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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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6 years ago

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In a game that I have to play back to believe, the New York Red Bulls fell to Orlando City in the Lions’ first win of the season. For a recap of a match I still can’t believe you can head over to read Michael’s write-up. In my first attempt at player grades, here’s how the Lions fared as they scooped up three points in arguably the hardest venue in MLS.

Starters

GK, Brian Rowe, 7.5 — So many fans have had very mixed feelings about Brian Rowe. Tonight, I think he may have just proven why he’s Orlando’s starting keeper. The Red Bulls never let up, with nine shots, four of which were on target. He was quick to react in the sixth minute, punching the ball to safety, sending a message early on to the Red Bulls that he wasn’t going down easy. With three saves he helped lead OCSC to the team’s first clean sheet of the season.

D, Robin Jansson, 7 — Jansson made his MLS debut with the Lions tonight and made himself known on the pitch with two tackles, three interceptions, seven clearances and a 58% pass success rate (though the plan wasn’t to play out of the back, so the passing success suffered as a result). Jansson stretched the field with 15 long ball attempts off his left foot, finding space on the right wing to Ruan numerous times. He seemed calm, cool, and collected with every touch of the ball, and it was refreshing to see so much control. He earned a yellow in the 51st minute with a challenge on Omir Fernandez. I can’t wait to see more of his defending.

D, Alex De John, 6.5 — De John was back in the starting XI near his hometown in front of a huge crowd of supporters. Before going off in the 65th minute with a leg injury after a challenge, De John was having a decent game with three interceptions, six clearances, and a blocked shot. His pass success rate was 53%. No major errors made him a valuable member of the back line.

D, Shane O’Neill, 6.5 — With one tackle, nine clearances, and a blocked shot and a pass success rate of 51%, O’Neill seemed more like himself out there tonight providing much needed coverage in the back. He started an attack with a long pass off a Red Bulls set piece but Santiago Patino wasn’t able to complete it. He also started the sequence that led to Orlando’s goal, sending the ball up to Dom Dwyer.

WB, João Moutinho, 7.5 — Offensively Moutinho had the assist to Sacha Kljestan for the lone goal of the match. We saw three tackles, three interceptions, one clearance and a 47% pass success rate in his OCSC debut. There’s room for Moutinho to grow, but it was not a bad game and the assist set him above a seven in my book.

MF, Carlos Ascues, 6.5 — Ok, I’m probably going to hear it on this one. Ascues was all over the place tonight with his performance — three tackles, two interceptions, three clearances, two blocked shots, and a 50% pass accuracy. Some of his passes left me scratching my head and led to New York scoring chances. Then he goes and clears the ball off the line only three minutes after the goal from Kljestan to preserve the lead.

MF, Sacha Kljestan, 8 (MOTM) — With one goal, leading in touches, and a 73% pass success rate Sacha was the man Orlando City needed on the field tonight against his former teammates in their house. Some fans have strong feelings about Kljestan, but this is why he’s a starting player. He’s quiet a lot, but when he makes noise, he’s deafening. He was fun to watch tonight.

MF, Uri Rosell, 7 — Leading in tackles (four more than the next closest) and with three interceptions, five clearances, one shot attempt, and a 69% pass success rate in his first minutes of the season, Uri did not disappoint. Seven of his 13 long balls found their target and he had the second most touches at 73, just one fewer than Kljestan. There’s no doubt that against the Red Bulls tonight, Rosell made the midfield a tough place to play.

WB, Ruan, 6.5 — Ruan and his speed had a lot to offer the offense tonight while his play in the back was only OK. Defensively, Ruan saw two tackles, one interception, three clearances, and he finished with a 63% pass success rate. He had two shot attempts, one on target, making a few nice runs into the box that really opened the right side of the field up with his pace of play.  

F, Nani, 6 — The man we all love to watch seemed to struggle a bit in the match as he continued to be taken down with no calls. It was hard for him to get anything past the New York defenders as they swarmed him any time he had the ball. Nani had a 69% pass success rate and not much else this match as he learned how physical MLS can be. It is evident however, that the chemistry is building between him and his teammates as he works to create space with his quality of play.

F, Santiago Patiño, 6 — Patiño played an hour against the Red Bulls in his first start and attempted one shot, which was blocked, and had an 80% pass success rate. The rookie used his size and pace to create multiple opportunities but was unable to finish as he adjusts to the physical demands of MLS play. He attempted only five passes but two of them created scoring chances.

Substitutes

F, Dom Dwyer (60’), 5.5 — Dom started the match on the bench after a rough game last weekend against Montreal. He came in for Patiño and in his time on the field he completed 75% of his passes (though only on eight attempts) and attempted a single shot, but it wasn’t on goal. But his presence was necessary, as his hold-up play was crucial in the buildup to Kljestan’s goal. He took down O’Neill’s long ball and sent it wide to Moutinho, then pulled the defense toward him as the cross went to Kljestan at the top of the box. He was also important in stoppage time as he carried the ball into the attacking third on multiple occasions to help burn some time off the clock and had a beautiful cross to Ruan, that almost resulted in a goal.

D, Lamine Sané (66’), 5.5 — Sané saw the 18 for the first time all season as he’s been recovering from an injury, coming on only to replace an injured De John in the 65th minute. He had one interception, four clearances, and picked up a yellow on a poorly timed clearance that resulted in Omir Fernadez running into his knee. His rust showed a little as he conceded a pair of late set pieces.

D, Kyle Smith (77’) , 5.5 — Smith came on to replace Nani in an attempt to shore up the defense to help preserve the win. In his short time on the field he saw one tackle, one interception, and one clearance with a 38% pass success rate. More importantly, he cleared the ball down the field whenever he had the chance, helping the Lions see the game off.

There you have it, Mane Landers, the first win of the season! Revel in it now, because Wayne Rooney and D.C. United are coming to try and take the win in the purple palace next weekend. We’re going to need some of the structure and pressure we saw from the team tonight if we’re to stand a chance. But before we get to that, please vote for your OCSC Man of the Match in our poll below.

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Brian Rowe48
Robin Jansson27
Joao Moutinho12
Uri Rosell17
Sacha Kljestan72
Other12

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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.

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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.

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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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