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Orlando City vs. Vancouver Whitecaps: Five Takeaways

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6 years ago

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Last night, the Lions returned home after being away and took three points from the Vancouver Whitecaps. In what was a homecoming for Scott Sutter, who I have to say looked much better in purple, the Lions were able to grind one out and walk away with three much-needed points. Much needed for the team, much needed for the fans, and much needed for the larger picture of the playoffs. That being said, what are the five things that we can take away from the match?

Lions Pass Gut Check Test

From 45 minutes before the match, when the lineups were announced, it was fairly obvious how each team was going to progress. Vancouver was going to bunker and hope to utilize the counter attack and catch Orlando sitting too high on the attack, or take advantage of the back line when Ruan or Joao Moutinho had pushed too far forward. The defense did well to communicate and cover and held Vancouver to only six shots, with only two on target. With all of the frustration that the Whitecaps generated, the Lions did fairly well to not force things and played the passing game until good opportunities presented themselves.

Middle Needs to Stay Compact

Throughout the match, Moutinho and Ruan looked frustrated and held back. This was not due to the fact that Vancouver was playing a five-man back line, but that it appeared that Orlando City was running over its own players’ lanes at times on the wings. Instead of staying compact in the middle, the Lions drifted with the ball out to the wings, and too often players looked to get in the way of the fullbacks making runs. Yes, the Lions appeared to be more focused on a 4-3-3 formation, but the middle three were well equipped to cover for any outside fullback runs, except those runs seemed a bit stymied by other Lions as opposed to the Whitecaps.

Rowe is Better than you Think

Go ahead and come at me, but Brian Rowe is starting to grow on me, grow on this team, and grow between the posts. Everyone needs to take a step back and remember that the City keeper has had multiple back lines in the eight matches this season. If one thing is clear, the communication between keeper and center backs is critical to the success of the defensive squad. As the season is progressing, the communication and bond between the back line and Rowe is getting better, which in turn makes everyone better, including Rowe. Or maybe he was always a good option, but the chaotic nature of the back line made him look like a worse option than actual.

Dom May Not be the Needed Striker

This might be the most controversial takeaway, but Dom may not be the right striker for the two formations of choice we have seen. Whether the Lions come out in a true 3-5-2, or the malleable 4-3-3 we saw yesterday, there is a lot of hold up play dependent upon the strikers. As a continuation of last season, most center backs seem to know just how to deal with Dom, and that would be physically. Don’t get me wrong, Dom is a great striker, but in the current model playing out on the pitch, he is much better suited if paired with a dangerous, and tall, target striker. Tesho Akindele maybe? But then who do you take off the pitch to pair Dom up with that tall, target striker? I would honestly say that Dom may be better coming off the bench, after the center backs have been beat up a little.

Rosell and Mendez were Great

The Vancouver strategy called for maintaining a compact and organized defensive shape, which is frustrating for the attacking players but also puts pressure on the defensive midfielders and defenders to prevent danger on the counter attack and to win the ball back after clearances. Uri Rosell and Sebas Mendez played an excellent game in the Orlando midfield, combining for a whopping 185 touches (101 by Rosell alone). Rosell played a bit deeper, finishing with a tackle and a clearance, while Mendez had three interceptions and two tackles. Mendez’s 92.8% passing accuracy was only a few percentage points below the leader among the starters — Ruan’s 94.4%. Rosell was at 90% on a team-high 97 attempts. The duo tracked down loose balls in the midfield and played relentlessly, helping shuttle the ball left to right and back as the Lions probed and tried to find an opening in the tight Vancouver defense.

Those are the five things that I walked away with. As much as I was hoping the sixth would be a Parley kit, I was a little too focused on the match and debating with the crew around me at halftime to try to grab one. That match had me riding a roller coaster all afternoon, and what a way to send the home crowd away for the remainder of the holiday weekend. What did you take away from the 1-0 win against the Whitecaps? Let us know in the comments.

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Lion Links: 6/5/25

MLS All-Star voting update, Kerry Abello shines with USWNT, Sergio Zapata earns recognition, and more.

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22 hours ago

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June 5, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this week has been treating you well as we enjoy some international soccer and prepare for the return of NWSL action this weekend. Before we jump right into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando City B midfielder Dylan Judelson!

Pair of Lions Lead MLS All-Star Voting

Voting for this year’s MLS All-Star Game remains underway and an update was provided on which players are leading at each position. Orlando City defender Alex Freeman leads all right backs as he enjoys a breakout season. I was aware of the buzz he’s been getting this year, but it’s still surprising to see a Lion as an All-Star frontrunner. What’s even more surprising is that Pedro Gallese leads the voting for goalkeepers. The Peruvian made a rough gaffe last week, but has otherwise had a stellar season with Orlando that’s included seven clean sheets. Voting will close on June 11, so make sure to get those votes in before then.

Kerry Abello Impresses With USMNT

Orlando Pride defender Kerry Abello made her first appearance for the United States Women’s National Team Tuesday, playing every minute of the 4-0 win over Jamaica. The versatility she’s shown with the Pride translated well in Head Coach Emma Hayes’ system, as she was able to hold things down defensively and contribute to the attack as well. Abello could end up bringing solid depth to the USWNT as Hayes figures out the team’s future core of players. Enjoy this video from the USWNT that provides a look behind the scenes of Abello’s international debut.

Sergio Zapata Named Player of the Month

Sergio Zapata scored a whopping 11 goals for Orlando City’s U-19 team over the course of just four matches in May, winning the honor of MLS NEXT Player of the Month. He had three hat tricks last month, including one against Hoosier Premier at MLS NEXT Fest. Zapata committed to Cornell, so hopefully we’ll get to see him tear it up in the Ivy League over the next couple of years.

