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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Toronto FC: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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Grading the guys after a 2-0 loss isn’t quite as exciting as when they win or draw. I know my whole thing is “silver linings” and all, but this is going to be tough. What is the black cloud that hangs over us? I mean, other than the literal black clouds during warm-ups that almost led me to believe we’d see some lightning delays. I don’t like this; I don’t like this at all. Here’s how they performed in my eyes:

Starters

GK, Brian Rowe, 6.5 — The keeper had his work cut out for him this match and did well to defend the fortress again and again. Rowe kept the score at 0-0 beyond halftime and extended himself to make some pretty amazing saves. Right as the words, “He might be my Man of the Match” came out of my mouth, Toronto scored. So there’s that.  I don’t think he’s entirely to blame though. Everyone seemed to fall to pieces in the second half. He might have done better on the second goal but there wasn’t much he could do on the first.

D, João Moutinho, 5 — Otherwise known as the corner shot creator. No? That’s not his nickname? It could be. Moutinho’s defending looked much better this week and we saw a tackle and two clearances from him. His pass rate was at 78% and once Chris Mueller came on his hustle seemed to have been reignited and we saw the pair work together nicely. Not a fabulous match from him but not terrible, though he was culpable on a couple balls over the top.

D, Robin Jansson, 6 — How exciting would it have been if Jansson’s shot in the 36th minute went in? Of course, it didn’t because, OCSC. The man is non-stop though. He gave his team three clearances, an interception, and a 91% passing average over 43 passes. He proves time and again that he is here to try and make the difference for Orlando City’s back line. 

D, Lamine Sané, 5 — Sané saw one tackle and two clearances, a shot and a key pass (on Jansson’s shot attempt that was headed off the crossbar by Chris Mavinga). In his 47 passes, he led the team with the most accurate passing rate, connecting 92% of the time. But it was in the 65th minute when Jonathan Osorio beat everyone — including Sané — in a series of unfortunate events, to score. 

D, Ruan, 4.5 — Off to an exciting match, we saw Ruan earn a corner after some fancy footwork, almost taunting the Toronto defenders. It was his unfortunate attempt to win the ball in the air before Toronto’s goal in the 65th minute when he pulled up short and allowed the Reds the space they needed that really stung. He kept his passing accuracy at 82% and had a tackle and an interception. He went down in the second half with an apparent leg injury but soon rejoined the team. The man is nothing if not a fan favorite, but he may need a bit of a rest. 

MF, Will Johnson, 6.5 (MotM)— Will Johnson had another great match. He didn’t slow down for even a second, even if he made a few mistakes, he had the shot on goal in the 30th minute when Tesho Akindele sent him a pass and Quentin Westberg was in perfect position to make the save to keep Orlando City off the board. His passing accuracy was at 88% and we saw a tackle and an interception from the midfielder. 

MF, Uri Rosell, 5 — With a volley off a corner in the 28th minute of the match, Rosell’s shot was deflected, earning another corner. Nani sent the corner right to Rosell who shot the ball way over the net. Our previous Man of the Match didn’t have quite the amazing game he did last week, but his pass accuracy at 84% helped keep the midfield in check, somewhat. 

MF, Sebas Méndez, 4 — Méndez saw an 83% passing average, a tackle, and two interceptions. Other than that, he really didn’t seem to make an impact on the match at all, which was surprising to me. He’s usually so exciting to watch. 

F, Nani, 4 — A wildly disappointing match from Nani. He had three shots, zero of which were on target. Watching the game in person, it really felt like his passing average was much lower than 74%. He tended to slow the pace of play to toy with defenders and then lost the ball repeatedly. I’m sure the man’s exhausted, and I realize that one man does not make a team, but he usually makes the difference for the Lions. Today, not so much. Leading the team in touches (76), he really did nothing to make those touches worth it. 

F, Tesho Akindele, 4 — I almost forgot he played. The forward was out there with a 65% passing accuracy and that’s really about it. And as Forrest Gump would say, “That’s all I have to say about that.”

F, Dom Dwyer, 4.5 —  I mean, bicycle kicks are always fun to witness, and he definitely seemed a bit more confident out there than he has most of this season. If “Dom ‘Effin Dwyer” scores when he wants, I’m really going to need him to want to soon. Only one of his five shots were on target, he was dispossessed three times, and his 12 passes saw only 75% accuracy. I’m certainly of the belief that Dwyer’s mojo will return and he’ll be doing backflips again — as it nearly did in the 89th minute if not for a great save by Westberg. I just hope it’s soon. 

