Connect with us

Orlando City

Orlando City vs. New England Revolution: Player Grades and Man of the Match

Published

4 years ago

on

Orlando City’s historic 2020 season came to an end as the Lions fell 3-1 to the New England Revolution in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Despite the loss, it was the team’s best season since joining MLS in 2015.

Let’s look at how the individual Lions did in the final game of 2020.

Starters

GK, Brian Rowe, 5.5 — Rowe was forced into the starting role when Pedro Gallese was sent off during penalties last week, resulting in a one-game suspension. The former starter did well for much of this game, making some crucial saves when it was still 2-1. While the penalty wasn’t Rowe’s fault, he could’ve done better on the Revs’ second goal. When the Lions pushed forward late, Rowe was up to the task, making a couple of key diving saves, pushing the ball to safety. In the end, he gave up three goals and made three saves.

D, Kamal Miller, 6 — Ruan’s red card against New York City FC threw Miller into the starting lineup for this crucial game. The second-year defender did well, holding primarily a defensive role throughout the game. When Orlando City sent defenders into the box for set pieces, Miller was the lone player back and kept the ball in the attacking third on multiple occasions.

D, Robin Jansson, 6 — It was another solid performance for the Swede in the back. Jansson has been the leader of the back four the past two seasons and played that role well in this game. He made some strong tackles in the box and did well to clear the ball when needed. He had a chance to tie the match in the 19th minute off a corner kick play but he hit his shot into the side netting. He tracked back to break up a counter attack with some excellent last-ditch defending in the 59th minute after New England cleared a set piece and looked to break. While it wasn’t his most outstanding performance, he showed the quality that fans have been used to seeing the past two seasons.

D, Antonio Carlos, 5 — This wasn’t Antonio Carlos’ best performance of the year. In the 26th minute, he let his man get inside of him to reach the ball just in front of goal. The shot ricocheted off the post before falling to Gustavo Bou for the Revs’ second goal. While not as egregious, Carlos got caught out of position again in the 86th minute, allowing Carles Gil to play Bou through for the game-clinching goal, but the back line was stretched at the time, having gone to three at the back to chase the game.

D, Kyle Smith, 6 — Smith played a somewhat quiet but effective 78 minutes in this game. The starting left back moved to the right side in the absence of Ruan, allowing Miller to slide into a more natural position. He was more attacking than Miller and was effective at sending balls into the box. Defensively, he did well to cause turnovers and quickly start an attack.

MF, Uri Rosell, 5.5 — It was an up-and-down game for Rosell. He was very effective at distributing the ball, especially in the first half. The defensive midfielder sent some beautiful long balls forward for Nani on the left, allowing the Lions to build an attack. However, a poor decision in the 15th minute on Tajon Buchanan while backing up Miller resulted in the penalty that opened the scoring for the visitors.

MF, Junior Urso, 6.5 (MotM) — Junior Urso had a strong game for the Lions through the midfield. His passing was mostly crisp, though he did let a couple get away. His biggest contribution came in the 33rd minute when he received the ball after a scramble in front of goal and put it behind Matt Turner. The goal brought the Lions back into the game and provided a chance to equalize in the second half.

MF, Chris Mueller, 6 — Mueller showed his typical effort in this game, winning balls that got away from him and teammates. The attacking midfielder was strong going forward and played the ball much earlier than he often does, creating attacking chances. In the 33rd minute, it was his fight in front of goal that allowed the ball to reach Junior Urso for Orlando City’s only goal of the day.

MF, Mauricio Pereyra, 4.5 — Pereyra wasn’t as effective as Oscar Pareja would’ve liked and got sent off with 30 minutes remaining. The midfielder was supposed to be a link between the defense and attack but was unsuccessful, causing the Lions to move the ball through the air most of the game. In the 60th minute, Pereyra took down Matt Polster in a nasty challenge that resulted in a straight red. It was well deserved and left the Lions a man down, in addition to a goal down, for the final half hour.

