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Orlando City at New York City FC: Final Score 2-0 as Lions Remain Winless in 2018

Despite some reinforcements on the pitch, a sloppy performance gifted the hosts two easy goals.

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7 years ago

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Nick Leyva, The Mane Land

Orlando City gifted New York City FC a pair of easy goals off turnovers in the second half and the Lions fell to 0-2-1 on the young season after a sloppy St. Patrick’s Day matinee at Yankee Stadium. Ismael Tajouri-Shradi found the breakthrough in the 62nd minute after Yoshimar Yotun’s difficult back pass led to Joe Bendik’s turnover in the box. Sacha Kljestan’s defensive third miscue set the stage for Maxi Moralez to double the score in the 74th.

It was a typical game at Yankee Stadium, with the ball pinging off shins all over the place, nobody having time on the ball, no real build-up play from either side, and, in the end, a couple of mistakes making the difference.

Orlando (0-2-1, 1 point) falls to 5-3-2 in the all-time series after a game that was evenly played for an hour turned on two horror plays in a 12-minute span and New York City FC (3-0-0, 9 points) — playing without David Villa — took full advantage.

Jason Kreis made a few changes to the lineup, inserting RJ Allen at right back for Scott Sutter, alongside Jonathan Spector, Amro Tarek, and Mohamed El-Munir. Cristian Higuita got his first start, playing the base of the diamond beneath Will Johnson and Yotun, with Kljestan debuting as a Lion at the top of the midfield. Chris Mueller and Justin Meram started up top. Josué Colmán made the 18 for the first time and eventually made his MLS debut.

The first half was largely devoid of scoring chances, with the action pinballing back and forth between the two penalty areas. New York City was the sharper team in the final third but couldn’t really generate many opportunities despite their passing and possession advantage.

The Lions got the first good look just five minutes in, but Mueller’s shot from just above the penalty spot was deflected over the bar and out for a corner. Moralez nearly got in behind off a Jesus Medina pass, but he was offside at the 10-minute mark.

Spector had a scary minute in the 16th, clashing heads with Maxime Chanot in the air on a corner kick. After a few minutes to collect himself and get checked out, Specs returned to the match.

Meram got the game’s first shot on goal in the 32nd minute, firing from the left side just above the penalty area. However, his attempt was too close to goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who made a comfortable save. Allen’s cross nearly found its way inside the back post a minute later, but Johnson was wise to the danger and caught it.

In the 34th, the hosts nearly broke through. Rodney Wallace’s shot went off the right post and the Lions were able to clear the danger on the rebound.

The Lions nearly sprung Kljestan in the 39th minute, but Alexander Ring made a nice play to backtrack and get in between City’s attacking midfielder and the ball to prevent a scoring chance. Orlando got a stoppage-time corner for the final chance of the half, but the cross fell just inches behind Johnson’s foot and he couldn’t sweep it back far enough to get a shot. The teams went to the break deadlocked at 0-0.

Each team attempted three shots in the opening period but only one was on target — Meram’s saved effort. The Lions had only a paltry 37% of the possession, but they seemed comfortable laying back and waiting to spring the counter. The trouble with that was a lack of sharpness in the final third, with Meram in particular missing on passes around the area. Orlando City connected on just 65% of its passes in the first 45 minutes and just 53% in the final third.

Spector could not continue and subbed out at the half, giving Lamine Sané his MLS debut.

Seven minutes after the restart, Meram came within inches of snapping the scoreless tie and scoring his first Orlando City goal, but his shot fizzed inches wide of the goal in the 52nd minute. A minute later, Moralez did the same thing at the other end for New York City.

Meram got to the end line in the 57th minute and cut a pass back into the box but it was behind Kljestan as the Lions continued their lack of clinical play in the final third. Three minutes later, Meram tried to send in Allen but overcooked his pass and it went harmlessly out for a goal kick.

Five minutes later, the hosts got on the board. Higuita’s nonchalant pass in the midfield was easily cut out and started the play toward Bendik’s goal, Yotun sniffed out the danger and seemed to have everything calmed down but he stayed on the ball far too long and eventually was pressured into a back pass to Bendik. The pass had a bit of air under it and bounced in front of Joe, who appeared to try a one-touch pass rather than try to smash it down the field. Instead, it was an awful turnover to Tajouri-Shradi, who took a touch to his right and buried his shot to make it 1-0.

Apparently unfazed by what just happened, the Lions barely got away with another bad back pass moments later. The slow roller back to Bendik was dangerously close to being picked off as Joe sat back and waited for it rather than attacking it. It reached him about a half a second before it could become an embarrassingly easy second goal.

In the 74th, the Lions weren’t as lucky. Trying to break out of his own end, Kljestan sent a soft pass that never reached its target and instead was picked off by Saad Abdul-Salaam, who crossed in for Jesus Medina, who then flicked it on for Moralez’s easy finish. Orlando was also essentially finished at that point, trailing by two with 16 minutes to play.

