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Orlando City vs. New England Revolution: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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6 years ago

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In a 4-1 defeat on the road against the New England Revolution, Orlando City Head Coach James O’Connor stuck with the same back line used in Orlando’s previous loss to the New York Red Bulls but shifted things around in the midfield. Neither Chris Mueller (illness) nor Will Johnson made the trip and Sacha Klejstan was deployed in a more forward position than usual

Here is how each player performed in the lopsided loss and my pick for Man of the Match.

Starters

GK, Brian Rowe, 5 — A lopsided scoreline overshadows an honestly decent outing for Rowe. He guessed wrong on the penalty and couldn’t come up with a great save on the opening goal, but he had good reads throughout the night when coming out to put out fires and got his fingers on Fagundez’s goal. Regardless, four goals conceded is far from ideal although his defense left him out to dry on occasion.

D, João Moutinho, 4.5 — It was far from a terrible performance for Moutinho as he dealt with Carles Gil and Brandon Bye on the left side. He benefited from having Mendez and Nani on his side to help stabilize pressure, but he was beaten a few times over the top and was taken off at halftime for medical reasons after a quiet time on the field.

D, Robin Jansson, 4 — The center back had a poor performance against the Revolution offense to say the least. The Revs walked all over him and he struggled to make an impact or put a stop to attacks. He looked sluggish and had a hard time judging runs and balls into the box. His performance felt like an anomaly as Jansson normally does better in one-on-one situations.

D, Lamine Sané, 4 — The other half to O’Connor’s center back pairing, Sané did marginally better than Jansson as he comfortably cleaned up loose balls. Of the night’s defenders, he probably had the best performance but that isn’t saying much. His marking was absolutely nothing to write home about and with Jansson withering beside him he didn’t do enough to be a leader on a defense that was hammered for 90 minutes.

D, Ruan, 3 — The Revolution offense went after his side of the pitch from the start and never really stopped. He was beaten by Cristian Penilla all night long, including on the Revolution’s second goal. Offensively, he made good runs and made the defenders work but it was his struggle on defense that said the most. While having a right back who can really turn on the jets on offense is valuable, it matters less when he was a complete liability on defense.

MF, Dillon Powers, 4.5 — The early goal came from Powers losing Gustavo Bou in an admittedly good series of runs and passes by the Revolution. Perhaps he expected Rosell to shift and pick Bou up, but it led to the opening goal regardless. However, Powers bounced back well by creating turnovers and he had a nice block in the first half to stop a chance.

MF, Uri Rosell, 4.5 — He was involved in the early goal conceded as the Revolution simply worked around him to score and that seemed to be the theme of the night. The Revolution had plenty of time to sit on the ball and pick out passes with time and space in the midfield as Rosell just could not close down on attackers. He just couldn’t do enough on either end and a hard tackle ended his night.

MF, Sebas Mendez, 4.5 — It was a roller coaster of a game for Mendez who coupled a decent performance with turnovers, a yellow card, and a handball that caused a penalty. Of all players who played 90 minutes, Mendez led in both successful passing percentage (92%) and total passes (79). But his most impressive stat was a whopping 8.6% of total possession as he tried to get things going for Orlando. It was a tough night for all three midfielders, but Mendez arguably did the best out of the bunch. Regardless, his handball helped seal Orlando’s fate.

F, Nani, 5.5 (Man of the Match) — Orlando City remains most threatening when Nani has the ball at his feet and it’s certainly entertaining watching him direct the offense. It’s equal parts frustrating as well when the pieces around him can’t execute and the chances go by. It wasn’t his best performance by any means but the offense relied heavily on him for a majority of the match.

F, Tesho Akindele, 4 — The Canadian forward was in on goal a few times and just could not capitalize on the opportunities given until the 77th minute when he scored a tap-in for his seventh of the season. Overall, it was a poor performance that left a lot wanting as he still lacks the killer instinct you want to see from a big target on offense.

F, Sacha Kljestan, 4.5 — It’s hard to fault Kljestan when he suffered the most from the 4-3-3 formation O’Connor deployed, but I’m going to anyway as he struggled to step up offensively and lacked hustle on defense. He looked uncomfortable with the ball at his feet in the box, either coughing it up or searching for a run that never came. He had a few opportunities and a shot but finished fourth on the team in total passes (43) as he could not impose his will on the defense.

Substitutes

D, Kamal Miller (46’), 5 — Miller had a crash course entry into the game as it took a matter of two minutes after coming on at halftime for the Revolution to work down the left side and cross in to score. Miller isn’t to blame for the goal, but it certainly wasn’t what O’Connor wanted from the new addition. He deserves some praise for not letting the goal affect morale as Miller was a needed presence on the left and he has proven that he can fill voids regardless of preferred position.

