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Orlando City vs. New York City FC: Final Score 3-1 as Mueller’s Early Brace Lifts Lions

The Lions took it to NYCFC in the first half hour and did just enough to stay in front to improve to 2-0 in the MLS is Back Tournament.

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5 years ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Chris Mueller scored two early goals, Pedro Gallese made several big saves, and Tesho Akindele added some late insurance to lead Orlando City to a 3-1 win over New York City FC at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World. The Lions (2-1-1 on the season, 2-0-0 in the tournament) took a big step toward the knockout stages of the MLS is Back Tournament with a decisive win, improving to 6-5-5 in all competitions against the Pigeons.

It was the first time Orlando City has won consecutive league games since April/May of 2018.

“We had the personality to have a good start. And at the end, hold the result against a team who is well structured and has a lot of very good players too,” Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “So it’s a night to grow. It’s a night to feel confident about what we’re doing here. This was very well deserved for the players who made a great effort on the field.”

Pareja sent out a 4-2-3-1 lineup with no changes from the side that beat Inter Miami 2-1 last Wednesday, with Gallese in goal; a back line of Joao Moutinho, Robin Jansson, Antonio Carlos, and Ruan; Uri Rosell and Junior Urso in the defensive midfield; Nani, Mauricio Pereyra, and Mueller in the attacking midfield; and Dom Dwyer up top. As usual, the shape differed on the MLS site from what the club released on social media.

NYCFC’s Ronny Deila countered with his own 4-2-3-1, featuring Sean Johnson in goal; a back line of Ronald Mattarita, Alexander Callens, Maxime Chanot, and Anton Tinnerholm; Alex Ring and James Sands in the defensive midfield; an attacking midfield of Valentin Castellanos, Gudmundur Thórarinsson, and Jesus Medina; and Heber at center forward.

It took Orlando nearly no time to break the scoreless deadlock. Pereyra drew a foul from distance three minutes in and Moutinho stood over the ball. His delivery fell perfectly for Mueller to take first touch, beating Johnson to put the Lions up 1-0 in the fourth minute. It was Mueller’s third goal in four matches in 2020.

Six minutes later, Cash struck again. Ruan flew down the right wing and sent in a cross for Dwyer. The striker, a bit far from goal, noticed Mueller making a run and headed back across the box. Mueller made a quick move to round Johnson and slipped the ball home for his brace in the 10th minute. It was the fastest brace in OCSC history.

“We had a game plan that we wanted to come out with a lot of energy and try and catch them in the first 15 minutes. And, you know, we did that,” Mueller said. 

Orlando kept up the pressure. Nani and Mueller tried to work a give-and-go at the top of the area in the 17th minute but the return pass for the captain was a bit heavy and New York City snuffed out the chance.

NYCFC nearly pulled one back off a corner kick in the 19th minute, with Chanot heading wide on a near-post flick across the six. Gallese then made a huge save in traffic in the 30th minute on a second ball in after the initial clearance of a NYCFC free kick.

Castellanos got in behind the back line a minute later but sent his shot wide. It was potentially offside but no one knew that when the shot went just inches wide. Castellanos perhaps should have already been off the pitch after picking up an early yellow card for piggy-back riding Jansson and then later simulating contact on the sideline in an effort to get the Swede booked in return.

The game then opened up both directions. Nani sent in a cross attempt in the 35th that landed on the roof of the net. The captain then missed the net from a good shooting position a minute later.

New York City pulled one back in the 38th minute. Medina was given too much space just outside the area and he ripped a half-volley shot that gave Gallese no chance.

In the 41st minute Urso nearly got onto a Ruan cross at point-blank range but couldn’t make good contact in traffic. Two minutes later, Mueller came within inches of a hat trick, rattling the crossbar with a header in front.

That was about it for the opening half except for a few NYCFC half chances down the stretch. New York City FC out-shot the Lions (9-7) with each team getting three on frame. Orlando had a slim edge in possession (51%) and passed a bit better (86%-81%). The Lions more or less controlled the opening half hour but NYCFC came into the game over the final 15 minutes of the half.

