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Orlando City vs. Philadelphia Union: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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4 years ago

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Orlando City managed to keep its unbeaten streak alive with a contentious 1-1 draw with the Philadelphia Union. With the Lions having a better goal difference than the Union, they captured the top spot of Group A. After IIsinho scored the opening goal in the 68th minute from an Alejandro Bedoya assist, Mauricio Pereyra bagged the equalizer, heading in Nani’s cross just two minutes later. The 70th-minute Orlando City goal was the final score of the match.

As stats go, the match was a really tight and even one. The Philadelphia Union managed 12 shots while Orlando City registered 10. However, if one side deserved anything more on the night it was certainly the Lions. Andre Blake had a terrific match, making six saves to ensure that only one of the seven shots on target from the Floridian side trickled into the back of the net.

The game was an enthralling one, here’s how each of the players performed.

Starters

GK, Pedro Gallese, 7 — While all of the praise will surely be bestowed onto the counterpart of Gallese, the Orlando City shot stopper can hold his head up with pride after an overall solid performance. Having made three saves, the Peruvian made his most notable one against a Jamiro Monteiro shot after a poor giveaway from Nani. Gallese held it down in between the sticks and continues to look an absolute coup for the lions. Long may it continue.

D, Joao Moutinho, 6 — The Portuguese left back had an overall decent game. While Moutinho started the match as one of the most dangerous attacking outlets, he started to fade as the minutes ticked away. Like his fellow fullback, Ruan, he found himself in a promising position on a number of occasions, but just could not quite find the killer ball. The goal from the Union came down the side in which Moutinho was deployed in, and he got sucked inside when the ball was on Orlando’s right side. He couldn’t recover in time to defend Ilsinho’s rocket.

D, Antonio Carlos, 6.5 — Antonio Carlos had a very hot and cold match against the Union. He nearly opened his account just before Ilsinho’s goal, smashing a header off of a Nani corner, which Blake saved onto the crossbar. Aside from his shot on goal, he registered five clearances, two interceptions and a blocked shot, won a team-high five aerials, and was a 90% passer on the night in his best outing so far in the tournament.

D, Robin Jansson, 5 — Despite an injury that looked like it could have been a serious one to the Swedish central defender’s neck, Jansson rolled it out and played through to the finish. Like Carlos, the defender had a solid and assured 90 minutes despite the Union looking threatening on a few occasions. The Swede won an impressive four out of five aerial duels to nullify the threat of Sergio Santos and Kacper Przybylko, and led the Lions with eight clearances, adding an interception and a blocked shot.

D, Ruan, 4 — Though Ruan got into promising positions on a number of occasions, the final ball of the Brazilian was far from its best on the night. Ruan did really well on an abundance of instances, using his pace to burst down the right, but unfortunately the last pass, which is the most important one, was absent from the locker of the pacey right back. One sequence seemed to be particularly frustrating for him in the 90th minute of the match. Ruan failed to release the ball next to the byline, holding onto it too long, he then kicked out at the defender in frustrating fashion, earning himself a yellow card. At 74%, his passing rate was the lowest on the Orlando back line, though he did lead the club in touches (90).

MF, Uri Rosell, 5.5 — The Spanish midfielder once again had an overall decent performance that did not pull up any trees, but got the job done. After that of Mendez and Pereyra, he completed the most passes on the night, helping Orlando City to maintain possession when mounting attacks. His most notable moment was when he committed an intelligent, transitional foul, preventing a counter attack from the Union. He rightfully saw yellow for his challenge. He tallied two tackles, three interceptions and an 88% passing rate.

MF, Junior Urso, N/A — Sadly, Urso was subbed off in the 19th minute after an injury that saw him actually leave the pitch a few minutes before that. Prior to Mendez coming on for him, he looked solid and dangerous in the opening stages, with perhaps the best play he’s shown so far with Orlando. The former Corinthians midfielder made two of his trademark, dangerous, late runs into the box that caused the Union trouble. He fired two shots, getting one on target and completed all five of his passes before sustaining a knock.

