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Orlando City vs. LA Galaxy: Final Score 1-0 as Lions Struggle in the Final Third

Jonathan dos Santos’ 19th-minute goal was the lone score in the Lions’ 1-0 home loss.

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5 years ago

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Nick Leyva, The Mane Land

Orlando City struggled in the final third and failed to find the back of the net, falling 1-0 to the LA Galaxy in front of 24,712 fans in Orlando City Stadium. The Galaxy (8-5-1, 25 points) needed just one chance to find the back of the net, and Jonathan dos Santos’ 19th-minute goal was the game-winner as the Lions (4-7-3, 15 points) were shut out for the third time in their last five matches. LA snapped its four-game losing streak in the process.

“Obviously, a very bitter game for us to accept,” Orlando City Head Coach James O’Connor said. “A stereotypical smash and grab. When you look at the volume of chances that we’ve had, the possession that we had, I think [LA] had just one shot on target, I think it’s a really difficult one to take. When you look at that, it’s hard to say that we deserved to be beaten in that game.” 

O’Connor sent his team out with the same starting XI as last week’s 5-1 beating of FC Cincinnati. The back four of Ruan, Lamine Sané, Robin Jansson, and João Moutinho played together for the fifth time this season, and the chemistry showed as the Galaxy struggled to get many chances.

Orlando started the game as the better team and had all the chances early on. For the first 15 to 20 minutes, the Lions had all the momentum and it looked like Orlando would cruise through the match. 

Chris Mueller and Will Johnson both took shots from distance early on. Galaxy ‘keeper David Bingham saved Mueller’s shot, and Johnson sent his sailing over the bar. Moutinho and Nani had crosses punched away by Bingham.

It looked like Orlando would score in the fifth minute. Brian Rowe initiated a counterattack by quickly punting the ball to Nani into the final third. Nani was unable to find anyone with the low cross though. 

Minutes later, Ruan was taken down just outside the box. Nani and Jansson stood over the ball, and it was the center back who took it. Jansson sent the ball into the stands, but it was a good attempt for the defender. 

Then, in the 19th minute, LA scored against the run of play. Rolf Feltscher got down the wing, and Moutinho was caught too far inside to close him down. Feltscher sent in a low cross that was cleared by Jansson’s left foot, but Orlando was unable to recover the ball, and it rolled out of top of the box. Dos Santos made the Lions pay for it and sent a screamer into the top corner. 

After the goal, the momentum shifted to the Galaxy, and Orlando struggled to get chances. When the Lions did have opportunities in front of goal, the last ball in was too poor. LA did a good job of closing down whoever was on the ball for the Lions and the Galaxy sent two or three players to close down. Orlando could not break this, and it led to many giveaways. 

“We outplayed them for large amounts of the game,” said O’Connor. “We’ve had great opportunities. We just haven’t managed to take the final piece, which is the most important piece. We get into great areas, create opportunities. It’s just incredibly frustrating and the players don’t deserve that.”

In the 31st minute, it looked like Orlando would get back into it. Sebas Méndez was taken down in the box by dos Santos, and the referee awarded a penalty kick. Nani stood over the ball, and for the second week in a row, his spot kick was saved. This time, though, he was unable to pounce on the rebound. 

That was about all the action in the first half and Orlando went into halftime down 1-0. LA had one shot, one shot on target, and one goal — so a perfect conversion rate. Orlando had six shots (three on target) and both teams were converting 84% of their passes. LA had a slight possession advantage (51%-49%).

“The level [of frustration] is very high,” Mueller said. “We wanted to win that game really badly. Felt like it was really important at home to get the three points. We threw everything we could at them. It’s really frustrating not to come away with a win, but we just gotta keep moving forward.” 

Orlando controlled much of the second half, but LA sat back and defended well as a unit. Orlando got off 19 shots, 13 in the second half, but struggled to get many good looks. The majority of the shots were easy saves for Bingham. 

In the 56th minute, O’Connor took out Tesho Akindele and brought in right back Kyle Smith. Ruan then moved farther up the field, and into a winger position. O’Connor talked about how Akindele was tired, but also the need to get Ruan into a higher position up the field. 

“Ruan is really like an attacker anyway,” said O’Connor. “So for us, it was a case of can we isolate him one-on-one and get him into those positions, and he did an excellent job of getting in behind.”

Sacha Kljestan came on in the 67th minute and had a solid game. With his first touch, he sent in a cross to the back post. Smith got on the end of it, but Perry Kitchen cleared it off the line. 

Five minutes later, Ruan sent in a cross, and Kljestan just missed it. Nani was there, but he was falling and didn’t make good contact on it. Then, he sent in a cross looking for Ruan. The ball was a bit short, and LA defended it. On the corner, Mueller got his head to it, and Bingham made a great save to keep the score at 1-0. 

