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Orlando City vs. Atlanta United: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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5 years ago

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I know better than to get my hopes up and really start to believe that last night could have been the night the Lions made history, but how could you not feel inspired after that wildly creative first half? Instead they fell 1-0 to Atlanta at home. Here’s how I felt the players rated individually.

Starters

GK, Brian Rowe, 5.5 — Things looked messy in the 80th minute when Brian Rowe gave Atlanta a 2-v-0 chance but he at least made a huge save to clean it up. Overall not a spectacular night for Rowe, but not a terrible one either. Pretty middle of the road in my opinion.

D, Kamal Miller, 5.5 — The defender made two tackles and three clearances. His 33 passes saw only a 60% accuracy, leaving a bit to be desired.

D, Robin Jansson, 6 — The Swede doesn’t stop. He can be from midfield tracking back so fast for such a large guy. He had one tackle, an interception, and four clearances in the fight, and his 24 passes saw an 88% success rate.

D, Lamine Sané, 6 —The defender finished with four clearances, an interception, and a shot on target. His 27 passes produced an 82% pass success rate. He did get caught upfield on the goal. Other than that, I felt like the night was pretty quiet for Sané.

D, Kyle Smith, 6 — A turnover from Smith in the ninth minute had everyone holding their breath as an offside Josef Martinez found the back of the net. Despite that, Smith is growing on me, I didn’t dislike him, I just didn’t have much of an opinion. He has had to really show up with Moutinho and Ruan out of the mix. His 54 passes produced an 89% pass success rate, the highest of all the starters. Additionally, he had two tackles, an interception, and a clearance.

MF, Uri Rosell, 5.5 — Uri may only be remembered in this match for the shot he fired over the bar after a nice setup from Nani. Rosell’s night produced two tackles, a clearance, and two shots.

MF, Mauricio Pereyra, 6 — A beautiful pass from Pereyra in the 22nd minute to Ascues could have been something. Another beautiful pass from Pereyra found Ascues for an opportunity in the 44th minute. In the 56th minute we saw a pass from Pereyra, which was a touch too heavy for Tesho to reach. I think it’s safe to say it was a great debut in front of the home crowd, for Pereyra, I like the chances he’s creating, the creativity in the midfield, and I think he might be what Dom’s been missing — someone to serve him in the box. The newest Lion ended the night with one shot, three key passes, a tackle, and a 69% pass success rate on his 35 attempts.

MF, Carlos Ascues, 6 — Ascues got the excitement and hopes up in the first five minutes as he took a shot that was blocked, only to find himself at the other end of the field to block a shot to deny Atlanta. In the seventh minute he fired off a shot right to Guzan. Pereyra’s pass in the 22nd minute was clipped off Ascues’ foot by Atlanta’s Nagbe at the last second as he continued to get into dangerous areas. In the night of infinite chances for the Peruvian, Ascues fired wide on a chip from Nani. His 17 passes produced an 82% pass success rate, he had three tackles, an interception, and a clearance, with only two of his four shots on target.

F, Nani, 7 (MotM) — Nani fired one toward goal in the 38th minute, but it was deflected. He fired wide again in the 62nd minute. Then Nani stole a pass and chipped a gorgeous pass in to Ascues in the 65th, only to see him shoot it wide. Should I just be copy pasting at this point? In the 67th minute Nani had a chance again but sent it just wide. He took the free kick in the 79th minute, going for back post, but the ball didn’t get enough bend and he just missed it. In the end, the man created seven chances, but got none of his six shots on frame. Nani ended his time on the field at the whistle, angrily blowing past any and everyone in his attempt to leave. He also ended with a tackle and an 86% pass accuracy on 49 attempts. He didn’t stop trying to make something happen, but as is Orlando City’s luck, all chance, no finish.

F, Tesho Akindele, 6 — A nice play early in the half helped Akindele set up the Ascues shot in the seventh minute. Guzan stopped Tesho’s shot from a tight angle in the 10th minute after he made a nice move around Miles Robinson. He produced a 72% passing accuracy on 25 attempts, a key pass, two interceptions, and four shots (one on target).

F, Benji Michel, 6 — It could have been something in the eighth minute when Benji won the race to the end line but after cutting into the box he fired a cross in to no one. The short corner saw a half chance for Benji but his deflected shot was way too easy for Guzan to collect. Benji won a free kick just outside the penalty area to give some hope in the 79th minute. He finished with one shot, though not on target, a clearance, and a 57% passing rate on 21 attempts.

Substitutes

MF, Sacha Kljestian (61’), 5.5 — Can I give points to the man for taking a second to say hi to, and high fiving, the Special Olympics squad? No? OK. The man was in control of his passing last night. His 27 attempts were met with 93% accuracy. But he still looked outpaced, not lazy as some fans would say, just physically unable to keep up with Atlanta.