Not wanting a repeat of last Wednesday, Orlando was on the front foot to start the second period. Pereyra forced Johnson to make a diving save on a shot from the left, just outside the area in the 47th.

On the ensuing corner, Moutinho tried a bicycle kick but couldn’t hit it squarely. A minute later, Mueller hit a shot that skipped off a defender and fell easily for Johnson.

From about the 50th minute, NYCFC’s high press started to pay dividends and Orlando City had trouble hanging onto the ball. New York City generated tons of corner kicks (finishing with 13) and set piece opportunities but the defense did just about enough to fight most of those off and when it couldn’t, Gallese stepped up and did it. He finished with seven saves on the night, several of the game-saving type.

New York City FC nearly equalized in the 62nd minute. Moutinho drifted away from Medina in the area and Ring’s cross found him. He squibbed the first-time shot attempt and it sailed harmlessly out of play. The Pigeons kept coming, with Ismael Tajouri-Shradi and Heber testing Gallese and then El Pulpo made an incredible double save in the 77th to preserve the Orlando lead.

Those saves loomed even larger four minutes later, when the Lions grabbed an insurance goal. A good bit of buildup began with second-half sub Akindele on the right, who fizzed a pass to Urso in the middle. The Bear sent it over to his right to Nani. The captain floated a back-side pass to Benji Michel, who blasted a shot on goal. Johnson fought it off but the ball hung in the air for Akindele to easily nod home from point-blank range. The Canadian’s first goal of the season bulged the Orlando lead to 3-1 in the 81st minute.

From there, Orlando had to see out nine minutes of normal time and 10 more minutes of stoppage time. New York City racked up several corner kicks and nearly pulled one back when Alexandru Mitrita found Gallese’s crossbar in the 92nd minute. NYCFC drew no closer than that and Orlando notched its second straight win.

NYCFC dominated shot chart, out-shooting Orlando 26-12 (8-7 on target), and flipped the possession around to keep 51.8% of the ball. Both teams finished at 82% passing.

Pareja said NYCFC added another midfielder to the press after Orlando’s early flurry in the second half and started getting on the ball more.

“We were spending a lot of energy, especially in the first half and I think we paid at the end,” he said. “Certainly the second half, they put a lot of pressure and we controlled it but I think they had a lot of volume too in our box.”

The Lions close out group play on Monday at 8 p.m. against the Philadelphia Union.

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Orlando City

Orlando City Signs Colombian Winger Nicolas Rodriguez

The Lions add a skilled young winger ahead of the 2025 season.

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17 hours ago

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January 17, 2025

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Orlando City has announced the previously reported signing of Colombian forward Nicolas Rodriguez from Fortaleza CEIF through 2027 with a club option for 2028. Rodriguez, 20, will occupy an MLS U22 Initiative slot.

“We’re very excited to have Nico join us here in Orlando. With the characteristics he has as a player, he’s someone that we feel really fits our model and culture at the club,” Orlando City Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi in a club press release. “Nico has a skilled left foot that makes him a challenge to defend, likes to take defenders on one-on-one, and has a promising future. We’re excited for all he’ll achieve here during his time in purple.”

Rodriguez made 19 appearances (all starts) in the 2024 Primera A Clausura season with Fortaleza, compiling 1,607 minutes, scoring five goals, and adding three assists.

“It’s an honor and a point of pride to be able to wear this kit, to be able to represent this badge, and it’s very important to me and to my family,” Rodríguez said in the club’s press release. “I’m excited about this next step along my journey.”

The San Jose del Guaviare, Colombia native joined Fortaleza’s youth team in 2021, making his debut in the Categoria Primera B against Boyaca Chico. After rarely appearing in his first two years, the 5-foot-8 winger became a regular starter in 2023, appearing in 44 matches and scoring eight times, helping the club earn promotion to Primera A. He played in 42 games in all competitions for Fortaleza in 2024, scoring eight goals.

