Orlando City B faced an independent team Saturday night, putting the Young Lions in a unique position. When they face fellow reserve sides, the games are usually the day after the first team plays. But Saturday night’s game was at the same time, and it showed issues in the OCB attack.

Chattanooga FC is one of two independent teams currently playing in MLS NEXT Pro. As you would expect, the Tennessee-based side plays most of its home games on Saturday nights, when they can draw bigger crowds.  Unfortunately, that means the Young Lions took the field the same night as the senior side, kicking off just 30 minutes prior to the MLS squad’s match in Philadelphia.

A lack of bodies for the first team meant multiple OCB regulars had to join the senior Lions for their trip to Philadelphia. The biggest loss for the game in Chattanooga was undoubtedly Shak Mohammed, who started on the bench for Orlando City.

While Mohammed has yet to claim his place with the first team, he’s made a major impact on the second team. His 11 goals last season led the Young Lions, and he has the team lead in goals this season with two in the first three games, including a goal in each of the two previous contests.

The 21-year-old’s absence was apparent Saturday night in Tennessee. Justin Ellis started in the position Mohammed usuallly occupies with Thalles starting up top. Meanwhile, Zakaria Taifi moved from his usual defensive position into the attacking midfield.

All three players had chances early in the game. While Ellis played the distributor, Thalles and Taifi had clear chances in the first 45 minutes. However, neither player was able to put the ball past Chattanooga goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic, who had seven saves on the night.

The missed opportunities showed an issue that OCB might face in the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season. The better Mohammed plays, the more likely he is to be with the first team. This usually won’t be a problem, as the two teams rarely play on the same days. But you can’t depend on that for the team’s success this season.

If OCB wants to improve on the 2024 campaign and win a postseason game for the first time in team history, the Young Lions will need others in the attack to step up. Otherwise, it could be frustrating nights when Mohammed is unavailable.

The lack of offensive efficiency Saturday night also showed how good Mohammed has been with the second team. Obviously, the third-division league is a much lower quality than the first-division MLS, but it leads to a question about Mohammed’s future in Orlando.

The forward was a first-round selection out of Duke in 2023. The Lions gave up Ruan in a trade with D.C. United to move up in the MLS SuperDraft, taking Mohammed with the second overall pick. Now in his third professional season, he hasn’t made the impression you’d expect from someone taken so high.

To be fair, we were seeing this with Jack Lynn as well. The 2022 first-round MLS SuperDraft pick was tearing it up in MLS NEXT Pro without seeing much time with the first team. However, he was clearly taking positive steps and was beginning to play a bigger role before retiring this past off-season.

Lynn’s departure left a spot Mohammed could fill for both teams, and he’s done a good job with OCB. His 11 goals showed a significant increase from his six goals for the Young Lions in 2023, despite only playing in two more games. Now, he just needs to show improvement with the first team.

Saturday night’s disappointing offensive performance by OCB showed Mohammed’s impact in the attack. While the Young Lions are a dangerous team with the Ghanaian in the lineup, nobody stepped up to fill his production in Chattanooga, resulting in the team’s first loss of the season. It showed the impact the attacker has had on the team this year and the improvements of his game.

Watching Moahmmed the remainder of the season will be interesting. Will he finally make the jump to appearing regularly with the first team? Will Ellis or Thalles fill Moahmmed’s production when he’s away? We should find out these answers in the near future.

Orlando City B (2-1-1, 8 points) suffered its first loss of 2025, falling 2-0 to Chattanooga FC (3-0-1, 11 points) in Tennessee Saturday night. An inspired second-half substitution by Chattanooga was the difference as Daniel Mangarov and Keegan Ancelin combined for both goals.

OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg was forced into three changes to the team that beat Crown Legacy FC 1-0 on March 26 in North Carolina. Thomas Williams, Gustavo Caraballo, and Shak Mohammed were unavailable because they were with the first team in Philadelphia. Hayden Sargis, Noham Abdellaoui, and Justin Ellis took their spots in the starting lineup.

The back line in front of goalkeeper Carlos Mercado was Tahir Reid-Brown, Abdellaoui, Sargis, and Jackson Platts. Dylan Judelson and Jhon Solis were the defensive midfielders behind Zakaria Taifi, Ellis, and Dyson Clapier with Thalles up top.

OCB had its chances in the first half, failing to take advantage of some golden opportunities. The lack of finishing cost the Young Lions as the hosts came out of the break the better team. They created numerous chances from the beginning of the second 45 minutes and converted on a pair of late opportunities to claim all three points.

Chattanooga had the first attack of the game in the second minute when Markus Naglestad beat Sargis and was pulled down by the Orlando City Academy player near the OCB box. The set piece was blocked out of play and the ensuing ball was cleared away. The hosts recycled and won another corner kick that was also cleared away.

