Orlando City B

Orlando City B vs. Richmond Kickers: Final Score 2-1 as Young Lions’ Woes Continue

Published

4 years ago

October 7, 2020

Orlando City B (1-8-3, 6 points) fell 2-1 to the Richmond Kickers (7-3-2, 23 points) tonight in a makeup game in Virginia. Two first-half goals were enough for the Kickers to hold onto the win but OCB scored its first goal in nearly five-and-a-half games. Wilfredo Rivera provided the OCB goal.

OCB’s lineup for this game saw Jonathan Rosales and Mason Lamb re-enter the lineup in the back. Raul Aguilera was given the armband with Mateo Rodas missing and Teddy Ndje got his second start of the season. A strange tweak in the lineup saw Moises Tablante, OCB’s biggest attacking threat, play left back.

It was a tough 90 minutes for the Young Lions as they were unable to achieve any type of offensive attack until the very end and played the final 22 minutes a man down. In the seventh minute of the game, Aguilera took a shot that was blocked right off his foot by Greg Boehme. OCB would not be able to get another shot off for the next 67 minutes.

As for the Kickers, they had plenty of chances. In the 13th minute, a free kick by ex-OCB player Ryley Kraft reached the back post where Ivan Magalhaes was waiting. The defender got his head on the ball but hit it just wide of the target.

Four minutes later, they had another great opportunity when a poor clearance by Tablante fell to Boehme. The midfielder took a quick shot on goal but it sailed high of the target and the Young Lions escaped again.

Richmond’s leading scorer this season, Emiliano Terzaghi, had his best chance of the game in the 26th minute. The striker found some space just outside the box and shot toward the far post. OCB goalkeeper Austin Aviza did well to dive to his right for the save.

The ensuing corner kick finally provided a breakthrough for Richmond. A night of poor clearances finally caught up to OCB as the Kickers scored the opening goal. After the long corner was headed back across the box, Ndje’s poor clearance went right to Jonathan Bolanos, who didn’t miss his chance, slamming the ball into the back of the net.

The Kickers doubled their lead in the 43rd minute when Franklin Carabali took down Bolanos in the box. The referee didn’t reach for his pocket but pointed to the spot. Having already scored once, Bolanos wasn’t going to let anyone else take the penalty he earned. The decision turned out well for Richmond as Bolanos put the ball right down the middle, easily beating the diving Aviza.

The hosts started the second half where they left off the first, creating chances on goal. A giveaway on the OCB side of the field allowed Richmond to attack once again. Terzaghi found an open Boehme, who wasn’t closed down by Carabali. Fortunately for OCB, the wide open shot was over the crossbar and safely out of play.

A bad game got worse in the 68th minute when Tablante was cautioned for a late challenge. The midfielder-turned-defender had previously been cautioned for a similar offense in the 35th minute, resulting in a yellow. The sending off meant the Young Lions were down to 10 men for the final 22 minutes of the game.

In the 89th minute, Richmond was given its second penalty of the game. Wahab Ackwei found fellow substitute Oalex Anderson in the box but the attacker’s first touch was too strong. However, he beat Daniel Rosario to the ball and the defender’s challenge was far too late.

While Anderson seemed insistent on taking the penalty, it was Stanley Alves that ultimately took the kick. He aimed for just inside the right post but Aviza guessed the right way, going down to make the stop and keeping the deficit at two.

Three minutes into injury time, the game got interesting. Jonathan Rosales sent a low cross into the box for Rivera, who was charging toward the near post. The defender, Magalhaes, lost his footing, allowing Rivera to get his right foot to the ball. The accuracy by Rivera was perfect as the ball went into the far corner.

It was OCB’s first goal since Sept. 3 when Jose Quintero scored against North Texas SC. The team went just over 510 minutes of play between goals. While OCB was thoroughly dominated in this game, it was something positive to take away.

The final possession numbers were pretty even as the Kickers held just 51% possession throughout the game. But most of their possession was in the OCB final third while the Young Lions’ possession was largely in their own half of the field. The more important numbers were that OCB was outshot 16-7 and 7-1 in shots on target.

In the end, it’s another close loss for OCB as the Young LIons remain at the bottom of the USL League One table. While the team was largely dominated in this game, they get a big monkey off their backs by ending their long goalless streak. They’ll try to turn that goal into points on Saturday when they host Chattanooga Red Wolves SC.

Orlando City B

Orlando City Signs Goalkeeper Carlos Mercado to a New Contract

Carlos Mercado signs a new contract to remain Orlando City’s third-choice goalkeeper.

Published

42 minutes ago

January 30, 2025

Sean Rollins

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City announced this morning that the club has signed goalkeeper Carlos Mercado to a new contract. The deal is through the 2025 season with club options for 2026 and 2027.

“Carlos did a great job for us last year with Orlando City B and continued to provide a positive work ethic and atmosphere every day in training up with the first team and showed his skill and ability to compete every chance he got,” Orlando City Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi said in a club press release. “He’s part of a strong goalkeeping unit here at the club and we feel confident in the future of that entire position group moving forward.”

