Orlando City
Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Player Grades and Man of the Match

Orlando City Head Coach James O’Connor once again employed the tactic of making widespread changes for a midweek trip out west before coming back home to put out a more familiar XI. The Irishman made 11 total changes to his lineup in the defeat to New York Red Bulls and here is how they performed.
You might think they’re kind, but in all honesty, nobody had a particularly bad individual game and nine out of 10 times the Lions come away with a point but alas an intense first half from the Red Bulls, coupled with some nearly-but-not-quite finishing from the Lions in the second, was ultimately the difference in a pretty even game that was tilting in Orlando’s favor by the end.
Starters
GK, Brian Rowe, 7 — Rowe made four saves in total, the same as his Red Bulls counterpart Luis Robles, but the conceded goal was the difference from a purple point of view. Former Lion Amro Tarek seemed determined to score, forcing two good saves from Rowe. He was fast off his line numerous times, including for the only goal of the game. He came close to keeping Brian White’s shot out as he spread himself, and even got a decent touch, but the ball still tumbled in.
D, João Moutinho, 6.5 — After sitting out the last seven games with injury, the left back finally made his return to the side. However, he didn’t appear to be 100% as he regularly clutched at his back. His average position was significantly deeper than Ruan’s and most of his match was spent in his own half. In a team that really relies on its fullbacks for width and service, his more advanced position with Orlando pushing forward in the second half was crucial to creating chances. His 62 passes were good enough for second on the team behind Sebas Méndez, with two deemed key passes, as he tried to make an impact on offense. He led the team in won aerial duels with five, something he hasn’t always been strong at, while also making two tackles, two interceptions, and two clearances.
D, Robin Jansson, 5.5 — Getting beat on an inch-perfect ball by Kaku to thread Brian White in on goal is nothing to be ashamed of, but it ruined an otherwise good night for the Swede, who managed to get in front but still saw the ball tease past him. I don’t think there are many defenders in the league that stop that from happening but unfortunately it goes on Jansson’s record as being the decisive moment of the game. His 90.7% passing accuracy on 54 passes, including a staggering 10 completed long balls, is the best of any starter, although he was pretty quiet defensively, registering three actions in total.
D, Lamine Sané, 8 (MotM) — Sané was the reason Jansson’s defensive stats were unusually quiet — he was everywhere last night. Zlatan likened himself to a Ferrari among Fiats this week. Well if that’s the case then that makes Sané a wheel clamp because he shut everything down. There was nothing he could do on the goal in terms of closing down as he had to honor the run of Tarek, covering for Ruan, who was halfway up the pitch trying to counter. He marshaled the back line impressively well, leading the team in interceptions, with four, and clearances, with eight (out of a team total 18), and completed an equally impressive seven long balls on what was an outstanding evening for him personally. Additionally, his 51st-minute pass through the middle to Tesho Akindele was a gem that led to Orlando’s first shot on target of the night.
D, Ruan, 5.5 — Ruan had an early scare as he nearly turned a cross into his own net, looking slightly frazzled by the constant Red Bulls pressure in the opening half. He used his pace to rescue a loose ball from Chris Mueller, drawing a yellow card on Royer in the process, and made two tackles on the night — his only two defensive actions. He was more active in attack, adding width on the right-hand side as Mueller continued to drift inside. However, a lowly 75.6% pass accuracy, ninth on the team, and no completed crosses on his three attempts continues his mixed form and limited output down this middle stretch of the season.
MF, Carlos Ascues, 6 — It was a very Jekyll and Hyde performance from Ascues last night. He was a dominating defensive midfielder for a large portion of the game, making two tackles and three interceptions. He also led the team in successful dribbles with four, yet it was his giveaway when trying to dribble out that led to the decisive goal. He was close to making amends in the second half, but his volley from Moutinho’s cross thundered onto the bar. He was good for the most part but he wasn’t the creator Orlando needed in the second half and, like Jansson, his biggest highlight reel moment was sadly the giveaway.
