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Orlando City vs. Toronto FC: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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Orlando City finally snapped a summer-long losing streak with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Toronto FC โ€” just the clubโ€™s second victory over the Reds in 10 meetings. The Lions got on the board first and were able to double the lead before hanging on late to capture the win.

It was a good team win and one weโ€™ve all been waiting for for quite a while. But how did the players rate individually? Letโ€™s get to the evaluations.

Starters

GK, Earl Edwards Jr., 6.5 โ€” โ€œThe Landlordโ€ picked up his first ever MLS win and although his teammates helped him keep most of Torontoโ€™s chances from less dangerous spots, he was still forced into a point-blank 1-v-1 save against the ever-dangerous Sebastian Giovinco in the 59th minute. His distribution could have been better โ€” his throws were great but his kicks were sometimes a bit off โ€” but there was little he could do about Hagglundโ€™s late goal, as the Toronto defender came out of nowhere and tucked it in the far corner. Earl made three saves on Torontoโ€™s four shots and probably gets a higher score here if he sees more shots. Great game to build on for Edwards.

D, Mohamed El-Munir, 6 โ€” We saw a bit of a new side of El-Munir in this game. The left back played solidly on the defensive end and still gave us flashes of the attacking play heโ€™s known for โ€” but only flashes. He finished with two tackles, two interceptions, and three clearances, but more importantly he was better positionally than weโ€™ve seen most of the season. The caveat here is that he failed to see the danger of Nick Hagglund on Torontoโ€™s late stoppage-time goal and allowed the Redsโ€™ defender to get inside of him. His 74% passing rate will need to be improved upon, but he was 2/2 on long balls and created a scoring chance.

D, Amro Tarek, 6 โ€” The Egyptian played a mostly solid match but he did concede an unnecessary late foul that allowed Toronto to spoil the clean sheet. He finished with one tackle, two interceptions, and four clearances. His 84.6% passing rate was good but he wasnโ€™t great on his long ball accuracy (3/9).

D, Chris Schuler, 7 โ€” Schuler may never score an easier goal in his life but it was an important one, as the Lions got on the board first for the first time since April 21 and it allowed the team to settle into the game. His passing rate was 91.7% to lead the back line and his five clearances led Orlando. He also had two tackles and hit seven of his 10 long balls. He got abused by a Justin Morrow spin move in the first half but it was a mostly solid night for Chris and heโ€™ll surely cherish his first goal as a Lion.

D, RJ Allen, 6.5 โ€” RJ didnโ€™t stuff the stat sheet, with one tackle, one interception, one clearance, and one block, but he kept a lot of the Toronto attack at bay and forced the Reds to play the ball backward a lot. He did a good job on Ryan Telfer, who had abused the Lions in Toronto, including fighting him to a stalemate in the 27th minute. He was 2/2 in cross accuracy and created a scoring chance, while completing 85.4% of his passes on the night. He came within a few feet of his first Orlando City goal in the 44th minute.

MF, Yoshimar Yotรบn, 7 โ€” Yoshi probably would have a higher grade but he kind of faded from the game for about a 20-minute period of the second half. He created two chances, fired a shot on goal in the 20th minute โ€” a screamer of a hopeful attempt from midfield that Alex Bono could only fight off for a corner โ€” and drew five fouls on Toronto. He tied for the team lead in tackles (4) and made two interceptions. He completed 86% of his passes but his crosses (1/6) and long balls (6/12) werenโ€™t up to his usual standards.

MF, Will Johnson, 7 โ€” As usually happens with defensive midfielders, you barely notice them unless they do something wrong. Johnson did very little wrong on this night, completing 97.3% of his passes (2/2 on long balls) with a tackle and a clearance. He didnโ€™t contribute a lot offensively, getting none of his three shots on frame, but his role was to stay home while Yotรบn roamed forward and he did a good job following Giovinco around the middle of the pitch and limiting the Italianโ€™s influence on the game (as much as anyone realistically can).

