Orlando City B

What We’ve Learned About Orlando City B (So Far)

Published

6 years ago

April 22, 2019

Orlando City B finished its first home stretch of 2019 Friday night as it now prepares for its first road game in Texas this week. Facing FC Tucson, Toronto FC II, South Georgia Tormenta FC, and Forward Madison FC, the Young Lions lost three of the four games, with their only point coming in a draw against Tormenta FC. With four games played, what have we learned about this young team so far?

Early Learning Experiences

The most obvious takeaway from the first two games was the poor decision making. Both games showed the team’s inexperience as moments were too big for the young players. In the first game, as the intensity increased, poor decision-making led to fouls in dangerous areas and, eventually, a bad challenge from Randy Mendoza that resulted in a straight red card.

Against Toronto, the same problem arose, with the most glaring example being when Emmanuel Hagan gave the ball away and responded with a challenge for his second yellow card of the game. In both games, the red cards were a deciding factor as the opponents were able to control the remainder of play and take all three points.

“Sometimes with a team without experience, these things happen because they have too much passion to play the sport,” OCB Head Coach Fernando Jose De Argila Irurita said after the second game. “They don’t have the experience to control emotions.”

In the following two games, the experience paid off. When the intensity rose, the players didn’t respond as they had previously, instead focusing on the task at hand. The most obvious example came in the most recent game against Forward Madison FC. After a loss of possession in the final third, Nathan Simeon remained on foot to challenge the attacker rather than leaving his feet, which would’ve likely resulted in a red card. Instead, the result was a goal kick.

Maintaining Their Identity

OCB considers its identity to be using possession to control the tempo and rhythm of the game, something that it’s been able to do at times but not consistently. While the team ended up chasing the first two games a man down, it took the lead in the last two matches. The opponents came back in each of these games, with Tormenta FC scoring four minutes into second half injury time and Madison coming back to get the 2-1 win.

Maintaining the team’s identity throughout the game, especially when the Young Lions have the lead, has been pointed out by the coaches as something that the team needs to continue working on.

“We need to continue believing in the identity and we need to continue defending forward,” OCB Assistant Coach Jose Silva Caparros said after the draw against Tormenta FC. “We cannot drop the team inside our own box against a team that is taller than you.”

“We need to follow our identity for 90 minutes,” Irurita added sternly the following week. “Not just for 45 minutes.”

Lack of Goals

OCB has only scored three goals in its first four games, but it’s not for a lack of opportunities. Terrific buildup through the midfield has provided opportunities for the strikers but too many of the shots have been off target. In the first two games, the Young Lions out-shot opponents, but 10 of those shots in each game were off target. This statistic has improved over the previous two games, with only five shots off target against Tormenta FC and six against Madison, despite having a similar number of total shots.

The lack of goals can be widely attributed to the lack of production by the strikers. The team has been playing with three up top, usually William Bagrou, Ates Diouf, and Koby Osei-Wusu, but only Osei-Wusu has found the net more than once so far this season. This lack of production has led to young midfielders like Jordan Bender and Luc Granitur saying they feel the need to try to provide a spark by scoring.

Making things more difficult going forward are the injuries that have occurred. Bagrou, Diouf, and Osei-Wusu started each of the first three games but both Bagrou and Diouf came off injured the past two weeks. Bagrou suffered a concussion in the final minutes against Tormenta FC, which may keep him sidelined for a few weeks. Diouf then came off injured with a lower back injury Friday night. While the team’s medical staff deemed it not serious, it’s still a concern for the team going forward.

Young Midfielders Shining Brightly

Most Orlando City fans will have their eyes this season on 17-year-old midfielder Bender and 16-year-old midfielder Granitur. The two early signings for OCB have been the most promoted players to come out of the academy and both are seen as potential first-team players.

It’s been a difficult start for Bender, who spent much of the preseason with the first team. An ankle injury kept him out of the first game against FC Tucson and the third game against Tormenta FC, while he didn’t get off the bench Friday night against Madison. The 73 minutes he played against Toronto FC II showed what the team has been missing in his absence. He was the most dangerous player on the field for the Young Lions, causing trouble for the Reds’ back line and creating opportunities for his strikers.