MF, Sebas Méndez, 6 — Méndez had quite the similar game to Ascues with Orlando’s midfield forced into a lot of defending, especially in the first half. As we’ve come to expect, the Ecuadorian was miles ahead in the passing stats with 81 completed (86.4%) — way ahead of Moutinho’s 62 in a game that Orlando saw an unusually high 62% possession (the team average this season is 48%). Despite this, he failed to create any chances. He led the team in tackles with four, made two interceptions, and had one clearance, but he also led the team in fouls, with three.
MF, Will Johnson, 6 — It’s pretty fitting of a largely average game that Orlando’s midfield collectively earns a middle of the road six for last night’s performance with Johnson also putting together a no-frills, hardworking shift in the middle of the park. The Canadian registered 79.6% accuracy on a fairly low 44 passes but had a busier defensive effort, making a joint-high four tackles along with three clearances and two blocks. Arguably his best defensive read was on a training ground Red Bulls free kick he wasn’t caught out by, rising confidently to head away. Offensively he looked to have Luis Robles beat and I expected to see the ball tucked the top corner but he sent Orlando’s best chance of the first half wide instead. Not the person I wanted arriving at the top of the box at that moment, that kind of finishing typified the Lions’ performance.
F, Nani, 6 — Most of Orlando’s threat unsurprisingly came through Nani with the Portuguese midfielder having three of City’s five first-half shots but alas none were on target. The closest was a stunning first time trivela, the signature move of his international teammate Ricardo Quaresma, but it curled just wide and rippled the outside netting. Those were the only shots he had, registering none in the second half before being forced off through injury. No key passes, no completed crosses from three attempts, and a below average 77.3% passing accuracy were less than what we expect from the Designated Player.
F, Tesho Akindele, 6.5 — Tesho successfully played a utility role as target man in the first half with the likes of Sané and Jansson punting numerous long balls towards him before the forward held up and tried to bring his teammates into the game. He was set on the break a couple of times but pace isn’t his strength. It wasn’t until the second half that the Lions began to turn the screw and Akindele found chances falling at his feet, hitting the woodwork on his best attempt. He set up four big chances but could only muster one shot on target himself from two attempts and lost possession a team-high eight times. One of the more gutsy center forward performances we’ve seen in Orlando but ultimately marred by a lack of decent finishing
F, Chris Mueller, 5.5 — A dogged but scrappy performance from the second year winger, he spent a lot of time drifting inside — arguably too much, as even though Ruan was pushing forward, the team was generally looking too narrow and was easily squeezed out of possession on Orlando’s right. One shot off target, two successful dribbles, 28 passes, 71.4% accuracy, and one reckless yellow caused things to look a bit out of sync for Cash last night.
Substitutes
MF, Sacha Kljestan (66’), 7 — Kljestan came on and frankly made the game his own. He was the perfect impact sub for this type of game, with New York retreating further into its own defensive third and allowing Kljestan to sit on top of the box and pull the strings. He was close to getting his second goal in as many games against the team he once captained but he instead hit the frame of the goal. Despite only playing a third of the game, he managed to rank second in key passes, with three, and led the team with 95% pass accuracy.
F, Robinho (67’), 5 — Robinho showed why Columbus was happy to trade him after just half a season with the Brazilian making a nuisance of himself on the left wing but lacking any quality product. None of his four crossing attempts found their target and he completed no dribbles. In a team that has seen a lot of points rescued by substitutes, he has a long way to go.
F, Santiago Patiño (71’), 5 — Orlando’s first round draft pick replaced the injured Nani and had the chance to set a new Orlando record of consecutive league games with rookie goals but made little impact on the game. With the Lions piling on the pressure, he struggled to find any space in the box and had multiple defenders on him any time he got close to the ball. Put in a tough position, he only completed three passes during his 20 minutes — the same number of times as he was dispossessed — and generated one shot that was off target.
Once again, the Lions fall prey to the same old rhetoric of creating but not finishing chances and losing by the narrowest of margins. Do you agree with my Sané Man of the Match selection or do you think someone else deserved it? Have your say by voting on the poll or letting us know in the comments!
