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2020 Orlando City Season in Review: Ruan

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The 2020 season was the second in purple for Ruan after signing on Jan. 16 2019 from Barra da Tijuca FC. The Brazilian finally found a home with Orlando City after four loan spells and now Orlando appears to be his new home after another solid year. Ruan had a good season, especially on the attacking front, helping to provide an outlet for his teammate, Chris Mueller, to shine brighter than he ever has.

How did the right back perform in his second campaign with the Lions?

Statistical Breakdown

Ruan was one of the mainstays for Oscar Pareja when available, manning his usual right back position. The 25-year-old made 21 appearances in the regular season, with 18 starts for a total of 1,597 minutes.

The Rio de Janeiro native has yet to score his first goal for the club. That said, he did manage an impressive four assists in the regular season. He took only seven shots, putting two on target. Additionally, he created 17 scoring chances, passed at an 80.3% rate, and had an average of 0.9 dribbles per game. He committed 19 fouls while suffering 27, picking up four yellow cards on the year. Defensively, he registered 39 tackles, 14 interceptions, 27 clearances, and two blocked shots.

Ruan also played in all four of Orlando’s MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage matches, starting all four and playing 353 minutes. He didn’t score or assist on a goal, and attempted only one shot which was off target. He passed at an 86.2% rate, creating three scoring chances. He finished the knockout stages with eight tackles, three interceptions, six clearances, and two blocks. Ruan committed seven fouls while drawing eight, and was booked twice. He did well over the course of the tournament and was named to the MLS is Back Tournament Best XI.

The speedster also made one MLS Cup playoff appearance for Orlando and was sent off against New York City FC, leaving the team without him for the Eastern Conference semifinal game against the New England Revolution. In his one playoff appearance, he started and played 87 minutes. He didn’t score or assist on a goal and did not attempt a shot. He created one scoring chance and passed at an 80% rate. Defensively, he finished with a tackle and an interception. He committed two fouls and drew two, earning a yellow card before seeing his red card late in the match.

Best Game

Ruan’s best match this season was Sept. 23 against Sporting Kansas City in the Lions’ 2-1 victory away from home. The Brazilian picked up an assist for a gorgeous pass to set up Tesho Akindele’s 36th-minute goal that opened the scoring.

Along with the direct goal contribution came a solid performance overall as well, as he completed 87% of his passes and he had three tackles, showing quality on both ends of the field despite some shakiness on one occasion, defensively. In that match, Ruan was given Man of the Match distinction.

Ruan is probably better known for his attacking help than his defensive play and he made an impact in this game, playing a nice ball through for Akindele’s opening goal. A quick one-two caught the speedster flat footed on one occasion, which could have resulted in a goal but the Lions survived. Other than that, he kept the opponents at bay and was better than Smith on the other side, matching Gerso’s speed down the wing.

2020 Final Grade

The 25-year-old speed demon earned a 6.5 from The Mane Land staff for 2020. That is the same grade he was given last season. Improvements could be made to improve that rating next season. While it’s easy to point at a lack of discipline in light of the way his season ended in a sending off, four yellow cards in 21 appearances isn’t bad for a starting fullback. Where his game suffers most is his inconsistent crossing quality, occasional decision-making issues, and lack of scoring threat. Being more willing to shoot should open up some passing lanes, as opponents are wise to his pass-first mentality.

Ruan helped get the best out of Mueller this season by giving his American teammate an option on the overlap and opponents usually couldn’t double-team both right-side players. While Ruan’s bombing runs forward can sometimes leave the Lions prone to counter attacks, it’s something Pareja is willing to live with and Ruan can often make up the ground with his speed to help break up transition opportunities.

2021 Outlook

Orlando City exercised its option on Ruan, so he’s expected back for the 2021 season. He could continue to be the man to fill the right back position for the long-term future if he polishes up some areas. He is one of the most dangerous right backs going forward in MLS and that trend should continue next season. Hopefully, the pacey 25-year-old can continue to show how much of a force he is on the attack while also ironing out some of his shortcomings. If that occurs, then a higher grade will most likely be achieved next season.


Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)

Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/8/24

Lions earn weekly recognition, MLS stock watch, MLS award nominees announced, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Tuesday, everyone. It was a great weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams, but the impending landfall of Hurricane Milton has thrown a bit of a wrench in my week over here in Tampa. Regardless, the soccer news doesn’t stop, and that means we have plenty to talk about this morning. Without any further ado, let’s get into today’s links.