MF, Chris Mueller, 6.5 — On the night, the 23-year-old should have had an assist. Mueller excellently slotted in a terrific through ball to Mendez that the latter failed to score on. Apart from that, while some of the end product from the American was not at its best, he showed his typical industry and troubled Philadelphia with his tremendous work rate. The tenacity Mueller brings to the table is unparalleled in the side and though he may want to put on a cash value on heart, it’s priceless.

MF, Mauricio Pereyra, 8.5 (MotM) — Pereyra was the best player on the pitch before he even scored his goal. The 30-year-old dictated play throughout the game and looked a menace the whole time. The goal, in which the 5-foot-6 Uruguayan scored was not one that one would expect from the creative midfielder, but despite that, he took it incredibly well. After Nani crossed brilliantly, Pereyra got his noggin on it and poked it past the ever-impressive, Blake. The goal that Pereyra scored was massive on the night and even more so in the grand scheme of things. The header ensured that Orlando City finished top of group A. He led the Lions with three key passes.

MF, Nani, 4.5 — The superstar winger did not have his typical amazing night against the Union. While the Portuguese star did come up big with the assist, his overall performance was below par given his lofty standards. The shooting (two of three on target but both weak and right at Blake) and passing (65%) from Nani was below average and in truth, if he was a bit sharper, more may have been achieved in the game. There were a umber of instances were he fluffed his lines, such as when Tesho set him up in the 48th minute and he skied his hot. Let’s hope he is better in the next game. I’m sure he will be.

F, Tesho Akindele, 5.5 — Tesho put in a typical, old-fashioned number nine performance. The big Canadian up front had good holdup play as one could expect and helped his fellow attackers get space to showcase their brilliance. The moment where he put Nani in a dangerous area in the 48th minute epitomized what Tesho is all about. He perhaps could have played back to Pereyra in the 28th minute in front of goal but his shot was powerful and on target, but Blake was able to stop it. He was clearly tiring and Oscar Pareja made the right choice in subbing him off after an industrious shift.

Substitutes

MF, Sebas Mendez (19’), 6 — The Ecuadorian played the majority of the match after Urso came off injured and did pretty well in doing so. Though he should have scored in the 50th minute after Mueller set him up, it was not a terrible effort. And aside from that, Mendez had an overall solid display. He showed grit and determination in the midfield, taking more attacking risks than his partner, Rosell, who prefers a more pragmatic way of passing.

F, Benji Michel (74’), 5 — Benji played well and did not have much time to do much. However, the energy he provided in place of the exhausted Tesho was much needed. He completed both his passes and made good runs.

MF, Andres Perea (87’), N/A — Perea came on for Mueller but didn’t have time to make much of an impact in the match.

MF, Santiago Patino (87’), N/A — Santi came on at the same time as Perea and didn’t even register an official touch on the ball.

All in all, a draw is all that was needed and that is what Orlando City managed. Topping the group and doing so undefeated is no easy feat so we can hold our manes up with pride going into the round of 16.

Until then, let’s enjoy the rest of the group stages fixtures and put our feet up and relax. That’ll do for now pig, be sure to vote for who you thought was man of the match.

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Antonio Carlos3
Mauricio Pereyra44
Uri Rosell0
Chris Mueller2
Pedro Gallese8
Other5

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Lion Links: 11/14/24

MLS playoff predictions, Barbra Banda and Marta earn recognition, USMNT takes on Jamaica tonight, and more.

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4 hours ago

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November 14, 2024

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’ve been a bit under the weather this week, but it’s at least meant I’ve been able to spend more time with my cat and get some reading done when not hacking up a lung. But enough about that, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

MLS Conference Semifinal Predictions

Former Orlando City captain Sacha Kljestan weighed in on which of the remaining eight teams will prevail in the MLS playoffs. He predicts that Atlanta United can lean on its counterattacking and Brad Guzan’s goalkeeping to beat Orlando City when the two rivals face off in Orlando on Nov. 24. A key thing to watch heading into the match is if Head Coach Oscar Pareja switches things up up top given Ramiro Enrique’s slump.