Polling Closed
Player | Votes |
Nani | 7 |
Dom Dwyer | 49 |
Sebas Mendez | 27 |
Brian Rowe | 10 |
Other (comment below!) | 10 |
Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/27/23
Orlando City falls in power rankings, OCB will take on Columbus Crew 2 in MLS NEXT Pro playoffs, U.S. Open Cup final preview, and more.

Hello, Mane Landers. I hope all is well with you down in Florida. There’s not much new with me, I’m just staying busy at work lately and hoping to catch some soccer this weekend. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Orlando City Drops Two Spots in Power Rankings
The latest MLS power rankings have been released and Orlando City fell two spots to fourth. The Lions lost their midweek matchup 2-0 on the road against New York City FC last Wednesday and closed out the weekend with a 1-1 draw against rival Inter Miami at Exploria Stadium. It wasn’t all bad this past week for the Lions, as Duncan McGuire scored his 11th goal of the year across all competitions. Despite losing to NYCFC a week ago, the Lions remain in second place in the Eastern Conference and are two points ahead of the Columbus Crew, Philadelphia Union, Atlanta United, and the New England Revolution.
OCB Will Take On Columbus Crew 2 in MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs
Orlando City B’s opponent for the first round of the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs was announced on Tuesday, as it will go on the road to take on defending champion Columbus Crew 2 on Oct. 1 at Historic Crew Stadium. As part of the new playoff format that lets higher seeds choose their opponents, Columbus chose to host OCB in the quarterfinals. The Young Lions closed out their regular season this past weekend with a 2-1 win against FC Cincinnati and finished fifth in the Eastern Conference. The Columbus Crew 2 finished its regular season with a 3-2 win against Atlanta United 2 to place third. The clubs split the regular season series, with OCB winning 4-1 on Aug. 27 and Columbus winning 4-0 on May 14. The conference semifinals will be on the following weekend, and the MLS NEXT Pro Cup final is set for Oct. 22.
U.S. Open Cup Final Preview
The 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will conclude tonight with the final at DRV PNK Stadium as Inter Miami takes on the Houston Dynamo. The match will kick off at 8:30 p.m. and you can watch the match on Paramount+ or CBS Sports Network. Inter Miami’s journey included edging out Nashville SC 2-1 in the Round of 16 and needing to go all the way to penalties to knock out FC Cincinnati after a thrilling 3-3 draw in the semifinals. The Houston Dynamo began their run with a pair of 1-0 wins against the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Sporting Kansas City. Since the Round of 16, the Dynamo cruised past Minnesota United, the Chicago Fire, and Real Salt Lake to get to the final. Houston was on a seven-match unbeaten run before losing to Sporting Kansas City this past weekend. The Dynamo will look to add another U.S. Open Cup title after winning it back in 2018. Lionel Messi will reportedly be a game-time decision for tonight’s final after he didn’t play in Miami’s draw with Orlando.
Spain Wins First Home Match Since World Cup Victory
Spain’s women’s national team won its first match since lifting the World Cup trophy last month, cruising to a 5-0 win against Switzerland in a UEFA Nations League matchup. After dealing with the fallout of former Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales and players boycotting call-ups to the national team before a deal was reached last week, the team wore wristbands that read “Se Acabo,” meaning “this is over,” and players from both teams held a banner with the same phrase before the match. Spain celebrated its win in front of a record-breaking crowd of 14,194 fans that came out to support the team at Nuevo Arcangel Stadium.
Free Kicks
- Carrie Lawrence and the Orlando Pride were hard at work preparing for the match on Monday against Angel City FC.
- Angel City exercised its club option to extend former Pride forward Sydney Leroux’s contract through the end of the 2024 NWSL season.
- The Canadian Women’s National Team defeated Jamaica 4-1 on aggregate to book a spot in next summer’s Olympics.
- The Seattle Sounders have unveiled their new crest for next year.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Wednesday and I’ll see you next time.
Orlando City
Orlando City vs. Inter Miami: Player Grades and Man of the Match
How did your favorite Lions perform in Orlando City’s 1-1 home draw against the Herons?

