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Orlando City vs. Columbus Crew: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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4 years ago

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In a game that was a rollercoaster of emotions, Orlando City won 2-1 over the Columbus Crew to secure a spot in the top four of the Eastern Conference. The win also maintained Orlando’s unbeaten streak in Exploria Stadium this season and was the fourth-straight victory over the Crew. Chris Mueller and Benji Michel scored for Orlando, with Mauricio Pereyra assisting on both occasions.

However, Nani was ejected after a questionable red card and unless it’s rescinded he will miss Orlando’s final regular season game on Sunday against Nashville SC. Here’s how the Lions performed in a game filled with ups and downs.

Starters

GK, Pedro Gallese, 6.5 — The goalkeeper did well in the first half, snuffing out the Crew’s attempts to counter attack. Of his three saves, the toughest was coming out and going to ground to stop Luis Diaz’ run at goal as the last line of defense. There wasn’t much he could’ve done on Harrison Afful’s goal — his strike far too fast and well placed for Gallese. Although he didn’t get a clean sheet, Gallese did walk away with the win.

D, Kyle Smith, 7 — Smith was great in this one, showing once again how well he fits in Head Coach Oscar Pareja’s system. Defensively, he led the team with four tackles and five clearances as the Crew targeted his side of the field throughout the night. Offensively, only heroics from Eloy Room kept Smith off of the score sheet after the left back had two shots on target stopped in the 30th minute. He could’ve been a bit more clinical in those opportunities but it was still great to see from him in the left back position.

D, Robin Jansson, 6 — The Swede had a decent night against the Crew’s arsenal of offensive weapons. He had the fewest touches (51) among the players who played the full game, but that’s hardly a bad thing for a center back and Jansson had two clearances. His best moments came late in the match when Orlando led while down to 10 men. Unlike earlier in the match when he received a yellow card for dissent, Jansson played it cool to anchor the defense and made sure the Lions finished with all three points.

D, Antonio Carlos, 7 — As always, Carlos was a force in the air and finished with two clearances and a tackle to help defend Exploria Stadium yet again. He came up with a big block on a shot on goal from Lucas Zelarayan in the 40th minute, not only standing strong in the face of the Argentine’s shot, but also getting enough of his literal face behind it to stop any shenanigans with a deflection towards goal. He wasn’t able to close down on Pedro Santos quickly enough to stop him from making the final pass on Columbus’ goal, but it was a strong performance for Carlos.

D, Ruan, 6.5 — Yes, the right back is one of the fastest players in the league. But it is what he did with that speed that made him so effective in Orlando’s win. Defenders have to put in just that extra bit of effort they aren’t used to in order to deal with him and get to loose balls, which adds up over the course of a game. Ruan won free kicks, forced corners, played well defensively, and was able to help make up for the missing Lion on the field.

MF, Mauricio Pereyra, 8.5 (MotM) — Let’s just start with the stats. Pereyra had assists on both goals and led the team with 88 touches, 67 passes — at a 94% success rate — and six key passes. The game completely changes when the ball is at his feet and that showed on Mueller’s goal as Pereyra fizzed a perfectly weighted ball in front of the net in the blink of an eye. After picking up a yellow card in the second half that suspends him from playing in Orlando’s last game of the season, Pereyra’s final touch of his regular season was a beauty to Michel for the game-winner. It was a masterful performance from Pereyra and it’s clear that he is one of the premier playmakers in the league.

MF, Junior Urso, 6 — The Bear was great at finding the open areas on offense, but struggled when it came to actually finishing those chances. Urso had an open look in the 14th minute that he sent just wide and had another blocked in the 24th. His emotions ran high after Nani’s red card and the Crew scored during the chaos, but he settled in more as the match wore on. The poor finishing is becoming a trend, but he continues to deliver when it comes to midfield performance with 41 passes at a solid 88% success rate in this match.

MF, Andres Perea, 7 — The midfielder finished with 53 touches, 44 passes, and had a key pass for finding Nani in the first half for a shot that was deflected for a corner. Other than Gallese and the defenders, Perea was the only starter to go the distance in this one. The 19-year-old was calm, cool, and collected throughout the match and that was needed when emotions started to run high. It’s a good sign to see from the young player, especially with Pereyra out this weekend.

MF, Chris Mueller, 7 — After a missed opportunity early in the match, Mueller delivered in the 27th minute by scoring his 10th goal of the season. An error by the Crew defense due to Orlando’s high press sparked the play, but Mueller’s ability to be in the right place at the right time paid off yet again. He was substituted off after the Crew’s goal, spoiling what was setting up to be a great night for him.

F, Nani, 6— The captain looked lively in the first half, fooling defenders with skill plays and creative passes. He took a hard foul in the the first half but continued on without much of an issue. Things went awry in the second half though after he made a tackle in the 49th minute. The referee initially issued a foul and yellow card but escalated to a red card after checking video review. Nani left the game in tears, finishing the night with two shots, 38 touches, and 26 passes.