Mercado originally joined Orlando City prior to the 2024 season to back up Javier Otero. However, when Mason Stajduhar broke his tibia and fibula in a June 28 game against New York City FC, Otero became the primary backup to Pedro Gallese and Mercado was the starter for the Young Lions.

In his debut season in purple, Mercado started 20 games — including a playoff game in Chicago — playing 1,830 minutes. He conceded 30 goals for a goals-against average of 1.48 and saved 81 of 111 shots faced for a save percentage of 73%. He kept three clean sheets and compiled a record of 9-5-6 (W-L-D) while saving two of the four penalties he faced in regular play.

The 25-year-old signed a short-term deal following Stajduhar’s injury with his lone game on the team sheet being on the bench for a July 3 game against Toronto FC. He went on to sign a first-team contract on Sept. 20 through the 2024 season with options for 2025, 2026, and 2027. However, his 2025 option was declined following the season.

Mercado played for the FC Dallas academy in his youth, earning call-ups to the United States U-16 National Team and Mexico U-18 National Team. He played collegiately at the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX, before joining San Antonio FC of the USL Championship.

The goalkeeper made his professional debut in 2021, coming on for the final 29 minutes in a 3-0 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. He stayed with San Antonio FC through the 2023 season before joining OCB.

What It Means for Orlando City

As previously mentioned, Mercado’s option for 2025 was declined following the 2024 MLS season since the club already had three other goalkeepers. However, signing another goalkeeper became necessary when Orlando City traded Stajduhar to Real Salt Lake on Jan. 15, leaving the club with two under contract.

Mercado will likely continue to be the club’s third goalkeeper and is the presumed starter for Orlando City B when the MLS NEXT Pro season starts in March. He’ll have to join the first team if Gallese goes away on international duty with Peru and Otero enters the starting lineup. Barring unavailability of Gallese and Otero, it’s unlikely he’ll see any MLS action.

Orlando City B

Orlando City B Announces Schedule for 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Season

Find out where, when, and who the Young Lions of OCB will play in 2025.

Published

3 days ago

January 27, 2025

Michael Citro

Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

The 2025 MLS NEXT Pro schedule was r eleased this afternoon, telling us where, when, and who Orlando City B will play in the team’s fourth year in the league. The league will again feature 29 teams in 2025, with three teams set to enter the league next year. There are 27 MLS affiliated clubs in the league and two independents — Carolina Core FC and Chattanooga FC.

The schedule remains at 28 games, with Orlando City B playing 14 at home, 13 away, and one at a neutral site at IMG Academy in Bradenton. OCB home games will take place at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee again this season.

OCB will start the 2024 season with a two-game home stand, opening the season on Sunday, March 9 against Columbus Crew 2 at 7 p.m. A week later, Atlanta United 2 will visit Osceola County Stadium. The Young Lions will then hit the road for the team’s first two away games starting Wednesday, March 26 at Crown Legacy FC and following with a match at Chattanooga FC on Saturday, April 5.

In addition to opening the season at home, OCB will close the regular season by hosting FC Cincinnati 2 at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5. Last year, the Young Lions opened and closed the season on the road. All Decision Day games in the Eastern Conference will start at 1 p.m. and all Western Conference matches will kick off at 4 p.m. (ET).

OCB will compete in the 15-team Eastern Conference as part of the Southeast Division. The other teams in the division are Atlanta, Carolina Core, Chattanooga, Crown Legacy, Huntsville City, and rival Inter Miami II. The reserve version of the Tropic Thunder rivalry will play out over three meetings in 2025. The Young Lions will travel IMG Academy to face the Baby Herons on April 15, with the home match in Kissimmee coming May 17. The teams will meet again in Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 14.

MLS NEXT Pro teams will again only play opponents from their own conference, limiting travel. The Young Lions will play each team in the Southeast Division three times, including Atlanta United 2, and Chattanooga twice at home and once away, and Carolina Core, Crown Legacy, and Huntsville City once each at home and twice away. OCB will play the teams from the Northeast Division once, except Columbus and New England, which the Young Lions will face both at home and away. Orlando City B will face FC Cincinnati 2, New York City FC II, New York Red Bulls II, and Toronto FC II only at home in the regular season, while facing Chicago Fire II and Philadelphia Union II only on the road.

The busiest months for OCB this season will be June and August, when the Young Lions will play five matches. They’ll play four times in April and July, three times in March, May, and September, and once in October. The most common day the Young Lions will play is on Sunday (13 games). Additionally, they have five games on Saturday, four games each on Wednesday and Friday, and one game each on Monday and Tuesday. The most common kickoff time is 7 p.m.. The Young Lions will play 18 games with that start time, three times each at 3 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 8 p.m., and once at 1 p.m. (Decision Day).

Once again, the postseason will include 15 games this year, concluding with the MLS NEXT Pro Cup. The higher playoff seeds will again select their opponents for the matchups in the first two rounds.

