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Orlando City vs. Atlanta United: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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7 years ago

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Our neighbors from the north came to visit again, for the third of three match-ups. It was a prime time battle on ESPN for Rivalry Week. I guess this is now a rivalry since it was scheduled during Rivalry Week, promoted heavily, and had a national televised audience. Now I will be super curious how things unfold if Miami ever actually gets its act together and enters MLS.

It was a good match, one that you would expect from a rivalry, and an unfortunate loss for the Lions, who I thought played really well for the majority of the match. Without further ado, let’s see how the Lions rated individually in the tough 2-1 loss to Atlanta United.

Starters

GK, Joe Bendik, 5 — Only four minutes into the match and Joe had to go low quickly to stop a shot from distance, then it somewhat fell apart in the 21st minute when he fumbled the free kick from Ezequiel Barco, with the ball falling to Leandro González Pirez, who forced it in. His distribution was much better this match, with a few questionable moments, but generally an improvement. He came out, got big, but found himself on the ground too early on the historic Josef Martínez goal.

D, Victor “PC” Giro, 6 — Many were shocked to see PC start this match, and hopefully he put some of the vitriol to bed. He was caught out a few times, but this was another match were he and the other back were asked to play end line to end line. In a lovely counter in the 14th minute, Dom Dwyer found Chris Mueller, who attacked the box, and left PC a nice little back heel pass, which he took and fired a shot on goal, forcing a save from Brad Guzan. He had 86% passing accuracy, three tackles, and the one shot on frame.

D, Shane O’Neill, 5.5 — Good performance from one of the newest Lions, once again. It was good to see him side by side with Spector, although there were moments where you could tell the pair needed more time together. There were so many opportunities to take two steps forward and leave Atlanta offside.

D, Jonathan Spector, 5 — Every time Specs heads the ball it gives me chills. Great to see him back, wearing the captain’s armband, but his time off the pitch was apparent. He looked a little rusty, but that could be expected. He did have two tackles, but was only able to complete 79% of his passes. Spector went with Almiron when he should have stayed with Martinez on the second Atlanta goal, but that is easy to say watching it the next morning.

D, Scott Sutter, 7 (MotM) — Quick breakdown of some facts from the match: 84% passing accuracy, two successful dribbles, two aerials won, and two tackles. He was a force on the right, playing well from end line to end line, and well, what about that shot? That might have been one of the purest strikes I have seen from a Lion this season.

MF, Oriol Rosell, 6.5 — Uri had another good match, and was high on the list for MotM for me. He had four successful tackles, two clearances, and two interceptions. He paired extremely well with the newest Lion, who we will discuss in a minute, and helped to lead a pretty solid defensive effort, one that seemed to frustrate Atlanta for a good portion of the match.

MF, Carlos Ascues, 6.5 — Debut match for Carlos, and one that should have endeared him to all the fans. His is a large presence on the pitch, but his touch, his skill, and his vision were an even bigger present. He crisscrossed the pitch, made forward runs when space was available, and had that nice little cross to Mueller to start the run of play that led to the Sutter goal. He played two thirds of the game, finishing with 93% passing accuracy and two tackles, and I certainly hope he will be a permanent new addition to the team. His presence and ability open up a number of opportunities.

MF, Josué Colmán, 5 — A tough night for the club’s Young Designated Player. He was 89% accurate on passes, but had no real success taking on opponents with the ball. He did manage two shots during the match, but neither were on target.

MF, Will Johnson, 6 — Two weeks on from that tackle, which led to that play in D.C., Will got a chance to start in, once again, a different position in the starting XI. One thing about Will is that he leaves it all on the pitch, and he did so again against Atlanta. He finished with 90% passing accuracy, an interception, three chances created, and an assist for his nice little flick to Sutter.

MF, Chris Mueller, 6 — Hearing the stadium PA blast Wu Tang Clan’s C.R.E.A.M. during warm-ups had me convinced that we would see a big performance from Cash Mueller, and he certainly put forth a notable effort. He had the most successful take-ons of any player on the pitch, at four, but his passing accuracy was a bit low at 81%. It was good to see him being a little more “selfish” on the ball and driving the box in the offensive end. He still needs to generate more shots, finishing without one on the night.

F, Dom Dwyer, 6 — Again, Dom was marked and sandwiched by the two Atlanta center backs from the first whistle. His trap, spin, and pass to Mueller who drove the box and eventually left it for PC to shoot was a lovely run of play. Also, big save for Dom in the 60th minute after the free kick led to three Atlanta shots, two saved by Bendik, and the final one saved by Dom, who maintained his near post position. His one shot was on target.

Substitutes:

MF, Pierre Da Silva (61’), 5.5 — PDS came on with about 30 minutes left in the match, and showed some flashes of that ability we have seen from him, but it will be a little hard to grade him due to Orlando not really having much possession during his time on the pitch. His passing (55.6% on just nine attempts) must be better, but he did have a tackle and an interception.

MF, Stefano Pinho (67’), 5 — Subbed on for Ascues, which had a number of us wondering what effect it would have on the run of play. He certainly did not have the effect that the player he replaced had on the match.