It looked like the Young Lions might have their first chance of the game in the eighth minute when Solis sent Thalles behind the Chattanooga back line. However, Nathan Koehler did well to shield the striker, guiding the ball back to his goalkeeper.

The first shot of the game came in the 13th minute when Ellis made a long run from midfield into the Chattanooga box. He beat Nick Mendonca and used a good touch to lose Koehler before shooting. The shot was on target, but Eldin Jakupovic got down to tip the ball wide.

The ensuing corner kick was short and Taifi found Ellis just outside the box. The young striker fired again, but Jakupovic didn’t have any trouble with this one, collecting the attempt to end the attack.

In the 17th minute, Minjae Kwak found Milo Garvanian at the top of the OCB box. The attacker’s second touch was a shot for the far post, but it was blocked out of play by Judelson. Mercado jumped up and grabbed the ensuing corner kick, ending the threat.

The Young Lions quickly created something on the other end, nearly opening the scoring. Clapier played Ellis near the top of the box and the attacker continued the ball to Taifi entering the Chattanooga area. Taifi’s first touch was a shot, but Jakupovic got down to knock the attempt wide with his right foot.

The corner kick by Solis was short to Ellis, who laid the ball back to him as the midfeilder made a run down the end line. Solis lifted the into the box and Thalles got his head to it, sending the attempt wide.

A minute later, the Young Lions let Mendonca dribble right down the field. Since nobody stepped up to close down the attacker, he continued downfield and took a strong shot before he entered the OCB box. The attempt was past Mercado but hit the outside of the post.

In the 34th minute, Ellis sent Thalles behind the Chattanooga defense. The striker was free on goal, but Jakupovic got down again to block the shot wide. OCB couldn’t create anything from the corner kick and the attack ended.

Thalles had another chance in the 41st minute when Taifi found him near the top of the Chattanooga box. The striker took a couple of touches before firing, but it was too close to Jakupovic, who blocked the ball away for another save.

In the first minute of first-half stoppage time, Platts played Taifi on the right. The midfielder sent a cross into the box that was blocked out of play by Farid Sar-Sar. Sargis got the top of his head to the ensuing corner kick and it went straight back to Clapier. The attacker volleyed the ball, but it was blocked out of play.

Chattanooga cleared the second corner kick, ending the final attempt of the first half.

After 45 minutes, OCB had more shots (8-3) and shots on target (5-0). Chattanooga had the advantage in corner kicks (5-4), crosses (4-1), and passing accuracy (86.7%-86.3%).

The hosts nearly took the lead in the 48th minute when Tate Robertson found Garvanian at the back post. The attacker beat Platts to the ball and headed it on goal, but Mercado was there to stop it. Robertson and Garvanian appealed that Mercado was behind the goal line when he stopped the shot, but the referee decided otherwise.

In the 57th minute, a good ball into the OCB box found Kwak between Abdellaoui and Sargis. The attacker did well to control the ball with his chest and send a shot on target, but Mercado was there to block it. The OCB goalkeeper briefly lost sight of the ball, collecting it when it bounced right back to him.

Jakupovic sent a long ball behind the back line in the 59th minute for Naglestad. The attacker pulled up just enough to allow Sargis to get in front and block the attempt out of play for a corner kick.

The ensuing set piece found its way to Naglestad in the OCB box. He took another shot, looking to curl the attempt inside the far post. However, Abdellaoui got in front to head the ball clear.

Chattanooga made a pair of substitutions in the 63rd minute, bringing on Mangarov and Ancelin. Just two minutes after appearing, the two nearly combined for the game’s first goal. Mangarov sent a dangerous ball into the box, where Ancelin was between Sargis and Reid-Brown. However, it was out of Ancelin’s reach and he couldn’t get his head to the ball, allowing Reid-Brown to clear.

OCB made its first change in the 70th minute as 2024 MLS SuperDraft selection Riyon Tori made his club debut, coming on for Clapier.

The Young Lions got their first chance of the second half in the 71st minute when Solis found Thalles in the Chattanooga box. The ball was a little behind the Brazilian, but his second touch was a shot. Unfortuately, he was unable to get over the ball, sending the attempt over the crossbar.

Ellis found Taifi to his left in the 73rd minute, and the midfielder created OCB’s second shot of the second half. He used a move to get some space from Sar-Sar. The shot was on target, but Jakupovic deflected it over the top of the goal.

While the ensuing corner kick was too strong, OCB maintained possession. Sargis ended up with the ball, sending a curling cross to the back post, where Platts was making a run. The defender got his head to the ball, sending the attempt over the crossbar.

In the 75th minute, Mangarov and Garvanian played a give-and-go from the left, sending the latter into the box. His first touch upon receiving the pass back was a shot with his left foot that rolled wide of the far post.

