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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Inter Miami FC: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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6 years ago

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MLS is back! And Orlando City is back to its winning ways! It was a sloppy game, as was expected in the first game back, but the Lions walked out of Disney with a 2-1 win. Nani provided an assist and goal, and Chris Mueller also found the back of the net.

Inter Miami struck first, immediately after halftime. Orlando was the better team in the first half but came out flat to start the second period. The Lions kept fighting until the very last second — into the 101st minute — and kicked off the MLS is Back Tournament with a win.

Here is how each Lion did individually:

Starters

GK, Pedro Gallese, 5.5 — Gallese never really looked comfortable in net. He looked rusty. Still, he was not at fault for Miami’s goal, which was the only shot on target of the eight he faced. He made 27 passes and was involved in Orlando’s build-up some.

D, Joao Moutinho, 6.5 — Things were a little sloppy in the first game back. This was clearly evident in the 15th minute when he let a simple pass go right under his foot. He took a couple of big touches on occasion, and he wasn’t himself on the attacking end. He was fully deserving of his yellow card in the 38th minute. He completely missed the ball in a sliding challenge on Matías Pellegrini and took out Pellegrini’s legs. He could have done better on Miami’s goal, as he was beaten on the dribble, allowing his attacker to cut inside to start the final sequence. He was heavily involved in the attack and finished with 69 passes — the second most for Orlando — with a 76.8% success rate but was inaccurate with all three of his crosses. He had a game high 98 touches and tied Antonio Carlos for the team’s most aerials won (5) and most clearances (5). He finished with one tackle and a team-high four dribbles.  Given the circumstances, an overall solid game from the fullback.

D, Robin Jansson, 6.5 — The Swede made a fantastic tackle on Pellegrini in the 12th minute. Pellegrini was in on goal if Jansson did not make the tackle, and he timed it perfectly. Juan Agudelo stripped the ball from him in the 20th minute. Luckily, Agudelo tried to chip Gallese from midfield and sliced it terribly. If he had made good contact, it could have been the opening goal of the match. Jansson made another vital tackle in stoppage time of the first half. He finished with two tackles and four clearances and was Orlando’s best center back. However, he should have done better on Miami’s goal and put up more effort to stop the assist.

D, Antonio Carlos, 5.5 — His first tackle came in the 45th minute. It was not a great tackle, timed poorly, and not necessary. It allowed Miami to win a free kick just outside the box. At the start of the second half, he lost Agudelo in the box, and the forward buried it to open the scoring. Carlos should have done much better here, and while not entirely responsible, could have easily prevented the goal. He did not have any tackles, but he did finish with a team-high three interceptions and tied with Moutinho with a game high five clearances and five aerials won. He had one shot attempt and a 74.5% passing accuracy.

D, Ruan, 6 — The first time that Ruan got forward was in the 10th minute. He made a run down the wing and into the box and won a corner. That energy continued for most of the match, and Ruan was a constant threat down the side. He had an impressive 88.6% passing accuracy on 35 passes, including one key pass. Defensively, he finished with one tackle and two clearances.

MF, Uri Rosell, 7 — Rosell was very active defensively. He was constantly putting pressure on any Miami player that entered the center of the field. He did a lot of work off the ball to take away passing options and switched the field well, going 7/10 on long balls. He finished the match with three tackles, one clearance, and one interception. In attack, his 70 passes — with an 87.5% success rate — were more than anyone else’s, and almost doubled that of Miami’s top passer (Ben Sweat, 45). He put up a good argument for Man of the Match.

MF, Junior Urso, 5 —Rosell sat in the center of the field. This allowed Urso to venture forward when Orlando had the ball. Unfortunately, he did not do too much, and he was partly responsible for Miami’s opening goal, getting caught on the wrong side of Pellegrini. It was overall a quiet night from the midfielder. He had just 26 touches and 24 passes (87.5% accuracy) in 62 minutes, one tackle, and no interceptions, clearances, or blocks.

MF, Mauricio Pereyra, 6 — Pereyra was the best player for Orlando in the first half, but he was not on the ball often enough. He made a key pass to Mueller in the 22nd minute that should have led to a goal and was the Lions’ most creative player. He was a little quieter in the second period but was still Orlando’s most creative option. After he was subbed out, the Lions struggled to get the ball forward at all. He had three key passes, one shot, and was 90% accurate on 38 passes. Defensively, he chipped in three tackles, tying Rosell for the team high.

