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Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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5 years ago

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The Lions got an important win at home in Exploria Stadium with a 3-1 victory over the Red Bulls, extending their streak to nine games unbeaten. With Pedro Gallese and Sebas Mendez getting ready to miss matches for international play, the three points are more than welcome.

So how did the Lions’ individual performances rate in the win over the Red Bulls?

Starters

GK, Pedro Gallese, 6.5 — The Red Bulls had a chance in the 36th with a header on target but El Pulpo saved it comfortably. He did well to save a blast in from Marc Rzatowski that could have brought the Red Bulls onto level playing field late in the game. 

D, Kamal Miller, 6.5 — Kamal Miller had a bit of a messy match to start, with missing a clearance and conceding a corner in the opening minute of play. He had a nice play to break up the attack but then turned the ball right back over to help Florian Valot bring the Red Bulls back into the match in the 54th minute. He did well to clear New York corners and break up attacks down his side multiple times to keep the Red Bulls at bay. He had two tackles, two interceptions, and four clearances on the night.

D, Rodrigo Schlegel, 6 — The Argentinian had a 79% passing accuracy in the match, one tackle, one interception, and four clearances, helping the Lions secure the win. Not as flashy or wild on the field as in past games, but a solid performance. 

D, Robin Jansson, 6.5 — The Beefy Swede was solid on the back line in his performance against the New York Red Bulls. He had an 85% passing accuracy on 66 passes, one tackle, two interceptions, four clearances, and four blocked shots. 

D, Kyle Smith, 7 (MotM)— Kyle Smith had another great night getting the assist on Dike’s goal and sending several nice crosses into the area but failing to connect on anymore of them. He also made a huge defensive play in the 83rd minute when New York was looking to counter and possibly tie the match. With a 74% passing rate, seven tackles, a clearance, five crosses, and the assist, I’m giving him the slight edge over Junior Urso as this week’s Man of the Match.

MF, Andres Perea, 6.5 — Andres Perea got the start against the Red Bulls in place of the suspended Mendez. He ended the night with one shot, five aerials won, four tackles, three interceptions, two clearances, and an 81% passing rate. More importantly, the Lions didn’t seem to miss Mendez or Uri Rosell, which speaks to how well the youngster played.

MF, Junior Urso, 7 — The Bear got a shot off in in the 33rd minute forcing a save out of Jensen. Urso did well to get onto a Mueller pass, shrug Jason Pendant off, and score what would ultimately be the game winner on the breakaway in the 50th minute. He was visibly upset to be taken out after what appeared to be a knock to the head. Understandably so, as he was having one heck of a match. He went down on the play that should have been called and stayed down in pain while the referee allowed the game to play on. Urso had two shots on target, a goal, a tackle, one interception, two shots (both on target), and an 82% passing accuracy on the night. 

MF, Nani, 6.5 — The captain had a quieter night than normal, but ended the night with one tackle, three interceptions, and a 79% pass rate on 52 passes. He picked up a secondary assist on Antonio Carlos’ late insurance goal and moved the ball all night in the attack.

MF, Mauricio Pereyra, 6.5 — Mauricio Pereyra left holding his hamstring at the half but proved to be the solid piece in midfield he usually is. It was his pass to Smith out wide that led to the opening goal and shortly after that he sent Mueller in alone on goal, but the shot was saved. Before leaving at the half, Pereyra had one tackle, a key pass, a yellow card, and a 71% pass rate. He switched play to the right on Dike’s goal by finding Smith and picked up the secondary assist.

MF, Chris Mueller, 6 — It seems Chris Mueller was a bit off his game in the first half. A great attack was building but Chris opted not to play in Pereyra during a 2-v-1 in the 23rd minute and he lost possession trying to beat his man. Cash had a chance quickly after Dike’s goal when he went 1-v-1 with David Jensen but seemed to have too much time to think about it and his shot was saved. In the second half Mueller came out more like himself, getting an assist on Urso’s goal and getting into the attack in the 76th minute but fired his shot over the bar. He ended the night with two shots, an assist, two tackles, an interception, a clearance, and an 87% pass rate.

F, Daryl Dike, 7 — It would seem a few games out of the starting XI was just what the Zombie, (or was it the Mummy…what was finally decided?) needed. Daryl Dike opened the scoring with a beautiful header off Smith’s cross in the 24th minute. Dike was headed for a second when the flag came up in the 67th, as he was called for a foul as he rounded his defender and got in behind. Head Coach Oscar Pareja was so angry about the call he got a yellow card. Dike ended the night with one goal on his only shot attempt, one tackle, and a 68% pass rate. 

