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Intelligence Report: Orlando City vs. Real Salt Lake

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5 years ago

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At long last! The 2020 Major League Soccer season is one day away from being upon us, and our long nights of Orlando City-less suffering will soon be at an end. Tomorrow the Lions will start the new season at home against Real Salt Lake, a team that had a rather different 2019 than OCSC did.

To prepare for tomorrow’s match I spoke with Lucas Muller, one of the editor’s over at RSL Soapbox. He did an excellent job catching me up with this year’s iteration of Real Salt Lake, and I also answered a few of his questions, which you can find over at their place.

Despite a slightly rocky start to last year, RSL turned things around in a big way, finishing third in the Western Conference and advancing to the conference semifinals. Obviously a ball has yet to be kicked in 2020, but judging by this year’s squad and what the team was able to do last year, what do you believe the goal should be for 2020? Where is the ceiling for RSL?

Lucas Muller: Real Salt Lake had a very positive surge when Freddy Juarez took over as head coach in the summer. This off-season has seen the most changes in the roster in recent memory, so it will be a real test for Juarez to see if he can mold that squad quickly. Owner Dell Loy Hansen has said the goal is to be in the top four in the west. Juarez said they want to compete for trophies, presumably MLS Cup and the Supporters Shield.

Can they find the kind of success they had in 2019? That’s very difficult to say at this point. They have a lot of talent on this team, but everyone in the west is getting better. RSL’s strategy has been to sign young promising players, mostly from their academy or USL team, but some from outside the league entirely. They also have gone after free agents, such as Ashtone Morgan, Giuseppi Rossi, and Justin Meram. That makes for a bit of a rag-tag squad, but if Juarez can get this set of players to gel, then they could a top four team.

This will be a make or break season for Juarez. He did a fantastic job after Mike Petke was fired, but that could have been a new manager bump. Freddy is well respected by all the academy players (where he was once coached), but it will be fascinating to see if he can get bigger names like Meram and Rossi on board.

Let’s talk a bit more about the squad itself. In your opinion, what is the strong point of this roster? What do you expect this team to do best?

LM: The back line was stellar in 2019 and remains largely unchanged this season. Nedum Onuoha, who joined at the end of 2018 from Queens Park Rangers (and formerly of Manchester City), made himself the leader on the back line. He’s a commanding presence on the field, but also a leader off the field as well.

The key changes this season are in Real’s attack. Jefferson Savarino was sold to Atlético Mineiro in Brazil, Joao Plata was waived, and Bofo Saucedo left for Pumas in Liga MX on a free. The team signed Justin Meram, and he’ll be the main left winger in RSL’s 4-2-3-1 system. They replaced Savario on the right wing with another young Venezuelan attacker in Jeizon Ramírez. The biggest signing was that of U.S.-born Italian international Giuseppe Rossi. Rossi has played for Manchester United, Villarreal, and Fiorentina, and has 30 caps with Italy. He’s a guy who has really struggled to stay healthy, so this is a bit of a second chance for the 33-year-old center forward. If he can stay healthy, it’ll be the first time since Álvaro Saborío was traded in 2015 that RSL has played with a true and consistent center forward. Sam Johnson is still a DP on the team, despite dealing with an injury last season, and he can be a game changer. Douglas Martinez was signed from Real Monarchs and is a very talented center forward as well.

Those moves mean that Damir Kreilach, who often played as a false nine, can drop deeper into his more familiar midfield role. With Albert Rusnak as the creative play-maker, and Everton Luiz as the midfield enforcer, it’s not entirely clear where Kyle Beckerman will fit or who gets dropped.

Overall, I expect the defense to remain the strongest part of RSL’s game, but the attack is a strong contender as well if players stay healthy and they gel with one another. Saturday will be absolutely fascinating to see how everything comes together.

One of my questions I asked you when these teams met last year was about Sam Johnson. How was the rest of his 2019 season, and what are your expectations for him in 2020?

LM: Sam Johnson had a decent first season with RSL, scoring nine goals in the 1,301 minutes he played. He had a nagging injury, which is still ongoing unfortunately, so his production dropped off about halfway through the season. He scored just one goal from July 3 to the end of the season. He had a corrective surgery and is currently working on strengthening his leg so the knee issue doesn’t come back. Head Coach Freddy Juarez said he expects him to be out a few weeks.

If Rossi stays healthy, Johnson won’t start. He’s a low-end DP who can be bought down to the TAM level. In an ideal situation for RSL, Rossi would start with Sam coming in as a super-sub for the last half hour or so. If healthy, there should be some good competition for that center-forward role, and he could easily pass his nine goals from last season.

Are there any injuries or suspensions that will keep players unavailable for selection? What’s your projected starting lineup and score prediction?