Granitur came off the bench in limited minutes during the first two games of the season, playing fewer than 15 minutes in each one. He was about to come on again late against Tormenta FC but was pulled back for tactical reasons. Friday night, he started his first professional game and went 90 minutes.

The 16-year-old showed flashes of what he could do in the first two games, though he was playing against tired opponents. He made much less of a difference when he was on the field for 90 minutes, although he did draw the penalty that led to OCB’s only goal. At such a young age, you can see why he was brought into OCB as he has shown the promise that the club teased. While not as far along as Bender and some other players, he appears to have a high ceiling going forward.

Lineup Changes

Through four games, nearly all of the players on the 28-man roster have appeared, with 24 being provided minutes and 22 starting. Rafael Santos and Jahlane Forbes have yet to appear due to injury. Only five players — Diouf, Osei-Wusu, Simeon, Serginho, and Steven Hernandez — have appeared in all four games.

The reason for the different lineups is simply that OCB is a team for development rather than a team looking for results. While the players want to win, the focus continues to be on developing the players for the next level.

“We work for the young,” Irurita said about his team. “We’re not trying to compete with all of the professional players. We’re trying to have a level of play that is higher than in the academy league games so they (the players) evolve faster.”

With the continued focus of the team, you will be unlikely to see a consistent lineup in the near future. While this makes it difficult for the players to achieve their desired results, it adds the competition that helps the players develop quicker and improve.

“It’s a lot of competition every day,” Brazilian defender Matheus Silva said.

A Goalkeeping Standout

A player that Orlando City fans may be familiar with is Juliano Chade. The Brazilian goalkeeper is on loan from Athletico Paranaense and has started to make a name for himself in USL League One. After the team started Luca Mancuso and Christian Herrera in the first two games, Chade got his first start against Tormenta FC, coming away with USL League One Team of the Week and Save of the Week honors. His 10 saves currently rank third in the league behind Madison’s Ryan Coulter (11) and the Chattanooga Red Wolves’ Alex Mangels (12).

Given the purpose of OCB, it’s likely that we’ll see more of Mancuso and Herrera in the future. Both of these goalkeepers also had strong games and fans should be excited to see each develop as the season continues. But after the completion of the first home stand, Chade has come away as one of the early stars of the team. He will definitely be a player to keep an eye on as the season continues.

Orlando City B has completed its first home stand of the season, providing the first glimpses of several players that may dress for the first team in the future. The growth and development is already noticeable and will continue to be as the season wears on.

Orlando City B

Orlando City B Signs Bernardo Rhein, Justin Ellis to MLS NEXT Pro Deals

OCB adds two signees ahead of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season.

Published

1 week ago

February 13, 2025

Michael Citro

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Orlando City B announced this morning that the club has signed two Orlando City Academy players — midfielder Bernardo Rhein and forward Justin Ellis — to MLS NEXT Pro contracts. Rhein signed through 2025 with a club option for 2026, with Ellis’ deal running through 2026. Both players featured Saturday night in Orlando City’s preseason scrimmage against CF Montreal.

“Bernardo and Justin are two more great examples of young players that have shown belief and trust in the development pathway we have set up here at Orlando City,” Orlando City SC Vice President of Soccer Operations and Technical Director Ricardo Moreira said in a club press release. “By signing with OCB, Justin and Bernardo have shown trust in us, the pathway, and in Head Coach Manuel Goldberg. They both put in the work since their early academy days; took the opportunities that they were given to continue developing their skill sets; and have shown us that they’re ready to take the next step along that pathway, and we’re excited to see how they both continue to progress these next few years.”

The 17-year-old Rhein (known as Bernardo Goncalves in 2024), appeared in six matches with OCB a year ago, coming off the bench each time and playing a total of 33 minutes. The Windermere native and Brazilian national did not record a goal contribution, attempting one shot, which he put on target, and completing 81.8% of his 22 pass attempts. Rhein subbed on for the latter stages of Saturday’s preseason scrimmage against Montreal and looked good, getting himself into scoring position but firing just over the bar in the extra 30-minute sesson.