F, Nani, 5 — In one of his most important games as a Lion, this wasn’t one of Nani’s best. At times, the Designated Player struggled to keep possession and was ineffective with his passing. The frustration was evident as he looked to take on defenders rather than making the easy pass. The Portuguese playmaker could’ve been a hero in the 74th minute when he stepped up for a penalty but it was poorly taken and Turner made the relatively easy save. He did well with some of his crosses, however, like the well-placed one to Mueller that helped set up Urso’s goal. He finished with two shots, tying Pereyra for the team lead.

F, Daryl Dike, 6 — Dike was one of the bright spots for Orlando City in this game. The target forward used his big frame well to shield defenders and helped to set up teammates. He showed tremendous effort throughout the game, winning balls that otherwise would have resulted in a counter attack. That effort was on display in the 73rd minute when he beat Matt Polster to the ball, drawing a penalty. He only got one shot in the game, but it was his strength and hustle that stood out.

Substitutes

MF, Andres Perea (66’), 5.5 — Perea came on with 24 minutes left for Rosell to provide fresh legs and maintain possession. The midfielder didn’t play poorly, and had a couple of nice long passes in the attack, but wasn’t able to help build through the midfield, something the team struggled with all afternoon.

MF, Benji Michel (78’), 5 — Michel came on with 12 minutes to go for Smith as the Lions looked to push forward. He didn’t record any shots, the primary reason why he was brought on. The Homegrown Player has come up clutch late for the Lions on a few occasions in the past but was unable to find that magic late in this game.

F, Tesho Akindele (78’), 5 — Replacing Mueller, Akindele didn’t make the impact for which he was brought on. He did get an off-target headed shot on a set piece, but that was it. His entrance was a desperate attempt to equalize late and the Revs put the game away just eight minutes after he came on.

M, Robinho (88’), N/A — Robinho came on for Urso for the final moments of this game, after the Revs had sealed the victory. With the result already decided, there wasn’t much the Brazilian could do other than see out the end of the season. He fired one shot off target in the closing minutes.

That’s how I saw the individual performances in Orlando CIty’s final game of 2020. Let us know what you thought in the comments below and make sure to vote on your Man of the Match.

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Junior Urso27
Chris Mueller1
Daryl Dike6
Robin Jansson17
Other6

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/21/25

Orlando Pride release preseason camp roster, scouting Costa Rica, women’s soccer transfer grades, and more.

Published

22 hours ago

on

January 21, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone! If you had yesterday off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, then I hope you enjoyed some restful time off. If not, then I hope you got your week started off on a good and productive note. There’s a lot going on around here this week as the United States Men’s National Team is in town, and Orlando City will play its first preseason match on Saturday. That means we have plenty to discuss, so let’s dig into today’s links.

Orlando Pride Drop Preseason Roster

Monday might have been a holiday but the Orlando Pride were busy, as they announced the roster for their upcoming preseason camp. Almost all of the usual suspects from the 2024 season are back, as the Pride return 98% of the player-minutes from last season and every single scorer. Mariana Larroquette is on the list although she’s currently on loan in Argentina, and Amanda Allen is likewise included after her loan at Lexington Sporting Club was terminated due to a torn labrum. The biggest intrigue comes from the trio of non-roster invitees: goalkeeper DeAira Jackson, midfielder Aryssa Mahrt, and forward Simone Jackson.

Scouting Costa Rica

The USMNT takes on Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium to wrap up the team’s annual January camp. Like the U.S., Costa Rica is bringing a roster devoid of the majority of its important players. Costa Rica also has a new manager at the helm in Miguel Herrera, who will take charge of the team for the very first time on Wednesday. Herrera typically lines his teams up in a 5-3-2 where the wingbacks take on a very important role and the team looks to hit on the counter while staying compact at the back. This will be the last time we see the USMNT in action until the Concacaf Nations League semifinals in early March.

