Connect with us

Orlando City

Orlando City vs. FC Dallas: Final Score 0-0 as 10-Man Lions Run Unbeaten Streak to Eight Games

The Lions were the better team but after Sebas Mendez got sent off they were forced to battle for whatever they could get in Dallas.

Published

6 years ago

on

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Orlando City probably deserved more than a single point with a good performance against FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX, tonight, but after midfielder Sebas Mendez was sent off, the Lions (7-2-5, 26 points) will take the single point and be satisfied with running their unbeaten streak to eight matches (5-0-3) against a stubborn FC Dallas (5-3-5, 20 points) side.

City played well in all phases but had trouble breaking Dallas down in the final third, and when the Lions did create something, the shots were either saved or just a tad off target. The Lions felt they were the better side even though they played down a man for almost half an hour.

“It was a point and we’ll take it,” Orlando City Oscar Pareja said after the match — his first at FC Dallas since leaving that club after the 2018 season. “We’re proud after such effort that the players gave on the field. But knowing that we had the majority of the options and the personality, and the most important consistency during the game, we feel that it was not enough for us, the point.”

“Honestly, we felt like it was two points lost tonight,” Tesho Akindele said. “We were happy to get the point, especially after we went down to 10 men, but I think that we outplayed them for most of the game and probably deserved three points and I think that’s how everybody feels tonight.”

Pareja’s lineup featured fewer changes than expected. Pedro Gallese lined up behind the same back line as Wednesday — Kyle Smith, Robin Jansson, Rodrigo Schlegel, and Ruan — as Antonio Carlos did not make the trip. Mendez and Junior Urso stayed in the central midfield but starters Mauricio Pereyra and Chris Mueller were inserted back into the attacking midfield with Nani. Akindele got his second straight start at striker.

The Lions had a bright start to the game and held most of the early possession. But when Orlando got into the final third, things generally broke down. Ruan put an early cross into the box but split his two teammates and passed directly to the defense. Nani had shots blocked in the third and fourth minutes and then sent a cross through the area that was just a bit too far out in front of Ruan at the back post.

FC Dallas finally got a foot in the game in the 10th minute with a nice buildup that sent Santiago Mosquera in on goal alone but Gallese made a huge stop with his leg to keep the game scoreless.

Mosquera picked up an apparent quad injury and had to be subbed off for Fafa Picault shortly after his golden scoring chance.

Andres Ricaurte took a weak shot in the 19th minute that almost became a problem when it deflected off Jansson, but it skipped just wide of the right post.

The Lions had to make their own injury substitute shortly after that, as Ruan went down on the pitch and came off with what appeared to be a hamstring issue. Kamal Miller checked in and took up the left back position, with Smith moving over to the right.

Pereyra sent in a nice cross for Mueller in the 27th minute but Cash headed his shot right at Jimmy Maurer, who made the easy save. Ten minutes later, the Lions had a good attack building on the counter. Akindele had options to pass to either Nani or Mueller but opted to shoot instead from just outside the area and his shot was blocked out for a corner.

Late in the half Matt Hedges headed just over the bar on an FC Dallas corner and then the Lions got their best opportunity of the half when Pereyra picked out Nani with a gorgeous pass from right to left. The captain headed it to the back post but Akindele couldn’t get to it and by the time Mueller got there he was out of room and headed into the outside netting.

Orlando City held the advantage in shots (8-7) but got only one on frame to FC Dallas’ three. The Lions also had more corners (4-3), and possession (56.1%-43.9%), with both teams passing at an 85% rate.

Dallas fashioned a chance just after the break after an apparent foul on Pereyra went uncalled and Ricaurte fired over the bar. Three minutes later, Nani smashed a shot from distance that forced a good diving save from Maurer. The rebound was tantalizingly close to Mueller but a bit off line for the Orlando forward to pounce on.

Mendez got his marching orders in the 69th minute. He’d picked up a yellow card for time wasting just five minutes earlier, kicking the ball away after a foul was called on Miller. Then he was late into a challenge on Bryan Reynolds, and a bit behind, and was well deserving of his second yellow.

The sending off put his teammates in a hole as it was the first time this season the Lions had played a man down due to a red card. Mendez will miss Saturday’s match against the New York Red Bulls.

Despite being down a man, Orlando continued to play the same way. They pressed when they could, defended well, and looked to counter. Nani smashed a shot just wide of the left post in the 75th minute as the Lions still looked the likelier side to score.

