Orlando City
Orlando City vs. Colorado Rapids: Final Score 2-1 as Lions Come Back Again
After falling behind, Cristian Higuita and Yoshimar Yotún bring the Cardiac Cats back with second-half goals.
The large traveling contingent of Orlando City fans were treated to another Cardiac Cats performance with the Lions coming back to win 2-1 over the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The announced crowd of 15,702 saw the Rapids take a first-half lead on Dominique Badji’s goal, but Cristian Higuita’s rocket and Yoshimar Yotún’s penalty-kick goal turned the game around and the Lions held on after some nervy late moments.
Orlando City (5-2-1, 16 points) has won its fifth straight game for just the second time in its MLS existence — the league’s longest such streak this season. The Lions handed Colorado (2-3-2, 8 points) its first home loss and improved to 3-0-1 in the series, while winning consecutive road matches for the first time since September of 2015.
Jason Kreis made only one change from last weekend against San Jose, moving Justin Meram into the starting lineup for Stefano Pinho. On the bench, he swapped out former Rapids midfielder Dillon Powers for Richie Laryea.
The Lions started the match sluggishly, spending the first five minutes in their own end, as Colorado pressed high and Orlando failed to string accurate passes together. The Rapids worked for five corner kicks between the 16th and 25th minutes, and there were some nervy minutes as the Lions tried to clear the ball cleanly, but Colorado was unable to find the net with any of them, although Tommy Smith did head one off the post.
Enzo Martinez blasted one from 30 yards out that forced Joe Bendik to parry over the bar.
But the breakthrough started in Colorado’s own end. Badji made a run off the two center backs and Martinez found him over the top as both Lamine Sané and Amro Tarek raised their hands to appeal for offside. The flag stayed down and Bendik got himself caught in between, as he didn’t have enough time to come out but he tried to anyway. Meanwhile, Sané loafed back expecting the call that never came and Badji slotted the ball into the lower right corner. Badji’s score was the first for the Rapids in four meetings with Orlando City.
Whether the play was offside or not, referee José Carlos Rivero never went over to the monitor to review it.
The goal seemed to wake Orlando up, however. After Sané made a good 1-v-1 stop in his own penalty area on Joe Mason at the 32-minute mark, the Lions started to see more and more of the possession.
Chris Mueller started seeing more of the ball and his run forward in the 35th minute broke down when his give-and-go pass attempt to Dom Dwyer was just a tad off line. Two minutes later, Dwyer had a 2-v-1 but his cross for Justin Meram was blocked and Mueller subsequently won a corner. The Lions took it short and got no scoring chance out of their first set piece opportunity of the game. Sigh. #BanShortCorners
In the 39th minute, Meram took a pass at the top of the box and blasted a shot that Jack Price blocked. Yotún followed with a try from at least 35 yards out, but it was well off target. A minute later, Meram centered the ball for Sacha Kljestan, who missed the Lions’ best chance of the half, smashing the ball straight at goalkeeper Zac MacMath, when either side would have produced an equalizer.
Two minutes after that, Kljestan found Dwyer, but the ball wouldn’t settle for him as he tried to cut inside the defender on to his left foot. The ball deflected to Kljestan while bouncing and he couldn’t keep his half-volley attempt on frame. Orlando’s final opportunity of the half came in the 45th minute, when Mueller made a superb turn and crossed in for Dwyer. The ball cleared MacMath, but Dwyer was undercut by Deklan Wynne and he couldn’t get on top of the cross to head it on frame. No foul was given, but then no foul for handball was given on the other end when the ball inadvertently hit Sané’s hand.
The teams went to the break with Colorado leading. Each team had six shots (4-1 on target for the Rapids), Orlando held 56% possession.
Orlando City was the more aggressive and comfortable side through most of the second half. Will Johnson came forward and blasted a shot on goal four minutes after the restart but MacMath was able to save it off the bounce without spilling it. Two minutes later, Meram destroyed a ball that MacMath fought off the goal post to keep the snakebitten City winger off the score sheet.
But just one minute after that, the Lions equalized. Kljestan intercepted a clearance in space at the top of the area and dished off for Higuita, who blasted one into the upper right corner to knot the game at 1-1 in the 52nd minute. Higuita’s goal was Orlando’s first in Colorado since joining MLS, albeit in only two trips there.