MF, Tony Rocha, 7 โ€” A surprise starter in the attacking midfield in JOCโ€™s 4-2-3-1, Rocha had a solid match. He got an early shot blocked in the ninth minute and should have scored in the 42nd when his header sailed high after a terrific pass in from Sacha Kljestan, but he was influential all night on both ends. His terrific pass in the 44th found Dom Dwyer on a break and nearly led to a goal but Chris Mueller had his shot blocked and the follow-up from Allen was just wide. His four tackles matched Yotรบnโ€™s total and he completed a solid 81% of his passes.

MF, Sacha Kljestan, 7 โ€” It was another solid night for Sacha, who completed an impressive 89.6% of his passes, went 3/3 on long balls and 1/2 on crosses, with three key passes โ€” a team high. He chipped in two tackles on defense and nearly scored on a late free kick that just missed the target but caught Bono flat-footed.

MF, Chris Mueller, 7 โ€” If thereโ€™s a criticism for Muellerโ€™s game itโ€™s that he was probably a bit too unselfish. We got his typical hustle and work rate and he assisted on Dwyerโ€™s second-half goal. He fired four shots, getting one on target, a 90th-minute effort that forced a good save from Bono. Defensively, he registered one clearance.

F, Dom Dwyer, 7.5 (MotM) โ€” Dom was a menace all night, firing a team-high five shots and getting four of them on frame. He also created with two key passes on the night. His 60% passing rate isnโ€™t much to write home about but with nearly all those passes coming in the final third, the degree of difficulty is higher. He essentially gifted Schuler a goal with his smash on target that Bono could only fight off and he doubled the Lionsโ€™ lead just three minutes after the restart on an unstoppable shot. Then he energized the crowd with his trademark back flip. It was a difficult decision to make him MotM, but so many players were fairly even and he was heavily involved in both goals, giving him the slightest edge for me.

Substitutes

MF, Dillon Powers (55โ€™), 5.5 โ€” The head-banded one subbed on for Rocha and was mostly solid if unspectacular. He completed 93% of his passes and created a scoring chance, while blocking one shot. He wasnโ€™t terribly active, touching the ball only 16 times in his 35 minutes of work but he was mostly asked to gum up passing lanes, defend, and keep it simple.

D, Donny Toia (76โ€™), 5.5 โ€” Toia came on for Johnson but took up his customary left back spot as El-Munir pushed forward into the midfield. He completed all seven of his passes and won the team a late corner but was otherwise not involved much overall. He registered one clearance on defense.

F, Stefano Pinho (86โ€™), N/A โ€” Pinho came on for Dwyer and didnโ€™t have a lot of time to influence the proceedings. He completed three of his four passes and didnโ€™t register a shot.


Well, thatโ€™s the way I saw it. What did you see? Be sure to vote for your Man of the Match in our poll below.

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Earl Edwards Jr.27
Yoshimar Yotรบn34
Dom Dwyer60
Sacha Kljestan2
Will Johnson2
Chris Mueller13
Other (comment below)4

Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/28/24

Getting to know Rafael Santos, Orlando Pride prepare for Chicago, Midge Purce out for the season, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope the work week has been treating you well as we gear up for another weekend of soccer. March flew by for me and April is shaping up to be a pretty busy month as well. In other news, I’m looking into adopting a cat and gathering the supplies to make that happen. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Getting to Know Rafael Santos

Orlando City left back Rafael Santos was the latest Lion to field questions as part of the club’s video series for fans to learn more about its players. The 26-year-old spoke about the decision process behind joining Orlando and playing outside of Brazil for the first time in his career after five years with Cruzeiro. He’s brought his attack-minded style of play to the team, particularly in terms of providing lethal crossing from the wing. Make sure to check out the full video as Santos also shared photos of his newborn and showcased his skill with a cavaquinho.