F, Nani, 7 (MOTM) — The captain was pretty quiet in the first half. He stayed on the left wing and dropped a bit deeper when Orlando got the ball. He attempted to take players on a few times, but he did not have a significant impact. He was poor in the 36th minute when he sent in a cross for Dwyer that was way too long. Nani probably should have shot, but the cross was poor as well. The second half started the same way for Nani, but then he stepped up out of nowhere. He made a good run down the left side and put in a perfect low cross for Mueller to tie it in the 70th minute. Nani’s second big impact came seven minutes into stoppage time. The ball was sent into the box by Moutinho and bounced off a Miami defender. The Designated Player pounced on it and scored the game-winner. He was quiet all game and didn’t have as big of a consistent impact as one would expect of him. However, a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win will get you the Man of the Match. He made one clearance and had three key passes on a 76.7% passing night. His three shots tied Mueller for the team lead, with one on target.

F, Dom Dwyer, 3 — He should have scored the opening goal in the 22nd minute after Mueller’s attempt was saved. The rebound went right into the middle of the field, but Dwyer’s feet got caught under him, and he fell. He didn’t get many touches, in part due to a breakdown of play in the attacking third on a sloppy night, leaving the game in the 63rd minute with just 18 touches and just a 54.6% passing rate. He added a tackle and a clearance defensively. Dwyer finished the game with one shot, not on target, and was unable to have a real impact in the match.

F, Chris Mueller, 7 — Cash was one-on-one with Robles in the 22nd minute. Mueller made a good effort on the net, but Robles made a better save. Mueller had another chance in stoppage time in the first half, but he took too much time. Mueller ended up taking a shot that was blocked and won a corner. He kept the energy going and finally got on the end of a ball in the 70th minute. He slid and tapped in the game-tying goal. Mueller led the team in shots (4), shots on target (2), and passing accuracy (96.8%), adding one tackle and an aerial won.

Substitutes

MF, Sebas Mendez (63’), 5.5 — The midfielder was another player who had a quiet night for Orlando. He did not provide much of an energy burst off the bench and had minimal impact in Orlando’s attack. He was just 79% accurate on his 33 passes. He did help out defensively and made two tackles with one aerial won. He picked up a yellow card on his only foul of the match, setting up a Miami free kick opportunity.

F, Tesho Akindele (63’), 4.5 — His first real action came in the 76th minute. It was a great cross from Mueller, but Akindele couldn’t get good contact on his header. It was a good cross and he should have put it on target. After coming on in the 62nd minute, Akindele had only one shot (off target) and no key passes; however, he did play a big part on the winning goal. After receiving a pass from Nani at the top of the area, he sent it back out wide to Moutinho on the left, then turned and made a run to the front of goal, dragging two Miami defenders with him. That left space for Nani, who was unable to get onto the cross, but had plenty of time to gather up the deflection and score.

MF, Andres Perea (83’), 3 — He was on the field for almost 20 minutes, and he had no stats. Zero passes, shots, dribbles, tackles, interceptions, and clearances. Typically, stats like that would lead to a rating of “N/A.” Seeing as he was on the field for 17 minutes, he should have done more.

F, Benji Michel (83’), 6 — Michel provided a burst of energy on the right when since he came on the field. He put a good cross in to Nani, whose header back across the grain just missed. While he did not have any shots, he created a threat to Miami. He was the most threatening Orlando player since Mueller and Pereyra went off. He won two aerials and had one clearance.

D, Rodrigo Schlegel (97’), N/A — Schlegel came on for Nani deep into stoppage time, just after the goal, and did not have enough time to impact the match.

Be sure to vote for who you thought was the Man of the Match below.

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Nani74
Chris Mueller42
Uri Rosell6
Mauricio Pereyra1
Other (comment below)1

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/21/26

Catching up with Daryl Dike, Antoine Griezmann’s impact, Giles Barnes leaves Orlando Pride, and more.

Published

11 hours ago

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July 21, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Good morning, everyone, and happy Orlando City matchday eve. It seems like an eternity since the Lions played way back in late May, but a competitive OCSC game is finally almost upon us, and we’ll have our first chance to see both a new face and a familiar one. We’ve got a lot to talk about this morning, so let’s get into the links.

Catching Up with Daryl Dike

Daryl Dike is wearing Orlando City purple for the second time in his career, and he took some time to express his thoughts and feelings about returning to the club where he got his start. He emphasized how much fun he had during his first stint with the Lions and said the happy memories from his time with OCSC were a big factor in wanting to come back. Despite Robin Jansson being the only teammate left from his first spell with the team, Dike spoke about things feeling very familiar and welcoming. Dike was part of the first Orlando team to ever make the playoffs, and he’s focused on keeping that streak alive for the club now that he’s a Lion once more.