Draws are never satisfying but there’s at least a much better feeling when your team scores the final goal that earns the point rather than conceding so the other team takes two away. Thus was Orlando City’s 1-1 draw at home against Inter Miami on Sunday. It feels better to score the last goal, despite the fact that the same number of goals are scored either way. It’s a grand illusion.
Duncan McGuire’s blast through the legs of Drake Callender at least kept the Pepto-Bismol-colored team from winning at the purple palace and added another point to Orlando’s fine 2023 total.
Here’s how I saw the individual performances from a feisty affair at Exploria Stadium.
Starters
GK, Pedro Gallese, 7.5 — It was another standout game from the Peruvian shot stopper, who made four saves on the night, including a big one to stop a Leonardo Campana attempt from just a couple yards out. Gallese couldn’t do much about the lone goal conceded, as it came off a rebound of a wicked Josef Martinez shot, offering Gallese little opportunity to control the rebound due to the angle and pace. El Pulpo also recorded a clearance and passed at an 81.8% rate, connecting on five of his nine long balls.
D, Rafael Santos, 6.5 — After a couple of somewhat underwhelming performances, the Brazilian had a solid night. He didn’t have a shot attempt, but he managed two key passes despite completing only 71.4% of his passes. He connected on three of his eight long balls and one of his four crosses, but that latter number says more about his teammates not getting onto some good-looking balls into the area. Defensively, he provided two clearances and an interception, committing just one foul and completing a dribble. He even led the team in touches (60).
D, Robin Jansson, 7.5 (MotM) — In the first half, Jansson was the best player on the pitch and, in my opinion, it wasn’t close. The Beefy Swede vaccuumed up almost everything sent forward by Miami that was intended for Campana and Martinez on his side of the field. He finished the night with two tackles and two interceptions but it seemed like more than that. His passing was magnificent, as he completed 89.4% of his 47 passes, including six of seven long balls and his only through ball attempt. He had a key pass as well. He didn’t attempt a shot but he completed one dribble and drew a foul as he stymied the Miami attack. He did his best to cover Martinez’s quick, incisive run to the opposite side but couldn’t block the shot with his sliding effort. His biggest blemish was getting yet another yellow card for dissent — something he’s mostly been able to avoid this season.
D, Rodrigo Schlegel, 5.5 —While I thought Schlegel had a much better night Sunday than he had in the previous two games, it was far from where he was just a week or two earlier. The quick transition gave him a tough choice of backing off Campana and allowing a dangerous shot or doing what he did — stepping out and allowing a through ball. His closeout wasn’t tight enough. His marking on set pieces also left a lot to be desired at times. His passing was mostly accurate (91.5%), and he connected on two of three long balls, but there were a few dicey ones in his own end. He recorded two aerials won, one tackle, two interceptions, and a clearance. He committed three fouls and picked up a yellow card, conceding a dangerous free kick. His lone shot attempt was an off-target header.
D, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson, 6.5 — After a couple of tough games, the Icelandic midfielder-turned-fullback acquitted himself pretty well, considering Inter Miami attacked his side quite a bit. He passed well, connecting 82.5% of the time with one key pass and hitting the target once on two crosses, four times on six long balls, and sent a marvelous through ball that should have resulted in an Ivan Angulo goal, but the winger flubbed his lines. His lone shot attempt was a difficult one and did not threaten goal. He did not record a single defensive stat, although much of the time his opponent curled in toward the top of the area and was passed off to another defender.
MF, Cesar Araujo, 5.5 — The young Uruguayan had a quiet night, without recording any defensive statistics in his 45 minutes before being subbed out at the break for Martin Ojeda. He managed only 23 touches and his passing rate of 73.3% was much lower than his usual standard and he completed one of his two long balls. He also drew two fouls and completed a dribble. He simply wasn’t able to impact the game to the extent we’re used to seeing.
