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Orlando City vs. Montreal Impact: Final Score 3-0 as Lions Still Can’t Finish

The Lions couldn’t overcome a slow start in Montreal.

Published

6 years ago

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Orlando City has now matched its six-game winning streak earlier this season with a six-game losing streak after falling on the road to the Montreal Impact, 3-0. The Lions (6-8-1) were unable to score, despite forward Dom Dwyer returning to the starting lineup for the first time since May 13. Meanwhile, the Impact improved to 5-11-0 and will try to begin to climb back up the Eastern Conference standings.

Impact forward Ignacio Piatti scored a brace in the match — including from the spot to set the tone early — continuing his dominance over Orlando with seven goals in eight appearances. Montreal’s second goal came off an own goal after left back Daniel Lovitz sent in a low cross that bounced off Amro Tarek and beat Joe Bendik.

Orlando had plenty of chances to answer, but poor finishing, bad passing, and dumb luck cost them yet another game.

Here’s the lineup Head Coach Jason Kreis fielded, with Jonathan Spector getting his first start in an MLS game since April 8:

Montreal started the game with its foot on the gas and Orlando City didn‘t look like it was ready for the match. Orlando City nemesis Piatti and Raheem Edwards spent the early minutes of the match causing mayhem and it didn’t take long for the pressure to cause Orlando City to crack. Montreal’s moment came after a corner caused by an Edwards’ shot that Joe Bendik had to deflect out of play.

In just the fifth minute, Cristian Higuita made a grave mistake while desperatley trying to stop Montreal’s Saphir Taider and clipped him inside the box. The referee took little time to give Montreal a penalty for the foul as Orlando City got off to perhaps its worst start of the season, which is saying something given how sluggish Orlando is to start games.

Piatti converted the penalty, with Bendik diving the opposite direction and Montreal taking an early 1-0 lead.

Down a goal, Orlando City began to see more and more of the ball as the team searched for an equalizer. But the Lions weren‘t able to make anything happen with the ball at their feet. Any time the Lions looked dangerous, the target was always Dwyer. The forward was chasing every long ball and cross sent his way and was close many times.

A chance came in the 11th minute when Justin Meram found Tony Rocha out wide and the left back delivered a pass that danced in front of Montreal’s net. Dwyer slid to try to get on the end of it but was inches away from making contact, possibly due to the wet field that caused the ball to quickly skid past the center of goal.

Frustration seemed to set in for Dwyer after the miss and he picked up a yellow card after a late, and frankly, unnecessary, tackle. Higuita then followed up Dwyer’s performance with one of his own, giving a signature hard foul and being issued a yellow card as well. But unlike Dwyer, Higuita’s yellow card will now have him sitting out of Orlando’s next MLS game thanks to accumulation.

Orlando City‘s first shot didn’t come until the 31st minute, when Dwyer got his head on the end of a cross by Oriol Rosell. Dwyer had to come back to the ball to make contact, sacrificing some power behind the attempt and Montreal goalkeeper Evan Bush comfortably collected the shot.

Gaining some confidence on the pitch, the Lions had another opportunity in the 34th minute with a set of nifty passes between Meram and Sacha Kljestan that ended with an open shot outside of the box from Rosell that sailed just wide of the goal. It would‘ve been unexpected for Rosell to score from that far out, but it was a nice sign to see from the trailing Lions desperate to end their losing streak.

In the 42nd minute, the Lions were given a chance to level the game before the half after Dwyer was fouled just outside the box. After earning the foul, Dwyer fired a curving shot from the set piece that curled over the wall and beat Bush but wasn’t able to dip into the goal.

That was the last real chance the Lions had before the break, finishing the first half ahead in possession (51%) after finding a good amount of momentum and looking the better team outside of the first 15 or so minutes. Despite looking like the better team for the latter stages of the first half, the Lions finished with just three shots.

Orlando City started the second half right where it left off with a sense of urgency, but momentum came to a halt in the 49th minute when Rosell slid in for a ball and was issued a yellow card and the game was stopped by the referee and he went to video review to see if the challenge was worthy of more discipline. After probably taking the rainy conditions (and common sense) into account, the referee decided a yellow was enough and the game continued.

The break was apparently all Montreal needed to put itself back in the driver’s seat. Montreal started to see more of the ball and found the back of the net for the second time when Piatti found open space down the left side, cut toward the middle and sent Lovitz down the left. Orlando couldn’t close in on him before he whipped a ball into the box. Neither Bendik nor Montreal‘s Matteo Mancosu got on the end of the ball. Instead, it was Tarek who made the slightest bit of contact and caused an own goal, giving Montreal a 2-0 lead in the 55th minute and making the uphill climb for Orlando that much steeper.

