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Orlando City vs. Real Salt Lake: Final Score 0-0 as Lions Held at Home on Opening Day

Without Nani and Dom Dwyer, the offense was asleep at the switch in a scoreless draw against RSL.

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5 years ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Without Dom Dwyer or Nani in the lineup, Orlando City failed to find the net, drawing Real Salt Lake 0-0 in the 2020 season opener at Exploria Stadium. The Lions seemed to generate the bulk of the chances in the game but lacked sharpness in putting those chances away. On the other hand, their own net was rarely threatened in the match, as the team stayed well organized and pressed well at times throughout the 90 minutes.

Orlando (0-0-1, 1 point) has now drawn in five of the team’s six MLS openers and is 1-0-5 in opening day matches and 2-1-3 in the series against RSL (0-0-1, 1 point) — and 1-0-2 at home against the Utah side.

“We could not put the ball in the back of the net unfortunately,” Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “But the performance was very right and our players had a great effort and the intensity and the passion that I want to see from this team was on the pitch and I’m very proud.”

“I think we played well,” said midfielder Junior Urso, who wore the captain’s armband with Nani suspended. “We controlled the game. Sometimes they got the ball but they don’t make danger for us. But we have to be better.”

Despite the graphic below, Orlando appeared to mostly be in a 4-2-3-1 to start the game. Pedro Gallese got his first start in goal for the Lions, behind an expected back line of Joao Moutinho, Robin Jansson, Antonio Carlos, and Ruan. Sebas Mendez and Urso patrolled central midfield behind Benji Michel, Mauricio Pereyra, and Chris Mueller, with Tesho Akindele up top.

The first half was a cagey affair. Orlando City fashioned more chances than the visitors but mostly of the half-chance variety.

The big talking point of the first half happened five minutes in, when Pereyra sent a ball over the top for Akindele, who went down under contact as he was attempting to get a foot on the ball. Rubiel Vazquez did not signal to the penalty spot and the teams played on.

Orlando had perhaps its best chance of the first half in the 17th minute, when Ruan shook free on the right, cut inside, then sent a cross to Mueller, who was unable to get a foot to the ball between the RSL defenders.

A minute later Pereyra sent a shot toward goal that was blocked just wide by Marcelo Silva. In the 19th, Ruan found Mendez at the top of the area but the Colombian stabbed his shot over the goal.

Most of the remainder of the first half consisted of Orlando winning corners or getting up the wings and sending in crosses — only to see RSL’s center backs head the ball to safety. RSL’s best chance came on a shot from distance by Aaron Herrera that Gallese scooped up on the bounce in the 44th minute. It was El Pulpo’s first MLS save.

Orlando held 51.3% of the possession to RSL’s 48.7%. The Lions attempted three shots to two by Real Salt Lake, with each getting one on target.

The Lions should have had a free kick just outside the penalty area early in the second half. Former Lion Donny Toia knocked down Michel by going through his back with no attempt to play the ball in the 57th minute after a good ball over the top nearly sprung him in behind. Vazquez did not see it as a foul from well behind the play.

As in the first half, the bulk of the play came in the middle third of the pitch, although the Lions were sloppier in possession in the second half with several careless giveaways.

Mueller had a great opportunity in the 74th minute to break the scoreless deadlock. He got onto a ball from Pereyra over the top, chested it to himself and volleyed it on goal but right at MacMath from a tough angle.

Four minutes later, Urso got onto a cross but his shot was deflected out for a corner.

The best chance of the night fell to Mueller in the 83rd. A great ball over the top by Pereyra hit second-half sub Robinho in stride as the Brazilian timed his run perfectly. Unfortunately, Robinho could not control the ball first time and the defense knocked the ball to the top of the area where Mueller had MacMath off his line but he sent a shot fizzing just over the bar.

Mueller talked about the missed opportunities after the match.

“The first one over the top I brought it down well and couldn’t really generate the power and direct it where I wanted it,” he said. “Second one…just yeah, I’ll think about it tonight for sure and I’ll score it next time.”

That was the last good opportunity and the teams left the field with the points split between them.

Orlando City led in shots (9-5), shots on goal (2-1), possession (50.7%-49.3%), and passing accuracy (79.2%-77.3%).

“We had everything there for the taking,” Mueller said. “I thought we moved the ball well, I think we could have had a little bit more quality in the attacking third, a little bit more patience on the ball to circulate and maybe find a better pass, me included, so I think that we’ve all got to improve and learn and focus on the next game.”

Pareja said he liked what he saw out of his team, although the Lions didn’t get the three points.

“We didn’t retreat. We didn’t feel like we needed to be sitting back,” Pareja said. “I felt that the team had that protagonist (attitude) that we’re asking them to have. I saw a team that always just had that initiative and we needed to walk out with more.

“Tonight I saw the team’s heart. And I saw the soul of the team on the pitch. That just (made) me more content but now we have to keep it because it’s a long journey.”

