Connect with us

Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Nashville SC: Player Grades and Man of the Match

Published

6 years ago

on

Orlando City’s win streak ended on Wednesday night, as the Lions tied Nashville SC on the road, 1-1. Benji Michel had a rocket of a goal in the first half, and then Randall Leal leveled it at the start of the second half. Orlando had the bulk of possession but was unable to use it to create good chances on net.

Here’s how each player fared individually:

Starters

GK, Pedro Gallese, 6.5 — He perhaps could have done better on Nashville’s goal, but it was a good goal nonetheless at a very close range. He made three saves, all of which were pretty straightforward. Gallese did not have to make any spectacular saves, but put in a decent shift.

D, Kamal Miller, 6 — Leal ran right by him on Nashville’s goal. Miller did well in the first half but was a little slow to start the second and got beat. He had one interception and one clearance. On the attacking end, Miller had the most passes in the game (88), and his 94.3% accuracy is fifth-best from both teams, but the left side was lacking its usual threat without Joao Moutinho.

D, Robin Jansson, 6.5 — The Swede came out hard, trying to win the ball to start the second half. After he missed the ball, Nashville was able to use the space left by Jansson to score. There’s not much Jansson could have done, as that is a move he is expected to make and not give up space in the middle of the field. He did not have much to do, and his one chance to really make a difference was Nashville’s goal. His passing was excellent (98.3%) and he contributed one clearance, 3/3 long ball accuracy, and won a corner.

D, Antonio Carlos, 7 — Carlos made an excellent interception in the 43rd minute to deny Nashville from completing a dangerous cross. He made another good spot in the 83rd minute to steal the ball, falling to the ground. Similar to Jansson, he was not called into action much. However, he was Orlando’s best defender on the night. He made four clearances and two interceptions and was 88% accurate on 67 passes.

D, Ruan, 6 — Ruan was not his usual self, and it was one of his quieter games that he’s had this season. He did send in eight crosses — second-most on Orlando — but had no defensive stats. Ruan did not make any significant errors, but he could have provided Orlando with a little more on the attacking end.

MF, Junior Urso, 7 — Urso must go to bed and dream about scoring on Joe Willis. For the second time in as many games against Nashville, the ‘keeper has come up with huge saves against Urso. This time it would have been the game-winner late in the match, but Willis came out on the better end. It was another strong performance from Urso, who helped to control the middle of the field.

MF, Uri Rosell, 7 – Uri did well in the first half. He was a focal point in the Lions’ buildup and finished with 35 passes and one key pass. He did not venture forward often. Defensively, he made three interceptions.

MF, Mauricio Pereyra, 7 — Pereyra was awarded an assist on the match’s first goal, chipping a Ruan throw-in over Dax McCarty for Michel to run onto and launch a terrific shot. That was his third assist of the year, all against Nashville. He finished with one key pass and 89% passing accuracy on 28 passes. He took one shot at the tail end of the first half that just sailed over the bar.

MF, Robinho, 4 — Robinho was mostly ineffective. He had no shots in 52 minutes. He did send in three crosses and had a 90.9% accuracy on 22 passes and contributed two tackles. Overall, it was disappointing for a player making his first appearance this season. He made way for Mueller in the 52nd minute, and Mueller finished the match with more successful passes, more key passes, and more crosses than the starter. 

MF, Benji Michel, 7.5 (MotM) — It was a quiet start to the match. Orlando was dominating possession, but nothing much happened until the Homegrown product put a banger into the upper 90 to open the scoring. That was Michel’s second goal — first in MLS play — of the season. He had a perfect chance to earn a brace in the 70th minute. Tesho Akindele back-heeled a ball in the box to him, but Michel took too much time, and Nashville cleared the ball. He was active on the defensive side of the ball. He finished with two tackles, two clearances, and one interception.

F, Daryl Dike, 5 — The rookie had a lot of hype surrounding him after an impressive performance against Atlanta. He was not able to keep that up on Wednesday. He did well off the ball and was physical but did not have much of an impact. He had no shots, which is obviously less than ideal for a striker, and managed just 16 total touches.

Substitutes

MF, Chris Mueller (52’), 6.5 — Mueller immediately took the corners after entering. He slipped on the first one, but the rest were pretty good and were sent into a dangerous spot. Unfortunately, no Lion got on the end of them. He was sloppy in possession, even though he got into promising positions. He had an impressive 95% passing accuracy on 21 attempts.

MF, Andres Perea (52’), 6 — Perea was quiet and had little effect in the time that he spent on the field. It just seemed like he never really got fully into the match. As a midfielder playing almost 40 minutes, that is obviously not a great sign, but he helped the Lions maintain possession and build the attack.

F, Tesho Akindele (53’), 6 — In the 70th minute, Akindele made a great run onto the ball and back-heeled it to Michel. It was an excellent no-look pass that Michel should have done better with. Tesho finished with two key passes but no shots.