F, Dom Dwyer (67’), 6 — In another breath of hope in the dying minutes, Dom helped win OCSC a corner. He ended the night with one shot on target, and his six pass attempts were at an 83% success rate. He looked a bit more confident, and when he got tripped up on a run, he found his balance and got back up instead of looking for a foul. He seemed a bit more motivated last night.

F, Chris Mueller (74’), 4.5 — Not an impressive night for Mueller, albeit I’m not his biggest fan. Sure, the kid has heart, but at one point he was literally just standing there, two feet from his teammate that was being hounded by two Atlanta players and looking for some help. He dribbled a weak shot wide in the 80th. Michel passed one slightly behind Mueller in the 86th, where Chris stopped, got it, and fired well off target. His two off-target, shots are about all he seemed to offer up last night.

Agree or disagree? Be sure to vote in our poll and tell us what you thought about last night’s loss.

 

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Nani12
Mauricio Pereyra31
Robin Jansson12
Kyle Smith5
Carlos Ascues8
Other. Be sure to tell us who and why in the comments. 8

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/14/24

MLS playoff predictions, Barbra Banda and Marta earn recognition, USMNT takes on Jamaica tonight, and more.

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1 hour ago

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November 14, 2024

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’ve been a bit under the weather this week, but it’s at least meant I’ve been able to spend more time with my cat and get some reading done when not hacking up a lung. But enough about that, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

MLS Conference Semifinal Predictions

Former Orlando City captain Sacha Kljestan weighed in on which of the remaining eight teams will prevail in the MLS playoffs. He predicts that Atlanta United can lean on its counterattacking and Brad Guzan’s goalkeeping to beat Orlando City when the two rivals face off in Orlando on Nov. 24. A key thing to watch heading into the match is if Head Coach Oscar Pareja switches things up up top given Ramiro Enrique’s slump.

Kljestan predicts a tight match between New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls, but has NYCFC moving on. He also has both the LA Galaxy and LAFC advancing in the Western Conference, which would set up a playoff edition of El Trafico.

Pride Players Make ESPN’s Top 50

ESPN unveiled its annual list of the top 50 women’s soccer players and a pair of Orlando Pride players made the list. Forward Barbra Banda is ranked third on the list for crushing it in her first year in the NWSL, scoring 13 goals to help the Pride win the NWSL Shield. Marta, who has not been listed in the past two years, ranked 26th for turning back the clock at 38 years old and creating 46 chances for Orlando this season. Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati tops the list, with Naomi Girma in second, Caroline Graham Hansen in fourth, and Sophia Smith rounding out the top five. There are many voters for this year’s list from around the world, including Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter.

Steven Moreira Named Defender of the Year

The Columbus Crew’s Steven Moreira was named 2024 MLS Defender of the Year after a strong season. He made 27 appearances for the Crew this season and was a key part of his team’s success in the Concacaf Champions Cup and Leagues Cup this year. Moreira also helped out offensively with two goals and four assists and was an All-Star this year. The 30-year-old beat out Inter Miami’s Jordi Alba and Seattle Sounders center back Jackson Ragen for the award.

USMNT Takes On Jamaica Tonight

The United States Men’s National Team will play its first competitive match under Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino tonight when it takes on Jamaica in Kingston in the Concacaf Nations League. Although the U.S. may be favored in this series, playing on the road in Concacaf is always tough and Jamaica tends to keep things close against the Yanks. Tonight’s match is the first of the two-leg quarterfinals, with the two nations facing off again in St. Louis on Monday. Hopefully Pochettino can get the team firing on all cylinders as it continues to prepare for the 2026 World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • In a rollercoaster of a match, the U.S. Men’s Deaf National Team fell in a penalty shootout to Brazil in the Deaf Pan American Games. The U.S. took the lead in extra time, but Brazil battled back to tie it, winning from the spot to reach the final.

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: 11/13/24

Orlando City’s international call-ups, Orlando Pride playoffs preview, NWSL Awards voting opens, and more.

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1 day ago

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November 13, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Orlando City might have to wait a week to continue its playoff journey, but the Orlando Pride do not. The Kansas City Current are coming to town this Sunday for the third meeting between these NWSL heavyweights this year, and I will be there. I hope you will make it to Inter&Co Stadium to show this Pride club how much we appreciate all they have done this season in their final home match of the season. For now, let’s get to the links.

Lions on International Duty

Several Orlando City players received call-ups for this international break, including Facundo Torres for Uruguay. Additionally, the following also got the call: David Brekalo with Slovenia, Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena for Peru, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson for Iceland, and Favian Loyola for Chile’s U-20 squad. All we can hope for is they all stay healthy and in form. Orlando City’s next opponent, Atlanta United, also had several players called up.

The NWSL Playoffs Continue

The Orlando Pride will face the fourth-place Kansas City Current this weekend after decimating the Chicago Red Stars Friday. There’s been a lot of drama between these two clubs, making this an intriguing semifinal match. The other match sees the second-place Washington Spirit take on third-place NJ/NY Gotham FC. While we get to enjoy seeing the Pride continue their NWSL playoff run, many clubs are now watching from home and working on next season’s campaign.