F, Tesho Akindele, 6.5 — The big man made a great run to occupy a defender so that Mueller had time to pick out his shot and score. Akindele didn’t score, but continues to do well when holding up play for the other offensive playmakers to shine, making two key passes. He also chased down defenders and put his all into fighting for possession after Nani’s red card before being subbed off for Benji Michel.

Substitutes

MF, Sebas Mendez (58’), 6 — Mendez came on in the 58th minute for Mueller after the Crew’s goal in an attempt to stabilize things. The Ecuadorian did just that, bringing structure to the midfield and making sure Orlando wasn’t as frazzled. Mendez had 29 touches, 22 passes at an 82% success rate, and led the team with four interceptions.

F, Benji Michel (69’), 7 — The Homegrown Player may have had his most defining moment as a Lion. Michel came in with the Lions down a man and the score level and did the impossible in the 84th minute. After taking a fantastic first touch on Pereyra’s final pass, Michel spun to shake his defender and sprinted after the ball to tuck it past Room for the game-winner. While amazing, don’t let the goal overshadow the amount of work he put in as the lone forward to keep defenders honest. He had 16 touches in the match and he made sure they counted.

D, Rodrigo Schlegel (88’), N/A— He only had four touches in the game and his first was a header to see out a dangerous set piece. It was a short shift but an efficient one, with another clearance late and doing enough to stop Columbus from capitalizing on crosses.

MF, Joey DeZart (88’), N/A — The rookie looks better and better each outing. Brought on late after Orlando took back the lead, DeZart ate up time with Ruan and cut off a pass in the final moments to ensure Orlando’s victory.

That’s how I saw things play out. What about you? Let us know in the comments how you thought the Lions did and vote for who you think deserves the title of Man of the Match.

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Mauricio Pereyra127
Chris Mueller6
Andres Perea3
Kyle Smith24
Antonio Carlos5
Tesho Akindele0
Other (write in comments)2

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/27/25

Marco Pasalic wins Goal of the Matchday, Orlando Pride members join U.S. U-23 camp, Orlando City B beats Crown Legacy FC, and more.

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1 hour ago

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March 27, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

We’re another day closer to what should be an awesome Saturday, with both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride in action. All three of Orlando’s soccer teams have been doing well lately, which is not something we can say too often. Hopefully that trend continues this weekend and beyond. Let’s get to today’s links!

Marco Pasalic Wins MLS Goal of the Matchday

An Orlando City player has won MLS Goal of the Matchday for the first time this season, with Marco Pasalic claiming the award for his strike against D.C. United. The goal was a real team effort from the Lions, as all three Designated Players linked up to get the ball up the field in a hurry for a counter. Pasalic did well to create space and then curl the ball into the back of the net from distance. His goal garnered 64.7% of the vote, beating out goals from Daniel Rios, David Martinez, and Deandre Kerr. In his first year as a Lion, the Croatian winger has already recorded four goals and an assist so far.

Pride’s Zara Chavoshi and Yolanda Thomas Join U.S. U-23 Camp

Orlando Pride defender Zara Chavoshi was called up for the first U-23 United States Women’s National Team training camp of the year, which will run alongside the senior team’s camp in California. The 22-year-old, who was signed by the Pride directly out of college after four years at Wake Forest, will develop her game at the camp alongside other promising young defenders like Savy King, Gisele Thompson, and Eva Gaetino. Orlando Pride Assistant Coach Yolanda Thomas will also be in attendance as an assistant coach at the camp, and it’s great to see her get this opportunity.

Orlando City B Defeats Crown Legacy FC on the Road

Orlando City B won its first road match of the 2025 season, beating Crown Legacy FC 1-0 to extend its unbeaten run to three games (2-0-1). The Young Lions didn’t make things easy on themselves by not converting some solid opportunities to extend their lead, but they ultimately held on to secure all three points. Orlando is now tied at the top of the Eastern Conference standings with New York City FC II with eight points from three matches. OCB’s next match will be a road game against Chattanooga FC on April 5.

Say Hello to Boston Legacy FC

Boston’s NWSL team has rebranded itself as Boston Legacy FC, which is leagues better than BOS Nation FC. The team initially went with that anagram of Bostonian as its name back in October as part of a brand launch that also included a widely criticized marketing campaign involving the slogan “Too Many Balls.” While I’m not crazy about the name, the team deserves credit for not defaulting to something too generic after whiffing on its first swing. The Boston Legacy will take the field for the first time next year as the NWSL’s 16th team.

Free kicks

  • Pride midfielder Angelina was called up by Brazil for its friendlies against the United States in California on April 5 and April 8.

That’s all I have for you this fine Thursday. I hope you all have a terrific day and rest of your week!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/26/25

Orlando City rises in MLS power rankings, Emily Sams called up, Orlando City B faces Crown Legacy FC tonight, and more.