Lions Earn Weekly Recognition

Orlando City picked up a great road win over FC Cincinnati on Saturday, and the Lions were represented in the MLS Team of the Matchday as a result. Ramiro Enrique gets the starting nod as the left winger, Oscar Pareja is the coach of the side, and Ivan Angulo made the bench. Enrique was the Lions’ Man of the Match, as he recorded two goals and an assist to continue his excellent scoring form. Angulo recorded a goal and an assist in a performance that was made more impressive given he was subbed out at halftime in OCSC’s 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union. Pareja masterminded the whole affair, and it’s great to see the Lions receive some recognition. Keep it up!

MLS Stock Watch

Decision Day is almost upon us, which means now is a good time to check in on which teams are heading in the right direction and which are not. Orlando City is building momentum ahead of the playoffs and will secure fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a Decision Day victory. Inter Miami also fits the bill of being a team on the up, as it will break the league’s points record if it beats the New England Revolution in the final game of the season. Despite an inconsistent season, D.C. United only needs a point against Charlotte FC on Decision Day to clinch a playoff place. As for New England, Nashville SC, Austin FC, Toronto FC, and FC Dallas, all five have been eliminated from postseason contention.

MLS Award Nominees Revealed

MLS has released the nominees for its 2024 Year-End Awards, and there are several Lions in the running to win recognition. Martin Ojeda and Facundo Torres are Orlando’s nominees for MVP, Oscar Pareja is in the mix for Coach of the Year, Pedro Gallese is up for Goalkeeper of the Year, Robin Jansson and Dagur Dan Thorhallson are in contention for Defender of the Year, and Felipe is eligible to win and award for his work in the community. Teams can nominate up to two players for certain awards, so the names were put forward by the club itself. Best of luck to all the nominees!

U.S. Soccer Announces Staffing Additions

The United States Men’s National Team has made five additional hires to Mauricio Pochettino’s staff, many of whom have worked with the new head coach at some point during his career. Jesus Perez will be the first assistant coach, Miguel D’Agostino will also be an assistant coach, and Antonio Jimenez will be the goalkeepers coach. Sebastian Pochettino will join as a sports scientist after working with his father at several of his club jobs. Silvia Tuya Viñasis joins as the team’s strength and conditioning coach, and is the only member of the staff who has not worked with Pochettino previously.

Free Kicks

  • Seb Hines made some history on Sunday Night.
  • The undefeated, NWSL-Shield-winning Orlando Pride hold the top spot in ESPN‘s NWSL power rankings.
  • As for ESPN‘s MLS power rankings, Orlando City remained in seventh.
  • The 2. Bundesliga gave us some…interesting highlights.
  • AC Milan boss Paulo Fonseca is upset after Theo Hernandez and Tammy Abraham each took a penalty kick during his team’s 2-1 loss to Fiorentina, despite Christian Pulisic being the designated penalty taker.

That’s all I have for this morning. Please stay safe this week, and be smart out there. Vamos Orlando!

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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. FC Cincinnati: Player Grades and Man of the Match

How did your favorite Lions perform in Orlando City’s 3-1 win over FC Cincinnati?

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City went on the road Saturday and came away with a huge 3-1 win over FC Cincinnati. The three points secured a top-five spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs, placing the Lions in a good position to get through the first round. It was a surprising result for the Lions, defeating a top-three team in the conference for the first time this season.

It was a strong performance by the squad, but some players were better than others. Let’s take a look at how the Lions performed individually in this win and issue some grades.

Starters

GK, Pedro Gallese, 6 — This wasn’t the hardest game for Gallese, despite the number of shots he faced. FC Cincinnati put six shots on target, scoring once from long range. Gallese made five saves on the night, but most were right at him. However, he did make a nice stop late in the game, diving to his right and keeping the two-goal lead. In addition to his shot-stopping, Gallese completed 72% of his 25 passes, including eight of his 15 long balls.

D, Rafael Santos, 6.5 — Santos’ 66 touches were second on the team in this game and he completed 82.1% of his team-high 56 passes, including three of seven long balls. Other than his passing, Santos wasn’t involved much offensively but had a team-high four tackles. He also added a clearance in a strong performance by the left back.

D, Robin Jansson, 6.5 — As you might expect from the captain, Jansson was a rock on the back line for the Lions. His 65 touches were third most on the team and he completed 85.2% of his 54 passes, including eight of his 14 long balls. The center back stood strong defensively with two interceptions and a team-high seven clearances.