Substitutes

F, Benji Michel (46’), 6.5 — Benji Michel came on for Pereyra to start the second half. It was in the 70th minute Michel had the chance to put the Lions even further ahead when he was sent in by Urso but he fired way off target. He made up for it by serving up an easy goal for Carlos, picking up an assist. Michel could have tried scoring on Jensen himself, but instead he played the Jamie Tartt role and made the extra pass for an easy team goal. He ended his half with an assist, two tackles, one shot, two key passes, and and a 92% pass rate on his 12 passes. 

D, Antonio Carlos (79’), 6.5 — After being out for a while with an injury, Antonio Carlos came in for Kamal Miller. Then, in the 95th minute he scored his first MLS goal, sealing the win at home for the Lions. The play went under review for a possible offside call, but the goal was good. The Brazilian actually started and finished the play, winning the ball in the air and passing off to Nani before continuing his run up field, where he completed the play.

MF, Joey Dezart (79’), N/A— The 22-year-old came on for Dike and didn’t really have much of a chance to make an impact, managing only six touches.

D, Alex De John (86’), N/A— The defender came on late in the match for Chris Mueller in an attempt to add to the defense. He was only in for about 10 minutes, making four touches.

D, David Loera (90’), N/A— David Lorea made his MLS debut for Orlando City when he came on for Urso in the dying minutes of the game. He only touched the ball twice but he provided energy and defended well in his limited minutes.

That’s how I saw things. Be sure to tell us what you thought of the players’ performances in the comments, and vote in our poll for Man of the Match.

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Kyle Smith48
Junior Urso31
Daryl Dike8
Pedro Gallese3
Other6

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Lion Links: 6/19/25

Alex Freeman details his soccer journey, Orlando Pride players called up, Orlando City’s U-19 team advances to semifinals, and more.

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4 hours ago

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June 19, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B

Happy Juneteenth, Mane Landers! I hope everyone has a nice holiday as we commemorate the anniversary of the end of slavery in the U.S. There’s plenty of soccer going on, and I’ve enjoyed seeing the Club World Cup and Gold Cup here and there when not working. Let’s go ahead and dive right into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Alex Freeman Details His Path to Pro Soccer

Orlando City right back Alex Freeman has been getting plenty of buzz during this breakout year, but an interview with Goal gave some great insight into how he reached this point. He made the bold decision to head to Orlando at 16 years old to chase his dream, and he detailed some of the difficulties of that move that may get overlooked as his career blooms.

“I remember my 16th birthday, it was the first birthday I ever spent without my family,” Freeman says. “It was the day after I moved to Orlando. I’ve never really talked about this, but, at first, it really took a toll on me. At 16, you really just want your family around for those important moments, and I felt like I was balancing so much without my family being there with me. I did so much of this in Orlando without my family. It’s hard for people to comprehend that.”

Freeman also talked about the pace of his development within Orlando’s organization, along with what it was like to play against Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz in his recent international debut. There are also some great quotes from Oscar Pareja and United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino worth checking out.

Orlando Pride Players Called Up by USWNT

Orlando Pride defenders Emily Sams and Kerry Abello were both called up for the United States Women’s National Team’s training camp roster ahead of friendlies against Ireland and Canada later this June. Both players were on the USWNT roster for recent friendlies, with Abello making her international debut on June 3 against Jamaica. The only player outside the NWSL who was called up for this roster is Naomi Girma. Rose Lavelle was called up for the first time this year, and 2024 NWSL Rookie of the Year Croix Bethune is also back in the fold. Jordyn Bugg, Lilly Reale, Izzy Rodriguez, and Sam Meza were all called up for the first time, as Head Coach Emma Hayes continues to grow the player pool.

Orlando City Makes MLS NEXT Cup Semifinals

Orlando City’s U-19 team continues to impress this year and advanced to the semifinals of this year’s MLS NEXT Cup. Forward Justin Ellis was named Player of the Day for scoring twice in a 3-3 draw against Toronto FC, with Orlando coming out on top in the ensuing penalty shootout.

The U-19 team is the last Orlando academy team still playing across the tournament’s age groups. It will take on Cedar Stars Academy in the semifinals on Friday with a spot in Sunday’s final on the line. Enjoy watching the youngsters celebrate clinching a spot in the next round.

Upcoming NWSL Action Before League Break

We have another weekend of NWSL soccer to look forward to before the league pauses until August due to various international tournaments. The Pride will look to make it four straight wins when they face Racing Louisville FC on the road Friday night. Louisville has allowed 22 goals this season, so hopefully Barbra Banda and the rest of Orlando’s offense can get things going after close wins in the past two games.