The hosts finally broke through in the 77th minute. Quick passing by Sar-Sar and Robertson sent Ancelin forward down the right. The attacker found Mangarov on the far side of the box. The ball initially popped up on him, but the second-half substitute put the second touch past Mercado to give Chattanooga a 1-0 lead.

Mangarov buries the half volley for the @ChattanoogaFC breakthrough! 😱 pic.twitter.com/5wtdim9rmH

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) April 6, 2025

Ellis tried to respond in the 80th minute, dribbling across the top of the box and unleashing a shot. However, this attempt was straight to Jakupovic, causing no problems for the goalkeeper.

Ancelin and Mangarov combined again in the 84th minute to double Chattanooga’s advantage. Mangarov received a pass down the left and it looked like he would send a cross into the box. However, he spotted Ancelin making a trailing run, laying it off for his teammate. Ancelin guided it past Mercado to give Chattanooga a 2-0 lead.

Mangarov 🤝 Ancelin@ChattanoogaFC extends their lead! pic.twitter.com/g9a9fN4Nm3

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) April 6, 2025

The hosts nearly made a costly blunder in the 86th minute when Sar-Sar played a soft pass back for Jakupovic. Thalles tried to beat Jakupovic to the ball, but the goalkeeper reached it just in time.

Goldberg made a second change in the 86th minute, trying to get his team back into the game. It was an attacking substitution as Clovis Archange entered for Platts.

The hosts nearly made it 3-0 in the 90th minute when Callum Watson played the ball forward and Mangarov flicked it on for Peter Plougmand. The attacker did well to shield his defender and fired on target. However, Mercado was there to block it wide.

That was the final chance for either team as Chattanooga came away with a 2-0 win. The Young Lions ended the game with more shots (13-12) and shots on target (7-5). Meanwhile, Chattanooga had the advantage in corner kicks (8-6), crosses (9-2), and passing accuracy (86.9%-86.4%).

The loss is OCB’s first of the 2025 season. However, you can’t take too much from it as Chattanooga is one of only three undefeated teams in the Eastern Conference. The hosts also sit atop the standings now with 11 points. Additionally, OCB was missing multiple starters, including the team’s leading scorer in Mohammed.

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With the two-game road trip now behind them, the Young Lions will return home to face another one of those undefeated teams. They’ll welcome New England Revolution II to Osceola Heritage Park Wednesday night.

Orlando City B (2-0-1, 8 points) scored with their lone shot on target tonight in a 1-0 win over Crown Legacy FC (0-1-1, 1 points) at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex in Matthew, NC. Shak Mohammed’s 30th-minute goal was the difference as the Young Lions continue their hot start to the season.

OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg made three changes to the team that drew 2-2 with Atlanta United 2 on March 16 and took the extra point 4-1 on penalties. Carlos Mercado returned to net for Javier Otero, Gustavo Caraballo replaced Colin Guske — who is on international duty — and Dyson Clapier replaced Justin Ellis.

The back line in front of Mercado was Tahir Reid-Brown, Jackson Platts, Thomas Williams, and Zakaria Taifi. Dylan Judelson and Jhon Solis were in the defensive midfield behind Caraballo, Mohammed, and Clapier with Thalles up top.

The first chance for either team came in the seventh minute when Mohammed intercepted a poor pass in the Crown Legacy third of the field. He played it forward for Thalles, who was taken down by Baye Coulibaly.

Solis took the set piece, aiming for the near top corner. However, he was unable to get the ball to dip down enough, sending it off target.

Caraballo tried to make something happen in the 13th minute, dribbling into the Crown Legacy box. He took a shot on the run, but Jack Neeley got in front of the attempt, blocking it with his foot.

Crown Legacy got its first decent chance in the 16th minute when Nikola Petkovic received a pass near the top of the OCB box. He took a touch to get around Judelson and attempted to curl the ball into the far top corner, but it sailed off target.

The hosts nearly had another chance in the 28th minute when right back Yves Tcheuyap made a good run to the end line and sent a dangerous ball into the six-yard box for Jack Sarkos. However, Williams got in front to clear it out for a corner kick. Crown Legacy recycled the ball, forcing Williams to clear it away again. This time the Young Lions were able to clear the danger.

OCB took the lead in the 30th minute when Platts played the ball forward for Caraballo, who sent it further down the right for Taifi. The right back sent a dangerous ball into the box that was beyond the reach of Thalles and Clapier, but fell to Mohammed. The attacker didn’t make any mistakes, placing the ball past Isaac Walker to give the Young Lions a 1-0 lead.