F, Dom Dwyer (69’), 5.5 — With Mueller at home, it was Dwyer who served as an injection of energy that was desperately needed. He had a fantastic night, causing trouble for the Revolution and finding Akindele for Orlando’s lone goal of the game and his third assist of the season. I would’ve liked it if he started or came on early and he seems hungry after dealing with suspension the past couple of weeks.

F, Robinho (87’), N/A — The newest Lion came on a bit too late to earn a grade but still found the ball a few times and did well with it. It’s nice to see O’Connor using Robinho as this marks his third straight appearance as he works his way into the team.

The Lions had a rough night to say the least as they return to Orlando with no points and a lot to fix. Do you agree with my choice for the game’s Man of the Match or did someone else deserved the honor? Have your say by voting in the poll or letting us know in the comments!

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Nani7
Dom Dwyer49
Sebas Mendez27
Brian Rowe10
Other (comment below!)10

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/26/25

Orlando City rises in MLS power rankings, Emily Sams called up, Orlando City B faces Crown Legacy FC tonight, and more.

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23 hours ago

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March 26, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’ve been spending the week reading and eating my way through a pork shoulder after making way too much of it in my slow cooker this weekend. It wasn’t as tender as I was shooting for, but it’ll take some time before I can take another crack at it. But enough about that, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Orlando City Rises in MLS Power Rankings

The league’s latest power rankings are out and Orlando City has moved up two spots to 14th after its 4-1 victory over D.C. United. Orlando’s Designated Players are firing on all cylinders and no MLS team has scored more goals this year. The breakout of 20-year-old defender Alex Freeman, who was noted as one of the top young performers from this past weekend, is also worth recognition. The Lions have been in need of a young player to step up, and Freeman has done well so far. Orlando will be back in action on Saturday for a road match against an LA Galaxy side still searching for its first win of the season.

Emily Sams Called Up For USWNT Friendlies

Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams was one of 24 players called up by United States Women’s National Team Head Coach Emma Hayes for the training camp prior to friendlies against Brazil next month. Forward Trinity Rodman, who hasn’t played for the U.S. since the Olympics, is back in the mix after missing time due to injury. Houston Dash defender Avery Patterson and Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce are other interesting players to keep an eye on. The U.S. will take on Brazil April 5 at SoFi Stadium before a rematch on April 8 at PayPal Park.

OCB Plays Crown Legacy FC Tonight

The Young Lions are back in action tonight for a road match against Crown Legacy FC at 7 p.m. It’s OCB’s first away match of the season after a pair of solid results at Osceola Heritage Park to start the season. Orlando will take on a Crown Legacy team that’s only played one game so far this season, losing a shootout to New York City FC II after a 1-1 draw back on March 7. Following tonight’s match, OCB will get some time off before taking on Chattanooga FC in Tennessee on April 5.

Takeaway From USMNT Defeats

After losing both Concacaf Nations League matches, there is plenty of concern surrounding the United States Men’s National Team as it prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Fullback Joe Scally struggled in both matches, putting more of an emphasis on Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest being ready to roll next summer. Weston McKennie lost duels left and right and there are some real questions regarding where he fits in Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino’s system. There were bright spots as well though. Diego Luna and Patrick Agyemang likely boosted their stock after solid offensive efforts, and Tanner Tessmann was effective in his time on the field. Overall, the Yanks will have to be better in this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup.

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That’s all I have for you all this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday. Go Young Lions!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/25/25

Lions earn plaudits, Marco Pasalic up for Goal of the Week, Kylie Nadaner’s performance honored, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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March 25, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Tuesday, everyone! It was a great weekend for Orlando soccer as the two teams that were in action each picked up wins for a six-point weekend. It was done in exciting fashion too, as Orlando City and the Orlando Pride combined to score six goals between them. With a little luck, we’ll get to enjoy some similar results this coming weekend. We’ve got a lot to discuss this morning though, so let’s talk through today’s links.

Lions’ Performances Earn Plaudits

Orlando City blew D.C. United away 4-1 on Saturday, and some of the key performers from the win have been rewarded with places in the MLS Team of the Matchday. Martin Ojeda and Alex Freeman are named to the starting XI while Luis Muriel slots in on the bench to ensure the squad has a decidedly purple tint. Ojeda tallied a goal and two assists in a Man of the Match performance, Freeman did his best to match him with a goal and an assist of his own, and Muriel made his own impact by scoring the opening goal and logging a secondary assist. Here’s hoping they keep up the good work!

Marco Pasalic Up for Weekly Honors

Marco Pasalic was the only goal scorer from Saturday’s win to not be included in the MLS Team of the Matchday, but instead he finds himself nominated for the MLS Goal of the Matchday. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you which strike I’m talking about, but in case you’ve been living under a rock for the last several days, the Croatian did this to score Orlando’s fourth goal of the win.