Antoine Griezmann’s Impact

Antoine Griezmann has yet to play an official game for Orlando City,but he’s already making an impact on the team. Interim head coach Martin Perelman praised his presence in the locker room and highlighted the Frenchman’s humility and energy. He certainly brings a lot of experience at the highest level and has the trophy cabinet to prove it, so the club is hoping some of that rubs off on the Lions. After all, the club isn’t that far away from the playoff line, has a U.S. Open Cup semifinal looming in mid-September, and will begin Leagues Cup play in just over two weeks. Here’s hoping his off-field impact carries over onto the field too.

Giles Barnes Leaves Orlando Pride

Giles Barnes has departed from his position as an assistant coach for the Orlando Pride. The former OCSC forward has agreed to become the new head coach of Al Qadsiah FC, a team in the Saudi Women’s Premier League. Barnes had been an assistant with the Pride since the 2022 season, when he joined on an interim basis with then-interim head coach Seb Hines. He helped lead the team to the 2024 NWSL Championship and 2024 NWSL Shield. As a player, Barnes spent the 2017 season with Orlando City as a Designated Player. This will be Barnes’ first head coaching gig, and we wish him the best of luck!

FIFA Will Investigate Post-Final Clashes

FIFA has begun a disciplinary investigation into the clashes that took place at the end of the World Cup final, which saw several Argentine coaches and players involved in physical altercations with Spanish players. Argentina’s Nahuel Molina and Leandro Paredes were seen hitting Spain’s Eric Garcia and Rodri, while Argentine assistant coach Roberto Ayala appears to have hit Dani Olmo. Lionel Scaloni and multiple players attempted to defuse the situations that were playing out, one of which included a verbal confrontation between Nicolas Otamendi and former Manchester City teammate Rodri. FIFA has opened a review of the postgame scenes, and suspensions could well be on the way for the worst offenders.

Free Kicks

  • Barbra Banda has been called up to represent Zambia at WAFCON.
  • Marco Pasalic was still absent from training as of Monday morning, amidst rumors surrounding a possible summer departure. Perelman said he will be back soon, however.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/20/26

Pride fall to Utah Royals, OCB draws Chattanooga FC, Orlando City signs Clovis Archange, and more.

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1 day ago

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July 20, 2026

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Image of Pedro Leao taking a penalty against Carolina Core FC.
Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been busy at work, but I checked out a Noah Kahan concert and watched the World Cup final while catching up with friends over the weekend. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando Pride Fall at Utah Royals

The Orlando Pride fell 1-0 to the Utah Royals at America First Field Saturday night. Narumi Miura scored the lone goal for Utah to secure the win, while the Pride have lost back-to-back matches after losing to Boston Legacy Wednesday. That result also dropped Orlando below the playoff line, as the club sits ninth in the NWSL table with 20 points. The Pride will return home for their next match against the Chicago Stars Friday at Inter&Co Stadium.

OCB Wins Penalty Shootout After 1-1 Draw vs. Chattanooga FC

Orlando City B drew Chattanooga FC 1-1 on the road at Finley Stadium Saturday. Pedro Leao scored the opener for the Young Lions in the first half. However, in the second half, Chattanooga FC scored the equalizer. The Young Lions won the penalty shootout 4-3 to earn a second point. OCB will be back in action at home Sunday, facing Huntsville City FC at Osceola County Stadium.

Orlando City Signs Clovis Archange to Homegrown Player Contract

Orlando City announced Friday that the club has signed defender Clovis Archange to a Homegrown Player contract with the first team. The deal is a three-year contract lasting through the 2027 calendar year, with club options in 2028 and 2029. Archange has made six appearances across all competitions for OCB during the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro season.

Latest MLS Transfer Roundup

According to Tom Bogert of The Athletic, there is no movement on the rumored Orlando City forward Marco Pasalic’s potential transfer to Hull City, but the English Premier League side has reportedly inquired about a loan deal.

The Columbus Crew have signed former Manchester United and Real Oviedo center back Eric Bailly. The contract runs through June 2027, with club options for the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 seasons. Liga MX side CF Monterrey is reportedly finalizing a deal to sign Chicago Fire forward Hugo Cuypers.

LAFC has reportedly reached an agreement with Hammarby on a transfer fee to move midfielder Amin Boudri to the Swedish club. Lastly, San Diego FC is reportedly finalizing a deal to sign winger Elias Achouri from FC Copenhagen.

