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Orlando City vs. Houston Dynamo: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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6 years ago

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Orlando City headed to Houston to take on the Dynamo in a must-win match. Despite scoring first, the Lions weren’t able to hold on and lost, 2-1. While not mathematically out of the playoffs, not winning a must-win match leaves Orlando with scant hope to see the postseason. Let’s see how the players graded out.

Starters

GK, Brian Rowe, 6 — Rowe had some big saves in this match to keep the Lions in the lead for much of it. He never had a chance on the two goals that Houston scored. In addition to his saves in the 32nd, 37th, and 72nd minutes, he had a well-played punch in the 66th minute. While his distribution wasn’t perfect, he did have a few nice throws that started counter attacks.

D, Kamal Miller, 5 — When Houston wasn’t able to move the ball through the middle of the field, they pushed out wide, and found success against Miller. Kamal had six clearances in the match, but often found himself on the wrong side of an attacker.

D, Robin Jansson, 6 — Jansson may not have had his best game, but he was solid as usual. He had one block, one interception, seven clearances, and an 87% passing rate. He helped to clog up the middle to stifle Houston’s attack, and ranged up field effectively.

D, Lamine Sané, 6 — Along with Jansson, Sané was effective for most of the match, though he did commit the foul in the 37th minute that led to a free kick for Houston. He was also beaten in the 66th minute, but the shot wasn’t on target. Houston was forced to move the ball to the outside to beat Orlando City. He finished with one block, two interceptions, two clearances, and an 89% passing rate.

D, Ruan, 5 — Ruan tried to use his considerable speed up the right side, but the Lions weren’t able to convert any of his crosses. Unfortunately, once Houston started concentrating on the wings, he wasn’t as effective, though better than Miller on the other side. Ruan had one clearance, and an 80% passing rate. He got turned inside out on the second Houston goal. It wasn’t his best match, but he wasn’t alone in that.

MF, Cristian Higuita, 6.5 — Higuita was the defensive midfield linchpin for the Lions. He was directing traffic, helping Orlando to play out of the back, and generally keeping things organized. He earned the foul that led to Orlando’s goal, and also earned a yellow card for himself. Higuita finished with one tackle, one interception, three clearances, and a 97% passing rate on 37 passes. The biggest indication of how important Higuita was in this match is what happened after he was subbed off.

MF, Sebas Méndez, 5.5 — Sebas had a 96% passing rate on more than 60 passes, but many of those were just giving the ball back to whichever player passed the ball to him. Despite touching the ball a ton, he didn’t do much to help with the Lions’ attack, especially once the team was playing from behind.

MF, Will Johnson, 6 — Mr. Hustle put in his usual shift, working both the defensive and offensive sides of the match. Johnson had one shot in the 31st minute, but it sailed off to the left. Johnson had one interception, one clearance, and a 94% passing rate on 32 passes.

F, Nani, 6 — Nani wasn’t able to take over the match this week, and the Lions paid for it. While not as good as last week, he did earn the corner in 58th minute. He also took a free kick in the 77th minute, as Orlando struggled to get back into the match, but neither set piece was converted. Nani had no shots or assists this week, and had an 88% passing rate. He did still draw defenders when in the attack, but didn’t have the same sharpness as last match.

F, Dom Dwyer, 7 (MotM) —  For the second match in a row, Dwyer scored a goal. This header came from Mauricio Pereyra’s free kick, and put Orlando City up early. He had another good chance in the 20th minute, but it was saved. With five of Orlando’s seven shots, and all three of the shots on target, Dwyer had a good night. He also made a kick save of his own in 56th minute, and had an 83% passing rate. Dom did his usual work in the area to try to create chances, but he wasn’t able to find another goal to help out the Lions. Despite this, he gets my Man of the Match.

F, Mauricio Pereyra, 6.5 — Pereyra continues to show his quality, and Orlando City wishes he was 90 minutes fit. It was his fantastic delivery on the free kick to Dom for the Lions’ goal in the sixth minute. Pererya had one interception, one clearance, and an 82% passing rate. He came off in the 63rd minute, and Orlando City missed his creativity.