Elsewhere in the league, I think Saturday’s match between NJ/NY Gotham FC and Bay FC will be an interesting showdown. Gotham forward Esther González leads the league with nine goals this season, but it’s ultimately a close Golden Boot race at this point. Sunday’s match between the San Diego Wave and Washington Spirit pits two of the league’s top four teams against each other, making it a great way to close out the weekend before the break.

USMNT Takes On Saudi Arabia Tonight

The Yanks are back in action tonight for a Concacaf Gold Cup group game against Saudi Arabia, the guest nation of this year’s tournament. After a 5-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago, the U.S. can claim the top spot in the group and all but guarantee a place in the next round with a win over Saudi Arabia. There are still some question marks regarding who will rise to the occasion in the midfield and at forward, but the USMNT has the talent to get the job done tonight at Q2 Stadium in Austin. The U.S. will then close out group play on Sunday against Haiti in Arlington, TX.

Free Kicks

  • Sams, Banda, Anna Moorhouse, and Cori Dyke were all named to CBS Sports‘ NWSL Team of the Week after the Pride’s 1-0 win over Bay FC.
  • Joao Klauss won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his lethal strike on the volley from a tight angle. The goal equalized things in stoppage time against the LA Galaxy and completed Klauss’ hat trick in the 3-3 draw.
  • USWNT and Portland Thorns defender Meghan Klingenberg has officially retired from professional soccer. She won two NWSL Shields, two NWSL Championships, and the 2015 Women’s World Cup, while also making an impact off the field speaking up for equality.
  • The San Jose Earthquakes have begun the process of selling a controlling interest in the club.
  • Xabi Alonso’s tenure as Real Madrid’s new manager began with a 1-1 draw against Al Hilal at the Club World Cup. Federico Valverde had a chance to win it in stoppage time from the penalty stop, but Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou came up with the critical save.
  • Chris Wilder and Sheffield United have parted ways less than a month after the club fell 2-1 to Sunderland in the playoff final for promotion to the English Premier League. Ruben Selles, who was dismissed as Hull City’s manager last month, was named as Wilder’s replacement.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 6/18/25

Scouting Saudi Arabia, Club World Cup summary, MLS midseason superlatives, and more.

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1 day ago

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June 18, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Happy Wednesday, everyone. I’m pretty worn out after doing some traveling for most of the last two weeks, and I’m happy to be back home in Tampa for a bit before heading out on the road again. The soccer world has not paused during my time out on the road, and if anything its only picked up in intensity. That means we have a lot to talk about, but before we get into today’s links, let’s wish Orlando Pride defender Rafaelle a happy birthday.

Scouting Saudi Arabia

The United States Men’s National Team will continue its 2025 Gold Cup campaign on Thursday when it takes on Saudi Arabia in Austin, TX. That means this is a good time to familiarize ourselves with Arabian Falcons. They’re coached by Herve Renard, who deployed the team in a 4-2-3-1 in a 1-0 victory over Haiti in the team’s first game of the tournament. He isn’t married to that formation though, and will use a variety of tactical setups depending on the situation. Across all of them, Saudi Arabia plays with an emphasis on pressing in specific areas and quickly breaking in transition once winning the ball. Like the USMNT, the Saudis are missing a few first-choice players, and the midfield battle should be a particularly interesting area to keep an eye on.

Club World Cup Roundup

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup continued on Wednesday, so let’s take a look at the action. Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund got things started as they battled to a scoreless draw at MetLife Stadium. The Brazilian team had the better of the game overall, but Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel made five saves to preserve a point for his team. The second game of the day was much livelier, as River Plate dispatched Urawa Red Diamonds 3-1 in Seattle. The Argentinians scored after just 12 minutes and never looked back despite Urawa making it a 2-1 game with a 58th-minute penalty. The third match took place at Inter&Co Stadium, and saw Mamelodi Sundowns beat Ulsan HD 1-0. While the scoreline didn’t reflect it, the South African team mostly dominated proceedings and finished with 68% possession and 718 passes to 325 for the South Korean side. However, it was a free-flowing game that offered both sides to take more from the match. Our Michael Citro was there to recap it for you at the link above.

