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Orlando City at New York City FC: Five Takeaways

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7 years ago

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Well, how is everyone feeling after that 1-1 draw for the Lions in Yankee Stadium? I know I’m a little disappointed because the three points were there for the taking. The good guys couldn’t capitalize on it and will only be bringing a single point back home. A point is a point though, especially on the road in Major League Soccer. Let’s take a look at the five biggest takeaways from the match.

O’Connor’s Lineup Finally Showing Consistency

For the first time since the second game of the season, Orlando City Head Coach James O’Connor only made one change to the starting XI — Tesho Akindele as the striker with Dom Dwyer on the bench, reportedly due to a small knock he took in training this week. Honestly, I tend to think it also has to do with Dwyer failing to show up far too many times in recent matches. Sure, he entered technically averaging a goal or assist every 82 minutes this season. Statistics often don’t tell the whole story, however. I’d point to the number of sitters Dwyer hasn’t converted (including one of the easiest chances he may ever see as a professional soccer player in the second half of this match), the opportunities he’s squandered by flopping and looking for a foul, and how much better at hold-up play Akindele has been so far. Another nice thing to see with the starting lineup is the same back line, something that’s only occurred three times in O’Connor’s 26 matches as gaffer.

Lack of Communication Continues to Confuse the Defense

A recurring theme throughout pretty much all Orlando City’s time in MLS has been a noticeable lack of defensive cohesion. Obviously, O’Connor’s constant rotation of center backs certainly doesn’t help that. A very apparent lack of communication between the defensive line and goalkeeper, and even the midfielders as they come back to defend, is perhaps the most sizable problem currently. This reared its head multiple times in Saturday’s draw, and nearly led to goals for New York City FC from a couple of those errors. Starting in the sixth minute, no one played or called for a ball that was loose in front of keeper Brian Rowe. At minute 26, there was total chaos and a sense of panic when trying to clear a ball at the top of box — again with no one taking control of the situation.

Center back Lamine Sané had to make a desperate recovery tackle on NYCFC forward Héber in the 30th after losing him with no support. The scariest blunder came in minute 36, when CB Robin Jansson and left back Joao Moutinho got burned by Ismael Tajouri-Shradi and Rowe came way out of his goal, leaving the net open as Tajouri-Shradi pulled his shot wide.No one tracked Héber’s run into the box for his 51st minute goal, as all of the Orlando City defenders were caught ball watching, again not communicating, when the rebound came out off of Rowe’s incredible save. Several more times in the second half, minutes 62, 64, and 75 for sure, there was a total lack of communication leading to an inability to clear the ball out of dangerous areas. It simply has to improve or I fear the defensive errors will become insurmountable as the team continues to squander points.

Attackers Still Too Hesitant to Pull the Trigger

Unfortunately, I watched this match with the NYCFC broadcast and as I was taking yet another note about the attacking Lions failing to pull the trigger and shoot the ball, the commentator said the same thing. You know it’s too frequent of a problem when the opposing team’s analysts point it out. Chris Mueller’s first-half performance was definitely the standout culprit in this match. He took far too many touches on an opportunity in the 10th and chose to cross it to Akindele when he was 1-v-1 with Sean Johnson in the 33rd. Of course, Akindele did put it in the back of the net for Orlando City’s second goal that was ultimately overturned after video review. Mueller danced with the ball at the top of the box for far too long again in the 43rd, wasting at least one shot opportunity. The only other glaring failure to pull the trigger I saw was actually on Nani at minute 44, when he made the decision to cut the ball back instead of taking the shot himself. You can’t score if you don’t shoot, and the Lions’ front line has to be more willing to take shots at any possible chance.

Ruan Starting to Show Wear and Tear

Anyone who’s watched any match with Ruan in the right back role knows that he runs his legs off and plays his heart out for every second he’s on the pitch, sort of like the defensive version of Mueller. That’s what we all love to see as fans, and I’m sure what O’Connor and his staff love to see as coaches. The issue is the wear and tear it’s taking on Ruan himself. There were several times in last week’s victory over Vancouver Whitecaps that I noticed Ruan grab at his back, squat down in discomfort, or just generally look exhausted. He started doing the same things early on today too. By minute 17, Ruan was down on the sideline and stretching his back and legs for the second time already. He was then visibly limping in the 23rd. I know backup right back Kyle Smith is very clearly not in the same class as Ruan, but I don’t see how O’Connor is going to be able to continue to push Ruan without giving him a rest soon.

Orlando City’s Best Attack Comes From the Right Side

Having said that about Ruan, he has been the source of Orlando’s best attacking chances of late. His speed down the right side has been absolutely unmatched and no defender has been able to deal with it this season. That speed saw the setup for Saturday’s lone goal, when Ruan’s cross into the box at minute 18 was poorly dealt with by NYCFC and Nani was able to slam in the shot. Ten minutes later, Ruan started another attack down the right that led to a shot on goal and save by Sean Johnson. The second half is where the wear and tear issue came into play. Ruan was making fewer runs down the right anymore, forcing Orlando City to try to lob the ball downfield over and over and over again with zero success. The exception came on Dwyer’s miss, when the Brazilian blazed past the defense and put a perfect cross on Dom’s head. Since the right-sided attack has proven it works, O’Connor has to do something to ensure the health of the only man in purple, Ruan, that can start said attack.