D, Rodrigo Schlegel, 6.5 — Schlegel’s been a liability at times this year, but he had one of his better games in this one. He had 43 touches and completed 84.9% of his 33 passes, including three of his seven long balls. His five clearances were second on the team behind Jansson and he added an interception in a strong performance.

D, Kyle Smith, 7 — Smith made his presence known early in this game with a wonderful ball to Enrique in the 10th minute for the first goal. He added a second assist in the 66th minute on the buildup that gave the Lions a 2-1 lead. Statistically, Smith had 51 touches and completed 68.8% of his 32 passes, including a key pass, two of his three crosses, and one of his six long balls. Defensively, the right back had a tackle, clearance, and a team-high four interceptions before coming off for Mikey Halliday in the 81st minute.

MF, Wilder Cartagena, 6.5 — Cartagena was excellent in the defensive midfield, touching the ball a team-high 73 times and completing 78.2% of his 55 passes, including three of his five long balls. The Peruvian was everywhere for the Lions defensively, recording a team-high four tackles, three interceptions, a clearance, and a blocked shot. Unfortunately, he got booked in the game and will miss the season finale.

MF, Cesar Araujo, 6 — Similar to Cartagena, Araujo had a solid performance against Cincinnati. The defensive midfielder touched the ball 65 times and completed 88.9% of his 45 passes, including one of his three long balls. Defensively, Araujo recorded three tackles, two interceptions, and two clearances. I lowered his grade a little because he was one of two players who didn’t close down Luciano Acosta in the 45th minute, enabling him to score Cincinnati’s lone goal.

MF, Ivan Angulo, 6.5 — Angulo’s inclusion in the starting lineup was somewhat of a surprise after he was substituted at halftime against Philadelphia. However, he had a great game, scoring the team’s second goal and assisting on the third. He ended up with 46 touches and completed 83.9% of his 31 passes, including a key pass and his only long ball. His only shot was the goal and he helped defensively, recording a team-high four tackles. If there’s a knock on his game it was that he was a bit loose with the ball in his own half at times. The attacker came off for Felipe in the 81st minute.

MF, Luis Muriel, 6 — While he wasn’t as impactful as Wednesday night, Muriel had another strong performance in this game, starting in place of Martin Ojeda. He had 49 touches and completed 81.4% of his 43 passes, including a key pass and one of his five long balls. He didn’t take any shots in the game and added a tackle defensively before being replaced by Nico Lodeiro in the 73rd minute.

MF, Facundo Torres, 5.5 — Torres had 58 touches in this game and completed 79.6% of his 44 passes, including a key pass. However, he didn’t connect on his cross or either of his two long balls. He had one shot that was on target and helped defensively with three tackles and an interception, but his failure to close down Acosta in the 45th minute contributed to Cincinnati’s goal.

F, Ramiro Enrique, 7.5 (MotM) — There’s no question who the Man of the Match was in this game, as Enrique had two goals and an assist, figuring in all three Orlando goals. He had 35 touches and completed 70.6% of his 17 passes, including a key pass. Three of his four shots were on target, and he netted a brace while doing well to tap the ball down for Angulo on the second goal. It was an excellent game for the striker — probably his best for the team.

Substitutes

MF, Nico Lodeiro (73’), 6 — Lodeiro came into the game in the 73rd minute for Muriel, providing some defensive support right after the Lions took a 3-1 lead. He touched the ball 18 times and completed 84.6% of his 13 passes, including a key pass. However, he didn’t complete his lone long ball. The midfielder also won a pair of tackles, helping his team to see out the win.

D, Michael Halliday (81’), N/A — Halliday came on in the 81st minute for Smith and didn’t do much. He only touched the ball three times and completed his only pass without adding any defensive statistics.

MF, Felipe (81’), N/A — Felipe wasn’t very involved after coming on for Angulo in the 81st minute, but did his job. He touched the ball nine times and completed 66.7% of his six passes, but his real contribution was defensively where the Brazilian had a tackle and clearance in the final minutes.

F, Jack Lynn (87’), N/A — Lynn came on for Enrique in the 87th minute, touching the ball 10 times and completing 66.7% of his six passes. He drew a foul but was dispossessed once in the final minutes of the game.

MF, Martin Ojeda (88’), N/A — Ojeda came on in the 88th minute for Torres to waste some time and see the game out. He touched the ball 10 times and completed 83.3% of his six passes. However, his only cross was incomplete.