Orlando nearly found a break to take the lead in the 55th minute when Mueller unlocked the defense with a pass for Dwyer, but it had just a bit too much mustard on it and Dom couldn’t run it down. Meram fired over the bar two minutes later, and Mueller’s ball for Dwyer was too high off the ground to be controlled in the 61st minute. By the time Dom settled it, the defense had made a sliding tackle to dispossess him as the striker was winding up for the shot.
From that point on, Colorado made a series of fouls in what had already been a physical game, with several Rapids booked. In the midst of that, Sané nearly gifted the Rapids a goal when he ignored an open Johnson and instead made an awful back pass intended for Bendik that was intercepted by Yannick Boli, forcing Joe to make a point-blank save.
In the 76th minute, it was one foul too many for Colorado as Dillon Serna clipped Yotún as Meram played him in with a back heel pass to set up a possible 2-v-1 with Dwyer. Before Yoshi could reach the ball, Serna clipped his leg and sent him to the turf for a penalty.
Yotún took the spot kick himself and sent MacMath the wrong way, but it’s doubtful the Rapids’ keeper could have stopped it if he guessed correctly, as the Peruvian blasted it confidently into the inside netting just inside the right post. The 77th-minute strike pushed Orlando into the lead for the first time.
Yotún’s goal served as a wake-up for Colorado, as the Rapids started threading in passes, finding heads with crosses, and just generally being extremely dangerous for the remainder of the match. Serna ripped a laser shot wide in the 80th minute and a minute later Bendik had to get off his line quickly to beat Boli to a ball over the top.
Mueller could have put the game out of reach in the 82nd, as Meram slipped him down the right side of the penalty area. The rookie’s first touch took him a bit wider and then he fired wide of the near post on what could have been the insurance marker.
The Rapids got the ball in behind in the 87th minute but it was knocked wide for a goal kick, then Serna sent another rocket over the bar on a Tarek turnover in the 88th. In the 92nd minute, Serna thought he’d tied the game when he slipped through the defense but Mohamed El-Munir came out of nowhere to make a sliding block of the shot with Bendik well beaten.
Two more glancing headers went wide in the 93rd and 96th minutes, and the whistle finally blew on Orlando City’s fifth consecutive victory.
The late flurry allowed the Rapids to out-shoot the Lions, 16-12 (and 6-5 on target). Orlando held 56% of the possession and completed 82% of its passes compared to Colorado’s 79%. The concerning thing would be the 11-1 advantage the Rapids enjoyed on corner kicks.
Still, it’s a road win in a difficult environment, and not a game previous Orlando City teams would have likely won. With tougher opponents on the horizon, any away win is a good one, and Orlando will need to continue to work on dead ball situations and fix a few things the Rapids were able to do before more talented teams start doing those things.
The Lions return to action next Sunday at home against Real Salt Lake at 5 p.m. ET.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/4/25
Haley Carter joins the Washington Spirit, Celtic hires Wilfried Nancy, Philadelphia Union sign Ezekiel Allodah, and more.
How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s been a bit of a hectic week for me, but I’ve at least been able to get quite enough done that should take out some of the stress that usually comes around this time of the year.
Haley Carter Joins the Enemy
Haley Carter, who departed the Pride on Nov. 18 to pursue new career opportunities, was announced as the Washington Spirit’s president of soccer operations. She joins an organization that’s come up short in the past two NWSL Championship and one of Carter’s top priorities will be retaining American forward Trinity Rodman. Helping the Spirit get over the hump will be a different kind of task than the rebuild she orchestrated with the Pride, so it will be interesting to see how she does.
Celtic Hires Wilfried Nancy
Wilfried Nancy is officially headed to Europe, with Celtic hiring him as its next manager. The Scottish club signed him to a two-and-a-half year contract and he’ll start today. Nancy leaves MLS after success with CF Montreal and the Columbus Crew, winning the MLS Coach of the Year award with the Crew in 2024. Celtic has won its past five games across all competitions and is currently tied on points with Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership. It will be Nancy’s first time coaching in Europe and we’ll see if he can help Celtic secure a spot in the next round of the Europa League.