What It Means for Orlando City

The Lions get a talented, young offensive-minded player who can help the club while developing. If things go well, Orlando City will be able to move him in the future for a great deal more than what the club is investing in him now, which is good business, but not at the expense of the team on the field. Rodriguez isn’t a like-for-like replacement for Facundo Torres — at least not yet — but he doesn’t have to be. The Lions could play Martin Ojeda or Luis Muriel opposite Ivan Angulo, allowing Rodriguez time to develop with minutes off the bench and spot starts during heavy fixture congestion. And, with an open Designated Player slot, there may still be a forward or winger brought in before the 2025 season starts.

In addition to playing right wing, Rodriguez can also play the right side in a three-man midfield and even the No. 10 spot. In Oscar Pareja’s system, he would likely project as the right attacking midfielder in the 4-2-3-1.

Rodriguez will occupy an international and U22 Initiative slot for the Lions. He’s a player with a lot of upside and with the financial investment of the transfer fee, coupled with the reports that Fortaleza will retain as much as 30% of a future sale, the club must feel good about his future. Fans should as well after seeing the video below, which shows Rodriguez has plenty of confidence and finishing ability, even from outside the box.

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Opinion

Likes and Dislikes from the First Week of Orlando City’s Preseason

Here are a few things that stood out from the first week of preseason — some good and some bad.

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21 hours ago

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January 17, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

The 2024 Major League Soccer season has barely had time to breathe, but Orlando City opened preseason training on Monday. If it feels like time has flown by, that’s because it has. Hell, we’ve already got a whole working week’s-worth of practices in, and things are only going to pick up from here. With that being the case, I wanted to stop and reflect on a couple things that I liked, and a couple things that I disliked from the first week of the Lions’ preseason.

Likes

The Boys Are Back in Town

First and foremost, it’s good to be back in soccer mode. Its always nice to reflect on fond memories from the most recent season — particularly when its a successful one like the Lions just had, but reminiscing only takes you so far. But now we’re getting daily looks at OCSC’s preseason work and are able to check in with the familiar faces we know and love while also getting to know a few new ones. Videos like this one are always nice and help build excitement for the games to come.

Games Just Around the Corner

Speaking of games, we aren’t too far from Orlando’s first game of 2025. The Lions will play a preseason match a little over a week from today on Jan. 25, when they take on Atletico Mineiro at home in the FC Series. It may be only a preseason game but it still provides us with our first glimpse of what Orlando City will look like during the 2025 season. We’ll presumably get to see some of the team’s draft picks in action and should get some clues as to how the positional pecking order is starting to shape up.

Dislikes

The Wait for Reinforcements

It isn’t out of the norm for Orlando City to take its time making off-season signings when compared to its fellow MLS teams, and that’s been the case once again this year. Granted, there are plenty of teams that have more spots to fill than the Lions and some teams are in the midst of outright rebuilds. Still, OCSC has several spots that are in need of strengthening, depth, or both, not to mention a Facundo Torres-sized hole out on the right wing. There’s absolutely work to be done, and while I’m all for taking the time to make sure you sign the right players, there’s also something to be said for giving those players as much time in preseason as possible to adapt to their new teammates and unfamiliar surroundings. Here’s hoping that some moves start getting made soon.

The Departure of Mason Stajduhar

I won’t lie to you guys, when the news came through on Wednesday afternoon that the Lions had traded Mason Stajduhar to Real Salt Lake for General Allocation Money and a draft pick, it was a tough blow and one that I’m still having trouble coming to terms with. Professional soccer is a business, and I understand that, but it’s tough to see a guy like Mason head out the door. The team’s fourth Homegrown Player had been around since 2015 and beat cancer, made his MLS debut, got his first MLS wins and shutouts, helped OCSC hoist the club’s first silverware as an MLS team, and got engaged and then married — all while wearing Orlando purple. As our editor Michael Citro put it, we watched him grow up from a teenager into a young man, and it’ll always be tough to watch someone leave who has been around for 10 years and has been a consummate professional for each one of them. I’ll miss him but wish him all the best.