Orlando Pride Prepare to Host Chicago

After a pair of draws to start their season, the Orlando Pride will have a chance to claim their first win of the season when they host the Chicago Red Stars tomorrow night at 6 p.m. Head Coach Seb Hines spoke about how the Pride have shown plenty of resilience so far this young season. The team managed to secure a point in last week’s 1-1 draw with Angel City FC despite a patchwork back line due to injuries. That defense will likely have its hands full against Mallory Swanson and a Chicago team that won both of its first two games. Hines spoke about how the Pride are preparing for Chicago and how they will need the home crowd to bring the support tomorrow night.

Sophia Smith Signs Record-Breaking New Deal

American forward Sophia Smith signed a new contract with the Portland Thorns that will make her the highest-paid NWSL player, according to the club. The new deal will last through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026 as well. The 23-year-old was drafted by the Thorns with the first overall pick in the 2020 NWSL Draft and has gone on to score 34 regular-season goals. Smith re-signed with the club in 2022 and was set to become a free agent following this season, but will instead stay in Portland.

Midge Purce Out for NWSL Season

NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Midge Purce will miss the remainder of the NWSL season after tearing her ACL. The 28-year-old will undergo surgery and suffered the injury in her team’s 1-0 victory over the Portland Thorns this past weekend. She’s been with Gotham since 2020 and assisted on both goals in her team’s 2-1 win in the 2023 NWSL Championship. It’s a tough blow for the United States Women’s National Team too, as she will not be representing the U.S. during this summer’s Olympics in France.

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  • Orlando City B’s match against Carolina Core FC on April 14 has been rescheduled.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/27/24

Bally Sports will broadcast Orlando Pride matches, Pride players called up, USWNT announces SheBelieves Cup roster, and more.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Hello, Mane Landers. I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I attended my friend’s wedding this past weekend and have been getting myself back into work mode by covering high school tennis this week. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Bally Sports Will Broadcast Select Orlando Pride Matches

Bally Sports was announced as the new local television partner for the Orlando Pride. There will be 13 select Pride matches broadcast this season across Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports Sun, and on the Bally Sports app. The partnership will begin this Friday, with the Orlando Soccer Insider show taking place before the kickoff of the Pride’s home match against the Chicago Red Stars at 7 p.m. The show will be broadcast on Bally Sports Florida, and then you can switch to the Bally Sports app to watch Friday’s match. Below are all the select matches that will be broadcast on Bally Sports this season.

Brazilian Orlando Pride Players Called Up

The Orlando Pride’s Marta, Angelina, and Luana were all called up by Brazil for next month’s SheBelieves Cup. Brazil heads into this tournament after a solid showing in the Concacaf W Gold Cup. The format is different for this year’s SheBelieves Cup, as there will only be four matches instead of six. Brazil’s first match of the tournament will be a semifinal on April 6 against Canada in Atlanta.

USWNT Announces Roster for SheBelieves Cup

United States Women’s National Team interim head coach Twila Kilgore announced the 23-player roster for the 2024 SheBelieves Cup matches next month. The USWNT has won this competition four consecutive times since 2020, and is going for a seventh title in 2024. Of those called up, 19 players on this squad were part of the team that won the Concacaf W Gold Cup earlier this month. San Diego Wave forward Jaedyn Shaw, the Concacaf W Gold Cup’s MVP, is back on the roster after she led the USWNT with four goals. The squad also includes familiar names like former Pride forward Alex Morgan, Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, and Olympique Lyon midfielder Lindsey Horan. Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario return to the squad after being sidelined with injuries. The USWNT will begin its quest to defend its SheBelieves Cup title when it faces Japan on April 6 in Atlanta.

MLS Referees Agree to New CBA

After a lockout that resulted in Major League Soccer starting the season with replacement referees, the Professional Soccer Referees Association voted to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement with the Professional Referee Organization. The new CBA is a seven-year deal that runs through January of 2031. This deal will also include significant pay raises for referees, assistant referees, and video assistant referees. The PRO referees will return to the pitch for this weekend’s MLS matches.

Ukraine, Georgia, and Poland Qualify for Euro 2024

Ukraine has qualified for this summer’s Euros after edging out Iceland 2-1 in its playoff final, with Mykhaylo Mudryk scoring the winning goal in the second half. Georgia eliminated Greece 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw to book a spot in the tournament as well. Georgia qualifies for its first major tournament after coming up short in 2020. Poland also needed penalties to qualify, with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny making the final save against Daniel James to beat Wales 5-4 on penalties after a scoreless draw.