Substitutes

Sacha Kljestan (73’), 4.5 — Everyone definitely sat up in their seats when Sacha took a shot in the 80th minute, only for it to go wide. In his 17 minutes on the pitch he saw the aforementioned shot, a tackle, and 69% pass accuracy over 16 passes. He came on for Johnson, but I’m left wondering a bit, why?

F, Chris Mueller (71’), 4.5 — Ask and you shall receive. Almost as soon as the crowd started the “We want Mueller” chant, the kid was suiting up. He took a shot and connected on eight of his 10 passes. As previously mentioned, he and Moutinho really seem to bring out the highest levels of energy in each other. Hopefully we get to see that connect to make something happen. Soon. 

Josue Colman (78’), 5 — He did it, he got out there, outpaced everyone, and looked up to complete a key pass. Nothing came of it obviously, but it was the finish on one of his plays that had me so excited. Not a lot of playing time to report on, but he did end up with an 83% passing accuracy over his 12 passes. It was also exciting to see all three DPs on at once. Is that my silver lining in this?


That was hard. I’m headed to Atlanta next week to support the Lions. Anyone else? Who was your Man of the Match? Vote in the poll below:

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Will Johnson18
Brian Rowe27
Robin Jansson24
Lamine Sané2
Other: Name your MotM in the comments2

Orlando City

Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Three Keys to Victory

What does Orlando City need to do to earn a second victory in a row at home this Saturday?

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City is coming off its first win of the MLS regular season and will look to carry that momentum into Saturday night’s Eastern Conference matchup against the New York Red Bulls. The Lions will have several players back from international duty, making Oscar Pareja’s job a bit easier, although some of them will be on short rest. What does Orlando City need to do to earn all three points against the Red Bulls?

Stop Morgan

Lewis Morgan has been on a tear this season with five goals in five matches. That is more than every Orlando City player combined so far this season. The Red Bulls were held scoreless in two matches, meaning those five goals have come in three matches, with Morgan scoring a hat trick against Inter Miami. I love that he took it to the Herons like that, but I’m going to need him to cool off a bit against the Lions.

If Orlando City is to stop Morgan it will take excellent defending from the Lions’ back line and of course Pedro Gallese, who is returning from international duty. Orlando City also gets Wilder Cartagena and David Brekalo back, meaning more of the first choice lineup will be available to keep a clean sheet. With the match at home, earning a clean sheet is all the more important.

Proper Rest and Preperation

It might seem silly to say, but having more than a few days between matches is conducive to earning points. When Orlando City was participating in the Concacaf Champions Cup, the Lions never had time to properly recover or train with a game plan for the next match. Now, the Lions are able to do so, and the result against Austin FC reflects that.

Pareja is a top level MLS coach. We know that he has a plan for about the first 20 minutes of any match, and then makes adjustments throughout the remainder of the match. Even so, many of those adjustments have been planned out prior to the match. That, paired with a more rested roster, allows the Lions to be the protagonists Pareja wants them to be.

Shots, Shots, Shots

Orlando City was able to create plenty of chances against Austin FC, and will need to do so again against the Red Bulls. The Lions took 22 shots Saturday night, with eight on target, and they put two in the back of the net against Austin. Hopefully, Orlando City can be more efficient going forward, but if you don’t create opportunities, you won’t score.

The Red Bulls have some decent defenders who Orlando City will have to deal with, including fullback John Tolkin and Carlos Coronel at keeper. If the Lions can pass even close to the way they did against Austin, the opportunities will come, and if that is the case, hopefully the goals will come. Orlando City still has a sizable goal deficit, thanks to the early part of the season, that can only be corrected with more goals on the other end.


That is what I will be looking for this Saturday night at Inter&Co Stadium. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/28/24

Getting to know Rafael Santos, Orlando Pride prepare for Chicago, Midge Purce out for the season, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope the work week has been treating you well as we gear up for another weekend of soccer. March flew by for me and April is shaping up to be a pretty busy month as well. In other news, I’m looking into adopting a cat and gathering the supplies to make that happen. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Getting to Know Rafael Santos

Orlando City left back Rafael Santos was the latest Lion to field questions as part of the club’s video series for fans to learn more about its players. The 26-year-old spoke about the decision process behind joining Orlando and playing outside of Brazil for the first time in his career after five years with Cruzeiro. He’s brought his attack-minded style of play to the team, particularly in terms of providing lethal crossing from the wing. Make sure to check out the full video as Santos also shared photos of his newborn and showcased his skill with a cavaquinho.