Women’s Soccer January Transfer Grades

January has been a busy time for transfers in the women’s soccer world, so which teams have done the best business? Well, the Orlando Pride received an A grade for signing Marta to a new two-year deal, retaining a player who helped the team win its first ever trophies. Liverpool got an A for signing Julia Bartel on loan from Chelsea. Leicester City made an interesting call by transferring goalkeeper Lize Kop to Tottenham despite just being a point above the relegation zone. The Foxes get a C for the move, while Spurs get a B+ for adding a capable netminder.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans taking part in some very important games over the course of this week. Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Juventus face Club Brugge today in the UEFA Champions League, while Ricardo Pepi, Richy Ledezma, Esmir Bajraktarević, Malik Tillman and PSV Eindhoven take on Crvena Zvezda in the same competition. Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will play Girona in the UCL on Wednesday, while Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Celtic take on Young Boys. On Friday, John Tolkin could make his Bundesliga debut when his new team, Holstein Kiel, travels to face Wolfsburg.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando Pride players reported for their preseason physicals on Monday.
  • Meanwhile, Orlando City took on the dreaded beep test during Monday’s training session.

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

Continue Reading

Orlando City

Striker Suddenly a Position of Need for Orlando City

Departures and a key injury mean Orlando City needs a striker heading into the 2025 MLS season.

Published

2 days ago

on

January 20, 2025

By

Image Courtesy of Orlando City SC

Orlando City reached the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in 2024, a milestone for the club. The core of the team was locked up through the 2025 season, so there was no reason to believe it needed to add much this off-season. Unfortunately, injuries and departures have created a serious problem for the team.

The group of forwards last year consisted of Duncan McGuire, Ramiro Enrique, and Jack Lynn. McGuire scored 15 goals in 2023 and was expected to depart for Blackburn Rovers before a clerical error allowed the Lions to keep their target man. The team’s primary striker scored 11 goals in 37 games — the same number as the previous season — but split time starting with Enrique. The Argentinian improved greatly in 2024, increasing his total goal tally from four to 12. Even Lynn showed tremendous improvement last year, playing a greater role in the team and scoring his first two MLS goals.

The future also seemed bright for the Orlando City forwards because of their ages. Lynn is the oldest of the trio at just 25 years old. Meanwhile, McGuire and Enrique are only 23, so there was no reason to believe this group couldn’t produce this coming season.

The problem at striker began in the postseason when McGuire was pulled down by Charlotte FC midfielder Djibril Diani in the final first round game of the playoffs. McGuire suffered a shoulder injury during the challenge that required surgery on Dec. 13. It’s expected that the striker could take four to five months to return to action, possibly leaving him out until May or June.

Another blow to Orlando’s attack occurred Saturday when Lynn surprisingly announced his retirement from professional soccer. In just over a month, Orlando City went from having three strikers to having just one as preseason training starts.

With McGuire injured and Lynn gone, one option would be to have Designated Player Luis Muriel play up top. However, the Colombian prefers to play a more withdrawn position and proved to be effective in that role last year. Since Head Coach Oscar Pareja prefers to play a 4-2-3-1 formation, the Lions need someone up top to control the ball and involve the midfielders in the attack. That’s not Muriel’s game.

The result of these issues is that nobody is currently behind Enrique when the season begins. If the Argentinian gets tired, hurt, or simply needs rest, Pareja is limited in his options. 

Whether there was a lack of strikers or a lack of goals from the position previously, that problem was resolved by the club’s all-time leading goal scorer. Facundo Torres scored 20 goals in 2024, becoming the first player in Orlando City’s MLS history and the second player in club history to do so. He went on to set a new club record for total goals of 47.

However, Orlando City sold its best player to Brazilian side Palmeiras on Dec. 20. It was a gut punch to fans as Torres had signed a new contract on Jan. 10, 2024 that ran through the 2026 season. There had been talk for the last couple of years that the attacker would look for a move to Europe and rumors of a move to South America arose this off-season. Still, it created a huge gap the club has to fill.