NWSL Award Voting Open

The NWSL has opened the “fans voting round” for its 2024 end-of-season awards. There are several Pride players who were named finalists, including Barbra Banda, Marta, Emily Sams, Kylie Strom, and Anna Moorhouse. Of course, Seb Hines is up for NWSL Coach of the Year in what should be a foregone conclusion. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get out there and submit your vote here. This is your chance to make a difference for Hines and these Pride players who have given so much this season.

Pepi is Ready

The USMNT will play its first competitive match under Mauricio Pochettino against Jamaica Thursday night in the first leg of a Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series. The U.S. doesn’t have a ton of options at forward, meaning Ricardo Pepi will likely get the start. The PSV striker said he feels he’s “ready to be the man.” It’s been years since anyone locked down the starting role up top for the USMNT. Let’s hope that Pepi is indeed ready.

Free Kicks

  • In unsurprising news, Charlotte FC’s Kristijan Kahlina was named 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Orlando fans are all too familiar with how good Kahlina is in goal. Honestly, Khalina is a very deserving winner.
  • England’s squad will look very different this international window with eight players out due to injury, including Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer.
  • The UScpMNT match scheduled for today has been postponed due to inclement weather.
  • Coventry City has its eye on Frank Lampard as a possible replacement for Mark Robins as manager.
  • We have unfortunately seen the last of Memphis 901 FC. It is a sad day, as we’re unlikely to see such a cool name with whatever Santa Barbara comes up with.
  • We’re sad to share that FC Cincinnati’s Marco Angulo passed away as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and teammates.
  • Finally, I leave you with Ally Watt solving a Rubik’s Cube.

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Pride’s playoff match against the Kansas City Current. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/12/24

Examining Orlando City’s playoff path, what to watch in the Concacaf Nations League, Lily Yohannes declares for the U.S., and more.

Published

2 days ago

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November 12, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City / Jeremy Reper

Happy Tuesday, everyone! The weekend couldn’t have gone much better for Orlando’s soccer teams, as both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride advanced after their respective playoff games, with the Pride dominating Chicago and the Lions getting a late, dramatic equalizer before winning the penalty shootout. The Pride will return to action Sunday against the Kansas City Current, while the Lions have a slightly longer layoff before they take on Atlanta United. As usual, we have plenty to discuss this morning, so let’s get into the links.

Orlando City’s Playoff Path

It was a wild weekend for the MLS playoffs as far as the Eastern Conference was concerned, and a slew of upsets suddenly means that the path to the MLS Cup final in the Eastern Conference goes through Orlando. The Lions are the highest remaining seed in the East, and not only will they host Atlanta Nov. 24, but they would also host the Eastern Conference final, should they come out victorious. Oscar Pareja spoke after the game about not wanting the victory over Charlotte FC to be the end of the playoff journey, and says the team intends to chase the MLS Cup. If Orlando does make it that far, the team wouldn’t be likely to host the match, as it would require Minnesota United to come out of the Western Conference in order for the final to be held in Orlando. Stranger things have happened though.

What to Watch For With the USMNT

It seems like we just had an international break, but here we are again with two more United States Men’s National Team games on the docket. These are two important games, as the USMNT squares off against Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals. Besides the obvious chance to advance to the semifinals, there are plenty of other storylines to keep an eye on. With Josh Sargent and Folarin Balogun both absent due to injury, can Ricardo Pepi seize an opportunity to lay claim to the starting striker role? What sort of impacts can Brendan Aaronson and Weston McKennie have in the midst of good starts to the season for their clubs? Last, but certainly not least, is Christian Pulisic, who has had a fantastic start to the season and will have many eyes on him in the first competitive matches under Mauricio Pochettino.

Lily Yohannes Chooses the United States

The United States Women’s National Team has landed a great young talent, as Lily Yohannes announced on Monday that she has chosen to represent the U.S. over the Netherlands. While she was born in Virginia, Yohannes has lived abroad since the age of 10, making her eligible to play for either country. However, she stated that with the United States being her country of birth, as well as where her extended family lives, she decided to commit to representing Emma Hayes’ team. Yohannes made her debut for Ajax’s senior side in November of last year, and has seven goals in 40 appearances for the Dutch team.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

As always, the transfer rumor mill continues to turn, which means we have plenty of things to catch up on. We start with Major League Soccer itself, where FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta has said he may have played his final game for the club. He cited frustration with falling short of silverware as a possible reason for wanting to move on, so he may change his mind once the sting has faded more. Moving to Spain, Barcelona is reportedly monitoring Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush as an option to replace the aging Robert Lewandowski. Arsenal and Manchester United are said to be interested in Leroy Sane, and will pursue him hard if contract talks with Bayern Munich don’t progress well.

Free Kicks

  • NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman had some friendly words for the Orlando Pride.

That does it for me today. Vamos Orlando!

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