There’s always so much more that can be said about the Lions, whether they win, lose, or draw. Those were the five things I saw as the most important takeaways from our second draw with NYCFC this year. Here’s hoping necessary improvements will be made before Toronto FC knocks on the door of Orlando City Stadium next Saturday.

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Opinion

Four Games I Have Circled on Orlando City’s 2026 Schedule

Let’s have a peek at some games that I’m really looking forward to in 2026.

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1 day ago

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December 5, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City’s 2026 schedule has been out for a little over two weeks now, and I’ve had ample time to look over it, analyze it, and zero in on some games that I’m really looking forward to next year. There are always the usual suspects in the mix like home rivalry matches against the likes of Atlanta and Miami, but I didn’t want to focus on those obvious ones, so they won’t be included here.

Saturday, Feb. 21 vs. New York Red Bulls

Orlando City’s streak of playing a home match to open the season will somehow reach 12 seasons in a row when the Lions kick off the 2026 season against the New York Red Bulls. It’ll be our first chance to see OCSC in a competitive game during the new season, and after an off-season that will likely contain a fair amount of turnover, I for one will be even more anxious than usual to get a look at what sort of product we’ll be seeing on the field. The Red Bulls will also look different, as they’ll have a new manager and a good amount of new players after missing the postseason for the first time since 2009. This is probably my most obvious choice of the bunch, but I think it’s hard to fault me for being excited about a new season!

TBD U.S. Open Cup Match

There’s only a 50% chance that this will be a home game, but personally I’m just glad to see Orlando City in the U.S. Open Cup again. There’s obviously some good history with the club in the competition, but aside from that, I just generally think that the tournament should get more love and a bigger platform than it currently does. While I’d have obviously been thrilled if OCSC had managed to win Leagues Cup in 2025 and come away with a trophy, I’d have much preferred the Lions to make a deep run in the Open Cup, considering the rich history of the competition as a whole, in addition to what it means to Orlando specifically. The fact that defending champion Nashville SC isn’t in the field is mind boggling to me, but I’m damn happy that the Lions are.

Saturday, Sept. 12 vs. Toronto FC

Now I can understand why you might be surprised by this one, as Toronto isn’t exactly considered one of Orlando City’s rivals. This year’s Decision Day match left a bad taste in my mouth though. Was it less about what Toronto did on the field, and more about OCSC basically neglecting to show up to the field to begin with? Maybe. Do I care? No. Do I want vengeance and the ability to erase a pitiful performance from my mind all in one fell swoop? Absolutely. I need the scales to be balanced and for my own personal demons from the final day of the season to be exorcised, and the fact that I’ll be able to be in the stands to have that chance is all the more appealing.

Saturday, Nov. 7 vs. New England Revolution

Decision Day is (usually) a fun affair regardless of whether the match is home or away. Wild swings in the standings from minute to minute, nerves, and hopefully reason to celebrate when it’s all over. There’s just something about having all that happen at home, though. I’ve been in The Wall for plenty of Decision Days at this point, and the energy is just a little different than a normal regular-season game. Similar to home openers, the air almost crackles with the excitement of possibility and anticipation of what things are going to look like when the dust settles. Of course, there’s always the possibility of things going wrong and the Lions ending up low in the playoff standings or out of the postseason altogether, but we’ll cross that bridge if/when we come to it.

What games are you especially looking forward to next season? Be sure to let us know down in the comments. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 12/5/25

Format for 2025 U.S. Open Cup revealed, Orlando Pride players land on top 100 list, Bay FC hires Emma Coates, and more.

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1 day ago

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December 5, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday! We’ve already made it to the first weekend of December, which is either good news or a worrying reminder that less than four weeks remain of 2025. I’ll be spending the next few days working and getting some more shopping done, but I’m hoping to enjoy some rest and relaxation along the way. Let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

U.S. Open Cup Format Shrinks for 2026

The layout for next year’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was announced and Orlando City will once again be participating. Orlando is one of 16 MLS teams in the tournament, which has been reduced to just seven rounds instead of eight. As a result, only 48 professional teams from around the country will be included and MLS teams join the fray in the round of 32. Orlando City and FC Naples are the only professional Floridian teams taking part next year and it will be weird not seeing the Lions beat the brakes off of the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Also, FC America CFL Spurs, which is based in Orlando, is one of three amateur sides from Florida to keep an eye out for when the first round kicks off in March.

Orlando Pride Trio Make Guardian’s Top 100 Players List

The Guardian released its annual list of the top 100 women’s soccer players in the world and Orlando Pride stars Barbra Banda, Marta, and Jacquie Ovalle all made an appearance on it. Banda was 14th and only second to Temwa Chawinga, who placed sixth, among NWSL players on this year’s list. Marta isn’t far behind in 19th, which is eight spots higher than last year. Ovalle’s still settling in with Orlando after dominating with Tigres and was 94th on the list.