Mohammed finds the top corner for his second in as many games! 🔥

1-0 @OrlandoCityB pic.twitter.com/Gue3FB0moH

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) March 26, 2025

OCB displayed some terrific breakout play in the first half. In the 32nd minute, a long ball by Mercado was flicked on by Mohammed for Clapier. The midfielder tipped the ball over Neeley and had a step on Coulibaly. The defender pushed Clapier over just before he entered the box, giving OCB a free kick in a dangerous spot.

Coulibaly was lucky to only get a yellow card for the play. Fortunately for him, another defender got back, so he wasn’t the last defender. Otherwise, it would’ve been a red card.

Taifi and Solis stood over the set piece with Solis taking the kick. The midfielder curled the ball towards the near post, just missing wide.

Crown Legacy created some danger in the 40th minute when Brian Romero sent a dangerous ball across the box. Coulibaly was making a run to the far post and the ball reached him, but the midfielder couldn’t get his foot on it.

Reid-Brown sent a good ball to the top of the six in the 44th minute. Williams was making a run between two defenders, but he wasn’t able to redirect the ball on target.

At halftime, OCB had more possession (64%-36%), shots (7-6), and shots on target (1-0). Meanwhile, Crown Legacy had more corner kicks (4-3) and crosses (6-3), with better passing accuracy (90.3%-88.4%).

Shortly after the restart, Rocket Ritarita lifted a ball near the penalty spot in the 50th minute that was chested down for Aron John. The attacker’s first touch was a shot on target that forced Mercado into a good save. The rebound ended up with Petkovic, who sent a second shot towards goal, but Platts slid in to block the attempt.

OCB nearly had a chance in the 53rd minute when Taifi made a long run down the right and sent a cross in for Thalles. The striker had position on his defender, but the cross was too strong for the striker to get his head on it.

A minute later Taiif made a similar run and took it himself. The right back fired from a tight angle, trying to lift it into the top of the net. However, Walker reacted well to block the attempt.

Crown Legacy had a golden chance to equalize in the 58th minute when a cross from the right went through the box and over the end line. Platts and Sarkos were tangling and referee Jeremy Scheer pointed to the spot.

John stepped up to take the penalty, sending it towards the left post. Mercado guessed correctly, diving to his right and making the save to keep the OCB lead and his shutout.

Big-time stop in our first shutout of the season 👊 pic.twitter.com/Qh7XHmCW6p

— Orlando City B (@OrlandoCityB) March 27, 2025

Goldberg made his first change of the night in the 62nd minute as Zinedine Rodriguez came into the game for Clapier.

The 70th minute brought a scary moment for OCB when Mikah Thomas sent a through ball into the OCB box for Ritarita. Mercado got to it first but couldn’t handle it. Ritarita continued his run, colliding with Mercado. The goalkeeper required some medical attention, but he was eventually able to continue.

OCB won a free kick in the 81st minute when Neeley pushed Mohammed down from behind just inside the Crown Legacy third of the field. Neeley was issued a yellow card for the challenge. Caraballo took the free kick, finding an unmarked Thalles making a run to the back post. The forward’s first touch was a redirection, but it went over the top.

Thalles won a 50-50 ball in the 83rd minute, tapping it forward for Mohammed to run onto. The attacker got behind the back line and was in goal as Walker came off his line. Mohammed tried to chip the goalkeeper, but his attempt bounced wide to the right.

Immediately after the miss, Goldberg made his second change of the game. Hayden Sargis made his professional debut, coming on for Caraballo.

Crown Legacy had a great chance in the 85th minute when Ferna Ferreira used a nice touch to lose Taifi and reach the endline. He sent a dangerous cross into the six with two teammates running in, but Judelson got back to clear it away.

In the 90th minute, Ritarita sent a cross into the box that Mercado should’ve handled easily. However, it bounced off his hands. A Crown Legacy attacker was making a back post run, but it went out of play.

During the stoppage, Goldberg made his final change of the night, replacing Thalles with Juan Quevedo.

In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Mohammed broke out near midfield. Neeley, who had been booked earlier, pulled him back. The professional foul required a yellow card, his second of the night.

The final attempt of the game came in the final seconds when Ferreira twisted and turned Quevedo to create space. It looked like the attacker would have a free shot on goal, but Judelson came flying in to block it. That was the final attempt as the Young Lions held on for the 1-0 win.

At full time, Crown Legacy had the advantage in shots (16-10), shots on target (3-1), corner kicks (11-3), crosses (21-6), and passing accuracy (90%-83.1%). However, the Young Lions took advantage of their one shot on target and held on for another three points.

The Young Lions continue their strong start to the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season. They’ve only dropped one point this year, acquiring eight points from three games. They sit atop the Eastern Conference, tied with New York City FC II.

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OCB will now have an extended break, not taking the field again until April 5 when the team travels to take on Chattanooga FC in Tennessee.