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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Columbus Crew: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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6 years ago

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Hey there, Mane Lander’s it’s me again, reporting for grades. Listen, fam, this one wasn’t pretty. I mean I’ll take the three points and I’m all for being aggressive, a-g-g-r-e-s-s-i-v-e, but last night was a bit much. Now before you come for my head, the yellows were completely unbalanced. Columbus got away with a lot of surprising things, and then City would turn around and get the foul called for the exact same play. You know what we say, PRO gonna PRO. Here’s how I felt the Lions did in the 1-0 win over Columbus.

Starters

GK, Brian Rowe, 7 — We all know what tends to happen when the Lions are up by one in the 85th-90th range and while Columbus made them work for it, Brian Rowe made a Grinwis-esque save to deny the goal, the crowd went wild, and tempers on the pitch flared. Not a bad showing for the keeper.

D, Kamal Miller, 7 — Miller did well to deflect a Columbus cross in the 37th minute to send the ball over the net. When referee David Gantar found his cards, Miller was booked in the 56th for taking down Zardes in the corner. Miller had one shot, two dribbles, one tackle, two interceptions, one clearance and a 77% passing rate on 50 touches.

D, Robin Jansson, 7 — Jansson started despite his rib contusion, and in a race to the ball in the 14th minute beat Zardes but fell hard to the turf and hit his head, but was able to continue. The Swede had a great play in the 60th, using his length to stretch out and break up the Crew’s attack. Jansson registered two interceptions, five clearances, and an 86% passing rate on 58 touches.

D, Lamine Sané (MotM), 8 — Wouldn’t you know the second yellow came only two minutes after the first on Miller as Sané was booked for a foul on David Guzman. Sané had a perfect moment in the match when he sent a beautiful pass to send Ruan up the right flank. Sané passed at a 94% rate on his 73 touches (second on the team). He technically had the second-highest passing percentage to Uri Rosell’s 100% accuracy on only 14 attempts. Additionally the defender made one interception, five clearances, and two blocked shots. Healthy Sané strikes again!

D, Ruan Teixeira, 6.5 — The Brazilian has been trying to work back to what we saw early in the season. His assist on the goal by Benji Michel was perhaps just what he needs to get back in it. This match Ruan finished with one tackle, three clearances, two crosses, the assist, and only a 57% passing rate on his 44 touches.

MF, Will Johnson, 7 — It was a mostly quiet night for the Canadian, though in true WillJo fashion, he never stopped in the minutes he played. His 41 touches saw an 86% passing rate, while defensively he had four tackles, an interception, and a clearance.

MF, Carlos Ascues, 7.5 — Ascues took a bit of time to warm up and find himself in this match and was a bit frustrating to watch early in the first half, but in the second half he sent a beautiful ball to Chris Mueller, who won a free kick from the play. In a (not) surprising turn of events, Ascues was booked in the 81st minute. The Peruvian had a game-high seven tackles, two clearances, a blocked shot, and his 66 touches saw an 83% passing rate on 42 attempts.

MF, Sebas Mendez, 7 — What position was Mendez playing? Because I’m pretty sure he covered every inch of the field. Wouldn’t you know, Mendez was booked in the 92nd minute. Mendez finished with a team-high 78 touches and passed at a 90% rate. Defensively, the Ecuadorian made six tackles and a clearance.

F, Chris Mueller, 6.5 — The Lions did well to pick up a Crew turnover in the 12th minute, and Mueller had a nice breakaway but he failed to look up and was easily dispossessed. Mueller earned a free kick off the pass from Ascues in the 48th minute but it led to nothing. We saw Chris block the Crew’s cross that was earned from Miller’s yellow. Mueller finished with a 79% passing rate on his 30 touches, making two tackles, and an interception, but it was a fairly quiet night.