Just after Tanner Tessman’s long-range effort in the 79th minute was easily saved by Gallese, the Lions nearly got their game-winner. The outlet pass from Gallese found Nani on the left side and the captain drew a defender toward him and played a diagonal ball for Urso to run onto. The Bear sent a shot on target that forced a good save by Maurer to keep the game scoreless.

“I saw good space to run in,” Urso said. “I think I made a good shot but I think I can do more power the next time. I just say congratulations to the keeper because he saved his team.”

On the ensuing corner, the ball was played short — as it had been all night, mostly ineffectively — and a good cross came into the area where multiple players took a swing at it as it ping-ponged around, but no Orlando City player could make good contact.

Dallas earned a few late corners but was unable to do anything with them. Orlando defended well and looked to break out. Nani got the last chance of normal time, sending a shot just wide — on the right side this time — in the 90th minute off a throw-in play.

Miller made a rare bombing run forward in the 97th minute and got all the way into the Dallas penalty area, but just as he was freeing himself up for the shot, he had his pocket picked and the final chance evaporated. After one more FC Dallas corner, the game was over.

Orlando finished with more shot attempts (17-14) but Dallas got more on target (4-3). Corners ended up at six apiece, and the extra player allowed the hosts to finish with a slightly better passing rate (83%-82%), while the Lions held more possession (53.4%-46.6%), even though they were a man short for a good chunk of the second half.

“We had the possession, we had the options, and we continued with the ambition of winning. And that says a lot about the character of these guys,” Pareja said.

“I’m very proud of the team because we were running to the end,” Urso said. “And one player less is not easy to play, so I think we did a good job today.”

With the draw, Orlando fell to fourth in the Eastern Conference and Supporters Shield standings due to wins by Philadelphia and Toronto tonight, but the team earned its first-ever point at Toyota Stadium. Orlando City is now 0-2-1 at FC Dallas and 1-3-2 in the all-time series.

Orlando City now gets its longest rest until the one after the penultimate game of the season, with a meeting with the New York Red Bulls set for next Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/5/26

Pride fall to San Diego Wave, Tyrese Spicer has successful foot surgery, USMNT beats Mexico, and more.

Published

13 hours ago

on

October 5, 2026

By

Image of Haley McCutcheon wearing a protective mask on her face playing against San Diego.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Justin Glatt

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been busy at work covering high school soccer and flag football throughout the week. We only had the Pride in action over the weekend, but we’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Pride Fall to San Diego Wave at Home

The Orlando Pride fell 2-1 to the San Diego Wave on Friday at Inter.co Stadium in the latest in a series of games that they had to have. Orlando trailed 2-0 in the first half, conceding twice on defensive errors. In the second half, Barbra Banda pulled the Pride within one after she buried a penalty kick that she won herself. However, it wasn’t enough, as Orlando couldn’t find a late equalizer and San Diego took all three points. The Pride are off this weekend due to the international break but will return to action on Oct. 18 to face the Houston Dash on the road.

Tyrese Spicer Has Successful Foot Surgery

Orlando City forward Tyrese Spicer underwent successful foot surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his right foot, the club announced on Friday. Spicer had suffered the injury while away on international duty with Trinidad & Tobago in a Concacaf Nations League match against Haiti on Sept. 24. We at The Mane Land wish Spicer a speedy recovery, but his 2026 MLS season is likely over.

USMNT Shuts Out Mexico in Friendly

The U.S. Men’s National Team defeated Mexico 3-0 on Saturday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ. Orlando City forward Justin Ellis came off the bench to make his second USMNT appearance in the second half, playing 25 minutes. Former Lion Alex Freeman started and played 90 minutes. Julian Hall scored the opener in the first half for the Yanks. In the second half, Cavan Sullivan doubled the Americans’ lead to become the USMNT’s youngest scorer in team history just four days after Mathis Albert set that mark with his goal against Chile on Tuesday. Malik Tillman added the final goal as the Yanks have won three consecutive matches during the international break. The USMNT will close out this round of friendlies on Tuesday, taking on Canada at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, MN.