There are players on the roster that can make up for the injury and departures. Martin Ojeda had a strong season in 2024, finishing with seven goals and 13 assists. His seven goals ranked fourth on the team and his 13 assists topped the squad alongside Nico Lodeiro. Muriel came on strong later in the season, finishing with five goals and eight assists. But those numbers are a long way from the 20 goals that Torres tallied last year.

Even if you consider all goal contributions, Ojeda and Muriel fall well short of Torres. Ojeda had a total of 20 goal contributions in 2024 while Muriel had 13. In addition to Torres’s 20 goals, he added nine assists for a team-leading 29 goal contributions.

All of this information leads to one undeniable fact — Orlando City needs to sign a striker prior to the season. And there’s not much time for Luiz Muzzi to act. The European transfer window closes on Feb. 3 and many MLS teams have already been filling similar needs. With the season starting in just over a month, the options will be limited if the Lions don’t do something soon.

After the best postseason finish in Orlando City’s MLS history, things were looking good heading into 2025. While the back line and most of the midfield is returning, McGuire’s injury and the departure of Torres and Lynn have left the Lions in a tough spot offensively. If they don’t do something in the next couple of weeks, it could be a long 2025.

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/20/25

Orlando City signs Nicolas Rodriguez, Jack Lynn announces retirement, USMNT defeats Venezuela in friendly, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

January 20, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope you’re all having a good holiday weekend as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Over the past week, I’ve been working and covering high school ice hockey. It will be a busy week in Orlando, with the United States Men’s National Team’s match against Costa Rica on Wednesday and Orlando City’s first preseason match against Atletico Mineiro on Saturday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Signs Nicolas Rodriguez

Orlando City announced on Friday that the club has signed forward Nicolas Rodriguez from Fortaleza CEIF in Colombia’s top flight. The deal is through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028, and Rodriguez will occupy a MLS U22 Initiative slot. Rodriguez made 19 appearances for Fortaleza, recording 1,607 minutes, five goals, and three assists during the 2024 Primera A Clausura season. The Lions add a young attacking player the club can develop and Rodriguez can play on the right wing, the right side of a three-man midfield, or in the No. 10 spot.

Jack Lynn Announces Retirement

Orlando City forward Jack Lynn announced his retirement from professional soccer on Saturday. Lynn was drafted by Orlando in the first round of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. He became a regular starter for Orlando City B, scoring a team-record 38 goals in over three seasons with the MLS NEXT Pro side. Lynn also won the Golden Boot with 19 goals during the 2023 season and became the first OCB player to be named MLS NEXT Pro MVP. He played sparingly with the first team, but he scored twice last season as his role increased. The Lions will likely look to add another striker for more depth up top.

Orlando Pride Acquire Allocation Money in Trade

On Friday, the Orlando Pride announced that the club has acquired $50,000 in Allocation Money from the Washington Spirit. In exchange, the Pride sent the Spirit a 2025 international roster spot. The Pride will face the Spirit in the NWSL Challenge Cup final on March 7 at Inter&Co Stadium.

USMNT Defeats Venezuela in Friendly

The USMNT defeated Venezuela 3-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday in a friendly. Jack McGlynn and Patrick Agyemang scored in the first half to give the USMNT a 2-0 lead just before halftime. Matko Milijevic scored the third goal for the Americans in the second half, with Venezuela pulling one back thanks to a goal from Jorge Yriarte. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has led the USMNT to winning four out of its first five matches since he took charge last September. The USMNT’s next match will be against Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium.

Alyssa Naeher Named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year

On Saturday, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was voted 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. Naeher won 40% of the vote, while defender Naomi Girma finished in second with 32%. In her final year with the USWNT, Naeher ended 2024 with 18 starts, playing 1,170 minutes and only conceding 11 goals. She played a crucial role with clutch saves to help the USWNT win the 2024 SheBelieves Cup, 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup, and gold at the Olympics in Paris. Naeher is the second goalkeeper to win the award since Hope Solo won it in 2009.

Free Kicks

  • Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has reached an agreement with the club on a record-breaking contract that extends his deal through 2034.

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

Continue Reading

Trending