F, Tesho Akindele, 6.5 — Tesho had a nice cut between defenders in the 43rd but his pass led Mueller a bit too far and it slowly made its way right to Joe Bendik. A tired Tesho pushed through and in the 73rd minute got a nice key pass to create a chance for Santiago Patiño but the rookie’s shot was blocked. Akindele made one tackle, two key passes, and he had a 75% passing rate.

F, Benji Michel, 7.5 — We saw Michel make a nice play to take the ball back in the box but his cross attempt was thwarted by Bendik. Michel sent a weak cross right into Bendik again in the 46th. All his efforts finally paid off when he slammed in a beautiful cross from Ruan, helping the Lions bring home three points. His nine attempts on 33 total touches produced a 67% passing rate. Defensively he made one interception and three clearances.  

Substitutes

F, Dom Dwyer (58’), 5 — Dwyer came on for Mueller, which totally shocked me as I thought Tesho would certainly be coming off first. Dom may never have the chance to get in full form this season. In the 93rd an aerial duel found Dwyer’s elbow in Josh Williams’ face earning him a straight red. I still believe, Dom. I still believe.

F, Santiago Patiño (72’), 7 — Again, I was surprised to see Patiño come on for Johnson instead of the exhausted Akindele. The kid does nothing if not bring some incredible energy to the pitch when he subs on! One minute in, with the help of Akindele, Santi got a chance but it was blocked for an Orlando City corner. His 15 touches saw a 75% passing rate, he had a team-high two shots, and he made one big tackle in his own defensive corner, as he made the most of his minutes.

MF, Uri Rosell, (78’) 6.5 — Uri came on for Akindele and the Canadian finally got a well-deserved rest. As mentioned earlier the Spaniard’s 14 touches produced a 100% passing rate on 11 attempts, and he had a clearance. There’s not much else to say about his time in this one. 

I think that’ll do it! Who was your Man of the Match? Be sure to vote in the poll and let us know why in the comments!

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Uri Rosell61
Kyle Smith27
Kamal Miller23
Santiago Patino12
Will Johnson36
Other (tell us who in the comments!)1

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/21/25

Orlando Pride release preseason camp roster, scouting Costa Rica, women’s soccer transfer grades, and more.

Published

21 hours ago

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January 21, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone! If you had yesterday off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, then I hope you enjoyed some restful time off. If not, then I hope you got your week started off on a good and productive note. There’s a lot going on around here this week as the United States Men’s National Team is in town, and Orlando City will play its first preseason match on Saturday. That means we have plenty to discuss, so let’s dig into today’s links.

Orlando Pride Drop Preseason Roster

Monday might have been a holiday but the Orlando Pride were busy, as they announced the roster for their upcoming preseason camp. Almost all of the usual suspects from the 2024 season are back, as the Pride return 98% of the player-minutes from last season and every single scorer. Mariana Larroquette is on the list although she’s currently on loan in Argentina, and Amanda Allen is likewise included after her loan at Lexington Sporting Club was terminated due to a torn labrum. The biggest intrigue comes from the trio of non-roster invitees: goalkeeper DeAira Jackson, midfielder Aryssa Mahrt, and forward Simone Jackson.

Scouting Costa Rica

The USMNT takes on Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium to wrap up the team’s annual January camp. Like the U.S., Costa Rica is bringing a roster devoid of the majority of its important players. Costa Rica also has a new manager at the helm in Miguel Herrera, who will take charge of the team for the very first time on Wednesday. Herrera typically lines his teams up in a 5-3-2 where the wingbacks take on a very important role and the team looks to hit on the counter while staying compact at the back. This will be the last time we see the USMNT in action until the Concacaf Nations League semifinals in early March.