The majority of regular season games and all playoff games will again air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. The remaining games will be streamed live on mlsnextpro.com.

As far as viewing conflicts go for Orlando City and Pride fans, there are a few overlaps in 2025. OCB plays at 7 p.m. on April 5 at Chattanooga with the MLS Lions playing at 7:30 p.m. at Philadelphia that night. On May 23, OCB plays at Atlanta United 2 at 7:30 p.m. and the Pride and Royals kick off in Utah at 9:30 p.m. just as that game is concluding. On June 25, OCB plays at home at 7 p.m. against Toronto FC II, with Orlando City at St. Louis City at 8:30 p.m. OCB’s game July 25 at Huntsville City will kick off 30 minutes after the senior side begins playing at Columbus. The Young Lions start at home on Aug. 3 against NYCFCII an hour after the Pride and Utah Royals kick off at Inter&Co Stadium. OCB and the Pride are both home on Aug. 9 as well, with the Young Lions and Chattanooga getting underway at 7 p.m. at Osceola County Stadium, just 30 minutes before the Pride and Racing Louisville battle at Inter&Co Stadium. On Aug. 23, OCB will play at 7 p.m. at home against Atlanta United 2, with the senior Lions and Nashville SC kicking off at 8:30 p.m.

Orlando City B’s 2025 Schedule

Sunday, March 9 — vs. Columbus Crew 2, 7 p.m.
Sunday, March 16 — vs. Atlanta United 2, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, March 26 — at Crown Legacy FC, 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 5 — at Chattanooga FC, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, April 9 — vs. New England Revolution II, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 15 — vs. Inter Miami II (at IMG Academy in Bradenton), 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 27 — vs. New York Red Bulls II, 7 p.m.
Friday, May 2 — at Chicago Fire FC II, 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 17 — vs. Inter Miami II, 7 p.m.
Friday, May 23 — at Atlanta United 2, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 1 — vs. Chattanooga FC, 7 p.m.
Friday, June 6 — at Huntsville City FC, 8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 11 — at Carolina Core FC, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 25 — vs. Toronto FC, 7 p.m.
Monday, June 30 — at Philadelphia Union II, 3 p.m.
Sunday, July 6 — at Crown Legacy FC, 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 13 — vs. Carolina Core FC, 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 20 — at New England Revolution II, 3 p.m.
Friday, July 25 — at Huntsville City FC, 8 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 3 — vs. New York City FC II, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 9 — vs. Chattanooga FC, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 17 — at Columbus Crew 2, 3 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 23 — vs. Atlanta United 2, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 31 — vs. Crown Legacy FC, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 14 — at Inter Miami II, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 21 — vs. Huntsville City FC, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 27 — at Carolina Core FC, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 5 — vs. FC Cincinnati 2, 1 p.m.

Orlando City B

Orlando City B Signs Goalkeeper Tristan Himes

The 24-year-old former academy goalkeeper returns to the club after a four-year collegiate career.

Published

3 weeks ago

January 8, 2025

Sean Rollins

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Orlando City announced this afternoon that the club has signed former academy goalkeeper Tristan Himes to an MLS NEXT Pro contract to play with the club’s reserve side, Orlando City B. The 24-year-old returns to the club following the conclusion of his collegiate career.

“This is an exciting first step for us this year on the path to achieving our goals for 2025 and beyond,” Orlando City Vice President of Soccer Operations and Technical Director Ricardo Moreira said in a club press release. “Tristan is a player that is homegrown, that we’ve seen develop in our academy here in Orlando, and a bright young player. He’s someone whose path took him to play and get more experience in college and now we’re excited to bring him back home to Central Florida.”

The DeBary native attended the University of South Carolina after his time in the Orlando City Academy, making seven appearances in two seasons. He conceded 13 goals in 546 minutes while making 22 saves. He stopped 62.9% of his shots faced for the Gamecocks, recording one shutout and an assist. The goalkeeper played 543 minutes during his freshman season but only three minutes during his sophomore campaign, coming off the bench on Oct. 1, 2022, against West Virginia.

Himes transferred to Coastal Carolina University for his junior season but was forced to sit out all of 2023 due to injury. He returned for his senior campaign, making 10 appearances and playing 855 minutes while conceding 20 goals and making 35 saves. He finished his time with the Chanticleers completing two shutouts while recording a 2.11 goals-against average and stopping 63.6% of his 122 shots faced.

Despite coming through the Orlando City Academy, the goalkeeper was eligible for the 2025 MLS SuperDraft but wasn’t selected. The signing is the first in a string of expected deals as the club looks to rebuild its MLS NEXT Pro roster. Following the 2024 season, the contracts of six of the 10 players on MLS NEXT Pro deals expired.

Himes’ signing could see him replace Carlos Mercado, who started the majority of OCB’s games in 2024. The goalkeeper eventually signed a first-team deal late in the season, but his option was declined by the club. Depending on the recovery of first-team backup goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar, Himes could start for the Young Lions or will play behind Homegrown product Javier Otero.