Substitutes

F, Tesho Akindele (63’), 5.5 — Akindele was subbed on for Pereyra, and couldn’t replicate the creativity of Mauricio. Neither was he able to find the back of the goal. No shots taken, and an 82% passing rate might not sound great, but Orlando City was chasing the match soon after he came on.

MF, Carlos Ascues (64’), 4.5 — Ascues subbed in for slightly injured Higuita, and was not able to truly replace him. It wasn’t until Higuita was gone that Houston was finally able to break through. Ascues finished with an 86% passing rate on 14 passes. Frankly, he looked lost, and the center didn’t hold, though he did force a diving save late in the match on a decent shot.

F, Chris Mueller (85’), N/A — Despite coming on late, Mueller tried to be the super sub, but might have tried a bit too hard. He tried to dribble through most of the Houston defense, and it just didn’t happen. Mueller had seven touches and an 86% passing rate.

That’s how I saw things. What were your thoughts on the 2-1 loss to the Houston Dynamo? Who was your Man of the Match? Be sure to vote in the poll below!

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Dom Dwyer12
Mauricio Pereyra10
Nani0
Cristian Higuita14
Will Johnson1
Other4

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Lion Links: 6/5/25

MLS All-Star voting update, Kerry Abello shines with USWNT, Sergio Zapata earns recognition, and more.

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20 hours ago

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June 5, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this week has been treating you well as we enjoy some international soccer and prepare for the return of NWSL action this weekend. Before we jump right into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando City B midfielder Dylan Judelson!

Pair of Lions Lead MLS All-Star Voting

Voting for this year’s MLS All-Star Game remains underway and an update was provided on which players are leading at each position. Orlando City defender Alex Freeman leads all right backs as he enjoys a breakout season. I was aware of the buzz he’s been getting this year, but it’s still surprising to see a Lion as an All-Star frontrunner. What’s even more surprising is that Pedro Gallese leads the voting for goalkeepers. The Peruvian made a rough gaffe last week, but has otherwise had a stellar season with Orlando that’s included seven clean sheets. Voting will close on June 11, so make sure to get those votes in before then.

Kerry Abello Impresses With USMNT

Orlando Pride defender Kerry Abello made her first appearance for the United States Women’s National Team Tuesday, playing every minute of the 4-0 win over Jamaica. The versatility she’s shown with the Pride translated well in Head Coach Emma Hayes’ system, as she was able to hold things down defensively and contribute to the attack as well. Abello could end up bringing solid depth to the USWNT as Hayes figures out the team’s future core of players. Enjoy this video from the USWNT that provides a look behind the scenes of Abello’s international debut.

Sergio Zapata Named Player of the Month

Sergio Zapata scored a whopping 11 goals for Orlando City’s U-19 team over the course of just four matches in May, winning the honor of MLS NEXT Player of the Month. He had three hat tricks last month, including one against Hoosier Premier at MLS NEXT Fest. Zapata committed to Cornell, so hopefully we’ll get to see him tear it up in the Ivy League over the next couple of years.

Zack Steffen Sustains Knee Injury

Goalkeeper Zack Steffen injured his knee at the United States Men’s National Team’s training camp and will reportedly miss this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup. It’s rough news for the 30-year-old, as he was expected to compete with Matt Turner for the starting job with the USMNT. He’s been having a great season with the Colorado Rapids and returned to the club for further evaluation on the injury.

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That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 6/4/25

USWNT wins as Abello gets first cap, Orlando Pride’s Concacaf W Champions Cup draw, Club World Cup in Orlando, and more.

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2 days ago

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June 4, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Tuesday was a busy soccer day, especially on the women’s side. We have plenty of Orlando Pride news, and the USWNT secured yet another victory. I’m hoping the good vibes continue since I’ll be coming down to Orlando for the Pride’s match this Saturday. If you’re going to the match, let me know, as I’d love to meet as many of our readers as possible. For now, let’s get to the links.

USWNT Blanks Jamaica

The USWNT defeated Jamaica 4-0 in a friendly at Energizer Park in St. Louis. The Orlando Pride’s Kerry Abello got her first start and her first cap in the match. She went the full 90 minutes and almost had her first international goal in the second half, but the chance went a bit wide of the right post. Ally Sentnor and Lynn Biyendolo each scored a brace as the U.S. rolled to an easy win.