Other Lions on International Duty

Multiple Orlando City players represented their national teams over the weekend during the international break. Forward Marco Pasalic was on the bench but did not play for Croatia in a 7-0 defeat to England in a UEFA Nations League match on Saturday. Croatia will face Spain on Tuesday. Lions defender David Brekalo was on the bench but came on after halftime and played 45 minutes for Slovenia in a 2-1 defeat to Switzerland in the UEFA Nations League. Slovenia will take on Scotland on Tuesday. Midfielder Wilder Cartagena started and played 45 minutes for Peru, while former Lion Yoshimar Yotun was also in action in a 2-0 loss to Canada in a friendly. Peru will play Colombia on Tuesday in another friendly match.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City forward Yutaro Tsukada, who is on loan at Rhode Island FC, notched another assist over the weekend in a 3-1 win against Brooklyn FC in the USL Championship.
  • Check out this piece on the Orlando City website featuring Head of Player Care Pedro Cox and Team Administrator Danny Quesada, who help welcome new players and their families, get acquainted with the club, ensure their needs are met, and thrive off the field.
  • The Lions were at Osceola Heritage Park on Saturday and spent time with the Orlando City U-12 squad during training.

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

Continue Reading

Orlando City

Flashback Friday: Oct. 2, 2021 vs. D.C. United

Take a trip down memory lane and relive a game that took place five years ago today.

Published

3 days ago

on

October 2, 2026

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Having suffered three losses in a row in all competitions, Orlando City’s recent results haven’t exactly made for pretty viewing. Fortunately for us, the Lions don’t return to action until Oct. 10, meaning that we have a brief reprieve from the torment that has been visited upon us for the last 270 minutes. Even more fortunately, we have the ability to reminisce on much happier footballing times in the City Beautiful, and all we have to do is hop into our time machine and rewind to four years ago.

The day was Oct. 2, 2021, and with the Lions sitting seventh in a jam-packed Eastern Conference, the men in purple badly needed points in order to keep pace in the race for the playoffs. The good guys were in the midst of a five-game winless streak, and the season was starting to get dangerously close to going off the rails. Enter D.C. United, a team that Orlando had already beaten earlier in the year but was in the thick of the fight for a postseason place right alongside the Lions.

Oscar Pareja ran out a lineup that featured Pedro Gallese in goal; a back line of Joao Moutinho, Robin Jansson, Antonio Carlos, and Ruan; Sebas Mendez and Junior Urso in defensive midfield; Nani, Mauricio Pereyra, and Benji Michel ahead of them; and Daryl Dike leading the line.

Things did not get off to a good start for Orlando. D.C. won the ball in OCSC’s half and got it forward quickly to Julian Gressel in the half-space on the right. He took a shot from distance that Gallese might not have been expecting, and it flew past the Peruvian to open the scoring after just six minutes had been played.

Orlando responded well, with Nani having a shot blocked and Dike putting a decent look over the bar in the 14th minute. Ruan nearly forced an own goal just a couple minutes later, but the corner kick that was awarded when a deflected ball skittered just wide of D.C.’s post proved to be the Lions’ salvation. Pereyra put a high, looping ball into the area that Urso headed toward goal, and Bill Hamid did well to get down and keep the ball out. The rebound was a juicy one though, and Jansson was well placed to pounce and thwack the ball high into the net to level the score with 17 minutes gone.

The rest of the first half was a mostly quiet affair, aside from the 35th minute, when OCSC probably should have gone ahead. Nani played a great ball that put Michel through on the left side of the box, but he curled his shot just wide of the far post after cutting back onto his right foot. The Lions dominated every statistical category but the scoreline at the break, with edges in possession (64.7%-35.3%), shots (7-4), shots on goal (2-1), and passing accuracy (87.1%-76.7%).

Emmanuel Mas came on for Moutinho at the half, and it’s possible that the switch unsettled Orlando slightly, because the team was on the back foot to start the second half thanks to a combination of some bad giveaways and difficulty dealing with the high tempo that D.C. brought out of the break. Paul Arriola put a shot just over the bar three minutes after the restart, and there were some hairy moments after that which forced Urso into a goal-line clearance to keep the game level.

The game evened out after the shaky start to the second half, but both teams found dangerous chances difficult to come by until the late stages. D.C. made a goal-line clearance of its own in the 88th minute. Silvester van der Water and Dike combined, and while Dike couldn’t get a shot off, he did find Tesho Akindele, only for Hamid to save the Canadian’s effort, which was cleared before van der Water could pounce and put it home.