MF, Wilder Cartagena, 7 — It was a good night for the Peruvian midfielder, who was constantly getting under the opponents’ skin. He drew yellow card fouls on Dixon Arroyo and Benjamin Cremaschi — the latter after a slick nutmeg move — and had a steal that was set to ignite the break called back for a foul that I don’t agree was committed. Defensively, he recorded a tackle, a clearance, and an interception. He passed at a 91.1% success rate, created one scoring chance, and completed both of his long-ball attempts.
MF, Ivan Angulo, 5 — Whether it’s a lack of confidence and/or composure or being intimidated by a good goalkeeper, the Ivan Angulo who shoots in warmups is not the same guy in front of goal once the game is underway. He completely flubbed his lines when Thorhallsson sent him in behind for a 1-v-1 chance against Callender. The number of times he gets into dangerous spots and either a bad pass, shot, or decision keeps Orlando City from generating a scoring chance from it is maddening. Angulo failed to get any of his three shot attempts on target. His passing rate was just 60%, he did not have a single key pass, and neither of his two crosses were on target, although his single long ball was. He also didn’t record a single defensive statistic. There are many things Angulo does well, and his speed is tantalizing, but the final product is often lacking.
MF, Mauricio Pereyra, 6 — The captain had a mostly quiet match except when he was scissored down from behind by David Ruiz, somehow only producing a yellow card for the Miami midfielder. Pereyra produced only one key pass and no shot attempts, starting at central attacking midfielder before dropping into central midfield in the second half to pull the strings from a deeper position. He passed at an 80.5% success rate, completing one of three crosses and two of five long balls. He did not record any defensive stats and committed two fouls while drawing three.
MF, Facundo Torres, 6.5 — Torres led the Lions in shots (4), putting two on target, contributing one key pass and winning an aerial. He passed pretty well overall (81.5%), though he did not complete either of his two crosses or his lone long ball. He contributed an interception and a clearance defensively. Miami concentrated on double-teaming the Designated Player whenever possible. Torres still created some opportunities for himself and others, but it was a fairly quiet night overall.
F, Duncan McGuire, 7.5 — The rookie is still getting back to form after returning from injury, so he managed only 18 touches on the night but he did well with the touches he had. Both of McGuire’s shots were on target and both were rockets. Unfortunately, both were right at goalkeeper Callender. Fortunately, the second of those went through the keeper’s legs for the equalizing goal — his ninth of the MLS season. He also created a chance with a key pass, completed 83.3% of his pass attempts, and connected on his only long ball. He even contributed a defensive clearance. It was a good night for the rookie striker, although he wasn’t able to get that many touches.
Substitutes
MF, Martin Ojeda (46′), 6.5 — The Argentine Designated Player came on at halftime for Araujo to give the Lions more attacking presence and an extra playmaker on the field. He continues to grow in recent games, as he put his only shot attempt on target, created a chance with a key pass, and completed two dribbles, although he did have four unstable touches and was dispossessed once. He completed 89.5% of his 19 passes and all three long balls, but missed on his only cross attempt. He helped with the ball back with two tackles, and added a clearance.
MF/F, Ramiro Enrique (74′), 5 — Enrique came on for Angulo, which I thought at the time was the exact sub that was needed, but the Argentine didn’t offer much for the second straight game after winning Player of the Matchday. He did not attempt a shot or create a key pass and managed only seven touches on the night, passing at an 83.3% clip. He chipped in a clearance.
D, Michael Halliday (77′), 5 — The Homegrown defender spelled Thorhallsson but didn’t offer much, despite completing all four of his passes on 13 total touches. He had two unstable touches and was dispossessed once, which is not what you want to see from your fullback in the final 15 minutes of the match. Defensively, he blocked a shot, but he also conceded an unnecessary late corner when he pulled up, thinking he’d won a foul that didn’t end up getting called.
MF, Gaston Gonzalez (84′), N/A — As the MLS U22 Initiative attacker works his way back to fitness, he got a late runout, replacing McGuire, which pushed Enrique to the top of the formation. He conceded a free kick, but I honestly thought his challenge was clean and should have led to an Orlando counterattack. He put his only shot on frame, but it was a weak dribbler right at Callender. He did not complete his only pass attempt of the match.