Women’s Soccer January Transfer Grades

January has been a busy time for transfers in the women’s soccer world, so which teams have done the best business? Well, the Orlando Pride received an A grade for signing Marta to a new two-year deal, retaining a player who helped the team win its first ever trophies. Liverpool got an A for signing Julia Bartel on loan from Chelsea. Leicester City made an interesting call by transferring goalkeeper Lize Kop to Tottenham despite just being a point above the relegation zone. The Foxes get a C for the move, while Spurs get a B+ for adding a capable netminder.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans taking part in some very important games over the course of this week. Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Juventus face Club Brugge today in the UEFA Champions League, while Ricardo Pepi, Richy Ledezma, Esmir Bajraktarević, Malik Tillman and PSV Eindhoven take on Crvena Zvezda in the same competition. Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will play Girona in the UCL on Wednesday, while Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Celtic take on Young Boys. On Friday, John Tolkin could make his Bundesliga debut when his new team, Holstein Kiel, travels to face Wolfsburg.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando Pride players reported for their preseason physicals on Monday.
  • Meanwhile, Orlando City took on the dreaded beep test during Monday’s training session.

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

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Orlando City

Striker Suddenly a Position of Need for Orlando City

Departures and a key injury mean Orlando City needs a striker heading into the 2025 MLS season.

Published

2 days ago

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January 20, 2025

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Image Courtesy of Orlando City SC

Orlando City reached the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in 2024, a milestone for the club. The core of the team was locked up through the 2025 season, so there was no reason to believe it needed to add much this off-season. Unfortunately, injuries and departures have created a serious problem for the team.

The group of forwards last year consisted of Duncan McGuire, Ramiro Enrique, and Jack Lynn. McGuire scored 15 goals in 2023 and was expected to depart for Blackburn Rovers before a clerical error allowed the Lions to keep their target man. The team’s primary striker scored 11 goals in 37 games — the same number as the previous season — but split time starting with Enrique. The Argentinian improved greatly in 2024, increasing his total goal tally from four to 12. Even Lynn showed tremendous improvement last year, playing a greater role in the team and scoring his first two MLS goals.

The future also seemed bright for the Orlando City forwards because of their ages. Lynn is the oldest of the trio at just 25 years old. Meanwhile, McGuire and Enrique are only 23, so there was no reason to believe this group couldn’t produce this coming season.

The problem at striker began in the postseason when McGuire was pulled down by Charlotte FC midfielder Djibril Diani in the final first round game of the playoffs. McGuire suffered a shoulder injury during the challenge that required surgery on Dec. 13. It’s expected that the striker could take four to five months to return to action, possibly leaving him out until May or June.

Another blow to Orlando’s attack occurred Saturday when Lynn surprisingly announced his retirement from professional soccer. In just over a month, Orlando City went from having three strikers to having just one as preseason training starts.

With McGuire injured and Lynn gone, one option would be to have Designated Player Luis Muriel play up top. However, the Colombian prefers to play a more withdrawn position and proved to be effective in that role last year. Since Head Coach Oscar Pareja prefers to play a 4-2-3-1 formation, the Lions need someone up top to control the ball and involve the midfielders in the attack. That’s not Muriel’s game.

The result of these issues is that nobody is currently behind Enrique when the season begins. If the Argentinian gets tired, hurt, or simply needs rest, Pareja is limited in his options. 

Whether there was a lack of strikers or a lack of goals from the position previously, that problem was resolved by the club’s all-time leading goal scorer. Facundo Torres scored 20 goals in 2024, becoming the first player in Orlando City’s MLS history and the second player in club history to do so. He went on to set a new club record for total goals of 47.

However, Orlando City sold its best player to Brazilian side Palmeiras on Dec. 20. It was a gut punch to fans as Torres had signed a new contract on Jan. 10, 2024 that ran through the 2026 season. There had been talk for the last couple of years that the attacker would look for a move to Europe and rumors of a move to South America arose this off-season. Still, it created a huge gap the club has to fill.

There are players on the roster that can make up for the injury and departures. Martin Ojeda had a strong season in 2024, finishing with seven goals and 13 assists. His seven goals ranked fourth on the team and his 13 assists topped the squad alongside Nico Lodeiro. Muriel came on strong later in the season, finishing with five goals and eight assists. But those numbers are a long way from the 20 goals that Torres tallied last year.

