 46th on a big switch from Yoshi that caught the Revolution off guard. Had a great opportunity to put a clean shot on frame in the 58th, but sent it high into the stands. He pulled up in the 84th minute with something that originally scared us all, as he was grabbing his hamstring, and started a wild string of events from one end of the pitch to the other, leading to Dom’s first goal at home. Jason Kreis said it was only cramping, nothing wrong with the hamstring. Good night for Scott, a.k.a. Mr. Consistent.

M, Yoshimar Yotun (MOTM), 9 — Yoshi is by far my Man of the Match. His spot kicks were dangerous all night long. He had a few errant passes, but hustled to win balls back every opportunity he could. Dragged a Revolution defender on his back, a CB, still dribbling the ball in the 29th. He played box to box, and did well working with the entire midfield to possess, distribute, find lanes, take on defenders, and eventually in the 90th, get his first goal as a Lion. There was no stopping Yoshi tonight, so let the memes fly. And lets not forget about his two assists.

M, Servando Carrasco, 7 — The quiet man on the pitch tonight. I do not mean quiet as in he did not do much, I mean quiet in the sense that he held shape and just did his job tonight. He had almost as many touches tonight as Yoshi, with a better passing accuracy. Couldn’t tell, could you? I certainly could.

M, Antonio Nocerino, 8.5 — Noce was on fire tonight, and seems to adapting very well to this slightly new role of a two-way player. His give and go with Kaká to get Kaká the shot in the 17th was brilliant. And the moment we have all been waiting for happened in the 22nd, when he recorded his first goal. His fire was all over the pitch this evening, and he ended the night with the highest passing accuracy on the team (93.5%).

M, Giles Barnes, 7.5 — Giles worked really in the number 10 spot this evening. He helped keep the Lions’ attack moving all night. He had two good looks, putting one on frame, and missed what should have been another goal in the 51nd.

F, Kaká, 8.9 — In his first start in three matches, Kaká came back with a vengeance, paired up top with Dom. Had a great little pass to Noce in the sixth minute and a great look on goal in the 17th. Only ding to his match was picking up a yellow for simulation in the 28th that I will need to watch again. Brutal shot (in a good way) in the 43rd to score his first, and picked up his brace in the 77th off a rebound from Dom. Was a menace to the Revs all night long.

F, Dom Dwyer, 7.5 — He assists when he wants, oh, and he scores when he wants. Dom was Dom again tonight, and finally got his first goal at home. He also created some absolute magic for some camera folks with that flying volley attempt only to miss, have the ball bounce around and fall to Kaká, who put it in the back of the net. Dom got his goal in the 84th on that odd run of play while Sutter was dealing with a cramp.

Substitutes:

D, Tommy Redding (54’), 7 — Came in fairly early for Leo, and did well with Seb for the rest of the night. Was a little shaky at first, but warmed up to the task very quickly and was solid for the match. Part of the defense that kept Kamara from getting any shots off in the second half.

M, Richie Laryea (71’), 7 — Great hustle from Laryea for the short time he was on the pitch. He came into the left side of the diamond while Yoshi shifted up to the top. Had numerous, and some very dangerous, give-and-goes with his midfield partners and notched his first career MLS assist tonight on Yoshi’s goal in the 90th.

F, Cyle Larin (79’), 7 — In the short time he was on the pitch, Cyle kept the pressure on New England. Let’s not forget he also logged an assist on Dom’s goal in the 84th.

That’s all I’ve got, as I am exhausted from watching that. Who was your Orlando City Man of the Match? Vote below, and let me know why in the comments.

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Antonio Nocerino14
Seb Hines8
Kaká40
Yoshimar Yotun81
Dom Dwyer1
Other3

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/21/25

Orlando Pride release preseason camp roster, scouting Costa Rica, women’s soccer transfer grades, and more.

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21 hours ago

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January 21, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone! If you had yesterday off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, then I hope you enjoyed some restful time off. If not, then I hope you got your week started off on a good and productive note. There’s a lot going on around here this week as the United States Men’s National Team is in town, and Orlando City will play its first preseason match on Saturday. That means we have plenty to discuss, so let’s dig into today’s links.

Orlando Pride Drop Preseason Roster

Monday might have been a holiday but the Orlando Pride were busy, as they announced the roster for their upcoming preseason camp. Almost all of the usual suspects from the 2024 season are back, as the Pride return 98% of the player-minutes from last season and every single scorer. Mariana Larroquette is on the list although she’s currently on loan in Argentina, and Amanda Allen is likewise included after her loan at Lexington Sporting Club was terminated due to a torn labrum. The biggest intrigue comes from the trio of non-roster invitees: goalkeeper DeAira Jackson, midfielder Aryssa Mahrt, and forward Simone Jackson.