🇹🇳 Sources: San Diego FC is finalizing a deal to sign Tunisia int'l winger Elias Achouri from FC Copenhagen.Achouri, 27, joins San Diego as a Designated Player. He had 5g/7a in 2,368 mins (37 apps) last year & played in all 3 games for Tunisia at the World Cup

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2026-07-18T16:37:04.314Z

Spain Wins World Cup

Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, Sunday to win the World Cup for the second time since 2010. Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez was sent off in stoppage time after committing a foul on Spain defender Pau Cubarsi. The match went to extra time, and Ferran Torres scored the winning goal for Spain in the 106th minute. Argentina was unable to find a late equalizer to send the match to penalties. Argentina was looking to repeat as champions but had only two shots in the game (both in extra time) and failed to record a shot on goal. As for the FIFA World Cup awards, Spain midfielder Rodri took the Best Player Award, while France striker Kylian Mbappe won the Golden Boot Award with 10 goals, the Golden Glove Award went to Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon, and Cubarsi won the Young Player Award.

Free Kicks

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

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Orlando City

Daryl Dike Returns to Orlando City, Signs Deal Through 2027

Daryl Dike is back with the Lions after being out of contract with West Bromwich Albion.

Published

4 days ago

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July 17, 2026

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Image of Daryl Dike posing in his Orlando City kit after re-signing with the club on July 17, 2026.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Striker Daryl Dike has returned to the club that gave him his professional start. Orlando City announced today that it has signed Dike as a free agent through the 2027 MLS “sprint season” with an option for 2027-2028. The club also had to send $75,000 in 2027 General Allocation Money (GAM) to the Seattle Sounders in exchange for Dike’s Discovery Priority and could owe the Western Conference side another $75,000 in GAM if Dike meets undisclosed performance metrics.

The signing gives Dike a new start after an injury-plagued career at West Bromwich Albion.

“Daryl is a player our club and our fans know well, and we’re very excited to welcome him back to Orlando,” Orlando City General Manager and Sporting Director Ricardo Moreira said in a club press release. “He brings a powerful combination of strength, speed, and physical presence, and his ability to hold up play, bring teammates into the attack, and finish chances gives us another important option up front. Daryl has already shown what he can do in our league and in this city, and we look forward to helping him make an impact again in purple.” 

Dike, who will wear No. 9 for the Lions, returns nearly five years since Orlando City sold him to West Brom on Jan. 3, 2022, for a fee reported by The Athletic to be around $10 million.

The Edmond, OK native was Orlando City’s first-round selection with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft. As a rookie, he started to see minutes on the pitch during the MLS is Back Tournament, making his professional debut against the Montreal Impact in the competition’s round of 16. From there, the striker out of the University of Virginia blossomed, playing in 35 regular-season matches with Orlando, including 30 starts, for a total of 2,547 minutes. He contributed 18 goals and seven assists on 63 shots, getting 27 on target. He passed well (71.1% in 2020 and 72.1% in 2021), providing 14 key passes. Dike drew 71 fouls while committing 40 and was never booked during the regular season in his time in MLS.

He also played in all three of Orlando City’s playoff games during his first stint with the club, starting all three and scoring one goal on five total shots (two on target). He suffered seven fouls and committed four, and picked up one yellow card in the 2020 postseason.

Following his rookie season, Dike went on loan to Barnsley, where he scored nine goals in 22 matches from February to May of 2021.

Dike’s play with the Lions in his first two professional seasons quickly put him on the USMNT radar and before he was sold to West Brom he made eight appearances and scored three goals for the United States at the senior level. He has added two more caps since for a total of 10.

After his sale to West Brom in the EFL Championship, Dike struggled to stay on the pitch, dealing with Achilles injuries that kept him off the pitch for long stretches. Dike managed to score 11 goals in 68 matches when healthy. He scored twice and added an assist in 24 matches in 2025-2026, starting six times, as he was finally able to get a stretch of games in.

“I’m thrilled to be back where it all started,” Dike said in the club’s press release. “Orlando is where I first got the opportunity to play professionally, and returning here feels like coming home. From the moment I arrived the first time, I felt welcomed, and that same feeling has only grown since I’ve come back. Everyone has been incredibly supportive, and I’m grateful to be back in Orlando.” 

What It Means for Orlando City

Dike fills a hole vacated by the trade of Duncan McGuire to the Houston Dynamo a week ago. It will be interesting to see where his salary slots in when the MLS Players’ Association reveals its next salary information. McGuire, who had his own injury struggles in recent years, made a base salary of $600,000 and a total guaranteed annual compensation of over $920,000.

The hope will be that Dike can both stay healthy and contribute at a higher level than McGuire was prior to his trade to Houston. The new scenery may do McGuire good and a return to familiar surroundings may similarly help Dike regain his footing. At just 26 years old, Dike is still in his prime years and there are plenty of miles left in Dike’s legs if he can stay on the pitch. Fans will remember how he tossed center backs around like rag dolls during his two previous seasons in Orlando. That kind of physicality will open a lot of room underneath for Antoine Griezmann and Martin Ojeda.

With just a year and a half on the base deal, this is a low-risk and potentially very high-reward signing for the Lions.

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