Down two, Kreis made his first substution of the match by putting Jose Villarreal in for Higuita in the 57th minute. The midfielder had an immediate impact, his first touch of the game being a cross to Dwyer that was just behind the forward and making him unable to get enough power to drive the ball into the goal yet again.

Villarreal delivered another good ball, finding Rocha down the left side as the left back weaved his way towards the goal but the final pass just wasn’t good enough and the chance was lost. I bet you’re starting to see a theme here.

But Orlando City didn’t stop pressing forward. Meram was finally able to give Dwyer a cross he wanted in the 65th minute, but the shot went inches wide and the scoreline remained the same.

After having little impact on the match for the most part, Josué Colmán’s opportunity finally came in the 66th minute as the Young Designated Player chased down a long ball. The Paraguayan was able to fight past two defenders but he couldn’t hit his shot cleanly and sent it harmlessly wide and over the bar.

Seeing enough, Kreis took Colmán out immediately after the missed shot, electing to put rookie Chris Mueller into the game for an injection of energy. That move was followed by a similar one as Meram came off for Stefano Pinho.

In a night full of bad, there was at least something to smile about in the 70th minute when Piatti was in a one-on-one situation with Spector and the American center back was able to hold his own against the potent attacker. He may not have been able to stop the onslaught of three goals, but it’s nice to have Spector back in the lineup.

Like every chance it had in the game, Orlando City simply couldn’t catch a break in 78th minute when Rosell had a wide open shot that was sure to go in but was accidentally deflected by Pinho right into the belly of Bush, who was down on his side.

Orlando City’s assualt continued just minutes later when Dwyer got on the end of a cross for his best scoring chance of the night but the header went off target and Orlando remained scoreless.

Another chance came shortly after with Pinho making contact with the ball directly in front of the net, but the shot somehow went high and over the bar. It would be almost comical how close Orlando was to scoring if not for the frustration that comes from Orlando City squandering opportunities yet again.

Bendik was able to stop Montreal from extending its lead on two occasions late in the game, with two big saves where he had to come out and make the stop. However, third time was the charm for the Impact when Piatti caught the tired Orlando City defense sleeping. Alone behind the defense with the ball after a through ball, Piatti dribbled around Bendik and easily tucked the ball into the goal to secure his brace and put Montreal up 3-0.

A few late chances by Dwyer and Pinho were unsuccessful and the Lions were shut out for the third time this season.

The chances were there for Orlando City, but like so many games during this six-game losing streak, the Lions simply weren’t able to score. Orlando City ended the game with 57% possession and led Montreal in shots, 12-11. Both teams had four shots on target but the game obviously came down to finishing with Orlando City unable to score.

The Lions continue their five-game road trip with only a U.S. Open Cup victory to show for it so far. Orlando City will hope to keep its run in the tournament alive on the road against D.C. United next Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET. The Lions will then look to end their MLS skid at home a week from Saturday in a rematch against Montreal on June 23.

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Intelligence Report: Orlando City vs. FC Cincinnati

Get all the inside information you need ahead of Orlando’s match with FC Cincinnati.

Published

7 hours ago

on

May 3, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Another Orlando City matchday looms large this weekend, as the Lions will try to put Saturday’s thoroughly dispiriting loss behind them. They’ll have a tough task ahead of them though, as they welcome an FC Cincinnati team to town that currently sits second in the Eastern Conference.

A match against FCC means I spoke with Justin Blair of the always excellent Cincinnati Soccer Talk. As always, Justin was very helpful in getting us all caught up on Cincy before tomorrow’s match.

The nine goals conceded by FC Cincinnati are tied for the fewest given up by any team in the league. What’s been working so well for FCC defensively so far?

Justin Blair:  In 2023, FC Cincinnati was tied for fourth in goals conceded with 39 allowed (Orlando, NYCFC, and RBNY). This season is continuing that impressive trajectory. The addition of Miles Robinson, arguably the best MLS center back, was a home run signing for FCC. Robinson joins 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Matt Miazga as the feature center back duo. But Pat Noonan’s system asks for three in the back and has been plugged with a rotation of players that have kept the defense stout. I have to mention that central defensive midfielder Obinna Nwobodo is arguably the most underrated player in all of MLS. He is an extremely skilled player that flies around and acts as a catch-all in front of the back line. 

Brandon Vazquez departed in the off-season for Monterrey. In his absence, who has Cincy turned to for goal scoring?

JB: Brandon Vazquez is a tremendous striker for FCC and has been solid for Rayados with 10 goals in 22 appearances. But his form never hit stride in 2023. He had nine goals across all MLS competitions, which was down from a career high of 18 goals in 2022. FCC had to find goals in other places last season, so they aren’t exactly in uncharted waters. So far in 2024, reigning MLS MVP Lucho Acosta has been carrying the load with four goals and five assists. Yuya Kubo, who I affectionately call FCC’s Swiss Army knife, has seen recent minutes at the forward position. Kubo’s confidence on the ball and chemistry with Acosta has seen him score three goals in a short amount of time. Surprisingly, FCC’s star Designated Player striker Aaron Boupendza has fallen in the graces of the squad and hasn’t hit consistent minutes this season.