Kljestan predicts a tight match between New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls, but has NYCFC moving on. He also has both the LA Galaxy and LAFC advancing in the Western Conference, which would set up a playoff edition of El Trafico.

Pride Players Make ESPN’s Top 50

ESPN unveiled its annual list of the top 50 women’s soccer players and a pair of Orlando Pride players made the list. Forward Barbra Banda is ranked third on the list for crushing it in her first year in the NWSL, scoring 13 goals to help the Pride win the NWSL Shield. Marta, who has not been listed in the past two years, ranked 26th for turning back the clock at 38 years old and creating 46 chances for Orlando this season. Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati tops the list, with Naomi Girma in second, Caroline Graham Hansen in fourth, and Sophia Smith rounding out the top five. There are many voters for this year’s list from around the world, including Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter.

Steven Moreira Named Defender of the Year

The Columbus Crew’s Steven Moreira was named 2024 MLS Defender of the Year after a strong season. He made 27 appearances for the Crew this season and was a key part of his team’s success in the Concacaf Champions Cup and Leagues Cup this year. Moreira also helped out offensively with two goals and four assists and was an All-Star this year. The 30-year-old beat out Inter Miami’s Jordi Alba and Seattle Sounders center back Jackson Ragen for the award.

USMNT Takes On Jamaica Tonight

The United States Men’s National Team will play its first competitive match under Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino tonight when it takes on Jamaica in Kingston in the Concacaf Nations League. Although the U.S. may be favored in this series, playing on the road in Concacaf is always tough and Jamaica tends to keep things close against the Yanks. Tonight’s match is the first of the two-leg quarterfinals, with the two nations facing off again in St. Louis on Monday. Hopefully Pochettino can get the team firing on all cylinders as it continues to prepare for the 2026 World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • In a rollercoaster of a match, the U.S. Men’s Deaf National Team fell in a penalty shootout to Brazil in the Deaf Pan American Games. The U.S. took the lead in extra time, but Brazil battled back to tie it, winning from the spot to reach the final.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/13/24

Orlando City’s international call-ups, Orlando Pride playoffs preview, NWSL Awards voting opens, and more.

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1 day ago

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November 13, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Orlando City might have to wait a week to continue its playoff journey, but the Orlando Pride do not. The Kansas City Current are coming to town this Sunday for the third meeting between these NWSL heavyweights this year, and I will be there. I hope you will make it to Inter&Co Stadium to show this Pride club how much we appreciate all they have done this season in their final home match of the season. For now, let’s get to the links.

Lions on International Duty

Several Orlando City players received call-ups for this international break, including Facundo Torres for Uruguay. Additionally, the following also got the call: David Brekalo with Slovenia, Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena for Peru, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson for Iceland, and Favian Loyola for Chile’s U-20 squad. All we can hope for is they all stay healthy and in form. Orlando City’s next opponent, Atlanta United, also had several players called up.

The NWSL Playoffs Continue

The Orlando Pride will face the fourth-place Kansas City Current this weekend after decimating the Chicago Red Stars Friday. There’s been a lot of drama between these two clubs, making this an intriguing semifinal match. The other match sees the second-place Washington Spirit take on third-place NJ/NY Gotham FC. While we get to enjoy seeing the Pride continue their NWSL playoff run, many clubs are now watching from home and working on next season’s campaign.

NWSL Award Voting Open

The NWSL has opened the “fans voting round” for its 2024 end-of-season awards. There are several Pride players who were named finalists, including Barbra Banda, Marta, Emily Sams, Kylie Strom, and Anna Moorhouse. Of course, Seb Hines is up for NWSL Coach of the Year in what should be a foregone conclusion. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get out there and submit your vote here. This is your chance to make a difference for Hines and these Pride players who have given so much this season.

Pepi is Ready

The USMNT will play its first competitive match under Mauricio Pochettino against Jamaica Thursday night in the first leg of a Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series. The U.S. doesn’t have a ton of options at forward, meaning Ricardo Pepi will likely get the start. The PSV striker said he feels he’s “ready to be the man.” It’s been years since anyone locked down the starting role up top for the USMNT. Let’s hope that Pepi is indeed ready.