MF, Sebas Mendez (60’), 7 — Mendez had 47 passes in just over 30 minutes. Since he came on, just about everything from Orlando went through him. He lost the ball a few times but was able to fight to win it back.

D, Kyle Smith (72’), 7 — His first touches in the match got him into an attacking position and a shot on goal. It was a difficult look, but he got into the dangerous spot. He put in a great cross in the 84th minute, but Joe Willis came up with a better save to deny Urso. He finished without any defensive stats but was deployed as a left wing back. He had two crosses, which were both dangerous. It seemed odd to take out a forward — Michel — for Smith, but it turned out to be an excellent substitute and shape change from Oscar Pareja.

That’s the way I saw things in the Lions’ first win over Atlanta. Be sure to vote in the poll below for your pick for Man of the Match and if you have some disagreements, let me hear it in the comments section below.

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Benji Michel20
Junior Urso8
Antonio Carlos7
Mauricio Pereyra 8
Other2

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/22/26

Martin Ojeda wins MLS Goal of the Matchday, MLS award contenders, sights and sounds from the Orlando Pride’s win, and more.

Published

1 hour ago

on

October 22, 2026

By

Image of Maxime Crepeau taking a goal kick against Atlanta.
Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

How’s it going, Mane Landers? The temperatures have gotten just cool enough here in Florida as of late for me to feel like it’s truly autumn. While it would be nice if our leaves changed colors to really sell the fall feeling, a pumpkin candle and apple cider have definitely helped. Let’s get to the links!

Martin Ojeda Wins MLS Goal of the Matchday

Orlando City Designated Player Martin Ojeda predictably won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his fantastic finish in the team’s 4-1 win over D.C. United, garnering 71.7% of the vote. Ojeda’s acrobatic backheel capped off a smooth series of passes by the Lions and it will likely be in the running for MLS Goal of the Year as well. It was Ojeda’s 15th goal of the season and he has scored in five of Orlando’s past six games.

MLS Year-End Award Voting Begins

The voting for this year’s MLS Year-End Awards has opened and the finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 12. Former MLS star Bradley Wright-Phillips weighed in on who he thinks the contenders for each award are and there were a few Lions mentioned. Antoine Griezmann is in the running for Newcomer of the Year alongside Houston Dynamo attacker Guilherme, who has 16 goals and 10 assists this season. Maxime Crepeau may make the list of finalists for Goalkeeper of the Year for his incredible run of form since the World Cup, but it’s hard to see him winning it given just how many goals the Lions have conceded compared to other teams. Justin Ellis was also an honorable mention for the Young Player of the Year award for his breakout season.

Sights and Sounds From the Orlando Pride’s Victory

The Orlando Pride released a video showing the sights and sounds from their 2-1 win on the road against the Houston Dash. The video includes huddle talks from Marta and interim head coach Yolanda Thomas, as well as the goals by Luana and Solai Washington. It’s been a difficult year for the Pride and it’s nice to see some highlights as they aim to close out the season strongly after being eliminated from playoff contention.

UEFA Champions League Roundup

The third round of matches in the UEFA Champions League’s league phase wrapped up and we’re getting a better sense of where the teams stand. Bayern Munich and Arsenal played to a 2-2 draw in Germany, with Declan Rice scoring a late equalizer for Arsenal. Elsewhere across Europe, Manchester United was beaten 4-1 by Como, Inter scored while down a man to beat Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0, and Austrian club LASK won its first Champions League game by upsetting Sporting CP 3-2. Aston Villa, Real Madrid, and Real Betis all won to remain perfect in the tournament as well.

Free Kicks

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

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/21/26

Justin Ellis recognized, the Orlando Youth Soccer Network expands, the USMNT adds a friendly, and more.

Published

1 day ago

on

October 21, 2026

By

Image of Justin Ellis dribbling the ball trying to beat a Philadelphia Union defender.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. The weather is getting a bit nicer. I’m actually able to have the windows open at night, which is delightful. However, the temperatures are rising a bit this week, which I find sad. I know we live in Florida, but gosh darn it, we’re only 10 days from Halloween. I should be wearing sweaters rather than shorts. I appreciate you allowing me to rant, now let’s get to the links.

Justin Ellis Named No. 5 of MLS 22 Under 22

Justin Ellis was rightly named to Major League Soccer’s 2026 22 Under 22 list. The Orlando City striker came in at No. 5 on the list. It’s not surprising, given the year he’s had. He’s busted into the starting lineup for Orlando City, and he has 16 goal contributions so far. He also received his first call-up to the USMNT, scoring a goal in his first match and two goals in the four-game window. He’s joined on the list by fellow USMNT teammates Cavan Sullivan and Julian Hall. This is his second accolade in the last week as he was also named 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Pathway Player of the Year.