Run me through some of the other arrivals and departures that took place during the off-season. Who are a few names to watch out for?

JB: Well FCC’s off-season was a doozy to say the least. Several departures include the previously mentioned Vazquez, along with Sanitago Arias, Yerson Mosquera (loan), Alvaro Barreal, Dominique Badji, Junior Moreno, and Ray Gaddis — all of whom played significant minutes for the orange and blue during their 2023 Supporters’ Shield season. For incoming players, GM Chris Albright brought in Robinson, Pavel Bucha, Luca Orellano, Kipp Keller, and Corey Baird during the off-season. The additions of DeAndre Yedlin and Yamil Asad have also worked their way into the matchday rotation. Every piece added has felt like an upgrade or at least a comparable replacement. This is, of course, with the exception of replacing Vazquez.

FCC (recently) announced the loan signing of target striker Kevin Kelsy from Shakhtar Donetsk. The young loanee is sure to see considerable minutes with FCC but will likely not feature in the match versus Orlando City. I would keep an eye on Orellano for FCC. The left wingback is the heir apparent to Barreal that is so critical for Cincinnati’s ability to progress the ball from the midfield into the attacking third. Orellano is clean with his touches and can serve up line-splitting through balls that are perfectly weighted.

Will any players be unavailable due to injury, suspension, etc.? What is your projected starting XI and score prediction?

JB: Unavailable players might include Yedlin (hip), goalkeeper Roman Celentano (ankle), forward Sergio Santos (leg), and center back Nick Hagglund (knee). It seems uncertain if either or all will miss minutes in the match versus Orlando but most likely to participate would be Celentano, who was a late scratch versus Colorado on Saturday. 

Starting XI (3-5-2): Roman Celentano (Alec Kann); Bret Halsey (DeAndre Yedlin), Miles Robinson, Matt Miazga, Ian Murphy, Luca Orellano; Obinna Nwobodo, Pavel Bucha, Lucho Acosta; Yuya Kubo, Corey Baird.

Score Prediction: Oscar Pareja seems to have Pat Noonan’s system figured out. FCC also struggles to find wins against Orlando City. I’m going to go with a 1-1 draw when the final whistle sounds. 

Thanks again to Justin for the great info on FCC. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 5/3/24

MLS roster profiles revealed, Marta’s best moments, Kelley O’Hara announces her retirement, and more.

Published

10 hours ago

on

May 3, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

Happy Friday! We’ve reached the homestretch of the week and I couldn’t be happier. A busy weekend awaits me, but I’m hoping for some quiet, nice moments to offset some of the hustle and bustle. It’s also another weekend packed with Orlando soccer to enjoy, so make sure to plan your next couple of days accordingly. But for now, let’s get to the links!

MLS Unveils Club Roster Details

There’s a little more transparency in Major League Soccer after the league released helpful snapshots of each club that detail the composition of each roster. From Designated Players and MLS U22 Initiative Players to international roster slots and contract lengths, the graphics are easy to comprehend and give a nice look behind the curtain on each team. Using this, we can see that Orlando City midfielder Cesar Araujo no longer takes up a U22 Initiative slot and that the team also has an open international roster slot. It should be a fairly nice reference guide for fans moving forward, as well as a way to check out how other MLS teams are building their rosters.

Emily Sams Earns Recognition as Potential USWNT Player

Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams was mentioned as one of the top 20 eligible Americans who have yet to make an appearance with the United States Women’s National Team according to Pro Soccer Wire. The shout out is well deserved, as Sams has helped anchor a Pride defense that’s only given up seven goals this season. Only time will tell if Sams will earn a call-up once Emma Hayes is at the helm of the USWNT, but it does feel inevitable given how she’s been playing. Other notable players on the list include Ajax’s Lily Yohannes, Washington Spirit rookie Croix Bethune, and Angel City FC defender Sarah Gorden.

Marta’s Top Moments

All For XI compiled some of the best moments from Marta’s career into a tidy top five. Considering how prolific she has been for Brazil over the years, it was nice to see a pair of goals from her time with the Pride receive some recognition. Both of those moments were from 2018, with her free kick to equalize against the Seattle Reign placing fifth and her solo effort to stun the Spirit taking third. It’s fitting though that the top moment on the list showcases the impact she’s had off the field, as it’s Marta’s emotional speech after Brazil’s exit in the 2019 World Cup.