What did you guys make of the first week of the 2025 preseason? Are there any things that you’re keeping a particularly close eye on as we begin building towards the match against Atletico Mineiro? Be sure to have your say down in the comments, and I’ll see you next week. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/17/25

Orlando Pride loan out Mariana Larroquette, USMNT gets ready for Venezuela, MLS transfer news, and much more.

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1 day ago

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January 17, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Happy Friday! Maybe it’s just because I’m a San Jose Sharks fan when it comes to hockey, but I sure do miss being able to watch Orlando City and the Orlando Pride win games. Thankfully it won’t be much longer until Orlando’s soccer teams are back in action, although I wish the Lions would make some moves to get us excited for 2025. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Mariana Larroquette Heads to Argentina on Loan

The Pride have loaned forward Mariana Larroquette to Newell’s Old Boys Women in Argentina. The loan lasts through July 1, so Larroquette may still provide some attacking depth for the Pride later in the season. This should be a good opportunity for her to get some minutes in her home country after only making four appearances for the Pride last season. Larroquette joined the Pride back in July of 2023 on a contract through 2025, so this is a solid chance for her to get some consistent playing time to showcase her talent before her current contract ends.

USMNT Prepares for Friendly Against Venezuela

The United States Men’s National Team will play its first game of 2025 when it takes on Venezuela Saturday at 3 p.m. in Fort Lauderdale. This is just the seventh meeting between the two nations, with Venezuela winning the most recent match 3-0 back in 2019. Goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez started for Venezuela in that shutout and is expected to get the nod in goal again, with Orlando City’s Javier Otero backing him up. The Yanks will be without multiple players who were called up, as Jesus Ferreira, John Tolkin, Jalen Neal, and Drake Callender will no longer be available. The USMNT will be back in action on Tuesday for a friendly against Costa Rica at Inter&Co Stadium.

Catching Up On MLS Transfer News

Every MLS team apart from Orlando City seems to be making major moves in preparation for the 2025 season. Austin FC is reportedly signing Albanian forward Myrto Uzuni as a Designated Player, which would trigger a $12.3 million release clause in his contract with Granada. Uzuni has scored 14 goals in 18 appearances for the Spanish club this season. Austin also added midfielder Nicolas Dubersarsky from Instituto in Argentina’s top flight. He will be a U22 Initiative Player and signed a five-year contract with the club.

New York Red Bulls left back John Tolkin was officially transferred to Holstein Kiel in the Bundesliga for a reported $3 million transfer fee. The New England Revolution continued to strengthen their attack, signing veteran forward Maxi Urruti to a one-year deal with an option for 2026. Atlanta United and Middlesbrough have reportedly reached a verbal agreement on a deal for forward Emmanuel Latte Lath, although Atlanta still has to finalize personal terms with him.

Chelsea Reportedly Leads Race for Naomi Girma

One of the biggest questions this NWSL off-season is whether or not San Diego Wave defender Naomi Girma will remain with the club. The 24-year-old is under contract through 2026, but European teams are reportedly willing to pay up to secure her talents. Chelsea is the reported frontrunner, with Arsenal and Lyon also in the mix to sign her. Girma is one of the best defenders in the world and was a major reason behind the United States Women’s National Team winning Olympic gold last year. Speaking of Girma, she will not be in attendance for the USWNT training camp in Florida due to a minor injury.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter followed through on her promise to dye her hair after a historic season.
  • In news that impacts Orlando City duo Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena, Jorge Fossati is no longer Peru’s head coach. Peru only won one of its six CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers with Fossati at the helm and is last in the standings.
  • Former Lion Chris Mueller spoke on the importance of mental health and the resources available to help.

That’s all I have for you this Friday. I hope you all have a fantastic day and rest of your weekend!

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