MF, José Villarreal (87’), N/A — Villareal didn’t see the field long enough to make much of an impact.

That is how I saw it folks, so lets hear your opinions. Let us know in the poll below who you thought was the Man of the Match, and leave me some comments on how you graded the squad.

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Will Johnson2
Carlos Ascues43
Oriol Rosell3
Scott Sutter42
Chris Mueller6
Other7

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Opinion

Likes and Dislikes from the Fifth Week of Orlando City Preseason

Let’s examine some good and some bad from this week of Orlando City’s preseason preparations.

Published

1 day ago

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February 13, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

We’ve (almost) made it to the end of another week, with Orlando City’s final preseason match against the Colorado Rapids looming large Saturday night. The season opener will be here before you know it, and things will only speed up from there. For the final time this preseason, let’s take a look back at the week that was and talk about what I liked, and what I didn’t.

Likes

A New Signing

Orlando City announced the long-awaited signing of Brazilian center back Iago on Saturday, making him the third and presumably final MLS U22 Initiative arrival of the off-season. While he’s only 20 years old, he’s likely to be one of the two starting center backs on opening day alongside David Brekalo, so him getting a couple weeks of preseason to get settled in is vital. It of course would have been ideal for him to have even more time, but transfer dealings with Brazilian clubs rarely seem to be straightforward affairs, and two weeks is better than none at all. Crucially, Iago played over 5,000 minutes for Flamengo’s senior and U-20 sides, so he’s no stranger to the professional game, and hopefully that helps him to hit the ground running as a Lion.

A New Kit

Continuing the trend of shiny new things, the Lions unveiled their new away kit on Tuesday. It’s a gold jersey with purple shorts that’s been dubbed the ‘Sunken Treasure’ kit, and it’s the club’s first jersey to heavily use the team’s secondary color of gold. All things considered, I quite like the new threads. As with a lot of jerseys these days, the finer details like the Lion in the background of the front and the two patches, won’t be visible unless you’re up close to it. That being said, those details look pretty nice in the close-up shots of the jersey that the club provided, and when viewed from a distance, the shirt is striking. I also like the decision to go with purple shorts, as I think going with gold all the way would be a bit too much.

Dislikes

All Quiet on the Rumor Front

Things have gone a little quiet when it comes to transfer rumors regarding Orlando City. The club still has a Designated Player slot that it intends to use on an attacker, but we haven’t seen any hints as far as who the brass might be looking at. It’s not necessarily a reason to panic, as the team has made it a habit to be methodical in the transfer window and hasn’t been afraid to take its time pursuing players it thinks will be the right fit, rather than rushing business and potentially making an unwise signing as a result. All the same, it’s always nice to hear that a specific name is being pursued, particularly when OCSC still has a DP slot burning a hole in its proverbial pocket in addition to some areas of the field that need to be strengthened with additional depth. I trust the business to get done and done well, but I’m also not going to pretend I wouldn’t love a juicy signing rumor or two right about now.

With a little luck, next week will bring a couple of positive transfer rumors and three points to start the season off on a strong note. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 2/13/26

Hannah Anderson challenging herself in Orlando, Luana called up by Brazil, broadcasting changes ahead of MLS season, and more.

Published

1 day ago

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February 13, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Today is Friday the 13th, so make sure to steer clear of black cats, ladders, and any other bad omens out there. Orlando City’s season opener is next weekend and the last thing we need to do is accumulate bad luck before the Lions take the field. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and dive into today’s links!

Hannah Anderson Prepares for First Season in Orlando

Defender Hannah Anderson was drafted by the Chicago Stars in the third round of the 2024 NWSL Draft and spent two seasons there before the Pride traded for her in January for $70,000 in intraleague funds. Chicago conceded twice as many goals as Orlando last season, and now Anderson is challenging herself with an opportunity to improve as a defender with the Pride.

“I don’t really look at it as pressure, I think it’s an opportunity,” she said. “The challenge is what’s going to help me grow. When you’re never challenged, you can’t grow. It’s kind of like how you see that challenge. Yeah, it could be pressure, but I also think it’s exciting to be a part of a group that’s been there, because the experience will help you get there again.”

The 24-year-old also spoke on what it’s like to go up against Orlando’s attacking stars in training, as well as her decision to join the Pride while engaged to Chicago Cubs pitcher Jack Neely. With Emily Sams on the other side of the country, hopefully Anderson can have a breakout year to help fill the void.

Luana Returns to Brazil National Team

Orlando Pride midfielder Luana was called up for Brazil’s friendlies against Costa Rica, Venezuela, and Mexico in a few weeks. It’s great to see her back with the national team after all she’s been through and Head Coach Arthur Elias spoke on her return.

“Calling up Luana is a joy, but the greater joy was when she overcame cancer, a disease diagnosed during a period with the National Team. It was a huge shock for all of us. Luana has an incredible history in football, she is a woman of great strength, who showed this and set many examples for those around her,” he celebrated.

She will bring some experience to a Brazil roster that doesn’t include any other Pride players, although former Pride player Adriana was called up. Brazil has already secured qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup as its host, so the focus will be on playing quality opponents until then.