Ellis, also 17, appeared in 18 matches with OCB in 2024 (three starts), scoring two goals and putting eight of his 13 shots on target. He did not record an assist, but passed well from the forward position, logging three key passes and completing 76.7% of his total pass attempts. The Wellington native traveled with the MLS squad to Mexico for the team’s week-long camp in Cancun. On the international stage, Ellis was called up to the U-18 USMNT in September, scoring two goals in two appearances.

What It Means for OCB

This is positive news for both OCB and the Orlando City Academy. Ellis was a regular contributor last season at a young age, while Rhein got his feet wet with a few appearances at the MLS NEXT Pro level. At just 17, both have shown a lot of potential upside already. Ellis will turn 18 in May, while Rhein won’t reach his 18th birthday until Sept. 21. Both will get a chance to further their development with OCB.

While neither player will be expected to make an impact with the first team in 2025, Duncan McGuire’s injury absence may require Shak Mohammed to spend more time with the first team, meaning Ellis would be in line to get more minutes with the Young Lions in the early part of the season.

Orlando City B

Orlando City Signs Goalkeeper Carlos Mercado to a New Contract

Carlos Mercado signs a new contract to remain Orlando City’s third-choice goalkeeper.

Published

3 weeks ago

January 30, 2025

Sean Rollins

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City announced this morning that the club has signed goalkeeper Carlos Mercado to a new contract. The deal is through the 2025 season with club options for 2026 and 2027.

“Carlos did a great job for us last year with Orlando City B and continued to provide a positive work ethic and atmosphere every day in training up with the first team and showed his skill and ability to compete every chance he got,” Orlando City Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi said in a club press release. “He’s part of a strong goalkeeping unit here at the club and we feel confident in the future of that entire position group moving forward.”

Mercado originally joined Orlando City prior to the 2024 season to back up Javier Otero. However, when Mason Stajduhar broke his tibia and fibula in a June 28 game against New York City FC, Otero became the primary backup to Pedro Gallese and Mercado was the starter for the Young Lions.

In his debut season in purple, Mercado started 20 games — including a playoff game in Chicago — playing 1,830 minutes. He conceded 30 goals for a goals-against average of 1.48 and saved 81 of 111 shots faced for a save percentage of 73%. He kept three clean sheets and compiled a record of 9-5-6 (W-L-D) while saving two of the four penalties he faced in regular play.

The 25-year-old signed a short-term deal following Stajduhar’s injury with his lone game on the team sheet being on the bench for a July 3 game against Toronto FC. He went on to sign a first-team contract on Sept. 20 through the 2024 season with options for 2025, 2026, and 2027. However, his 2025 option was declined following the season.

Mercado played for the FC Dallas academy in his youth, earning call-ups to the United States U-16 National Team and Mexico U-18 National Team. He played collegiately at the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX, before joining San Antonio FC of the USL Championship.

The goalkeeper made his professional debut in 2021, coming on for the final 29 minutes in a 3-0 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. He stayed with San Antonio FC through the 2023 season before joining OCB.

What It Means for Orlando City

As previously mentioned, Mercado’s option for 2025 was declined following the 2024 MLS season since the club already had three other goalkeepers. However, signing another goalkeeper became necessary when Orlando City traded Stajduhar to Real Salt Lake on Jan. 15, leaving the club with two under contract.

Mercado will likely continue to be the club’s third goalkeeper and is the presumed starter for Orlando City B when the MLS NEXT Pro season starts in March. He’ll have to join the first team if Gallese goes away on international duty with Peru and Otero enters the starting lineup. Barring unavailability of Gallese and Otero, it’s unlikely he’ll see any MLS action.

Orlando City B

Orlando City B Announces Schedule for 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Season

Find out where, when, and who the Young Lions of OCB will play in 2025.