LM: The team has yet to announce their injury report, but we know that Johnson is still rehabbing. It sounds like Corey Baird is injured as well, and Beckerman went off injured in the team’s last preseason game and it seems unlikely that he starts. Martinez and Kreilach had “knocks” early in the season the team was monitoring, but I don’t expect them to miss this game. Midfielder Luke Mulholland is also injured. Everton Luiz is on a red card suspension. Jeizon Ramírez was having some passport issues, so it’s unclear if he’ll be available.

My lineup prediction is: Zac MacMath in goal, a back line of Donny Toia, Justen Glad, Onuoha, and Aaron Herrera. Nick Besler and Kreilach in the midfield, with Rusnak in an attacking midfield role. The attack will be Meram on the left wing, Rossi at center forward, and Maikel Chang at right wing (though it’s possible that Ramírez is available for this game).

Everton Luiz will be suspended due to the red card he picked up during RSL’s playoff game against the Sounders. For the record, it was 100% a red card but by no means the worst tackle in MLS history.

My score prediction is 2-1 to RSL

As always, a big thank you to Lucas for sharing that info on Real Salt Lake.

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Orlando City

Orlando City at Philadelphia Union: Three Keys to Victory

What do the Lions need to do to earn all three points on the road against Philly?

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49 minutes ago

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April 3, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City is on the road yet again, this time heading to Pennsylvania to take on the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park Saturday night. The Lions will look to get a second road win in a row after the smash-and-grab victory against the LA Galaxy. Things don’t get any easier with the Union sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference, but a win would catapult Orlando City above Philadelphia in the standings. Here’s what Orlando City needs to do to earn all three points against the Philadelphia Union.

Tie up Tai

Tai Baribo leads the way-too-early-to-call Golden Boot race with six goals in five matches. The Union striker has taken 13 shots, putting eight on target and the aforementioned six in the back of the net. He scored a brace in the season opener against Orlando to bag a third of those goals. It’s a pretty easy call to say stopping the league leader in goals is an important part of shutting down the Philadelphia attack.

It will be up to Cesar Araujo and whichever center back pairing we get to shut Baribo down. Of course, he’s not the only one the Lions need to worry about since the Union also have striker Mikael Uhre, and midfielders Daniel Gazdag and Jovan Lukic providing goals and assists. The point is that Philadelphia is second only to the Lions in offensive production with 13 goals compared to Orlando City’s 15 goals.

Formation Change

In the last match against the LA Galaxy, the Lions struggled to get things going with Luis Muriel up top, Ojeda at the No. 10 spot and Ivan Angulo on the left. Once Duncan McGuire came on, Muriel shifted back, Ojeda went wide, and Angulo subbed off. That really opened up the attack and allowed the Lions to get the two goals needed to secure the victory.

Perhaps Oscar Pareja could start things off like that against Philadelphia. Angulo hasn’t been great the last few matches, and perhaps some time on the bench will get his head straight. McGuire is still early in his return from injury, but Ramiro Enrique can start up top with Big Dunc coming in later as he has the last few matches. I think making this change could help Orlando City get an early goal on the road.

Vengeance is Thine

When the two teams met on opening day, the Union dropped four goals on Orlando City in Inter&Co Stadium. You would think it a completely dominating performance, but the Lions actually had more shots, more shots on target, and more possession than the Union. Philadelphia simply put each of its four shots on target past Pedro Gallese. That type of luck is unlikely to happen again.

Since that time, the Orlando City defense has stiffened — at least a little bit — and the team has been more difficult to break down. I’m not saying the defense is as stalwart as last season, but it has improved. Orlando City needs to use that four-goal drubbing at the hands of the Union to galvanize the defense to enact revenge with a multi-goal victory of its own.

That is what I will be looking for Saturday night. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/3/25

Martin Ojeda in the MLS MVP mix early, Orlando Pride players won’t play for Zambia this window, Tierna Davidson out for the NWSL season, and more.

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5 hours ago

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April 3, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this week has been going well for you as we gear up for a busy Saturday filled to the brim with soccer to enjoy. Despite my blender’s protests, I’ve finally figured out how to make frozen coconut mojitos and plan on having those get me through the rest of the week. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy 28th birthday to Orlando City legend Rodrigo Schlegel!

Martin Ojeda’s MVP Credentials

Orlando City’s Martin Ojeda placed second in Sacha Kljestan’s MLS MVP power rankings this week. With four goals and three assists so far this season, Ojeda leads the league in goal contributions and is a major reason why the Lions have scored a league-high 15 goals. It’s great to see the 26-year-old take the reins of the offense after Facundo Torres’ departure. Inter Miami’s Luis Suarez tops Kljestan’s rankings, despite only having a goal in five games this season. Tai Baribo, Evander, and Lionel Messi round out the top five in what could be an interesting MVP race this year.