Scouting Costa Rica

The USMNT takes on Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium to wrap up the team’s annual January camp. Like the U.S., Costa Rica is bringing a roster devoid of the majority of its important players. Costa Rica also has a new manager at the helm in Miguel Herrera, who will take charge of the team for the very first time on Wednesday. Herrera typically lines his teams up in a 5-3-2 where the wingbacks take on a very important role and the team looks to hit on the counter while staying compact at the back. This will be the last time we see the USMNT in action until the Concacaf Nations League semifinals in early March.

Women’s Soccer January Transfer Grades

January has been a busy time for transfers in the women’s soccer world, so which teams have done the best business? Well, the Orlando Pride received an A grade for signing Marta to a new two-year deal, retaining a player who helped the team win its first ever trophies. Liverpool got an A for signing Julia Bartel on loan from Chelsea. Leicester City made an interesting call by transferring goalkeeper Lize Kop to Tottenham despite just being a point above the relegation zone. The Foxes get a C for the move, while Spurs get a B+ for adding a capable netminder.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans taking part in some very important games over the course of this week. Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Juventus face Club Brugge today in the UEFA Champions League, while Ricardo Pepi, Richy Ledezma, Esmir Bajraktarević, Malik Tillman and PSV Eindhoven take on Crvena Zvezda in the same competition. Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will play Girona in the UCL on Wednesday, while Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Celtic take on Young Boys. On Friday, John Tolkin could make his Bundesliga debut when his new team, Holstein Kiel, travels to face Wolfsburg.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando Pride players reported for their preseason physicals on Monday.
  • Meanwhile, Orlando City took on the dreaded beep test during Monday’s training session.

That’s all I have for you today. Vamos Orlando!

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Orlando City

Striker Suddenly a Position of Need for Orlando City

Departures and a key injury mean Orlando City needs a striker heading into the 2025 MLS season.

Published

2 days ago

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January 20, 2025

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Image Courtesy of Orlando City SC

Orlando City reached the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in 2024, a milestone for the club. The core of the team was locked up through the 2025 season, so there was no reason to believe it needed to add much this off-season. Unfortunately, injuries and departures have created a serious problem for the team.

The group of forwards last year consisted of Duncan McGuire, Ramiro Enrique, and Jack Lynn. McGuire scored 15 goals in 2023 and was expected to depart for Blackburn Rovers before a clerical error allowed the Lions to keep their target man. The team’s primary striker scored 11 goals in 37 games — the same number as the previous season — but split time starting with Enrique. The Argentinian improved greatly in 2024, increasing his total goal tally from four to 12. Even Lynn showed tremendous improvement last year, playing a greater role in the team and scoring his first two MLS goals.

The future also seemed bright for the Orlando City forwards because of their ages. Lynn is the oldest of the trio at just 25 years old. Meanwhile, McGuire and Enrique are only 23, so there was no reason to believe this group couldn’t produce this coming season.

The problem at striker began in the postseason when McGuire was pulled down by Charlotte FC midfielder Djibril Diani in the final first round game of the playoffs. McGuire suffered a shoulder injury during the challenge that required surgery on Dec. 13. It’s expected that the striker could take four to five months to return to action, possibly leaving him out until May or June.

Another blow to Orlando’s attack occurred Saturday when Lynn surprisingly announced his retirement from professional soccer. In just over a month, Orlando City went from having three strikers to having just one as preseason training starts.

With McGuire injured and Lynn gone, one option would be to have Designated Player Luis Muriel play up top. However, the Colombian prefers to play a more withdrawn position and proved to be effective in that role last year. Since Head Coach Oscar Pareja prefers to play a 4-2-3-1 formation, the Lions need someone up top to control the ball and involve the midfielders in the attack. That’s not Muriel’s game.

The result of these issues is that nobody is currently behind Enrique when the season begins. If the Argentinian gets tired, hurt, or simply needs rest, Pareja is limited in his options. 

Whether there was a lack of strikers or a lack of goals from the position previously, that problem was resolved by the club’s all-time leading goal scorer. Facundo Torres scored 20 goals in 2024, becoming the first player in Orlando City’s MLS history and the second player in club history to do so. He went on to set a new club record for total goals of 47.