Free Kicks

  • In unsurprising news, Charlotte FC’s Kristijan Kahlina was named 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Orlando fans are all too familiar with how good Kahlina is in goal. Honestly, Khalina is a very deserving winner.
  • England’s squad will look very different this international window with eight players out due to injury, including Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer.
  • The UScpMNT match scheduled for today has been postponed due to inclement weather.
  • Coventry City has its eye on Frank Lampard as a possible replacement for Mark Robins as manager.
  • We have unfortunately seen the last of Memphis 901 FC. It is a sad day, as we’re unlikely to see such a cool name with whatever Santa Barbara comes up with.
  • We’re sad to share that FC Cincinnati’s Marco Angulo passed away as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and teammates.
  • Finally, I leave you with Ally Watt solving a Rubik’s Cube.

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Pride’s playoff match against the Kansas City Current. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/12/24

Examining Orlando City’s playoff path, what to watch in the Concacaf Nations League, Lily Yohannes declares for the U.S., and more.

Published

2 days ago

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November 12, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City / Jeremy Reper

Happy Tuesday, everyone! The weekend couldn’t have gone much better for Orlando’s soccer teams, as both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride advanced after their respective playoff games, with the Pride dominating Chicago and the Lions getting a late, dramatic equalizer before winning the penalty shootout. The Pride will return to action Sunday against the Kansas City Current, while the Lions have a slightly longer layoff before they take on Atlanta United. As usual, we have plenty to discuss this morning, so let’s get into the links.

Orlando City’s Playoff Path

It was a wild weekend for the MLS playoffs as far as the Eastern Conference was concerned, and a slew of upsets suddenly means that the path to the MLS Cup final in the Eastern Conference goes through Orlando. The Lions are the highest remaining seed in the East, and not only will they host Atlanta Nov. 24, but they would also host the Eastern Conference final, should they come out victorious. Oscar Pareja spoke after the game about not wanting the victory over Charlotte FC to be the end of the playoff journey, and says the team intends to chase the MLS Cup. If Orlando does make it that far, the team wouldn’t be likely to host the match, as it would require Minnesota United to come out of the Western Conference in order for the final to be held in Orlando. Stranger things have happened though.

What to Watch For With the USMNT

It seems like we just had an international break, but here we are again with two more United States Men’s National Team games on the docket. These are two important games, as the USMNT squares off against Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals. Besides the obvious chance to advance to the semifinals, there are plenty of other storylines to keep an eye on. With Josh Sargent and Folarin Balogun both absent due to injury, can Ricardo Pepi seize an opportunity to lay claim to the starting striker role? What sort of impacts can Brendan Aaronson and Weston McKennie have in the midst of good starts to the season for their clubs? Last, but certainly not least, is Christian Pulisic, who has had a fantastic start to the season and will have many eyes on him in the first competitive matches under Mauricio Pochettino.

Lily Yohannes Chooses the United States

The United States Women’s National Team has landed a great young talent, as Lily Yohannes announced on Monday that she has chosen to represent the U.S. over the Netherlands. While she was born in Virginia, Yohannes has lived abroad since the age of 10, making her eligible to play for either country. However, she stated that with the United States being her country of birth, as well as where her extended family lives, she decided to commit to representing Emma Hayes’ team. Yohannes made her debut for Ajax’s senior side in November of last year, and has seven goals in 40 appearances for the Dutch team.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

As always, the transfer rumor mill continues to turn, which means we have plenty of things to catch up on. We start with Major League Soccer itself, where FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta has said he may have played his final game for the club. He cited frustration with falling short of silverware as a possible reason for wanting to move on, so he may change his mind once the sting has faded more. Moving to Spain, Barcelona is reportedly monitoring Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush as an option to replace the aging Robert Lewandowski. Arsenal and Manchester United are said to be interested in Leroy Sane, and will pursue him hard if contract talks with Bayern Munich don’t progress well.

Free Kicks

  • NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman had some friendly words for the Orlando Pride.

That does it for me today. Vamos Orlando!

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