MF, Junior Urso (84′), N/A — The Bear entered for Pereyra and was active, gettin 12 touches in late. His 90% passing rate on 10 attempts was solid, missing only on his only attempted long ball. He didn’t record any defensive stats, but he also didn’t make any mistakes in his brief spell.
That’s how I saw the individual performances by Orlando City on Sunday night at the stadium. Let me know where I got things right or wrong in the comments below and be sure to vote for your Man of the Match in our poll below.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 9/26/23
Pedro Gallese honored, Orlando Pride and Lions celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Campeones Cup preview, and more.

Happy Tuesday, everyone. I won’t lie to you, I’m dragging a bit to start this week. I’m still recovering from being sick and frankly had to fight the urge to take Monday off. I’m soldiering on though, and there’s plenty of soccer happening this week to help keep me entertained and in good spirits. Let’s have a look at today’s links.
Pedro Gallese Recognized
Pedro Gallese turned in another superb performance during Orlando City’s 1-1 draw with Inter Miami on Sunday, and he’s been rewarded with a place in the most recent edition of the MLS Team of the Matchday. El Pulpo made four saves on the night, including a fantastic stop on a header from close range, and helped the Lions stay in the game until they could find the equalizer. Congratulations to Pedro, and here’s hoping he keeps up the good work!
Orlando Pride and Orlando City Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Orlando Pride defender Celia fielded questions for fans to learn more about both her and Spain. Celia is from Alicante, a port city in southern Spain, and shared her favorite food, music, and activity while in her home country. She also spoke on a common misconception about spices used in Spain being spicy.
Orlando City’s Facundo Torres also shared the meaning behind some of his tattoos, which include the Uruguayan flag and La Paz, the city he grew up in. Orlando City’s match with CF Montreal on Saturday will also be Hispanic Heritage Night at Exploria Stadium.
Campeones Cup Preview
You can be forgiven if you forgot that the Campeones Cup is still a thing, because I know I did. Here’s a little refresher on the annual match. It’s being played tomorrow night at BMO Stadium between LAFC and Tigres, the reigning MLS and Liga MX champions, respectively. The MLS representative has won three out of the four contests, with Tigres beating Toronto FC 3-1 in the first iteration of the competition in 2018. This match will also be a rematch of the 2020 Concacaf Champions League final, which saw Tigres emerge victorious 2-1 at Exploria Stadium.
Americans in Midweek Action
A number of Americans will be taking part in games for their clubs this week. Tim Weah and Weston McKennie’s Juventus will take on Lecce today in Serie A, while Chris Richards and Crystal Palace face Manchester United in the Carabao Cup. Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah have a league match when AC Milan plays Cagliari tomorrow. PSV Eindhoven has a game against Go Ahead Eagles tomorrow as well, which means Ricardo Pepi, Sergino Dest and Malik Tillman could all be involved. Friday closes out the week with Hoffenheim taking on Borussia Dortmund, which could see John Brooks matched up against Gio Reyna depending on Reyna’s fitness.
Spanish Players Will Testify Against Rubiales
Alexia Putellas, Irene Paredes, and Misa Rodriguez have all been called to testify as witnesses in the case against Luis Rubiales. Jenni Hermoso’s brother and a friend of the player both testified on Monday afternoon, as Rubiales is facing charges of sexual assault and coercion. Rubiales has already testified and maintains he did nothing wrong amid uproar that has led to a number of Spanish players refusing to return to the team until changes are made, and a general overshadowing of Spain’s victory at the Women’s World Cup. Putellas, Paredes, and Rodriguez will testify next Monday.
Free Kicks
- Orlando City B came in 10th in the latest edition of the MLS NEXT Pro power rankings.
- Edgar Paez, the president of Colombian team Tigres, was shot and killed following the team’s loss on Saturday.
- Jadon Sancho’s Manchester United teammates have reportedly urged him to apologize to Erik ten Hag.
That’s all I have for today. Y’all stay safe out there!
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