This is how I saw Orlando City’s individual performances in the Lions’ 3-1 win over FC Cincinnati. Let us know how you saw the game and don’t forget to vote on your Man of the Match.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/7/24

Orlando City wins on the road, Ramiro Enrique up for Player of the Matchday, Orlando Pride lift the NWSL Shield, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been busy working at Under Armour and spent my birthday yesterday catching up with friends I haven’t seen in a while. For our clubs in action, Orlando City and the Orlando Pride won, while OCB lost over the weekend. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Beat FC Cincinnati On the Road

Orlando City defeated FC Cincinnati 3-1 at TQL Stadium on Saturday. Ramiro Enrique scored early on, but FC Cincinnati equalized just before halftime. Ivan Angulo scored for Orlando in the second half, and Enrique added his second of the match to secure all three points for the Lions. It was Orlando’s third straight win and the team is fourth in the Eastern Conference table with 52 points. The Lions are off this weekend but will return to action on Oct. 19 at home against Atlanta United for their final game of the regular season.

Ramiro Enrique Up for Player of the Matchday

Orlando City forward Ramiro Enrique was nominated for MLS Player of the Matchday for his performance in Cincinnati.

Enrique scored two goals and also assisted on Angulo’s goal to lift the Lions to victory against one of the league’s best teams. The 23-year-old has scored in three of Orlando’s last four matches and has eight goals to his name this season. Other players in the running for MLS Player of the Matchday are Cucho Hernandez of the Columbus Crew, Simon Becher of St. Louis City SC, and Santiago Rodriguez of New York City FC.

Orlando Pride Win the NWSL Shield

On Sunday, the Orlando Pride defeated the Washington Spirit 2-0 at Inter&Co Stadium to clinch the NWSL. It’s the first trophy in club history and the Pride extended their unbeaten run to 23 matches as well. After a scoreless first half, Marta scored from the penalty spot to put the Pride in front and an own goal by defender Tara McKeown off a shot from Adriana gave the Pride a 2-0 lead to seal the win. Orlando is atop the NWSL table with 57 points and has a 10-point cushion over the Spirit with three games left this season. The Pride’s next match will be on the road against the Portland Thorns on Friday. Enjoy this moment of the Pride celebrating winning the NWSL Shield as their historic season continues.

Pride Players Named to NWSL Best XI of the Month

Goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, defender Emily Sams, and forward Marta were named to the NWSL Best XI of the Month for September. This is the second time that Moorhouse has been named to the NWSL Best XI of the Month this season. She registered four clean sheets in five matches last month and made 18 saves as well. Moorhouse also set a new league record with 12 shutouts. Sams also made her second appearance on the NWSL Best XI of the Month. She played in all five matches, won five tackles, and had six interceptions in 450 minutes of play. It’s Marta’s first time on the NWSL Best XI this season, and she scored twice in September to keep Orlando’s offense rolling. All three played vital roles throughout the season to help the Pride keep their unbeaten streak alive.

OCB Falls to FC Cincinnati 2 On Decision Day

Orlando City B lost 3-1 to FC Cincinnati 2 at TQL Stadium on Sunday, falling short of clinching a home playoff match. The Young Lions trailed 2-0 at halftime before Alex Freeman pulled one back in the second half. Gerardo Valenzuela completed his hat trick to give Cincinnati its third goal and the win. With OCB’s defeat, Inter Miami CF II took the Southeast Division title, and OCB dropped from third to fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. With the regular season over, the Young Lions will have to wait and see if Cincinnati, Philadelphia Union II, or Miami will choose them as their opponent in the first round of the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs. If OCB isn’t chosen, it would travel to face Chicago Fire FC II, which finished fourth in the East.

Free Kicks

  • Marta’s contract with the Pride expires at the end of the season, and she told The Athletic ($) she wants to continue playing professional soccer for at least two more seasons.
  • USMNT and Borussia Dortmund winger Giovanni Reyna is dealing with a setback in his recovery from a groin injury suffered last month. There is currently no timetable for his return.
  • Tanner Tessmann, Brandon Vazquez, and Alex Zendejas were called into camp for the USMNT’s upcoming friendlies against Panama and Mexico. Folarin Balogun, Johnny Cardoso, and Tim Weah have all withdrawn from the team due to injuries.
  • Christian Pulisic scored another goal for AC Milan, as he found the back of the net in his team’s 2-1 loss to Fiorentina in Serie A action. Pulisic has scored six goals across all competitions for Milan this season.

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

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