Orlando Pride Prepare to Host Chicago

After a pair of draws to start their season, the Orlando Pride will have a chance to claim their first win of the season when they host the Chicago Red Stars tomorrow night at 6 p.m. Head Coach Seb Hines spoke about how the Pride have shown plenty of resilience so far this young season. The team managed to secure a point in last week’s 1-1 draw with Angel City FC despite a patchwork back line due to injuries. That defense will likely have its hands full against Mallory Swanson and a Chicago team that won both of its first two games. Hines spoke about how the Pride are preparing for Chicago and how they will need the home crowd to bring the support tomorrow night.

Sophia Smith Signs Record-Breaking New Deal

American forward Sophia Smith signed a new contract with the Portland Thorns that will make her the highest-paid NWSL player, according to the club. The new deal will last through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026 as well. The 23-year-old was drafted by the Thorns with the first overall pick in the 2020 NWSL Draft and has gone on to score 34 regular-season goals. Smith re-signed with the club in 2022 and was set to become a free agent following this season, but will instead stay in Portland.

Midge Purce Out for NWSL Season

NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Midge Purce will miss the remainder of the NWSL season after tearing her ACL. The 28-year-old will undergo surgery and suffered the injury in her team’s 1-0 victory over the Portland Thorns this past weekend. She’s been with Gotham since 2020 and assisted on both goals in her team’s 2-1 win in the 2023 NWSL Championship. It’s a tough blow for the United States Women’s National Team too, as she will not be representing the U.S. during this summer’s Olympics in France.

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  • Orlando City B’s match against Carolina Core FC on April 14 has been rescheduled.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/27/24

Bally Sports will broadcast Orlando Pride matches, Pride players called up, USWNT announces SheBelieves Cup roster, and more.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Hello, Mane Landers. I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I attended my friend’s wedding this past weekend and have been getting myself back into work mode by covering high school tennis this week. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Bally Sports Will Broadcast Select Orlando Pride Matches

Bally Sports was announced as the new local television partner for the Orlando Pride. There will be 13 select Pride matches broadcast this season across Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports Sun, and on the Bally Sports app. The partnership will begin this Friday, with the Orlando Soccer Insider show taking place before the kickoff of the Pride’s home match against the Chicago Red Stars at 7 p.m. The show will be broadcast on Bally Sports Florida, and then you can switch to the Bally Sports app to watch Friday’s match. Below are all the select matches that will be broadcast on Bally Sports this season.

Brazilian Orlando Pride Players Called Up

The Orlando Pride’s Marta, Angelina, and Luana were all called up by Brazil for next month’s SheBelieves Cup. Brazil heads into this tournament after a solid showing in the Concacaf W Gold Cup. The format is different for this year’s SheBelieves Cup, as there will only be four matches instead of six. Brazil’s first match of the tournament will be a semifinal on April 6 against Canada in Atlanta.

USWNT Announces Roster for SheBelieves Cup

United States Women’s National Team interim head coach Twila Kilgore announced the 23-player roster for the 2024 SheBelieves Cup matches next month. The USWNT has won this competition four consecutive times since 2020, and is going for a seventh title in 2024. Of those called up, 19 players on this squad were part of the team that won the Concacaf W Gold Cup earlier this month. San Diego Wave forward Jaedyn Shaw, the Concacaf W Gold Cup’s MVP, is back on the roster after she led the USWNT with four goals. The squad also includes familiar names like former Pride forward Alex Morgan, Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, and Olympique Lyon midfielder Lindsey Horan. Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario return to the squad after being sidelined with injuries. The USWNT will begin its quest to defend its SheBelieves Cup title when it faces Japan on April 6 in Atlanta.

MLS Referees Agree to New CBA

After a lockout that resulted in Major League Soccer starting the season with replacement referees, the Professional Soccer Referees Association voted to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement with the Professional Referee Organization. The new CBA is a seven-year deal that runs through January of 2031. This deal will also include significant pay raises for referees, assistant referees, and video assistant referees. The PRO referees will return to the pitch for this weekend’s MLS matches.

Ukraine, Georgia, and Poland Qualify for Euro 2024

Ukraine has qualified for this summer’s Euros after edging out Iceland 2-1 in its playoff final, with Mykhaylo Mudryk scoring the winning goal in the second half. Georgia eliminated Greece 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw to book a spot in the tournament as well. Georgia qualifies for its first major tournament after coming up short in 2020. Poland also needed penalties to qualify, with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny making the final save against Daniel James to beat Wales 5-4 on penalties after a scoreless draw.

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That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Wednesday and I’ll see you next time.

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