Between the fluid buildup and the beauty of the strike itself, if this doesn’t win Goal of the Week then we live in a world without justice. Make sure you go vote!

Pride’s Kylie Nadaner Earns Recognition

The Orlando Pride beat NJ/NY Gotham FC 2-0 on the road on Sunday, and center back Kylie Nadaner has been nominated for the NWSL Player of the Week due to her contributions in the match. Nadaner got the start at center back and helped the Pride keep a clean sheet — marking the first time the club has ever begun a season with back-to-back shutouts. While it wasn’t the Pride’s cleanest defensive performance, Nadaner and her fellow defenders mostly did a good job at preventing any truly dangerous chances, and in the end Orlando picked up three good points away from home.

U.S. Women Announce Three Matches

The United States Women’s National Team has announced three friendlies that will take place during the summer, with two occurring in June and the other in early July. The first two will be against Ireland in Colorado on June 26 and again against the Irish on June 29 in Cincinnati. The last match will be held on July 2 with an opponent and location for the game to be announced at a later date. It will be the first meeting between the U.S. and Ireland since April 2023, when the sides met in a pair of matches during the buildup to the 2023 Women’s World Cup. The USWNT won both of those matches and will try to replicate the feat in a few months.

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  • Barba Banda had hateful language directed towards her during Sunday’s game, and the NWSL, Pride, and Gotham FC have all come out with strong responses.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/24/25

Lions and Pride win, USMNT falls to Canada, UEFA Nations League quarterfinals recap, and more.

Published

3 days ago

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March 24, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve had a very busy week, finishing my orientation and ballpark training to return to working ballgames and concerts at Wrigley Field for the Chicago Cubs. Our Lions and Pride won while OCB was off this weekend. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Beats D.C. United at Home

Orlando City defeated D.C. United 4-1 on Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium in a dominating performance. Luis Muriel, Martin Ojeda, Alex Freeman, and Marco Pasalic all scored for the Lions as they raced out to a 4-0 lead. You’ve no doubt heard this a lot since Saturday, but it was the first time in club history that all three Designated Players for Orlando scored a goal in the same match. Also, Freeman became the second-youngest player in club history to score a goal and add an assist in the same match. The youngest was Daryl Dike.

D.C. United pulled one back in stoppage time, but the Lions claimed the three points. Goalkeeper Javier Otero made his first MLS start while Pedro Gallese was away on international duty with Peru, and despite not getting a shutout, he made six saves. Orlando City will be on the road for its next match Saturday, facing the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Orlando Pride Shut Out NJ/NY Gotham FC on the Road

The Orlando Pride defeated NJ/NY Gotham FC 2-0 Sunday at Sports Illustrated Stadium to get back-to-back wins to start the season. The Pride were the fortunate recipients of an own goal from Gotham defender Lilly Reale to take an early lead in the first half. Angelina’s crafty cutback drew a penalty just before halftime, and Marta converted it from the spot to extend Orlando’s lead to two goals just before halftime. The Pride held on to earn the shutout to secure their first road win of the season. The Pride return home to Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday to take on San Diego Wave FC.

USMNT Falls to Canada in Nations League Third-Place Match

On Sunday, the U.S. Men’s National Team fell 2-1 to Canada at SoFi Stadium in the third-place match in the Concacaf Nations League. It’s the second consecutive loss for the USMNT after dropping a 1-0 decision to Panama in the semifinals last week. The Yanks finish fourth in the tournament after winning the first three editions. Canada struck first before Patrick Agyemang scored the equalizer for the USMNT just before halftime. Jonathan David scored the winning goal in the second half to seal the win for Canada. The USMNT has lost consecutive matches to Canada for the first time since 1985. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just 14 months away, things don’t look good at the moment for the United States men. The next pair of matches are friendlies against Turkey on June 7 and Switzerland on June 10.

UEFA Nations League Quarterfinals Recap

There was plenty of drama Sunday in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Nations League. France overturned a 2-0 deficit in the first leg and defeated Croatia 5-4 on penalties after a 2-0 win in the second leg to advance. Spain also defeated the Netherlands 5-4 on penalties to advance after the second leg ended in a 3-3 draw and level 5-5 on aggregate. Germany blew a three-goal lead in the second leg against Italy to end the match in a 3-3 draw but won 5-4 on aggregate to move on to the semifinals. Portugal needed extra time against Denmark after being tied 3-3 on aggregate in the second leg. Francisco Trincao scored his second goal of the match, and Goncalo Ramos added another in extra time to help Portugal win 5-3 on aggregate after a 5-2 win in the second leg. The semifinals are set as Portugal faces Germany on June 4 while Spain takes on France on June 5.

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

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