Pride Players Won’t Join Zambia For International Duty

Zambia will be without four NWSL players when it takes part in the Yongchuan International Tournament in China this month. Along with Bay FC forward Rachael Kundananji, Orlando Pride trio Barbra Banda, Grace Chanda, and Prisca Chilufya were withdrawn from international duty, with the Football Association of Zambia stating it was due to additional travel measures by the current U.S. administration. FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga expects the quartet to be available for future matches and both Banda and Kundananji played in friendlies in Zambia in February. Restrictions like this may limit the appeal of the NWSL to foreign players in the future.

Fan Banned For Hateful Language Towards Banda

NJ/NY Gotham FC announced that the fan who directed hateful language towards Banda has been banned following an investigation that included interviewing witnesses and reviewing security footage. The incident took place at the Pride’s match against Gotham on March 23 at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The fan was found to be in violation of the NWSL Code of Conduct and their season ticket was revoked as well. Gotham also encouraged fans to report inappropriate behavior through the team’s encrypted text message service to inform the stadium’s incident management team.

USWNT Defender Tierna Davidson Out for the NWSL Season

American center back Tierna Davidson will miss the remainder of the 2025 NWSL season after tearing the ACL in her left knee in the club’s draw against the Houston Dash. It’s tough news for her, Gotham, and the United States Women’s National Team, as she captains the NWSL club and featured heavily in the Olympics last year. Davidson sustained an ACL injury in her right knee back in 2022, which contributed to her missing out on the 2023 World Cup. Gisele Thompson replaced Davidson for the USWNT’s upcoming friendlies with Brazil, and Pride defender Emily Sams will likely receive more playing time as the team prepares for the 2027 World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City received $100,000 in General Allocation Money in exchange for former academy goalkeeper Zack Campagnolo’s Homegrown Player rights. The Lions will receive another $100,000 in GAM if conditions are met, and they retain a sell-on percentage if Campagnolo is transferred.
  • San Diego FC added Milan Iloski on loan from FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark through July of this year. Iloski is a San Diego native and won the USL Golden Boot for Orange County SC in 2022.
  • New England Revolution midfielder Carles Gil won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his free kick against the New York Red Bulls.
  • El Farolito SC, which is named after a burrito chain and bar local to San Francisco, has reached the third round of the U.S. Open Cup for the second straight year. The National Premier Soccer League side took down Monterey Bay FC to reach this point of the tournament.
  • Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 to book its ticket to the Copa del Rey final, where it will face rival Real Madrid on April 26.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/2/25

Orlando Pride players on International duty, NWSL power rankings, USWNT friendlies, and more.

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1 day ago

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April 2, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. There is plenty of Orlando Pride news today, which is good considering we’re heading into an international break. That means we can look forward to some women’s international matches in addition to Orlando City’s next bout against the Philadelphia Union. Before we jump into today’s news, please join us in wishing Orlando City midfielder Cesar Araujo a happy 24th birthday. Let’s get to the links.

International Duty, Pride Edition

Four players from the Orlando Pride have been called up for international duty. Anna Moorhouse (England), Angelina (Brazil), Emily Sams (U.S.), and Zara Chavoshi (U.S. U-23 training camp) will all head to their respective national teams. Moorhouse’s England will compete in the UEFA Women’s Nations League, while Angelina and Sams will face off in a pair of friendlies between the USWNT and the Brazil Women’s National Team.

Pride Still on Top

It seems that there are more outlets providing NWSL power rankings every week, but as long as they keep the Pride on top, I’ll keep letting you know about it. Given that the Pride are undefeated, with the most goals scored and the best goal differential, it isn’t surprising that the club is sitting atop the official standings along with these “highly scientific” power rankings. Goal.com, Sports Illustrated, and All For IX all rank the Pride in first place just above the Kansas City Current. I suppose even power rankings are occasionally correct.

Orlando’s Various World Cup Ties

You probably know that Orlando wasn’t selected to be one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As disappointing as that was, there’s still a chance that the city, and Orlando City SC’s training grounds at Osceola Heritage Park will host team training during the event. The top notch facilities, plus the relatively close proximity to host cities Miami and Atlanta, make Orlando a good option.

On a more positive note, Orlando was chosen as a host city for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Camping World Stadium will see Club León vs. CR Flamengo, and Juventus vs. Manchester City. The Group H runner-up vs. Group G winner match and one of the quarterfinal round matches will also be in Orlando. There’s plenty to see and do in the City Beautiful, including some great soccer.

USWNT Youth Movement

Sams won’t be the only younger player in Emma Hayes’ lineup for the friendlies against Brazil. Hayes wants to deepen the player pool, which means bringing in players with an average age of just over 25 years old, and the average number of appearances is less than 35. Hayes also believes this is a chance for the younger players who appeared in the loss to Japan in the SheBelieves Cup. The first of the two matches is this Saturday at 5 p.m., with the second coming up Tuesday at 10:30 p.m.

Free Kicks

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Orlando City and OCB matches this weekend. Hopefully, you have two screens since the match start times overlap. Vamos Orlando!

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