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1 day ago

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March 26, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’ve been spending the week reading and eating my way through a pork shoulder after making way too much of it in my slow cooker this weekend. It wasn’t as tender as I was shooting for, but it’ll take some time before I can take another crack at it. But enough about that, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Orlando City Rises in MLS Power Rankings

The league’s latest power rankings are out and Orlando City has moved up two spots to 14th after its 4-1 victory over D.C. United. Orlando’s Designated Players are firing on all cylinders and no MLS team has scored more goals this year. The breakout of 20-year-old defender Alex Freeman, who was noted as one of the top young performers from this past weekend, is also worth recognition. The Lions have been in need of a young player to step up, and Freeman has done well so far. Orlando will be back in action on Saturday for a road match against an LA Galaxy side still searching for its first win of the season.

Emily Sams Called Up For USWNT Friendlies

Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams was one of 24 players called up by United States Women’s National Team Head Coach Emma Hayes for the training camp prior to friendlies against Brazil next month. Forward Trinity Rodman, who hasn’t played for the U.S. since the Olympics, is back in the mix after missing time due to injury. Houston Dash defender Avery Patterson and Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce are other interesting players to keep an eye on. The U.S. will take on Brazil April 5 at SoFi Stadium before a rematch on April 8 at PayPal Park.

OCB Plays Crown Legacy FC Tonight

The Young Lions are back in action tonight for a road match against Crown Legacy FC at 7 p.m. It’s OCB’s first away match of the season after a pair of solid results at Osceola Heritage Park to start the season. Orlando will take on a Crown Legacy team that’s only played one game so far this season, losing a shootout to New York City FC II after a 1-1 draw back on March 7. Following tonight’s match, OCB will get some time off before taking on Chattanooga FC in Tennessee on April 5.

Takeaway From USMNT Defeats

After losing both Concacaf Nations League matches, there is plenty of concern surrounding the United States Men’s National Team as it prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Fullback Joe Scally struggled in both matches, putting more of an emphasis on Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest being ready to roll next summer. Weston McKennie lost duels left and right and there are some real questions regarding where he fits in Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino’s system. There were bright spots as well though. Diego Luna and Patrick Agyemang likely boosted their stock after solid offensive efforts, and Tanner Tessmann was effective in his time on the field. Overall, the Yanks will have to be better in this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup.

Free Kicks

That’s all I have for you all this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday. Go Young Lions!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/25/25

Lions earn plaudits, Marco Pasalic up for Goal of the Week, Kylie Nadaner’s performance honored, and more.

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2 days ago

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March 25, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Tuesday, everyone! It was a great weekend for Orlando soccer as the two teams that were in action each picked up wins for a six-point weekend. It was done in exciting fashion too, as Orlando City and the Orlando Pride combined to score six goals between them. With a little luck, we’ll get to enjoy some similar results this coming weekend. We’ve got a lot to discuss this morning though, so let’s talk through today’s links.

Lions’ Performances Earn Plaudits

Orlando City blew D.C. United away 4-1 on Saturday, and some of the key performers from the win have been rewarded with places in the MLS Team of the Matchday. Martin Ojeda and Alex Freeman are named to the starting XI while Luis Muriel slots in on the bench to ensure the squad has a decidedly purple tint. Ojeda tallied a goal and two assists in a Man of the Match performance, Freeman did his best to match him with a goal and an assist of his own, and Muriel made his own impact by scoring the opening goal and logging a secondary assist. Here’s hoping they keep up the good work!

Marco Pasalic Up for Weekly Honors

Marco Pasalic was the only goal scorer from Saturday’s win to not be included in the MLS Team of the Matchday, but instead he finds himself nominated for the MLS Goal of the Matchday. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you which strike I’m talking about, but in case you’ve been living under a rock for the last several days, the Croatian did this to score Orlando’s fourth goal of the win.

Between the fluid buildup and the beauty of the strike itself, if this doesn’t win Goal of the Week then we live in a world without justice. Make sure you go vote!

Pride’s Kylie Nadaner Earns Recognition

The Orlando Pride beat NJ/NY Gotham FC 2-0 on the road on Sunday, and center back Kylie Nadaner has been nominated for the NWSL Player of the Week due to her contributions in the match. Nadaner got the start at center back and helped the Pride keep a clean sheet — marking the first time the club has ever begun a season with back-to-back shutouts. While it wasn’t the Pride’s cleanest defensive performance, Nadaner and her fellow defenders mostly did a good job at preventing any truly dangerous chances, and in the end Orlando picked up three good points away from home.

U.S. Women Announce Three Matches

The United States Women’s National Team has announced three friendlies that will take place during the summer, with two occurring in June and the other in early July. The first two will be against Ireland in Colorado on June 26 and again against the Irish on June 29 in Cincinnati. The last match will be held on July 2 with an opponent and location for the game to be announced at a later date. It will be the first meeting between the U.S. and Ireland since April 2023, when the sides met in a pair of matches during the buildup to the 2023 Women’s World Cup. The USWNT won both of those matches and will try to replicate the feat in a few months.

Free Kicks

  • Barba Banda had hateful language directed towards her during Sunday’s game, and the NWSL, Pride, and Gotham FC have all come out with strong responses.

That’s all I have for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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