New Orlando Soccer School Announced

Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are expanding the Orlando Youth Soccer Network with the addition of the Orlando Soccer School – Winter Haven. The organization is formerly known as the Winter Haven Soccer Club. The school will provide programming for boys and girls ages 3-19. This is an example of the top-to-bottom pipeline the organization is building to develop players for both the men’s and women’s clubs.

Orlando City B Season in Review

Like the Orlando Pride, Orlando City B did not make the post season in 2026. That doesn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t a success in other ways. Orlando City B is a developmental squad, and the reserve side did its job in developing prospects this season. Some OCB players made it into the first team, there were a record number of academy debuts, and the team saw several international call-ups. Given how inconsistent the squad was because of all the shuffling around, it’s not surprising the team struggled on the pitch at times. Hopefully, all the younger players getting time will set the team up for success next season.

USMNT to Face Jamaica in December

The USMNT added a friendly against Jamaica on December 13 in Miami. The match takes place outside of the international window, so we can expect Mauricio Pochettino to call up MLS players whose clubs have been eliminated from the playoffs. There’s also a possibility for some European-based players, but clubs are not required to release them. Prior to that, the team will be in action in against Haiti in the two quarterfinal legs of the Concacaf Nations League.

Free Kicks

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/20/26

Griezmann named Player of the Matchday, Ojeda up for Goal of the Matchday, Pride in the power rankings, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

October 20, 2026

By

,
Image of Antoine Griezmann celebrating with fans and Daryl Dike.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

Hello, Mane Landers! It was a great weekend for the Lions, while the Pride won but were finally knocked out of the playoffs with Seattle Reign FC’s defeat of the Chicago Stars. Let’s start today off by wishing Pride goalkeeper McKinley Crone a happy 28th birthday. It’s been a busy past few days, so let’s get to the links.

Griezmann, Ojeda Honored

For their efforts (and spectacular goals) in Orlando City’s 4-1 win over D.C. United on Saturday, both Antoine Griezmann and Martin Ojeda have received deserved honors. Griezmann was named MLS Player of the Matchday for his two-goal, one-assist performance, leading the way once again in what has been an impressive start to his career as a Lion. The man they call Grizi is up to 19 goal contributions in 14 matches. Griezmann was obviously also honored with a starting spot on the MLS Team of the Matchday, joining fellow Lion Martin Ojeda, who chipped in a goal and an assist against D.C. And what a goal it was! Ojeda’s crazy, leaping, spinning backheel goal from Griezmann’s chipped pass over the top is deservedly up for MLS Goal of the Matchday. There’s still time to cast your vote on Twitter.

In addition to Goal of the Matchday, Ojeda’s magical moment will likely be up for MLS Goal of the Year. Marco Pasalic’s late insurance goal was also important, and it gave the Lions a goal from all three Designated Players in the same game.

Lions Deemed Powerful, Entertaining

Orlando City is up to No. 9 in the latest version of the ESPN MLS power rankings after Wednesday’s road draw in Toronto and Saturday’s lopsided home win over D.C. United. It’s been a long climb up those power rankings, just like it’s been a long climb above the playoff line after Orlando’s terrible start to the season. The Lions still have a lot to do to secure a postseason spot, but at least at home, they’ve been strong in the second half of the season.

Additionally, the Lions are an entertaining watch, win or lose, according to Joseph Lowery over at the league’s website. Lowery’s argument is compelling, noting that both the Orlando attack and the defense keep things exciting by either scoring or conceding in bunches. He also notes the number of ways the Lions can operate with personnel moving around to give the team multiple attacking options.

Pride in the Power Rankings

The Orlando Pride picked up a 2-1 win in Houston on a big day from Solai Washington, but it wasn’t enough to keep the team in contention for the postseason as Seattle defeated Chicago to seal the Pride’s fate. In addition to the Pride being 11th in the standings after the win, the latest version of ESPN’s NWSL power rankings have them in the same spot, which seems fair. Orlando will play out the string starting Sunday with a matinee against first-place Gotham FC before finishing the season on Nov. 1 at Seattle.

Americans Abroad in European Tournaments

Several Americans will be in action this week, so make sure you’ve got all the games you need to see written down somewhere, so you won’t miss any of the action. Tyler Adams faces Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah in Europa League action Thursday as AC Milan travels to AFC Bournemouth. Chris Richards and Crystal Palace also play in a Europa League tilt against Besiktas, and the defense is being held up as a reason for their struggles. Tanner Tessman is also one to look for in Lyon’s matchup against Hoffenheim in a Europa League tilt. Villarreal heads to Liverpool in Champions League action and we’ll see if the club’s manager continues to ride Alex Freeman’s hot run as he has yet to start a Champions League game.

Free Kicks

That’s the wrapup for today. Check back with us tomorrow for more futbol news.

Continue Reading

Trending