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Orlando City

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

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6 years ago

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Well that game was…interesting. The 3-3 scoreline covered up the fact that the Orlando City defense was at complete sixes and sevens for much of the game. On the other hand, when the ball wasn’t given away before reaching midfield, the team looked capable of creating chances going forward. But if the defense isn’t sorted out soon it isn’t going to matter.

Starters

GK, Earl Edwards Jr., 4 — Not Earl’s best performance tonight. Though he was largely helpless on the Penilla goal he might have been able to do a bit better with the Revs’ third goal, and he certainly could have done better on the first goal the Lions conceded. He had a terrible first-half pass that went straight to Diego Fagundez and could have buried the Lions in too deep of a hole to dig out of. He did have three saves, but he’ll definitely wish he could have had the first one back.

D, PC, 4 — He was incredibly lucky to stay on the field after committing a professional foul as the last man back in the opening minutes of the game. He got forward in attack on multiple occasions but also lost runners in behind more than once and had some bad giveaways in the team’s defensive third. He was sacrificed for Stéfano Pinho when James O’Connor decided it was time to throw the proverbial kitchen sink at the Revs.

D, Amro Tarek, 4.5 — Quite the mixed bag for Tarek. On the one hand he had a goal-line clearance and was credited with Orlando’s second goal. On the other hand, the only reason he had to make that clearance was because he completely lost Scott Caldwell’s run in behind him. He too was guilty of multiple bad giveaways in the defensive third, and got taken to the cleaners on Teal Bunbury’s goal. Scoring the goal helps his score a little, but this was not a good performance by the Egyptian.

D, Shane O’Neill, 4 — It was a tough night for the entire defense and O’Neill’s fortunes were no different. Even though Scott Sutter’s pass put him in a horrible position he was dispossessed far too easily on Penilla’s goal, and poor positioning just a few minutes earlier led to a Diego Fagundez chance that meant Edwards needed to bail him out. He did make an important last-ditch tackle in the second half but he had a rough go of it.

D, Scott Sutter, 5 — Like Tarek, Sutter gets some bonus points for scoring his goal. But, the pass he played to O’Neill in the first half was the soccer equivalent of a quarterback lofting a ball up the middle for his wide receiver to get completely obliterated: absolute suicide. He didn’t make too many mistakes aside from that, and while he took his goal well it was clear that it’s been awhile since he last played.

M, Cristian Higuita, 5.5 — Deployed as one of two holding midfielders, Higuita worked hard as usual. He had more than one good pass and combined well in the attack several times. However, he was also guilty of more than one bad giveaway, including one in the first half that would have led to a scoring chance had the resulting pass not been overhit. He was one of the few players that played with good physical presence. He made way for Chris Mueller as O’Connor looked to add more energy to the attack.

M, Tony Rocha, 5 — His game started off very badly as he was completely out-muscled by Juan Agudelo on the opening goal, although it still shouldn’t have gone in. While he did have the assist on Dom Dwyer’s goal, like too many of his teammates he was guilty of several sloppy giveaways in his own half.

M, Mohamed El-Munir, 6 — El-Munir looks more and more like he should be a winger. Mostly freed up of defensive responsibilities he got forward in attack well, beating his man off the dribble on several occasions. His final pass was lacking, but all in all it was a pretty steady night for the Libyan.

M, Sacha Kljestan, 5.5 — It was a pretty quiet night for Sacha, who was wearing the captain’s armband. He made several smart passes, including one around the corner in the 32nd minute for Higuita that nearly put the Colombian through on goal. Unfortunately, he was forced off with an injury right before the end of the first half. Hopefully its nothing too serious.

M,  Yoshimar Yotún, 7.5 (MotM) — Orlando’s best player on the pitch by several country miles, Yoshi bagged assists on all three Orlando goals, although one may be removed if Tarek’s is changed to an own goal. He had a hockey assist on Dom’s goal, and ran the show going forward. He had a team high 90 touches, and his set piece delivery was lethal. Unfortunately, he was baited into a frankly stupid red card, which means the team will be without his top quality services in the next match.

F, Dom Dwyer, 6.5 — It was a bit of an odd night for Dom. He didn’t see much of the ball at all, his 21 touches were the third fewest out of all the Lions. But, he took four shots and put three of them on target, while another was blocked. Plus, he scored Orlando’s opening goal. Like PC, he can probably count himself lucky not to have been sent off for an extremely rash tackle late in stoppage time.

Subs

Josué Colmán (44’), 5.5 — Coming on for the injured Kljestan, Colmán often looked dangerous with the ball at his feet, much as he has all season. The problem was that he didn’t know when to get the ball out of his feet, and multiple times he held onto it too long and was dispossessed in promising positions. It was not a bad half from him, but it could have been better if he had passed in some situations where he chose to dribble.

Stefano Pinho (60’), 4.5 — Coming on for PC in the 60th minute, Pinho found it very hard to get involved in the game, only managing seven touches. He did get a shot off and make a tackle, but it was not enough considering he had 30 minutes to work with.

Chris Mueller (70’), 5 — Given 20 minutes to work with when he subbed on for Higuita, Mueller also did not have the kind of impact on the score sheet he was probably hoping for. As usual though he gets some bonus points for running his butt off for every second he was on the field, and did manage to inject some energy into a faltering Orlando midfield.

As you can see, I was far from thrilled about the team’s performance defensively. A point is a point but I feel like I typed the word “giveaway” so many times it was beginning to make my head hurt. Agree with my assessment? Disagree? Let me know in the poll and the comments.

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Dom Dwyer3
Mohamed El-Munir3
Cristian Higuita7
 Yoshimar Yotún103
Other4

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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.

Published

19 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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