The Lions will hit the road for the first time in 2020 when they take on the Rapids in Colorado next Saturday at 9 p.m.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/21/25

Orlando Pride release preseason camp roster, scouting Costa Rica, women’s soccer transfer grades, and more.

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20 hours ago

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January 21, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone! If you had yesterday off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, then I hope you enjoyed some restful time off. If not, then I hope you got your week started off on a good and productive note. There’s a lot going on around here this week as the United States Men’s National Team is in town, and Orlando City will play its first preseason match on Saturday. That means we have plenty to discuss, so let’s dig into today’s links.

Orlando Pride Drop Preseason Roster

Monday might have been a holiday but the Orlando Pride were busy, as they announced the roster for their upcoming preseason camp. Almost all of the usual suspects from the 2024 season are back, as the Pride return 98% of the player-minutes from last season and every single scorer. Mariana Larroquette is on the list although she’s currently on loan in Argentina, and Amanda Allen is likewise included after her loan at Lexington Sporting Club was terminated due to a torn labrum. The biggest intrigue comes from the trio of non-roster invitees: goalkeeper DeAira Jackson, midfielder Aryssa Mahrt, and forward Simone Jackson.

Scouting Costa Rica

The USMNT takes on Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium to wrap up the team’s annual January camp. Like the U.S., Costa Rica is bringing a roster devoid of the majority of its important players. Costa Rica also has a new manager at the helm in Miguel Herrera, who will take charge of the team for the very first time on Wednesday. Herrera typically lines his teams up in a 5-3-2 where the wingbacks take on a very important role and the team looks to hit on the counter while staying compact at the back. This will be the last time we see the USMNT in action until the Concacaf Nations League semifinals in early March.

Women’s Soccer January Transfer Grades

January has been a busy time for transfers in the women’s soccer world, so which teams have done the best business? Well, the Orlando Pride received an A grade for signing Marta to a new two-year deal, retaining a player who helped the team win its first ever trophies. Liverpool got an A for signing Julia Bartel on loan from Chelsea. Leicester City made an interesting call by transferring goalkeeper Lize Kop to Tottenham despite just being a point above the relegation zone. The Foxes get a C for the move, while Spurs get a B+ for adding a capable netminder.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans taking part in some very important games over the course of this week. Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Juventus face Club Brugge today in the UEFA Champions League, while Ricardo Pepi, Richy Ledezma, Esmir Bajraktarević, Malik Tillman and PSV Eindhoven take on Crvena Zvezda in the same competition. Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will play Girona in the UCL on Wednesday, while Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Celtic take on Young Boys. On Friday, John Tolkin could make his Bundesliga debut when his new team, Holstein Kiel, travels to face Wolfsburg.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando Pride players reported for their preseason physicals on Monday.
  • Meanwhile, Orlando City took on the dreaded beep test during Monday’s training session.

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

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Orlando City

Striker Suddenly a Position of Need for Orlando City

Departures and a key injury mean Orlando City needs a striker heading into the 2025 MLS season.

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2 days ago

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January 20, 2025

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Image Courtesy of Orlando City SC

Orlando City reached the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in 2024, a milestone for the club. The core of the team was locked up through the 2025 season, so there was no reason to believe it needed to add much this off-season. Unfortunately, injuries and departures have created a serious problem for the team.

The group of forwards last year consisted of Duncan McGuire, Ramiro Enrique, and Jack Lynn. McGuire scored 15 goals in 2023 and was expected to depart for Blackburn Rovers before a clerical error allowed the Lions to keep their target man. The team’s primary striker scored 11 goals in 37 games — the same number as the previous season — but split time starting with Enrique. The Argentinian improved greatly in 2024, increasing his total goal tally from four to 12. Even Lynn showed tremendous improvement last year, playing a greater role in the team and scoring his first two MLS goals.

The future also seemed bright for the Orlando City forwards because of their ages. Lynn is the oldest of the trio at just 25 years old. Meanwhile, McGuire and Enrique are only 23, so there was no reason to believe this group couldn’t produce this coming season.

The problem at striker began in the postseason when McGuire was pulled down by Charlotte FC midfielder Djibril Diani in the final first round game of the playoffs. McGuire suffered a shoulder injury during the challenge that required surgery on Dec. 13. It’s expected that the striker could take four to five months to return to action, possibly leaving him out until May or June.

Another blow to Orlando’s attack occurred Saturday when Lynn surprisingly announced his retirement from professional soccer. In just over a month, Orlando City went from having three strikers to having just one as preseason training starts.

With McGuire injured and Lynn gone, one option would be to have Designated Player Luis Muriel play up top. However, the Colombian prefers to play a more withdrawn position and proved to be effective in that role last year. Since Head Coach Oscar Pareja prefers to play a 4-2-3-1 formation, the Lions need someone up top to control the ball and involve the midfielders in the attack. That’s not Muriel’s game.

