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

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5 years ago

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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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/9/24

Get to know Wilder Cartagena, Orlando Pride get ready for Bay FC, Orlando City B wins, and more.

Published

2 hours ago

on

May 9, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this week hasn’t been too hectic for you. There’s been plenty of soccer to enjoy over the past few days and I’m looking forward to the weekend slate of games as well. But for now, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Learning More About Wilder Cartagena

Orlando City midfielder Wilder Cartagena was the latest Lion to field questions for fans to learn more about the players. The 29-year-old discussed growing up playing soccer in Peru as a child, as well as having to spend time away from family and friends to fulfill his dreams as a professional player. Cartagena also talked about how important his friendship with Pedro Gallese is, as the two have played together at both the club level and internationally with Peru. It’s a fun interview and I’m glad we have Cartagena here in Orlando.

Pride Prepare to Host Bay FC

The Orlando Pride are on a five-game win streak and will look to make it six when they take on Bay FC for the first time ever on Saturday. Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on the difficulty of the team’s past few matches, along with the importance of getting wins in those games. Bay FC is in 12th in the standings, but Hines noted how this week’s opponent has plenty of talented attackers. Saturday’s match could be a tough one for Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, and she talked about the team’s grit and determination to close out games for points this season. Moorhouse also credited her back line for the Pride’s three shutouts this season.

OCB Secures First Win at Home

It took a few games, but Orlando City B won at Osceola Heritage Park for the first time this season after a 3-1 win over New York Red Bulls II. The Young Lions didn’t make it easy on themselves, but ultimately held on for the win after scoring twice early on. It’s nice for OCB to put another tally in the win column to climb up the conference standings. The Young Lions will be back in action next Wednesday with a road match against Columbus Crew 2.

Champions League Final is Set

The semifinal matchup between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich lived up to expectations, with Real Madrid advancing after a dramatic finish. Bayern was up to the task on the road and took the lead in the second half thanks to a goal from Alphonso Davies. But Real Madrid did what it always does, with Joselu scoring two late goals in quick succession. Bayern nearly had an equalizer, but a player was ruled offside and it couldn’t be checked as the flag was raised and whistle blown before the attack fully played out. It all sets up for a final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund on June 1 at Wembley Stadium. Dortmund will be the clear underdog, but the German club has proven capable of taking down some of Europe’s best this tournament.

Free Kicks

  • St. Louis City is reportedly interested in signing Marco Reus once his contract with Dortmund ends this summer, although talks are just in the preliminary stage at this point.
  • Not a single Pride player was named to the NWSL’s Best XI of the Month for the months of April and May. While I can see the reasoning behind each inclusion, it’s crazy that Angelina, Marta, Summer Yates, or Emily Sams didn’t earn a spot in the eyes of the league’s voters.
  • American midfielder Keyrol Figueroa has signed with Liverpool’s first team. The 17-year-old has risen through the ranks of Liverpool’s youth system and scored seven goals for the U.S. in the 2023 Concacaf U-17 Championship.
  • Luis Rubiales will face trial for one count of sexual assault for kissing Jenni Hermoso and a count of coercion for his actions in the aftermath. The former head coach of the Spanish women’s national team, Jorge Vilda, is also accused of coercion, along with Sporting Director Albert Luque and the federation’s head of marketing, Ruben Rivera.

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: 5/8/24

Orlando Pride move up in power rankings, OCSC will celebrate Pride Month, Orlando City B plays tonight, and more.

Published

1 day ago

on

May 8, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. We’re halfway through the week and I hope you’re doing well. Personally, I love Wednesdays, because in my job they are effectively my “Friday,” as my day off is on Thursday. So, as such, I love bringing you the news to start out your midweek morning. Let’s get to the links.

Orlando Pride Nearly Top Power Rankings

The Orlando Pride are at the top of the NWSL standings with 18 points, and are riding a five-match winning streak while staying undefeated so far this season. If you thought that would be enough for the team to top ESPN‘s NWSL power rankings, you’d be wrong. The Pride actually came in at second despite all the factors I listed above, with the Kansas City Current ranked above them. Even more shocking is that the writer admits he doesn’t have much of a reason for not ranking the Pride first. I’m not sure what to do with my hands.

Orlando Soccer Matches Will Celebrate Pride Month

Orlando City and the Orlando Pride will recognize Pride Month during a pair of matches in June at Inter&Co Stadium. The Pride are set to host the Utah Royals on June 21 and the Lions will then host the Chicago Fire on June 22. Both matches will include celebrating Orlando’s LGBTQ+ community and honoring the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting. There are plenty of additional events throughout Pride Month in the Greater Orlando Area as well. I will be at those matches and I hope to see you there as well.