Getting Ready for More MLS on Apple TV

We’re gearing up for the fourth MLS season streamed through Apple TV and the biggest difference this time around is that MLS Season Pass is a thing of the past. It’s a major boon for fans, as all games will be through an Apple TV subscription rather than a separate platform at an additional cost. For those of us who like to watch MLS games at our favorite bar, an agreement with EverPass Media should increase the reach of the league in commercial venues. Saturday night matches with increased production value, announcers returning to the actual stadiums to call games, and the removal of the Spanish version of MLS 360 are some of the other notable changes heading into this season.

Nottingham Forest Fires Manager…Again

Just a day after Thomas Franks was fired by Tottenham, Nottingham Forest sacked Sean Dyche following the club’s scoreless draw with Wolverhampton this week. Dyche joined the club in October and was just nominated for Manager of the Month for his team’s results in January. However, Forest is just three points above the relegation zone and has now fired its third coach of the season. Vitor Pereira will reportedly replace Dyche as the club’s fourth coach of the season, which would be a league record. ESPN dove into how English Premier League teams that made multiple firings in the same season performed and it’s grim news for Forest.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau went under the microscope to field a variety of questions. I’m pretty interested in why Duncan McGuire would be the first person he’d call if he found a dead body in his hotel room.
  • Construction is underway at Camping World Stadium as it begins its $400 million renovation to expand seating and improve the facilities.

That’s all I have for you on this fine Friday. I hope you all have a lucky day and that all of your Valentine’s Day plans this weekend go off without a hitch!

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Orlando City

Ranking Orlando City’s MLS Away Kits

Where does the new Sunken Treasure kit rank all time?

Published

2 days ago

on

February 12, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

With the release of Orlando City’s newest away kit, I thought it appropriate to rank all of the Lions’ MLS-era away kits to see how the new “Sunken Treasure” kit stacks up against those from the past. As I said last year regarding the home kit rankings, I’m no fashion guru, but I do know what I like.

I welcome everyone’s opinions on this topic, but since I’m writing the article, I get final say. Let’s rank Orlando City’s away kits.

Seventh Place

The Heart and Soul kit has the misfortune of coming in last place in the rankings. It is not a bad or ugly kit, I just think the others are better. For me, it’s the stark shoulder separation that I don’t like. It feels disjointed, like the color on the front was an add-on or that someone forgot to extend it up to the rest of the kit. While I don’t mind the three stripes being oriented front to back on just one side, I like the more traditional two-sided Adidas stripes formation.

Sixth Place

The look of the second-ever away kit was so close to being fantastic. First the good. The purple sleeves look great, especially with the gold ring near the cuff. And seeing the original Orlando Health logo certainly brings back memories. Now the not so good. I always prefer to have the Adidas stripes on the shoulder, though they’re not horrible running down the sides. The faux collar is the downfall of this kit. If it had a real collar it would be much higher up the rankings.

Fifth Place

The Sunshine Kit brought the first splash of color other than purple to the away kit. The way it blended into — or more accurately out of — the purple shorts looked very good. It also didn’t have the cutoff shoulder feel of the Heart and Soul kit. In fact, we get the traditional stripes with a ringer around the collar. It’s a nice touch.

Fourth Place

There is definitely something to be said about an almost completely white kit. The Origin Kit was so clean that it only needed two colors. Even the crest is monochromatic purple rather than the usual gold, purple, and white. Purple-accented Adidas stripes, cuff rings and a thin ringer at the V-neck are the only splashes of color to be found. It’s the type of kit you can wear out to a nice dinner. Just don’t order the spaghetti.

Third Place

You never forget your first…away kit. The amount of thought that went into the Inaugural City kit is impressive. It is seemingly simple and straightforward but full of little details. I love the overlapping collar with just a bit of gold. The Adidas stripes in the proper place and the original Orlando Health logo make this the classic it deserves to be. It might be at third place in the rankings, but it will always be the first.

Second Place

The new Sunken Treasure kit is striking. It is the first kit that uses gold as the primary color. The sublimated lion head is picturesque in detail. The Adidas stripes are in the right place, and the triple stripe at the cuffs and neckline are a nice touch. Paired with the purple shirts, I know that this is going to be a sought-after jersey for years to come. My only personal issue is I don’t look good in yellow. However, as I said on The Mane Land PawedCast, I will reserve final judgment on my potential purchase of the kit until I see it in person. I also want to add that the social media release of the kit was very well done.

https://twitter.com/OrlandoCitySC/status/2021252822549807290

First Place

As much as I like the new kit, it will be hard to ever top the Legacy Kit. We have the return of the Three Lions crest and the red color from the USL days. The very light purple used as the primary color is subtle, original, and looks really good. I like the three-color combo and button on the collar. The matching shorts bring the whole thing together like The Dude’s rug. This is such a departure from normal away kits that I literally have it framed on my wall.

There you have it. As for the kits, I’d love to hear how you rank them in the comments below. For now, you can select the spot where you’d place the Sunken Treasure kit in the poll below. Vamos Orlando!

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