The result of these issues is that nobody is currently behind Enrique when the season begins. If the Argentinian gets tired, hurt, or simply needs rest, Pareja is limited in his options. 

Whether there was a lack of strikers or a lack of goals from the position previously, that problem was resolved by the club’s all-time leading goal scorer. Facundo Torres scored 20 goals in 2024, becoming the first player in Orlando City’s MLS history and the second player in club history to do so. He went on to set a new club record for total goals of 47.

However, Orlando City sold its best player to Brazilian side Palmeiras on Dec. 20. It was a gut punch to fans as Torres had signed a new contract on Jan. 10, 2024 that ran through the 2026 season. There had been talk for the last couple of years that the attacker would look for a move to Europe and rumors of a move to South America arose this off-season. Still, it created a huge gap the club has to fill.

There are players on the roster that can make up for the injury and departures. Martin Ojeda had a strong season in 2024, finishing with seven goals and 13 assists. His seven goals ranked fourth on the team and his 13 assists topped the squad alongside Nico Lodeiro. Muriel came on strong later in the season, finishing with five goals and eight assists. But those numbers are a long way from the 20 goals that Torres tallied last year.

Even if you consider all goal contributions, Ojeda and Muriel fall well short of Torres. Ojeda had a total of 20 goal contributions in 2024 while Muriel had 13. In addition to Torres’s 20 goals, he added nine assists for a team-leading 29 goal contributions.

All of this information leads to one undeniable fact — Orlando City needs to sign a striker prior to the season. And there’s not much time for Luiz Muzzi to act. The European transfer window closes on Feb. 3 and many MLS teams have already been filling similar needs. With the season starting in just over a month, the options will be limited if the Lions don’t do something soon.

After the best postseason finish in Orlando City’s MLS history, things were looking good heading into 2025. While the back line and most of the midfield is returning, McGuire’s injury and the departure of Torres and Lynn have left the Lions in a tough spot offensively. If they don’t do something in the next couple of weeks, it could be a long 2025.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/20/25

Orlando City signs Nicolas Rodriguez, Jack Lynn announces retirement, USMNT defeats Venezuela in friendly, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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January 20, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope you’re all having a good holiday weekend as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Over the past week, I’ve been working and covering high school ice hockey. It will be a busy week in Orlando, with the United States Men’s National Team’s match against Costa Rica on Wednesday and Orlando City’s first preseason match against Atletico Mineiro on Saturday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Signs Nicolas Rodriguez

Orlando City announced on Friday that the club has signed forward Nicolas Rodriguez from Fortaleza CEIF in Colombia’s top flight. The deal is through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028, and Rodriguez will occupy a MLS U22 Initiative slot. Rodriguez made 19 appearances for Fortaleza, recording 1,607 minutes, five goals, and three assists during the 2024 Primera A Clausura season. The Lions add a young attacking player the club can develop and Rodriguez can play on the right wing, the right side of a three-man midfield, or in the No. 10 spot.

Jack Lynn Announces Retirement

Orlando City forward Jack Lynn announced his retirement from professional soccer on Saturday. Lynn was drafted by Orlando in the first round of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. He became a regular starter for Orlando City B, scoring a team-record 38 goals in over three seasons with the MLS NEXT Pro side. Lynn also won the Golden Boot with 19 goals during the 2023 season and became the first OCB player to be named MLS NEXT Pro MVP. He played sparingly with the first team, but he scored twice last season as his role increased. The Lions will likely look to add another striker for more depth up top.

Orlando Pride Acquire Allocation Money in Trade

On Friday, the Orlando Pride announced that the club has acquired $50,000 in Allocation Money from the Washington Spirit. In exchange, the Pride sent the Spirit a 2025 international roster spot. The Pride will face the Spirit in the NWSL Challenge Cup final on March 7 at Inter&Co Stadium.

USMNT Defeats Venezuela in Friendly

The USMNT defeated Venezuela 3-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday in a friendly. Jack McGlynn and Patrick Agyemang scored in the first half to give the USMNT a 2-0 lead just before halftime. Matko Milijevic scored the third goal for the Americans in the second half, with Venezuela pulling one back thanks to a goal from Jorge Yriarte. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has led the USMNT to winning four out of its first five matches since he took charge last September. The USMNT’s next match will be against Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium.

Alyssa Naeher Named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year

On Saturday, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was voted 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. Naeher won 40% of the vote, while defender Naomi Girma finished in second with 32%. In her final year with the USWNT, Naeher ended 2024 with 18 starts, playing 1,170 minutes and only conceding 11 goals. She played a crucial role with clutch saves to help the USWNT win the 2024 SheBelieves Cup, 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup, and gold at the Olympics in Paris. Naeher is the second goalkeeper to win the award since Hope Solo won it in 2009.

Free Kicks

  • Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has reached an agreement with the club on a record-breaking contract that extends his deal through 2034.

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

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