Philadelphia Union Sign Ezekiel Allodah
The Philadelphia Union didn’t waste much time adding some firepower to the club’s roster for the 2026 season, signing Ezekiel Allodah from IF Brommapojkarna for a club record fee. The 20-year-old forward joins on a contract through 2028 with options for 2029 and 2030. Allodah has recorded eight goals and added an assist in 32 appearances with Brommapojkarna, which plays in Sweden’s top flight. Although I’m not looking forward to Orlando City having to deal with him on the field, it’s nice to see more young talent coming to the league.
Preparing for the World Cup Draw
The draw for next summer’s World Cup is on Friday and we’ll get to see just how unlucky the United States Men’s National Team is when the groups are revealed. The U.S., like Canada and Mexico, is in the first pot and gets to avoid some of the biggest contenders, but dangerous teams like Croatia, Morocco, and Norway are possible opponents. Drawing Ghana from the fourth pot seems inevitable to me. The lack of clarity in who will advance out of the playoffs adds some mystery and worry to it all as well. Fingers crossed!
Free Kicks
- Jordi Alba was fined an undisclosed amount by the MLS Disciplinary Committee for violating the league’s policy regarding hands to the face, head, and neck in Inter Miami’s game against New York City FC.
- American forward Cade Cowell is reportedly set to join the New York Red Bulls on loan from Chivas.
- Harry Kane scored twice in Bayern Munich’s 3-2 win over Union Berlin to help his side reach the quarterfinals of the German Cup.
- Germany was selected as the host for the 2029 UEFA European Women’s Championship, beating a bid by Poland and a joint bid by Sweden and Denmark.
That’s all I have for you all this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/3/25
The Orlando Pride sign Hailie Mace, USMNT announces 2026 friendlies, USWNT news, and more.
Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s a little hard to believe it’s already December, but hopefully the weather will cool off a bit so at least it feels like winter — or as close as we get to it in Florida. We want to wish Orlando City defender David Brekalo a very happy birthday. It might be the off-season, but that doesn’t keep the news from happening, so let’s get to the links.
Pride Sign Hailie Mace
The Orlando Pride signed USWNT and former Kansas City Current defender Hailie Mace to a three-year deal through 2028. Mace brings a ton of experience both internationally and in the NWSL to an already good Pride defensive unit. In her career Mace has played right back, some center back and even forward in college. She is the type of versatile player that Seb Hines loves to have on his roster. Welcome to the Pride, Hailie.
USMNT Friendlies Announced
The USMNT will play four friendlies ahead of the World Cup, facing Belgium, Portugal, Germany, and one opponent yet to be determined. The first two matches will take place in Atlanta against Belgium and Portugal on March 28 and March 30, respectively. Then the team heads to Charlotte for a match on May 31 and finishes the slate against Germany at Soldier Field in Chicago on June 6. Those are some pretty good tests ahead of the World Cup.
USWNT Notes
It’s been quite a year for the Emma Hayes and the USWNT. Hayes has worked on building a deep pool of players for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. She has given so many young players their first caps, including the Orlando Pride’s Emily Sams. Several players made a case for a spot in the friendly against Italy. Hayes is also trying to bolster the U-23 squad so she can build long-term stability in the team.
MLS Technical Staff News
There have been a lot of front office moves in MLS recently. New York City FC hired Todd Dunivant as the club’s new sporting director. Elsewhere, Sporting Kansas City announced that the club “mutually agreed to part ways” with interim coach Kerry Zavagnin.
Free Kicks
- Chicago Fire FC acquired defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi from South African Premiership side Orlando Pirates.
- Spain defeated Germany 3-0 on aggregate to win the 2025 Women’s Nations League for the second year in a row.
- The Canadian Women’s National Team has been having a rough time of it, losing 3-0 to Japan and ending the season on a five-match losing streak.
- Erling Haaland became the fastest player in EPL history to score 100 goals, breaking Alan Shearer’s old record in Manchester City’s wild 5-4 win Tuesday over Fulham. Shearer’s record of 100 goals in 124 games stood for 30 years before Haaland netted No. 100 in his 111th match.
That will do it for today. It might be the off-season, but we’ll keep bringing you all the soccer-related news in the City Beautiful. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/2/25
Robin Jansson signs new contract, Orlando Pride roster update, Alex Freeman earns impressive nomination, and more.