Orlando was pressing at the end, and it looked like the Lions would find a goal, but LA just would not break. Orlando led in shots (19-4), shots on target (7-1), passing accuracy (84%-80%) and held more possession (57%), but the Galaxy came away with the three points.  

Orlando City is back in action on June 1 when the Lions travel to Canada to take on the Montreal Impact at 4 p.m. in Stade Saputo.

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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. FC Cincinnati: Three Keys to Victory

What does Orlando City need to do to ensure a victory over FC Cincinnati Saturday at home?

Published

18 hours ago

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May 2, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City looks to bounce back from the disappointing 2-1 loss to Toronto FC Saturday night at Inter&Co Stadium. Cincinnati has twice as many points as Orlando City and more than twice as many wins. FCC has only scored one more goal than Orlando City, but with only nine goals conceded compared to Orlando City’s 17, it’s easy to see why Cincinnati is sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference.

What I’m trying to say is that the task doesn’t get any easier this weekend. What does Orlando City need to do to secure all three points at home against FC Cincinnati?

Accost Acosta

Cincinnati’s attack revolves around Luciano Acosta. The attacking midfielder has four goals and five assists so far this season. To put that into perspective, Duncan McGuire — Orlando City’s leading scorer — also has four goals but only one assist. If we look at the Lions’ attacking midfielders, Facundo Torres has one goal and one assist, Ivan Angulo and Nico Lodeiro both have one goal and two assists, and Martin Ojeda has zero goals and only one assist. Luis Muriel is still at double zeroes.

The defensive midfield and the back line must do everything possible to mark him out of the match. It’s not enough to keep him from scoring, they must also keep him from setting up chances for his teammates. Most importantly, the defense must do that for 90 minutes plus stoppage time. There is no room for the mental lapses we’ve seen throughout the first part of this season.

Break Through

Cincinnati is stingy on defense. As I mentioned above, the club has only allowed nine goals this season. The back line is formidable with the likes of Matt Miazga, Miles Robinson, and Ian Murphy. On the wings are DeAndre Yedlin and Luca Orellano. This is a tough defense, and whether it is McGuire or Muriel who gets the start, they must find the spaces in between.

Just as importantly, Torres, Angulo, Ojeda, and Lodeiro — depending on who is in at any given moment — must be able to thread the passes in for McGuire, Muriel, or each other to create quality chances. On top of that, the Lions must convert on those chances, which is not something that has been a strength so far this season. If the Orlando City defense continues to give up cheap goals, then the offense will need to one-up the competition when it comes to scoring.

Deal with an Unknown

FC Cincinnati recently signed Venezuelan forward Kevin Kelsy from Ukrainian Premier League club Shakhtar Donetsk. Kelsy comes in as an MLS U22 Initiative player and is eligible to play against Orlando City. Even though Kelsy is only 19, he has 68 professional appearances, including UEFA Champions Leagues matches. At 6-foot-3, he can be a challenge for defenders, especially in the air.

Kelsy hasn’t had much time with the team, but he could be a second-half substitution for Cincinnati. Given that Orlando City just gave up two late headers against Toronto FC, the back line will need to be careful that Kelsy doesn’t hurt the Lions in the same manner — especially if he comes on late when legs and minds are tired.

That is what I will be looking for Saturday night. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/2/24

The Pride win big, OCSC celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month, USMNT news, and more.

Published

22 hours ago

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May 2, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

It’s Thursday, Mane Landers. Of course, the name Thursday comes from Thor’s day, and as such, it isn’t a big leap for us to consider it Thorhallsson’s day. Though I suppose that is a bit of a mouthful, so we’ll just keep things the way they are, but do hold Dagur Dan close to your heart today. Also, let us wish a happy birthday to the Orlando Pride’s Luana. Despite the devastating news that dropped about her health earlier this week, we hope that her spirits are high and we wish her nothing but happiness today. It’s also Dagur Dan Thorhallsson’s birthday today, so we’re celebrating him as well. Let’s get to the links.

The Pride Dominate the Courage

The Orlando Pride defeated the North Carolina Courage 4-1 in a midweek match at Inter&Co Stadium. The Pride did indeed dominate the Courage as much as the score line indicates. It was once again the Barbra Banda show, with the Pride’s newest player contributing a brace and an assist on the night. It is the Pride’s fourth straight victory and the undefeated run continues.

OCSC Celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month

Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are doing their part this May to observe Mental Health Awareness Month. The club is sponsoring and attending events and forums available to the general public, as well as holding club staff workshops around promoting mental health. I have to say my favorite is the therapy dogs visits that will be available to the staff. There’s nothing as good for my personal mental health as the joy and unconditional love a dog can bring. If I didn’t have dogs of my own, I’d be really jealous.