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That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Wednesday and Iโ€™ll see you next time.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/26/24

Jack Lynn named to MLS Team of the Matchday bench, Nico Lodeiro and Marta up for weekly awards, USMNT stock watch, and more.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Happy Tuesday, everyone! It was an enjoyable weekend for fans of Orlando soccer as the Lions got in the win column, the Pride stayed unbeaten, and Orlando City B picked up two points by way of a shootout win. As usual, we have plenty to discuss this morning, so let’s dive in.

Jack Lynn Makes Team of the Matchday Bench

Jack Lynn’s efforts in Orlando City’s 2-0 win over Austin FC have earned him a spot on the bench in the latest edition of the MLS Team of the Matchday. Lynn opened the scoring with a well-finished header in the first half, a tally which was also his very first for the senior side. Aside from his goal, he took another shot that was off target, completed 77% of his passes, and recorded 21 touches. The performance earned him a 6 out of 10 grade from Sean Rollins in his player grades from the match. Lynn’s inclusion in the TotM is well deserved, and hopefully it’s the first of many!

Orlando Players Up for Weekly Honors

Nico Lodeiro’s free kick during Orlando City’s win has been nominated for the MLS Goal of the Matchday. In the 64th minute, with the Lions holding a 1-0 lead, courtesy of Lynn’s goal, the good guys were awarded a free kick due to a handball on the edge of the box. Lodeiro proceeded to deliver the goods, scoring his first league goal for OCSC with a powerful, bending effort that Brad Stuver was unable to keep out of the top corner. Make sure you go and vote for Nico to win this week’s award!

He wasn’t the only Orlando player who had an impressive goal either, as the Orlando Pride’s Marta has been nominated for the National Women’s Soccer League Goal of the Week. It was a well-deserved nomination too, as she leveled the score and rescued a point for the Pride in spectacular fashion. With time ticking down in the 88th minute, she expertly volleyed in a corner kick at home. Go and vote for her to win the honor!

Post-Nations League Stock Watch

Several United States Men’s National Team players either boosted or hurt their stock over the course of last week’s Concacaf Nations League matches. Guys like Giovanni Reyna and Tyler Adams turned in impactful and timely performances. Reyna was named the best player of the tournament at a time when minutes at the club level are tough to come by, while Adams looked great as he continues to work his way back from a long injury layoff. Joe Scally and Folarin Balogun struggled though, with Scally being hooked at halftime against Jamaica and Balogun having a relatively quiet two games while fellow striker Haji Wright was the hero against Jamaica. Nobody’s stock dropped more than Mexico’s though, which has now gone seven games without beating the U.S., and hasn’t scored in almost 500 minutes. *Insert eagle screech here*

Big Names Missing for Euro 2024

The club season won’t be over for a couple more months, but there are a number of big stars who we either already know won’t be appearing at this summer’s Euro 2024, or who have a race against the clock in order to feature. The Real Madrid duo of David Alaba and Thibaut Courtois will both miss the tournament through injury, although Courtois’ rocky relationship with Belgium manager Domenico Tedesco means he may not have been called up anyway. Sven Botman will be unavailable for the Netherlands due to an ACL tear. Ivan Perisic suffered the same fate, sidelining him for Croatia. Then there are the cases of Sandro Tonali and Paul Pogba, who are unavailable for Italy and France, respectively, due to suspensions for off-field issues.

Free Kicks

  • Happy National Athletic Training Month from one AT (me) to another!
  • The young Yanks engineered a late comeback to earn a 2-2 draw with France, with Cade Cowell scoring the equalizer.
  • A vote has reportedly taken place on a new tentative agreeement between PRO and the PSRA.
  • LAFC has reportedly sent a formal contract offer for Olivier Giroud to join the Western Conference side once the Serie A season concludes.

That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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