Orlando City B Hosts New York Red Bulls II Tonight

OCB will try to follow up a result on the road with its first result at home tonight at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee. Forwards Yutaro Tsukada and Shak Mohammed lead the attack for the Young Lions as the club plays only its third home match of the season — and only the second at its actual home field. There’s plenty to look for from OCB as it takes on New York Red Bulls II at 7 p.m. Try to make it to the match if you are able.

U.S. Soccer Doubles Down

The battle between the USWNT and U.S. Soccer over equal pay has been going on for years. Now, U.S. Soccer has reportedly employed Washington D.C. lobbying firms to provide what the organization asserts are “accurate information and factual numbers” to policy makers. Spokespersons for the players’ associations of both the USWNT and USMNT expressed disappointment regarding the move by U.S. Soccer. The issue is front and center as two congresswomen have proposed legislation to block funding for the 2026 World Cup unless equal pay is enacted.

Free Kicks

  • Were you wondering how good Barbra Banda has been since arriving in Orlando? Me neither, but here is a cool stat from OptaJack on her shot production.
  • Orlando City fans know all too well how good FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta is at scoring goals. Now, the striker is in the process of becoming a naturalized citizen of the U.S. and expressed a desire to play for the USMNT. It would be nice to have him score goals for a team I support.
  • Nottingham Forest’s point reduction appeal was rejected by the independent board overseeing the decision. Only three points separate Nottingham from Luton Town and the relegation zone with two matches left this season.
  • I know that some Orlando City fans were hoping to see Thiago Silva join the Lions after he left Chelsea, but that rumor never made sense financially, and the defender has chosen to rejoin his old Brazilian club, Fluminense.
  • It’s not often that someone follows up an unpopular decision with an even more unpopular explanation for that decision, but that is exactly what MLS Commissioner Don Garber did when explaining that the U.S. Open Cup didn’t offer a competition that “drives value” and that “rises to the level where fans care about it.” I’m sure everyone will now understand the decision. Well done, Commish.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/7/24

Barbra Banda up for NWSL Goal of the Week, Americans in midweek action, Champions League preview, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

May 7, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Tuesday, everyone. It was a mixed bag for Orlando’s teams over the weekend, as Orlando City B drew 1-1 with Chattanooga FC and lost the subsequent shootout, Orlando City lost 1-0 to FC Cincinnati, and the Orlando Pride won 1-0 over Racing Louisville. As usual, we have a lot to talk through this morning, so let’s dig into the links.

Barbra Banda Up for Goal of the Week

Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda has been nominated for the NWSL Goal of the Week for her strike in the 77th minute against the North Carolina Courage last Wednesday. Banda controlled the ball off a throw-in, turned, and drove across the box before slotting a low shot past Casey Murphy for the Pride’s fourth and final goal of the game. She scored twice in that game and scored again in Sunday’s win over Racing Louisville. Banda now has four goals in four games — including at least one in each of her three starts since appearing off the bench in her debut — and shows no sign of slowing down. Make sure you go vote for her to win this week’s award!

Americans in Midweek Action

As usual, there are a number of Americans playing games this week, so make sure you mark down any that you want to tune in for. Wednesday has Brandon Vazquez and Monterrey traveling to El Volcan to take on Tigres in the quarterfinals of the Clausura. Moving to Friday, Tanner Tessmann, Gianluca Busio, and Venezia have a chance to gain promotion to Serie A if they beat Spezia and Como loses. On the other side of things, former Lion Nicholas Gioacchini and Como play Cosenza, and will secure automatic promotion as long as they don’t have a worse result than Venezia.

UEFA Champions League Preview

The UEFA Champions League continues this week with the second legs of the two semifinal matchups. In this afternoon’s game, Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique has said that even Kylian Mbappe will have to work hard defensively if his team is going to progress to the final. Borussia Dortmund leads that tie 1-0, and will need to rely on a defense that has kept five clean sheets in this year’s tournament. However, the German club has a concerning record away from home, where it has lost nine of its last 11 games. In tomorrow’s game between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, this season’s La Liga winner will hope its finishing prowess continues from the first leg, when it turned two chances into two goals.

European Transfer Rumor Roundup

With European seasons drawing to a close, the transfer rumor mill is starting to heat up, which means there are several items worth discussing today. First, Manchester United will reportedly face competition to sign Crystal Palace star Michael Olise. Chelsea and PSG are said to also be interested in signing the Frenchman, who was instrumental in his side’s 4-0 drubbing of the Red Devils yesterday. Staying in the Premier League, Virgil van Dijk has said he intends to be part of the transition following Jurgen Klopp’s departure from Liverpool, confirming that he does not intend to leave in the summer. Elsewhere, Bayern Munich is said to have agreed to personal terms with AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez. David Moyes has confirmed he will leave West Ham at the end of the season, with reports suggesting that the Hammers have reached an agreement with Julen Lopetegui to be the team’s new manager.

Free Kicks

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

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