Published

4 weeks ago

January 27, 2025

Michael Citro

Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

The 2025 MLS NEXT Pro schedule was r eleased this afternoon, telling us where, when, and who Orlando City B will play in the team’s fourth year in the league. The league will again feature 29 teams in 2025, with three teams set to enter the league next year. There are 27 MLS affiliated clubs in the league and two independents — Carolina Core FC and Chattanooga FC.

The schedule remains at 28 games, with Orlando City B playing 14 at home, 13 away, and one at a neutral site at IMG Academy in Bradenton. OCB home games will take place at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee again this season.

OCB will start the 2024 season with a two-game home stand, opening the season on Sunday, March 9 against Columbus Crew 2 at 7 p.m. A week later, Atlanta United 2 will visit Osceola County Stadium. The Young Lions will then hit the road for the team’s first two away games starting Wednesday, March 26 at Crown Legacy FC and following with a match at Chattanooga FC on Saturday, April 5.

In addition to opening the season at home, OCB will close the regular season by hosting FC Cincinnati 2 at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5. Last year, the Young Lions opened and closed the season on the road. All Decision Day games in the Eastern Conference will start at 1 p.m. and all Western Conference matches will kick off at 4 p.m. (ET).

OCB will compete in the 15-team Eastern Conference as part of the Southeast Division. The other teams in the division are Atlanta, Carolina Core, Chattanooga, Crown Legacy, Huntsville City, and rival Inter Miami II. The reserve version of the Tropic Thunder rivalry will play out over three meetings in 2025. The Young Lions will travel IMG Academy to face the Baby Herons on April 15, with the home match in Kissimmee coming May 17. The teams will meet again in Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 14.

MLS NEXT Pro teams will again only play opponents from their own conference, limiting travel. The Young Lions will play each team in the Southeast Division three times, including Atlanta United 2, and Chattanooga twice at home and once away, and Carolina Core, Crown Legacy, and Huntsville City once each at home and twice away. OCB will play the teams from the Northeast Division once, except Columbus and New England, which the Young Lions will face both at home and away. Orlando City B will face FC Cincinnati 2, New York City FC II, New York Red Bulls II, and Toronto FC II only at home in the regular season, while facing Chicago Fire II and Philadelphia Union II only on the road.

The busiest months for OCB this season will be June and August, when the Young Lions will play five matches. They’ll play four times in April and July, three times in March, May, and September, and once in October. The most common day the Young Lions will play is on Sunday (13 games). Additionally, they have five games on Saturday, four games each on Wednesday and Friday, and one game each on Monday and Tuesday. The most common kickoff time is 7 p.m.. The Young Lions will play 18 games with that start time, three times each at 3 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 8 p.m., and once at 1 p.m. (Decision Day).

Once again, the postseason will include 15 games this year, concluding with the MLS NEXT Pro Cup. The higher playoff seeds will again select their opponents for the matchups in the first two rounds.

The majority of regular season games and all playoff games will again air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. The remaining games will be streamed live on mlsnextpro.com.

As far as viewing conflicts go for Orlando City and Pride fans, there are a few overlaps in 2025. OCB plays at 7 p.m. on April 5 at Chattanooga with the MLS Lions playing at 7:30 p.m. at Philadelphia that night. On May 23, OCB plays at Atlanta United 2 at 7:30 p.m. and the Pride and Royals kick off in Utah at 9:30 p.m. just as that game is concluding. On June 25, OCB plays at home at 7 p.m. against Toronto FC II, with Orlando City at St. Louis City at 8:30 p.m. OCB’s game July 25 at Huntsville City will kick off 30 minutes after the senior side begins playing at Columbus. The Young Lions start at home on Aug. 3 against NYCFCII an hour after the Pride and Utah Royals kick off at Inter&Co Stadium. OCB and the Pride are both home on Aug. 9 as well, with the Young Lions and Chattanooga getting underway at 7 p.m. at Osceola County Stadium, just 30 minutes before the Pride and Racing Louisville battle at Inter&Co Stadium. On Aug. 23, OCB will play at 7 p.m. at home against Atlanta United 2, with the senior Lions and Nashville SC kicking off at 8:30 p.m.