Kelley O’Hara Will Retire After 2024 Season

USWNT defender Kelley O’Hara announced that she will retire from professional soccer following the 2024 season. Over the course of her international career, she’s played in four World Cups, three Olympic Games, and was named to the FIFA FIFPro World XI in 2019. O’Hara has played in every NWSL season since the league’s inception, winning the title with the Spirit in 2021 and again with NJ/NY Gotham FC last year. She joined Gotham as the first free agent signing in NWSL history and she is set to close out her illustrious career there.

Free Kicks

  • Curve Fragrances was named the official fragrance partner of Orlando City. As part of the partnership, there will be giveaways and product sampling at select games this season.
  • Wrexham’s women’s squad for The Soccer Tournament this summer will include a trio of former Pride players, with Bridget Callahan, Danica Evans, and Nickolette Driesse all taking part. I can’t wait to see if Callahan will make SkoRed a rallying cry at the tournament.
  • Orlando City won’t have to contend with FC Cincinnati forward Aaron Boupendza tomorrow, as he will miss the next six to eight weeks due to a broken jaw suffered in an off-field incident.
  • The Europa League semifinals are underway and Bayer Leverkusen extended its unbeaten run to 47 games after a 2-0 road win against Roma. In the other matchup, Atalanta and Marseille drew 1-1 in France.
  • American midfielder Johnny Cardoso hasn’t been with Real Betis for long, but he’s doing well enough that Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, and Borussia Dortmund are among the clubs reportedly interested in signing the 22-year-old.
  • Lucas Hernandez suffered an ACL injury in Paris Saint-Germain’s loss to Borussia Dortmund and will miss out on this summer’s Euros with France.
  • Reims and Will Still have mutually agreed to part ways, with the coach leaving now despite just having three games left in the Ligue 1 season. It will be interesting to see where the 31-year-old coaches next, as he had a notable 19-game unbeaten stretch with Reims last season.
  • Here’s a detailed dive into the obstacles Everton has faced in recent years, as well as how the club has avoided relegation amid another difficult season.

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

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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. FC Cincinnati: Three Keys to Victory

What does Orlando City need to do to ensure a victory over FC Cincinnati Saturday at home?

Published

1 day ago

on

May 2, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City looks to bounce back from the disappointing 2-1 loss to Toronto FC Saturday night at Inter&Co Stadium. Cincinnati has twice as many points as Orlando City and more than twice as many wins. FCC has only scored one more goal than Orlando City, but with only nine goals conceded compared to Orlando City’s 17, it’s easy to see why Cincinnati is sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference.

What I’m trying to say is that the task doesn’t get any easier this weekend. What does Orlando City need to do to secure all three points at home against FC Cincinnati?

Accost Acosta

Cincinnati’s attack revolves around Luciano Acosta. The attacking midfielder has four goals and five assists so far this season. To put that into perspective, Duncan McGuire — Orlando City’s leading scorer — also has four goals but only one assist. If we look at the Lions’ attacking midfielders, Facundo Torres has one goal and one assist, Ivan Angulo and Nico Lodeiro both have one goal and two assists, and Martin Ojeda has zero goals and only one assist. Luis Muriel is still at double zeroes.

The defensive midfield and the back line must do everything possible to mark him out of the match. It’s not enough to keep him from scoring, they must also keep him from setting up chances for his teammates. Most importantly, the defense must do that for 90 minutes plus stoppage time. There is no room for the mental lapses we’ve seen throughout the first part of this season.

Break Through

Cincinnati is stingy on defense. As I mentioned above, the club has only allowed nine goals this season. The back line is formidable with the likes of Matt Miazga, Miles Robinson, and Ian Murphy. On the wings are DeAndre Yedlin and Luca Orellano. This is a tough defense, and whether it is McGuire or Muriel who gets the start, they must find the spaces in between.

Just as importantly, Torres, Angulo, Ojeda, and Lodeiro — depending on who is in at any given moment — must be able to thread the passes in for McGuire, Muriel, or each other to create quality chances. On top of that, the Lions must convert on those chances, which is not something that has been a strength so far this season. If the Orlando City defense continues to give up cheap goals, then the offense will need to one-up the competition when it comes to scoring.

Deal with an Unknown

FC Cincinnati recently signed Venezuelan forward Kevin Kelsy from Ukrainian Premier League club Shakhtar Donetsk. Kelsy comes in as an MLS U22 Initiative player and is eligible to play against Orlando City. Even though Kelsy is only 19, he has 68 professional appearances, including UEFA Champions Leagues matches. At 6-foot-3, he can be a challenge for defenders, especially in the air.

Kelsy hasn’t had much time with the team, but he could be a second-half substitution for Cincinnati. Given that Orlando City just gave up two late headers against Toronto FC, the back line will need to be careful that Kelsy doesn’t hurt the Lions in the same manner — especially if he comes on late when legs and minds are tired.

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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