Richie Laryea and Colmán came on to try to pull Orlando back into the game and both had some nice individual moments, but neither could stem the tide. Colmán made a terrific play to slice through two defenders in the box in the 79th minute but there was no one at the back post to attack his cross and it drifted harmlessly out of the area. Tarek and El-Munir tried their luck from long range in the last 10 minutes and both got their shots on goal but didn’t trouble Johnson.

Will Johnson hit the crossbar late and Mueller’s stabbing effort was deflected wide for a corner in the 92nd minute on Orlando’s final opportunities to salvage something from the game.

Orlando out-shot NYCFC, 11-10 (3-2 on target) and improved the final possession and passing numbers a bit (41% and 70%, respectively), but the two turnovers in the Lions’ own end proved fatal.

The Lions have a week off before returning home to play the New York Red Bulls on March 31 at 1 p.m.

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Lion Links: 4/18/25

Orlando City set to play the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Lions reach Generation Adidas Cup semifinals, Angel City hires Alexander Straus, and more.

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2 hours ago

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April 18, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday! I hope today finds you well as we gear up for another Saturday filled with soccer to enjoy. I don’t have many plans this Easter weekend beyond working, catching soccer when I can, and playing Baldur’s Gate 3 for the first time if I find some spare hours. Let’s dive right into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Orlando City Learns U.S. Open Cup Opponents

Orlando City’s 2025 U.S. Open Cup campaign will begin on the road against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on May 7 at 7:30 p.m. in what will be the latest edition of the I-4 Derby. It will be Orlando’s first game of this year’s tournament, while the Rowdies joined in the previous round and got past FC Naples in penalties. The Rowdies have lost four of their five games so far this season in the USL Championship and fired Robbie Neilson as head coach earlier this month. The Lions also notably would have hosting priority if they reach the round of 16, where they will play either Nashville SC or the Chattanooga Red Wolves.

Here’s the full schedule for the round of 32, which includes some interesting matchups across the country. The Tacoma Defiance are the only MLS NEXT Pro side left and will face the Portland Timbers, while the New York Red Bulls will have a long road trip to take on the Colorado Springs Switchbacks.

Lions Advance to Generation Adidas Cup Semifinals

Orlando City’s U-18 team beat Real Salt Lake 1-0 in the Generation Adidas Cup to secure a spot in the semifinals. The Young Lions have won four of their five games of the tournament and will take on Santos Laguna in the semifinal on Saturday. The winner of that match will face whichever team becomes victorious in the other semifinal between Atlanta United and the Colorado Rapids.

The U-16 team’s run in the Premier bracket is also going strong after a 1-0 win over Bayern Munich, and Orlando will take on the New England Revolution in the semifinals on Saturday.

Angel City FC Hires Alexander Straus

Bayern Munich’s Alexander Straus was named Angel City FC’s next head coach and will officially join the club on June 1. The Norwegian coach has won back-to-back Bundesliga titles and has Bayern positioned well to make it three straight this season. He’ll join an Angel City team that’s unbeaten in its first four games of the season under interim head coach Sam Laity, who will stay on as an assistant coach once Straus joins.

Europa League Quarterfinals End In Dramatic Fashion

Old Trafford hosted one of the wildest games in Europa League history, with Manchester United and Lyon battling for a spot in the quarterfinals. United scored twice in the first half, then conceded twice in the second, sending the game to extra time. Lyon took the lead despite being a man down and then the teams traded penalty kicks as the madness continued. Casemiro orchestrated Manchester’s victory in the end, assisting on two late goals within a minute of each other to beat Lyon 5-4 and advance. This United fan pretty much sums up just how much of a rollercoaster this match was.

There was also drama in Italy, as Lazio came back in the second leg to force extra time against Bodo/Glimt. The match went to penalties and Bodo/Glimt goalkeeper Nikitka Haikin denied former New York City FC player Taty Castellanos from the spot to book his team’s place in the semifinals. Although Tottenham was without Son Heung-Min, it got the job done in a 1-0 road win against Eintracht Frankfurt, while Athletic Club beat Rangers 2-0 in Spain to advance as well. In the semifinals, Tottenham will face Bodo/Glimt and Manchester United will take on Athletic Club.

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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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Orlando City

Orlando City at CF Montreal: Three Keys to Victory

What do the Lions need to do to earn all three points on the road against Montreal?

Published

22 hours ago

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April 17, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City heads to the Great White North to take on CF Montreal. The Canadian squad sits in last place in not just the Eastern Conference but also the entire MLS, with only two points from a pair of draws. To say it’s not been a good start to the season is an understatement. Of course, it’s exactly that type of situation that makes it feel like a trap. What does Orlando City need to do to take all three points against CF Montreal?

Designated Goal Scorers

What do you do if you haven’t scored a goal in the last two matches? You play a team that has given up 13 goals in eight matches with a -9 goal differential. Montreal doesn’t have the worst defense in the league — I’m looking at you, D.C. United — but it’s not far off. That presents an opportunity for Orlando City to get back on track when it comes to scoring goals.