However, Orlando City sold its best player to Brazilian side Palmeiras on Dec. 20. It was a gut punch to fans as Torres had signed a new contract on Jan. 10, 2024 that ran through the 2026 season. There had been talk for the last couple of years that the attacker would look for a move to Europe and rumors of a move to South America arose this off-season. Still, it created a huge gap the club has to fill.

There are players on the roster that can make up for the injury and departures. Martin Ojeda had a strong season in 2024, finishing with seven goals and 13 assists. His seven goals ranked fourth on the team and his 13 assists topped the squad alongside Nico Lodeiro. Muriel came on strong later in the season, finishing with five goals and eight assists. But those numbers are a long way from the 20 goals that Torres tallied last year.

Even if you consider all goal contributions, Ojeda and Muriel fall well short of Torres. Ojeda had a total of 20 goal contributions in 2024 while Muriel had 13. In addition to Torres’s 20 goals, he added nine assists for a team-leading 29 goal contributions.

All of this information leads to one undeniable fact — Orlando City needs to sign a striker prior to the season. And there’s not much time for Luiz Muzzi to act. The European transfer window closes on Feb. 3 and many MLS teams have already been filling similar needs. With the season starting in just over a month, the options will be limited if the Lions don’t do something soon.

After the best postseason finish in Orlando City’s MLS history, things were looking good heading into 2025. While the back line and most of the midfield is returning, McGuire’s injury and the departure of Torres and Lynn have left the Lions in a tough spot offensively. If they don’t do something in the next couple of weeks, it could be a long 2025.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/20/25

Orlando City signs Nicolas Rodriguez, Jack Lynn announces retirement, USMNT defeats Venezuela in friendly, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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January 20, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope you’re all having a good holiday weekend as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Over the past week, I’ve been working and covering high school ice hockey. It will be a busy week in Orlando, with the United States Men’s National Team’s match against Costa Rica on Wednesday and Orlando City’s first preseason match against Atletico Mineiro on Saturday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Signs Nicolas Rodriguez

Orlando City announced on Friday that the club has signed forward Nicolas Rodriguez from Fortaleza CEIF in Colombia’s top flight. The deal is through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028, and Rodriguez will occupy a MLS U22 Initiative slot. Rodriguez made 19 appearances for Fortaleza, recording 1,607 minutes, five goals, and three assists during the 2024 Primera A Clausura season. The Lions add a young attacking player the club can develop and Rodriguez can play on the right wing, the right side of a three-man midfield, or in the No. 10 spot.

Jack Lynn Announces Retirement

Orlando City forward Jack Lynn announced his retirement from professional soccer on Saturday. Lynn was drafted by Orlando in the first round of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. He became a regular starter for Orlando City B, scoring a team-record 38 goals in over three seasons with the MLS NEXT Pro side. Lynn also won the Golden Boot with 19 goals during the 2023 season and became the first OCB player to be named MLS NEXT Pro MVP. He played sparingly with the first team, but he scored twice last season as his role increased. The Lions will likely look to add another striker for more depth up top.

Orlando Pride Acquire Allocation Money in Trade

On Friday, the Orlando Pride announced that the club has acquired $50,000 in Allocation Money from the Washington Spirit. In exchange, the Pride sent the Spirit a 2025 international roster spot. The Pride will face the Spirit in the NWSL Challenge Cup final on March 7 at Inter&Co Stadium.

USMNT Defeats Venezuela in Friendly

The USMNT defeated Venezuela 3-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday in a friendly. Jack McGlynn and Patrick Agyemang scored in the first half to give the USMNT a 2-0 lead just before halftime. Matko Milijevic scored the third goal for the Americans in the second half, with Venezuela pulling one back thanks to a goal from Jorge Yriarte. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has led the USMNT to winning four out of its first five matches since he took charge last September. The USMNT’s next match will be against Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium.

Alyssa Naeher Named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year

On Saturday, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was voted 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. Naeher won 40% of the vote, while defender Naomi Girma finished in second with 32%. In her final year with the USWNT, Naeher ended 2024 with 18 starts, playing 1,170 minutes and only conceding 11 goals. She played a crucial role with clutch saves to help the USWNT win the 2024 SheBelieves Cup, 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup, and gold at the Olympics in Paris. Naeher is the second goalkeeper to win the award since Hope Solo won it in 2009.

Free Kicks

  • Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has reached an agreement with the club on a record-breaking contract that extends his deal through 2034.

That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

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