Midseason MLS Superlatives

As much as it seems like the 2025 Major League Soccer season just started, we’re actually just past the halfway point of the campaign, and that means it’s a good time to look at some league superlatives. In a category that will be music to the ears of Orlando City fans, Bradley Wright-Phillips named fullback the most overlooked position and specifically took some time to praise Alex Freeman. BWP previously coached against Freeman with New York Red Bulls II when Alex was still with Orlando City B, so it’s interesting to hear his input from that additional aspect. It’s no surprise that the Vancouver Whitecaps got a lot of love, as they were named biggest surprise, and Jesper Sorensen was named best coach.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

Transfer season is in full swing, so here are some of the big rumors currently flying around. Manchester United is reportedly interesting in signing Callum Hudson-Odoi from Nottingham Forest, but the Red Devils face competition from Roma and Napoli. Arsenal might hit a snag in searching for a striker, as the Gunners are balking at paying the asking prices for either Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres, because they consider those numbers to be too high. Three different teams from the Saudi Pro League have reportedly shown interest in signing Son Heung-Min from Tottenham Hotspur, as he only has 12 months left on his current contract.

Free Kicks

  • Get a peek at the Orlando Pride putting in work on the training ground.

And that’s it for me today. Have a great rest of your week. Vamos, Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 6/17/25

Orlando City and Orlando Pride players on Team of the Week, USMNT Gold Cup continues, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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June 17, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wedn…er…Tuesday, Mane Landers. That’s right, I’m here a day early and not a moment too late. Orlando is knee deep in soccer, thanks to the FIFA Club World Cup on top of our favorite Orlando City and Orlando Pride clubs. We will have coverage of the matches taking place in the City Beautiful. Before we get started today, join us in wishing a happy 25th birthday to Orlando Pride midfielder Summer Yates. Now, let’s get to the links.

Schlegel Honored

Rodrigo Schlegel had a pretty good match against the Colorado Rapids. Despite not being named Man of the Match in our Player Grades, he did make the MLS Team of the Week bench. Meanwhile, Orlando held steady at the ninth spot in ESPN’s MLS Power Rankings, while dropping two spots from seventh to ninth in SI.com’s Power Rankings despite winning on the road. It just shows how very accurate and scientific power rankings are, doesn’t it?

Quadruple Honors for the Pride

The Orlando Pride saw Schlegel’s TotW Bench honor and said we can do better. Barbra Banda, Cori Dyke, Emily Sams, and Anna Moorhouse all made the NWSL Team of the Week from the Attacking Third. Congratulations to the Pride for covering a third of the Attacking Third’s selections.

Moorhouse is also up for Player of the Week and Save of the Week. As of this morning, she is not leading either category so you know what to do.

The USMNT Gold Cup Journey Continues

The Concacaf Gold Cup group stage is underway, with the USMNT securing a 5-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago Sunday evening. I’m always for beating Trinidad & Tobago, but more talented teams and tougher matches lie ahead. Next up for the USMNT is Saudi Arabia. I know what you’re thinking, and you’re correct. Saudi Arabia isn’t a Concacaf nation, but the team is the invitee for this Gold Cup. The match is Thursday night at 9:15 p.m. at Q2 Stadium in Austin, TX. The U.S. will most likely need a win to secure the top spot in the group.

FIFA Club World Cup Results

The Club World Cup, which will visit Orlando’s Inter&Co Stadium later today (we’ll be on hand with the coverage, naturally), continued early this week with Bayern Munich obliterating Auckland City 10-0, PSG defeating Atletico Madrid 4-0, Botafogo beating the Seattle Sounders 2-1, and Facundo Torres and Palmeiras drawing Porto 0-0 on Sunday. In the Monday slate, Chelsea defeated LAFC 2-0, and Boca Juniors and Benfica drew 2-2. Overshadowing all of this is the poor attendance, despite FIFA spending millions to boost said attendance.

Free Kicks

  • One might think that a club sitting second in the official standings on a three-match winning streak would have matching ranks in all the various power rankings. However, one would be wrong, because although the Pride are in the second spot in the SI.com Power Rankings, the club sits at third in the ESPN.com Power Rankings. Do I need to say anything?
  • You don’t often see Barcelona get passed over for an MLS club, but that is exactly what happened despite Barcelona calling FIFA to get a spot in the Club World Cup. That MLS club was LAFC, and it had to earn its way in by beating Club America.
  • Liverpool has set a date for the medical for Florian Wirtz following the record transfer.
  • Congratulations to Orlando City’s Alex Freeman on his performance in his first cap for the USMNT in a competitive match.

Stacked the stat sheet 📈– 10 duels won (led team)– 3 tackles won (led team)– 54 passes completed– 95% passing accuracy– 90 minutes played– 2 clearances– 2 fouls drawn– Clean sheet ✅

— Orlando City SC (@orlandocitysc.com) 2025-06-16T23:03:59.932Z

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

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