Good morning, everyone. I don’t know how we’re in the month of December, and the fact that we are is, quite frankly, a little terrifying. Regardless, we have no time to slow down and smell the roses, because there’s still plenty of things happening. We’ve got some important Orlando City and Orlando Pride news to cover today, so let’s get into the links.
Robin Jansson Returns
Orlando City announced on Monday morning that the team has re-signed captain Robin Jansson. The center back inked a deal that will keep him in an Orlando jersey through 2027 after the team declined his 2026 option at the end of this season. His return handles one piece of pending business for the Lions, with the team now only needing to wrap up negotiations with Kyle Smith over a new contract, before it can fully turn its attention to other areas of the roster. That being said, while Jansson remains a capable MLS starting center back, other positions around him need to be strengthened. OCSC’s spine needs reinforcing after the departure of Cesar Araujo, and Jansson could use a quick and athletic partner next to him in central defense as he climbs into his mid-30s. For now though, it’s simply good to see him back.
Orlando Pride Postseason Roster Update
Continuing the theme of a busy news day, on Monday afternoon the Orlando Pride announced the club’s roster update following the conclusion of the NWSL season. A lot of contract negotiations were completed during the season, as Zara Chavoshi, Ally Lemos, Luana, Haley McCutcheon, Anna Moorhouse, and Rafaelle all had their contract situations handled over the course of the season. Meanwhile, Amanda Allen, Simone Charley, Elyse Bennett, Mariana Larroquette, Aryssa Mahrt, Morgan Gautrat, Carson Pickett, and Bri Martinez are all out of contract, while Ally Watt is joining the Denver Summit. The Pride did not announce that negotiations are happening with any players who are out of contract with regards to a new deal.
Alex Freeman Garners Big Nomination
The year of Alex Freeman continues, as Orlando City’s young fullback has been nominated for the U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year! The right back seized his chance with both hands in OCSC’s season opener all the way back in February and never looked back, as he locked down a starting spot with the Lions, earned a first United States Men’s National Team call-up, continued to earn more, and capped his year off by scoring his first two goals with the national team. The other nominees for the honor are Max Arfsten, Matt Freese, Chris Richards, and Malik Tillman, so Freeman is up against some stiff competition (particularly from Arfsten and Richards, in my opinion). Regardless, it’s damn good to see him getting more of the recognition he so rightly earned this year.
USWNT Completes Sweep of Italy Friendlies
After blanking the Italians 3-0 in Orlando on Friday, the United States Women’s National Team completed the sweep with a 2-0 win over Italy in Fort Lauderdale Monday night. Cat Macario and Jaedyn Shaw scored the goals in the first half, and the U.S. hit the crossbar twice. Lily Yohannes put the ball in the net but was correctly deemed offside on the play, and Macario should have had a second if not for a dubious whistle chalking off what would have been a second brace in the window. It was a dominant final window of 2025 for the U.S. women, as Emma Hayes got looks at a lot of young players.
Americans in Midweek Action
As usual, there are a number of American players who will be playing games during the working week, with league and domestic cup action being the overarching theme. Things get started later today when Johnny Cardoso and Atletico Madrid travel to Barcelona for a big La Liga match, while Weston McKennie and Juventus host Udinese in the Coppa Italia. Chris Richards and Crystal Palace have a Premier League road match against Burnley on Wednesday, Christian Pulisic and AC Milan square off against Lazio in the Coppa Italia on Thursday, and things finish up on Friday with Folarin Balogun and Monaco taking on Brest in Ligue 1 on Friday.
Free Kicks
- Christian Benteke has announced he’s leaving D.C. United, although Tom Bogert says D.C. hopes to pull a Jansson and re-sign him after declining his option.
- Mr. Scoops also reports that CF Montreal is finalizing a deal to sign defender Brayan Vera from Real Salt Lake for a hefty sum of General Allocation Money.
- Bogert also reports that Michael Bradley is the favored candidate for the New York Red Bulls’ vacant head coaching position.
- The Chicago Stars have signed midfielder Brianna Pinto to a two-year deal.
- Garth Lagerway will reportedly not return as CEO of Atlanta United next season.
That does it for me today. Vamos Orlando!
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