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Orlando City vs. Colorado Rapids: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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5 years ago

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It would be easy to look at Saturday night’s 2-1 Orlando City loss at Colorado and think, ‘same old Lions.’ After all, the team gave up a late goal to toss away points the way we’ve seen in the past.

And maybe that will prove to be the case by the end of 2020, but it’s too soon to tell if that’ll be where this year’s team ends up. But the team came out with a plan dedicated to stopping Kei Kamara. The Lions did that, but a lack of concentration late — always a danger when playing at altitude — undid a solid road performance.

So let’s have a look at how the Lions performed individually.

Starters

GK, Pedro Gallese, 5.5 — It would be harsh to lay blame at El Pulpo’s feet for the two goals Saturday night. On the first, Younes Namli exploded out of his midfield right down the middle and picked out a spot just inside the post. On the second, a low, whipped-in, outswinging cross came in at the top of the six, which is the dividing line on when to come out to try to punch or claim it. Gallese made three saves in the game, including a 29th-minute cannon shot by Keegan Rosenberry and a wicked blast from Andre Shinyashiki in the 35th. He completed six of his 12 long balls and completed 75% of his passes.

LWB, Joao Moutinho, 6.5 — It wasn’t quite as good of a performance for Moutinho on Saturday as he had in the season opener. As a wingback, he was asked to be part of the attack and he was. He attempted three of Orlando’s 14 shots. None were on target, but he sent one just over the bar in the 10th minute with his weaker foot. He also came within inches of picking out the far corner in the 36th minute. He recorded one tackle, one interception, one clearance, and passed at just a 61.3% rate. However, he did tie for the team lead with three chances created.

D, Rodrigo Schlegel, 6.5 — The Argentine played a solid match in his MLS debut until his calf started cramping late in the game. With no subs left, Schlegel was moved up the pitch because he could hardly move, and thus he wasn’t in his normal spot when Sebas Mendez conceded the late corner that led to Colorado’s winner. He completed 86.5% of his passes, including six of his eight long balls. He led the team with seven tackles and added three clearances. He was booked for his only foul of the match as he took a tactical foul to break up an attack. It was a solid debut, and he led the team in touches (67).

D, Robin Jansson, 6.5 — The beefy Swede was as solid as usual, with a team-high seven clearances to go with his back line-leading 89.7% passing rate. His one shot attempt was on target. He tried to close down Namli but there was no way to get there before the Colorado DP got his shot away. He was otherwise a calming influence on the back line and a leader on the field.

D, Antonio Carlos, 6 — Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play? Until Carlos was late in identifying Drew Moor as his man and giving the Rapids the crack they needed to break through, he was having a Man of the Match type performance. I knocked him a full point off for the final play of normal time. Carlos was largely tasked with shutting down Kei Kamara and did a good job of it. There wasn’t much he could do on the first goal, with Namli splitting straight down the middle of the midfield, about the same distance from Carlos as from Jansson. Since Jansson stepped, Carlos had to be wary of someone slipping in behind for a pass. He made a huge play in the 71st minute to deny a pass in to Kamara right in front. He denied Kellyn Acosta at the last second early in the match and later kept a cross from Acosta from reaching its target in the box. Carlos finished with a tackle, an interception, six clearances, and a 79.6% passing rate.

RWB, Kyle Smith, 5.5 — Smith had the first good look at goal for Orlando in the 19th minute and hit his shot well but too close to Clint Irwin. It was his only shot but it was on target. His passing accuracy was 77.8% but he was only one for five on crosses and two for six on long balls. He had a few too many giveaways in his own half for my liking, and Shinyashiki was able to have success in lulling him to sleep, then blazing past him. Defensively, he had one tackle, one clearance, one interception, and one block.

MF, Andres Perea, 7 (MotM) — The 19-year-old had an outstanding first MLS start despite getting beat in the midfield by Namli on the first Rapids goal. He was Orlando’s co-leader in chance creation, with three, got his first MLS assist on Chris Mueller’s goal, and tied Moutinho for the most shots on the team (three), getting one on frame. His 70.3% passing accuracy (0-for-3 on long balls) leaves a bit to be desired, but he also filled the defensive stat sheet, finishing with three tackles, three clearances, and two interceptions. He also led the Lions in aerials won (3).

MF, Sebas Mendez, 6.5 — It looked like Mendez would open the scoring in the 26th minute, as he freed himself up for a blast that sliced a foot wide of the right post. As usual, Mendez had a good passing rate (86.8%) but he produced no key passes and got neither of his two shots on target. He also perhaps could have done more on Namli’s goal but he looked to be jogging — perhaps starting to feel the effects of the altitude at the 64-minute mark. He managed four tackles and an interception.

MF, Junior Urso, 6 — Like Mendez, it appeared that Urso could have done more to help corral Namli before the first goal. The Bear was solid if unspectacular, with a tackle, an interception, and a clearance. He got his one shot attempt on target and passed at an 84.1% rate, picking up a hockey assist on Mueller’s goal. It was basically the kind of quiet night you’d hope to get from out of one of your defensive midfielders.

F, Benji Michel, 5 — It’s not ideal when your two forwards combine for one shot and don’t get that one on frame. Michel had no shot attempts. But he did manage two key passes to stay involved in the attack. However, he was loose with the ball, with three unsteady touches, and was dispossessed twice — both team highs. His passing accuracy was decent (78.6%) but on only 14 attempts — the fewest of all Orlando’s starters — and he had only 25 touches in 78 minutes. He registered no defensive statistics.

F, Tesho Akindele, 5 — Akindele wasn’t as involved in the attack as you’d like. He fired one shot but it wasn’t on frame. He did manage 42 touches and passed well (84.4%), winning one aerial. He didn’t register a key pass but he did contribute a tackle and an interception. It wasn’t a bad night for Tesho — just a quiet one.

Substitutes

MF, Mauricio Pereyra (72’), 5 — Despite coming on with under 20 minutes remaining, Pereyra managed almost as many touches as Michel. Starting on the bench due to a bit of a quad injury, he came in cold off the bench and still managed a good passing rate (81.8%). His one cross was accurate but he didn’t register a key pass, a shot, or any defensive stats.

RWB, Ruan (73’), 5 — After dealing with an illness during the week, the Brazilian speedster couldn’t go the full 90 but tried to make a difference coming in off the bench. He wasn’t able to put his unique stamp on the game, but he passed well (80%) and registered a tackle. He had no shots, key passes or accurate crosses.

F, Chris Mueller (79’), 7 — With only 10 minutes to leave his mark on the game, Cash did so. His terrific run off the defender’s shoulder led to Orlando’s tying goal in the 82nd, as he slipped the ball past Irwin, appearing at the time to rescue a point for City. He attempted two shots, getting the one on frame, and completed all three of his passes, one of which created a scoring chance. Mueller managed 11 touches in his brief appearance. He made one interception and won an aerial, providing the optimal spark off the bench.

That’s how I saw the individual performances on Saturday night. What did you think? Vote for your Man of the Match below.

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Rodrigo Schlegel3
Robin Jansson3
Andres Perea25
Chris Mueller36
Sebas Mendez6
Other10

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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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12 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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1 day 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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2 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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