For the data addicts out there, you can see how voting for this list shook out, but it’s not much of a surprise at this point that the judges valued players plying their trade in Europe highly. Of the Americans listed, Arsenal’s Emily Fox and OL Lyonnes’ Lindsey Heaps were ranked the highest at 24th and 27th, respectively. The Kansas City Current had one of the best seasons in NWSL history, but only four players made the list and Chawinga is the only one in the top 50. Still, it’s cool to keep up with some of the biggest names across the pond, especially with a Women’s World Cup on the horizon.

Bay FC Hires Emma Coates as Head Coach

Bay FC announced Emma Coates as its next head coach, with Gemma Davies joining as an assistant coach. Coates has been the manager of England’s U-23 team since 2023, developing players for the senior team while excelling in the U-23 European League. She and Davies were part of England’s extended technical staff for the past two Euros and the 2023 World Cup. Bay FC missed the playoffs this year and finished the season on an 11-game winless streak, so Coates will have her work cut out for her in regards to turning things around.

NWSLPA Files Grievance Against the League

The NWSL rejected a contract offer by the Washington Spirit to Trinity Rodman and the NWSL Players’ Association has filed a grievance with the league, alleging that the denial violates the collective bargaining agreement.

“Trinity Rodman agreed to a compensation structure in good faith that would allow her to remain loyal to her first professional club, consistent with both the CBA and NWSL Competition Rules,” union executive director Meghann Burke said in a statement provided to The Associated Press on Thursday. “The NWSLPA has challenged the League’s rejection of this agreement on the grounds that it violates her free agency rights, but this isn’t about Trinity Rodman. If NWSL can deny her free agency rights, they can deny anyone’s. The NWSLPA will not allow it.”

The deal offered by the Spirit is reportedly for four years, with backloaded compensation for 2028 and 2029. Rodman is a free agent after five seasons with the Spirit and there’s worry that she will be the latest young American to leave the NWSL for Europe. The league’s position in rejecting the deal was that the offer violated the spirit of the NWSL salary cap.

Free Kicks

  • Here’s a preview of Saturday’s MLS Cup final between the Vancouver Whitecaps and Inter Miami. From the star players to the unsung heroes, it should be a good match to end the MLS season.
  • Hugo Lloris signed a contract extension with LAFC through 2026, with an option for 2027. The 38-year-old has made 91 appearances across all competitions for LAFC since joining the club.
  • The North Carolina Courage have signed forward Ally Schlegel to a three-year contract. Schlegel scored eight goals for the Chicago Stars during the 2025 season.
  • NJ/NY Gotham FC announced its end-of-season roster decisions and forward Ella Stevens is a free agent and not re-signing with the club. Midge Purce is also a free agent, but she and Gotham are in negotiations for her return.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 12/4/25

Haley Carter joins the Washington Spirit, Celtic hires Wilfried Nancy, Philadelphia Union sign Ezekiel Allodah, and more.

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2 days ago

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December 4, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s been a bit of a hectic week for me, but I’ve at least been able to get quite enough done that should take out some of the stress that usually comes around this time of the year.

Haley Carter Joins the Enemy

Haley Carter, who departed the Pride on Nov. 18 to pursue new career opportunities, was announced as the Washington Spirit’s president of soccer operations. She joins an organization that’s come up short in the past two NWSL Championship and one of Carter’s top priorities will be retaining American forward Trinity Rodman. Helping the Spirit get over the hump will be a different kind of task than the rebuild she orchestrated with the Pride, so it will be interesting to see how she does.

Celtic Hires Wilfried Nancy

Wilfried Nancy is officially headed to Europe, with Celtic hiring him as its next manager. The Scottish club signed him to a two-and-a-half year contract and he’ll start today. Nancy leaves MLS after success with CF Montreal and the Columbus Crew, winning the MLS Coach of the Year award with the Crew in 2024. Celtic has won its past five games across all competitions and is currently tied on points with Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership. It will be Nancy’s first time coaching in Europe and we’ll see if he can help Celtic secure a spot in the next round of the Europa League.

Philadelphia Union Sign Ezekiel Allodah

The Philadelphia Union didn’t waste much time adding some firepower to the club’s roster for the 2026 season, signing Ezekiel Allodah from IF Brommapojkarna for a club record fee. The 20-year-old forward joins on a contract through 2028 with options for 2029 and 2030. Allodah has recorded eight goals and added an assist in 32 appearances with Brommapojkarna, which plays in Sweden’s top flight. Although I’m not looking forward to Orlando City having to deal with him on the field, it’s nice to see more young talent coming to the league.

Preparing for the World Cup Draw

The draw for next summer’s World Cup is on Friday and we’ll get to see just how unlucky the United States Men’s National Team is when the groups are revealed. The U.S., like Canada and Mexico, is in the first pot and gets to avoid some of the biggest contenders, but dangerous teams like Croatia, Morocco, and Norway are possible opponents. Drawing Ghana from the fourth pot seems inevitable to me. The lack of clarity in who will advance out of the playoffs adds some mystery and worry to it all as well. Fingers crossed!

Free Kicks

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

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