Pride Internationals

Abello wasn’t the only Pride player to make an international appearance. Marta returned to international duty for Brazil getting the start and the captain’s armband in a 2-1 win over Japan. Both Grace Chanda and Barbra Banda started for Zambia in the 2-0 loss to South Africa in the Three Nations Challenge. Congratulations are also due to Zara Chavoshi, who earned her first cap with the Canadian Women’s National Team in the match against Haiti.

Concacaf W Champions Cup Draw

The Concacaf W Champions Cup draw happened yesterday and the Orlando Pride are in Group A with Club America Femenil, CF Pachuca Femenil, LD Alajuelense, and Chorrillo FC. Group B consists of NJ/NY Gotham FC, the Washington Spirit, CF Monterrey Femenil, Vancouver Rise FC Academy, and Alianza Women FC. The competition kicks off Aug. 19-21.

FIFA Loves Orlando

FIFA President Gianni Infantino sat for an interview with Jamie Seh of WKMG Orlando. Infantino spoke about the upcoming Club World Cup matches at Inter&Co Stadium and Camping World Stadium. FIFA loves Orlando enough for the city to host the Club World Cup, but not the actual World Cup. Here is the schedule for the matches in Orlando. We will be bringing you coverage of these matches.

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That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the return of the Orlando Pride this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 6/3/25

Orlando City B announces signings, details of Concacaf W Champions Cup, UEFA Nations League preview, and more.

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3 days ago

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June 3, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

Good morning, everyone. It’s been a pretty brutal last two games for Orlando City, there’s no getting around that fact. While it’s never fun to not have the team in action, a two-week break between games maybe isn’t the worst thing in this particular case. Even though it’ll be a minute before the Lions are back in action, we still have plenty of things to talk about, so let’s get into today’s links.

Orlando City B Announces Signings

Orlando City B announced on Monday that it has signed Clovis Archange and Jackson Platts to MLS NEXT Pro contracts. The pair are graduates of the Orlando City Development Academy and were part of the team that won the U-18 Generation Adidas Cup earlier this year. The 18-year-old Platts captained the team in the final, while Archange was named as one of the players to watch before the tournament started. They’ve both featured for their countries at the youth level, with Platts appearing for the United States U-16 and U-18 teams, and Archange suiting up for Canada’s U-17 side. Congratulations to both players!

Concacaf Announces W Champions Cup Details

Concacaf has named the 10 teams that will participate 2025-2026 Concacaf W Champions Cup and has announced the pots for tonight’s draw. The Orlando Pride are one of three American teams participating in the second year of the competition, and have been placed into Pot 2. Teams will be divided into two groups of five, with each team facing every club in its group once, and the top two sides from each group then advancing to the semifinals. The winner gets a spot in the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, and the FIFA Women’s Club World Cup, which is set to be held for the first time in 2028. The draw takes place tonight at 8 p.m.

UEFA Nations League Preview

The UEFA Nations League returns this week, with the semifinals set for tomorrow and Thursday, and the third-place game and final taking place on Sunday. Things get started on Wednesday afternoon with Germany facing off against Portugal in Munich. Germany put away Italy 5-4 on aggregate in the quarterfinals to get to the semis for the first time, while Portugal beat Denmark 5-2, and is hunting for its second Nations League trophy. Thursday has Spain taking on France in Stuttgart. The Spanish beat the Netherlands on penalties in the semis to get here, while France took out Croatia on penalties to punch its ticket. There’s plenty of recent history in this one as these teams also met in the semifinals of Euro 2024 last year, with Spain claiming a 2-1 win.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

The transfer rumor mill has kicked into full swing, so let’s catch up on some of the big talking points. Starting in England, Manchester United has reportedly increased its interest in Brian Mbuemo, with the Brentford forward said to also be interested in moving to the club. There are said to be a number of Premier League teams interested in signing Southampton midfielder Tyler Dibling after his team was relegated to the Championship this season. Jobe Bellingham will reportedly follow in his brother Jude’s footsteps, as he’s reportedly decided to join Borussia Dortmund. Finally, Inter Milan is reportedly interested in signing Marcus Rashford as the Italians look to rebuild the squad following a brutal defeat in the UEFA Champions League final.

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  • Here’s a first look at Alex Freeman in his USMNT kit:

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

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