Zack Steffen Sustains Knee Injury

Goalkeeper Zack Steffen injured his knee at the United States Men’s National Team’s training camp and will reportedly miss this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup. It’s rough news for the 30-year-old, as he was expected to compete with Matt Turner for the starting job with the USMNT. He’s been having a great season with the Colorado Rapids and returned to the club for further evaluation on the injury.

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

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Lion Links: 6/4/25

USWNT wins as Abello gets first cap, Orlando Pride’s Concacaf W Champions Cup draw, Club World Cup in Orlando, and more.

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2 days ago

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June 4, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Tuesday was a busy soccer day, especially on the women’s side. We have plenty of Orlando Pride news, and the USWNT secured yet another victory. I’m hoping the good vibes continue since I’ll be coming down to Orlando for the Pride’s match this Saturday. If you’re going to the match, let me know, as I’d love to meet as many of our readers as possible. For now, let’s get to the links.

USWNT Blanks Jamaica

The USWNT defeated Jamaica 4-0 in a friendly at Energizer Park in St. Louis. The Orlando Pride’s Kerry Abello got her first start and her first cap in the match. She went the full 90 minutes and almost had her first international goal in the second half, but the chance went a bit wide of the right post. Ally Sentnor and Lynn Biyendolo each scored a brace as the U.S. rolled to an easy win.

Pride Internationals

Abello wasn’t the only Pride player to make an international appearance. Marta returned to international duty for Brazil getting the start and the captain’s armband in a 2-1 win over Japan. Both Grace Chanda and Barbra Banda started for Zambia in the 2-0 loss to South Africa in the Three Nations Challenge. Congratulations are also due to Zara Chavoshi, who earned her first cap with the Canadian Women’s National Team in the match against Haiti.

Concacaf W Champions Cup Draw

The Concacaf W Champions Cup draw happened yesterday and the Orlando Pride are in Group A with Club America Femenil, CF Pachuca Femenil, LD Alajuelense, and Chorrillo FC. Group B consists of NJ/NY Gotham FC, the Washington Spirit, CF Monterrey Femenil, Vancouver Rise FC Academy, and Alianza Women FC. The competition kicks off Aug. 19-21.

FIFA Loves Orlando

FIFA President Gianni Infantino sat for an interview with Jamie Seh of WKMG Orlando. Infantino spoke about the upcoming Club World Cup matches at Inter&Co Stadium and Camping World Stadium. FIFA loves Orlando enough for the city to host the Club World Cup, but not the actual World Cup. Here is the schedule for the matches in Orlando. We will be bringing you coverage of these matches.

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That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the return of the Orlando Pride this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 6/3/25

Orlando City B announces signings, details of Concacaf W Champions Cup, UEFA Nations League preview, and more.

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3 days ago

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June 3, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

Good morning, everyone. It’s been a pretty brutal last two games for Orlando City, there’s no getting around that fact. While it’s never fun to not have the team in action, a two-week break between games maybe isn’t the worst thing in this particular case. Even though it’ll be a minute before the Lions are back in action, we still have plenty of things to talk about, so let’s get into today’s links.

Orlando City B Announces Signings

Orlando City B announced on Monday that it has signed Clovis Archange and Jackson Platts to MLS NEXT Pro contracts. The pair are graduates of the Orlando City Development Academy and were part of the team that won the U-18 Generation Adidas Cup earlier this year. The 18-year-old Platts captained the team in the final, while Archange was named as one of the players to watch before the tournament started. They’ve both featured for their countries at the youth level, with Platts appearing for the United States U-16 and U-18 teams, and Archange suiting up for Canada’s U-17 side. Congratulations to both players!

Concacaf Announces W Champions Cup Details

Concacaf has named the 10 teams that will participate 2025-2026 Concacaf W Champions Cup and has announced the pots for tonight’s draw. The Orlando Pride are one of three American teams participating in the second year of the competition, and have been placed into Pot 2. Teams will be divided into two groups of five, with each team facing every club in its group once, and the top two sides from each group then advancing to the semifinals. The winner gets a spot in the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, and the FIFA Women’s Club World Cup, which is set to be held for the first time in 2028. The draw takes place tonight at 8 p.m.

UEFA Nations League Preview

The UEFA Nations League returns this week, with the semifinals set for tomorrow and Thursday, and the third-place game and final taking place on Sunday. Things get started on Wednesday afternoon with Germany facing off against Portugal in Munich. Germany put away Italy 5-4 on aggregate in the quarterfinals to get to the semis for the first time, while Portugal beat Denmark 5-2, and is hunting for its second Nations League trophy. Thursday has Spain taking on France in Stuttgart. The Spanish beat the Netherlands on penalties in the semis to get here, while France took out Croatia on penalties to punch its ticket. There’s plenty of recent history in this one as these teams also met in the semifinals of Euro 2024 last year, with Spain claiming a 2-1 win.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

The transfer rumor mill has kicked into full swing, so let’s catch up on some of the big talking points. Starting in England, Manchester United has reportedly increased its interest in Brian Mbuemo, with the Brentford forward said to also be interested in moving to the club. There are said to be a number of Premier League teams interested in signing Southampton midfielder Tyler Dibling after his team was relegated to the Championship this season. Jobe Bellingham will reportedly follow in his brother Jude’s footsteps, as he’s reportedly decided to join Borussia Dortmund. Finally, Inter Milan is reportedly interested in signing Marcus Rashford as the Italians look to rebuild the squad following a brutal defeat in the UEFA Champions League final.

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  • Here’s a first look at Alex Freeman in his USMNT kit:

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

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