Ultimately though, OCSC got the late goal it was looking for. The Lions won a corner in front of The Wall deep in stoppage time, and Chris Mueller whipped in a dangerous ball for Dike, who made a run across the near post. The big striker flicked his head at it, and the ball nestled into the side netting at the far post with Hamid helpless. Cue the bedlam in the purple palace.

That proved to be the last action of the game, as the Lions ran out 2-1 winners to put an end to the winless streak and pick up a valuable three points. Similar to halftime, Orlando finished the game with more shots (12-11), shots on target (4-2), corners (9-5), possession (64.8%-35.2%), and passing accuracy (86%-75.3%). Marcus Mitchell was on hand for Player Grades, and he gave the Man of the Match honors to Jansson with a grade of 7.5 out of 10. Other high performers included fellow center back Carlos, who also graded as a 7.5 out of 10, while Mendez and Dike both received a 7 out of 10.

The three points proved to be valuable ones, as the Lions shot from seventh all the way up to third in the Eastern Conference, although they would ultimately finish sixth and exit the playoffs in the first round after a road loss against Nashville SC.

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/2/26

Orlando Pride host the Wave, Orlando City’s kit room carousel, analyzing Mexico ahead of U.S. match, and more.

Published

4 days ago

on

October 2, 2026

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! Sports are in full swing this time of year and we have plenty of soccer to look forward to over the next few days. Apart from working and enjoying the upcoming games, I plan on heading to the movie theater to check out the Primetime movie, as I’ve heard nothing but great things. Let’s get to the links!

Orlando Pride Take on San Diego Tonight

The Orlando Pride host the San Diego Wave tonight in a crucial home game as the season winds down. While the Pride are fighting to remain in the playoff hunt, the Wave will aim to close the gap with Gotham FC in the NWSL Shield race. Orlando enters this match on a short turnaround after traveling back from its 3-1 win against Bay FC on Sunday on the other side of the country. Interim head coach Yolanda Thomas spoke on the team’s preparations to deal with San Diego’s pressure and energy ahead of tonight’s home game.

Orlando City Director of Equipment Operations Heads to England

Charles Raycroft is leaving Orlando City as its director of equipment operations after 11 years with the club to become Liverpool’s Head of Kit Operations. He’s been with Orlando since 2016 and the club sent him off in style with a jersey and plenty of thanks for his time in the City Beautiful. With Raycroft heading across the pond, Chafik Tounzit was promoted to become the club’s new director of equipment operations. We wish both the best of luck in their new roles!

Analyzing Mexico Ahead of USMNT Match

The United States Men’s National Team will take on Mexico on Saturday in the first match between the two rivals since the World Cup. It will also be the first time Rafael Marquez will take on the U.S. as Mexico’s head coach rather than as a player. Many eyes will be on 17-year-old midfielder Gilberto Mora, who has already scored once this window, but Luis Romo and Erik Lira are other players the Yanks will need to keep from creating too many chances. MLS players Chucky Lozano and Germán Berterame are attacking options at Mexico’s disposal as well.

Naomi Girma Will Miss U.S. Friendlies

Center back Naomi Girma will be unavailable for the United States Women’s National Team’s matches against Spain this month after sustaining a muscle injury with Chelsea. The injury bug continues to bite Girma, who has yet to play for Chelsea this season. Hopefully she’ll be able to get back to full fitness before the USWNT’s match against El Salvador in the Concacaf W Championship quarterfinals on Nov. 27. Girma’s replacement on the current roster will be named at a later time, so we’ll see if this opens the door for former Pride defender Emily Sams to join the team after not being initially called up.

Free Kicks

  • The Orlando Pride moved up a spot to 11th in All For XI‘s NWSL power rankings after winning 3-1 against Bay FC.
  • American defender Jordyn Bugg signed a new contract with the Seattle Reign that will last through the 2030 season.
  • Ashley Sanchez was named NWSL Player of the Month for the second month in a row after scoring five goals in four games for the North Carolina Courage in September. She now has 20 goals this season, tying the league record.
  • Portugal beat Denmark 4-2 in the UEFA Nations League without Cristiano Ronaldo and Head Coach Jorge Jesus spoke on how one player is not bigger than the national team.
  • We’ll end today’s links with an incredible goal from Detroit City’s Kobe Hernandez-Foster deep in his own half. While it was scored on an empty net, it’s no small feat to get that much accuracy and power on a shot from that far out.

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

Continue Reading

Trending