Even if you consider all goal contributions, Ojeda and Muriel fall well short of Torres. Ojeda had a total of 20 goal contributions in 2024 while Muriel had 13. In addition to Torres’s 20 goals, he added nine assists for a team-leading 29 goal contributions.

All of this information leads to one undeniable fact — Orlando City needs to sign a striker prior to the season. And there’s not much time for Luiz Muzzi to act. The European transfer window closes on Feb. 3 and many MLS teams have already been filling similar needs. With the season starting in just over a month, the options will be limited if the Lions don’t do something soon.

After the best postseason finish in Orlando City’s MLS history, things were looking good heading into 2025. While the back line and most of the midfield is returning, McGuire’s injury and the departure of Torres and Lynn have left the Lions in a tough spot offensively. If they don’t do something in the next couple of weeks, it could be a long 2025.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/20/25

Orlando City signs Nicolas Rodriguez, Jack Lynn announces retirement, USMNT defeats Venezuela in friendly, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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January 20, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope you’re all having a good holiday weekend as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Over the past week, I’ve been working and covering high school ice hockey. It will be a busy week in Orlando, with the United States Men’s National Team’s match against Costa Rica on Wednesday and Orlando City’s first preseason match against Atletico Mineiro on Saturday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Signs Nicolas Rodriguez

Orlando City announced on Friday that the club has signed forward Nicolas Rodriguez from Fortaleza CEIF in Colombia’s top flight. The deal is through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028, and Rodriguez will occupy a MLS U22 Initiative slot. Rodriguez made 19 appearances for Fortaleza, recording 1,607 minutes, five goals, and three assists during the 2024 Primera A Clausura season. The Lions add a young attacking player the club can develop and Rodriguez can play on the right wing, the right side of a three-man midfield, or in the No. 10 spot.

Jack Lynn Announces Retirement

Orlando City forward Jack Lynn announced his retirement from professional soccer on Saturday. Lynn was drafted by Orlando in the first round of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. He became a regular starter for Orlando City B, scoring a team-record 38 goals in over three seasons with the MLS NEXT Pro side. Lynn also won the Golden Boot with 19 goals during the 2023 season and became the first OCB player to be named MLS NEXT Pro MVP. He played sparingly with the first team, but he scored twice last season as his role increased. The Lions will likely look to add another striker for more depth up top.

Orlando Pride Acquire Allocation Money in Trade

On Friday, the Orlando Pride announced that the club has acquired $50,000 in Allocation Money from the Washington Spirit. In exchange, the Pride sent the Spirit a 2025 international roster spot. The Pride will face the Spirit in the NWSL Challenge Cup final on March 7 at Inter&Co Stadium.

USMNT Defeats Venezuela in Friendly

The USMNT defeated Venezuela 3-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday in a friendly. Jack McGlynn and Patrick Agyemang scored in the first half to give the USMNT a 2-0 lead just before halftime. Matko Milijevic scored the third goal for the Americans in the second half, with Venezuela pulling one back thanks to a goal from Jorge Yriarte. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has led the USMNT to winning four out of its first five matches since he took charge last September. The USMNT’s next match will be against Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium.

Alyssa Naeher Named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year

On Saturday, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was voted 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. Naeher won 40% of the vote, while defender Naomi Girma finished in second with 32%. In her final year with the USWNT, Naeher ended 2024 with 18 starts, playing 1,170 minutes and only conceding 11 goals. She played a crucial role with clutch saves to help the USWNT win the 2024 SheBelieves Cup, 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup, and gold at the Olympics in Paris. Naeher is the second goalkeeper to win the award since Hope Solo won it in 2009.

Free Kicks

  • Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has reached an agreement with the club on a record-breaking contract that extends his deal through 2034.

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

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