The Billionaires Clubs

Orlando City and Orlando Pride owners, the Wilf family, are not the only billionaire owners in the NWSL. There are more and more owners and ownership groups that fall into that category. The influx of more money is a growth opportunity for the league and potentially for those owners. It’s a bit of a “rising tide lifts all boats” mentality for these owners as they do better when the league as a whole does better. It’s not just the owners who think so. The NWSL was ranked No. 5 on the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2024. I’m just glad the Pride are in the club.

USMNT News

I hate starting off a section with bad news, but Sergino Dest tore his ACL in training with PSV Eindhoven and will miss the Copa America. Dest will require surgery though there is no time frame yet for when he may return. The loss of Dest is a blow to the U.S. defense heading into the competition this coming June. The USMNT plays Bolivia on June 23.

In better news, Tim Weah provided the assist for Juventus on Arkadiusz Milik’s goal against Lazio. Juventus entered the second leg of the Copa Italia semifinal up 2-0, but Lazio drew level before Milik’s goal. Juventus advanced 3-2 on aggregate and will play in the final.

Free Kicks

That will do it for today. There’s plenty more soccer to come this weekend with all three teams playing. Check back for more as we get you ready for those matches. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/1/24

Mason Stajduhar was arrested, Orlando Pride play at home tonight, Colin Guske discusses his signing, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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May 1, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday and welcome to May, Mane Landers. Don’t forget that the undefeated Orlando Pride are in action tonight, so check back for our match preview and the latest episode of SkoPurp Soccer: An Orlando Pride PawedCast for additional pre-match coverage. In the meantime, let’s get to the links.

Mason Stajduhar Arrested Early Sunday

Orlando City goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar and his wife Tatiana Stajduhar were both arrested on disorderly conduct charges following an incident at a nightclub overnight Saturday in the early hours of Sunday morning. The couple were reportedly disrespectful to the club’s staff and got into an altercation with the security guards. Mason stated he was only resisting the security guards to re-enter the club because the bouncers allegedly hit his wife. Tatiana allegedly pushed the police officers after they arrived, and she was not charged with battery on a law enforcement officer. The couple were released Monday after posting a bond. Orlando City provided the following statement to WESH 2 News:

“The Club is aware that goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar was arrested early Sunday morning. We are currently gathering more information and will have no further comment at this time.”

Orlando Pride Host the North Carolina Courage Tonight

After a 3-2 win on the road last Friday against the Washington Spirit, the Orlando Pride are back in the City Beautiful and will take on the North Carolina Courage tonight. Unbeaten in their six games so far this season, the Pride have also won their past three games and sit fourth in the standings. They’re tied on points with a Courage team that beat the Seattle Reign Saturday. Orlando has scored at least one goal in every match this season. Forward Barbra Banda had a great performance in that win against the Spirit, so hopefully the scoring trend continues tonight for the Pride.

Orlando City/Pride Earn Golden Brick Awards

Have you enjoyed the new food options at the stadium? I know I have, and I’m looking forward to trying even more. The efforts made by Orlando City’s front office to feature more local food and beverage options did not go unnoticed, as the club won the Hospitality & Dining category in the Downtown Orlando Partnership’s 2023 Golden Brick Awards. The Orlando Pride’s 2023 Highway Woman Kit also won the award in the Arts & Culture category. The home jersey was inspired by the work of Mary Ann Carroll, the sole woman in the famed Highwaymen artists from decades ago.

Colin Guske Speaks On Signing First Pro Contract

Orlando City Development Academy player Colin Guske signed his first professional contract with the club last month and spoke on the importance of this moment in his career. The 17-year-old is now on an MLS NEXT Pro contract with Orlando City B, and he has started in nearly every game for the Young Lions this year. Both of Guske’s brothers have also played for Orlando City’s academy over the years, and he thanked his family for helping him reach this point.

“It’s awesome to represent the Guskes,” Colin said. “Thanks to my brothers for always pushing me through early mornings and late nights, always putting in the work, doing video sessions, everything. My sister as well, for always being there for me and my parents, too. They’re always helping me and what was the best for me.”

Free Kicks

  • Enjoy all of the sights and sounds from the Pride’s big win over the Spirit in the nation’s capital.
  • The Champions League semifinals are underway and Real Madrid and Bayern Munich played to a 2-2 draw in Germany. The second leg will take place on May 8 in Madrid.

That will do it for today. If you can make it out to the stadium tonight to catch the Pride in action, I strongly suggest you do so. Barbra Banda is about to take the NWSL by storm and you’ll want to see it in person. Vamos Orlando!

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