Through the first six matches of the season, Orlando City was leading the league in scoring with 15 goals. Over the last two matches, the spigot has dried up. The Lions must seize on this opportunity to create and finish their chances. Much like earlier in the season, I want to see Luis Muriel, Martin Ojeda, and Marco Pasalic lead the way. If anyone can get the first goal, then I’m hopeful the dam will break and the scoring drought will be over.

Keep it Clean

There is some good news of late when it comes to the Orlando City defense. The club has two clean sheets over the last two matches, and that is without Cesar Araujo. There is also some bad news, given Rodrigo Schlegel will be serving his red card suspension this match. That means David Brekalo will move back to center back with Robin Jansson, and Oscar Pareja will have to employ either Rafael Santos or Kyle Smith at left back. Santos has been less than good so far this season.

Montreal has scored a paltry four goals so far in 2025, but two of them have come from striker Prince Owusu. The defense will also need to deal with Caden Clark facilitating in the midfield. I get that this isn’t a prolific attack. Montreal has not looked very good this season and is looking for both its first win and its first points of any sort at home. That means the hosts may be desperate for a result, and desperate is often dangerous. How well the defense does — in particular, how well Santos does if he plays — may determine if Montreal is able to break out of its slump. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.

Give the Midfield Time

Before the last match, I was a little worried about the midfield. Having both Araujo and Eduard Atuesta out at the same time seemed to be a concern. Now, after seeing how well Joran Gerbet and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson worked together against the New York Red Bulls, I’m way less worried. If Araujo and Atuesta need a little more time to get fully healthy, then let them. The Franco/Icelandic combo seems to be a potent one.

Of course, if the normal starters are ready, then by all means bring them back, but maybe not until the 60th minute. Perhaps Pareja could even mix and match. One never knows how yellow card suspensions or minor injuries will affect player availability. This is a good match for Gerbet and Thorhallsson to work their magic.

That is what I will be looking for Saturday night. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 4/17/25

Oscar Pareja signs new contract with Orlando City, Orlando Pride prepare for the Washington Spirit, Orlando’s youth teams win, and more.

Published

1 day ago

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April 17, 2025

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I can’t believe we’re already into the back half of April and Easter is right around the corner. There’s plenty of soccer to enjoy between now and then and we also have the draw for the U.S. Open Cup’s round of 32 this morning at 9:15. MLS teams are finally joining the fray, so we’ll see where the chips fall for Orlando City. Let’s get to the links!

Oscar Pareja Signs New Contract

Orlando City and Head Coach Oscar Pareja have agreed to a new three-year contract that will keep him in the City Beautiful through 2028. Pareja was hired as Orlando’s fourth head coach in its MLS era back in December of 2019 and he’s led the Lions to the playoffs in all five seasons he’s been at the helm.  Under Pareja, the Lions won the U.S. Open Cup in 2022, set club records in points and wins in 2023, and reached the Eastern Conference final for the first time last year. This year was the final one on the contract he signed in December of 2023, so it’s nice to know Pareja will be sticking around in the future.

Orlando Pride Prepare for the Washington Spirit

The Orlando Pride will look to make it five wins in a row when they host the Washington Spirit on Saturday in another rematch of last year’s final. While this is the first match between Orlando and Washington this season, the two clashed in the NWSL Challenge Cup on March 7 and the Spirit lifted the trophy after a penalty shootout. Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on how the team has grown since that game and has benefitted from depth and consistency carried over from last year.

Orlando City Youth Teams Win in Bradenton

Orlando City’s U-18 team won in the Generation Adidas Cup’s round of 16, beating St. Louis City 1-0 to advance to the quarterfinals. The Young Lions remain unbeaten in that age group and will take on a Real Salt Lake team that also won its group and just beat Toronto FC in a penalty shootout following a scoreless draw.

Orlando’s U-16 squad didn’t qualify for the Championship bracket, but still advanced in the Premier bracket. After a 1-1 draw with Toronto, Orlando prevailed in the ensuing penalty shootout and will play Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals.

UEFA Champions League Semifinals Are Set

The quarterfinals for this year’s UEFA Champions League are over and only four teams remain in the tournament. Arsenal secured its spot in the semifinals after an impressive 2-1 road win against Real Madrid that included two assists from Mikel Merino. The Spanish club couldn’t muster its usual magic in the tournament and forward Kylian Mbappe exited in the second half due to injury. In Italy, Inter Milan held on for a 2-2 draw against Bayern to advance on aggregate, with defender Benjamin Pavard scoring a crucial goal for Inter against his old team. The semifinals will take place at the end of the month and will feature Arsenal taking on Paris Saint-Germain and Inter going up against Barcelona.

Free Kicks

  • Our thoughts go out to the friends and family of former FC Cincinnati player Aaron Boupendza, who died after falling from the 11th floor of a building in China.
  • The Chicago Fire are reportedly strongly interested in signing star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne on a free transfer. If any Western Conference teams could join the hunt for him, that would be great.

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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