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Orlando City vs. Colorado Rapids: Final Score 2-1 as Set Piece Dooms Lions in the 90th

At least Nani’s suspension is over. So there’s that.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

A late corner kick goal spoiled Orlando City’s trip west, allowing the Colorado Rapids to nip the Lions 2-1 at the death at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The Lions (0-1-1, 1 point) were moments from a solid road point but fell to the Rapids (2-0-0, 6 points) for the first time in the series history. Orlando drops to 4-1-1 in the all-time series and 1-1-1 in Colorado.

Younes Namli and Drew Moor scored second-half goals for Colorado, with the latter coming in the 90th minute — just eight minutes after substitute Chris Mueller had knotted the game. Orlando remains winless under Oscar Pareja, but started the game without any of its three Designated Players.

Just a week after getting shut out at home, the Lions took the pitch with eight defensive-minded players, as Oscar Pareja deployed a back line of Rodrigo Schlegel, Robin Jansson, and Antonio Carlos. Kyle Smith and Joao Moutinho book-ended a midfield trio of Sebas Mendez, Junior Urso, and Andres Perea. Tesho Akindele and Benji Michel started up top and Pedro Gallese was in goal. This operated as a 3-5-2. Ruan was held out of the starting lineup after dealing with an illness and Mauricio Pereyra was deemed not 90-minute fit with a minor quad knock.

The teams spent the early going feeling each other out a bit, but creating very little. Orlando pressed a bit early and that kept the Rapids from settling into the match until about 20 or so minutes in.

The first big opportunity for the Lions came in the 19th minute when a cross from Moutinho skipped through the area and Smith smashed a shot off the bounce that forced a good save from Clint Irwin.

Seven minutes later, Mendez freed himself up to send a rocket shot from outside the area but it fizzed about a foot wide of the right post.

Colorado came back with its first great look in the 29th minute as Keegan Rosenberry had time and space outside the area and sent a cannon shot on goal that Gallese parried away. In the 35th minute, Gallese made a strong save to deny Andre Shinyashiki, who shook Smith and fired a rocket. Sam Vines sent the rebound over the bar.

A minute later, Moutinho got the ball on the left and sent a curling shot with his weaker right foot just inches wide of the far post.

Perea and Urso sent shots from distance straight at Irwin’s chest and the half came to an end with no goals on the board.

The Rapids had an advantage in shots (9-7), with each team getting three on target. Colorado held 56% of the first-half possession and an edge in passing accuracy (88%-81%).

The ‘Pids started firing the ball in behind the wingbacks to start the second half and it nearly paid off in the 51st minute, as Smith got caught forward and Shinyashiki fired just wide.

Orlando got a free kick in the 55th minute as Moor took down Akindele just outside the area. It perhaps should have been Moor’s second yellow and had Tesho taken a better first touch on Moutinho’s long ball, it might have drawn a straight red. Mendez sent the free kick off the head of Lalas Abubakar and out for a corner.

Younes Namli broke the deadlock in the 64th minute, cutting around Perea and then firing just inside the right post to make it 1-0. It ended Orlando’s streak of 154 minutes without conceding. It appeared Urso and Mendez could have challenged the Colorado DP, but they seemed to lack the energy — perhaps a product of running at altitude for over an hour — and Namli fired before the center backs could converge.

Mueller equalized in the 82nd minute to finish a great team play by Orlando City. Urso found Perea on the right side and he slipped a ball in to Mueller, who made a great run off the center back’s shoulder. Cash turned and fired a shot through Irwin and into the net to make it 1-1.

Orlando seemed more likely to get a second goal than Colorado until the waning moments, when Mendez conceded a corner. Schlegel was fighting through a cramp and had moved forward due to his more limited mobility, leaving the Lions having to cover with a midfielder. Colorado made a substitution prior to the corner and Orlando looked confused on the delivery, with Carlos late to identify Moor as his man and getting beat to the jump. That left Moor with a free header to score the winner.

Orlando wasn’t able to muster much in the six minutes of stoppage time aside from one free kick that was wasted when second-half sub Pereyra pulled up and forced the team to reset. Schlegel looped back and ended up bundling over his man, drawing the whistle and a free kick for the Rapids, ending the final threat.

The Lions finished with a 14-12 advantage in shots, with each team getting five on target. Colorado held 54.8% of the possession and an 86%-80% edge in passing accuracy.

Overall, Pareja’s game plan was mostly solid, as Kei Kamara was held to just one fairly weak shot attempt. Usually one to have Orlando’s number, the striker was held in check on this night. Still, the Lions lacked much bite with their own forwards as well, as the defensive-minded lineup behind Akindele and Michel didn’t provide them many opportunities. Mueller’s movement and energy against tired legs late in the game gave Orlando its only threatening movement from the forwards all night.


The Lions will look to get into the win column next Saturday when the Chicago Fire visit Exploria Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/28/24

Getting to know Rafael Santos, Orlando Pride prepare for Chicago, Midge Purce out for the season, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope the work week has been treating you well as we gear up for another weekend of soccer. March flew by for me and April is shaping up to be a pretty busy month as well. In other news, I’m looking into adopting a cat and gathering the supplies to make that happen. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Getting to Know Rafael Santos

Orlando City left back Rafael Santos was the latest Lion to field questions as part of the club’s video series for fans to learn more about its players. The 26-year-old spoke about the decision process behind joining Orlando and playing outside of Brazil for the first time in his career after five years with Cruzeiro. He’s brought his attack-minded style of play to the team, particularly in terms of providing lethal crossing from the wing. Make sure to check out the full video as Santos also shared photos of his newborn and showcased his skill with a cavaquinho.

Orlando Pride Prepare to Host Chicago

After a pair of draws to start their season, the Orlando Pride will have a chance to claim their first win of the season when they host the Chicago Red Stars tomorrow night at 6 p.m. Head Coach Seb Hines spoke about how the Pride have shown plenty of resilience so far this young season. The team managed to secure a point in last week’s 1-1 draw with Angel City FC despite a patchwork back line due to injuries. That defense will likely have its hands full against Mallory Swanson and a Chicago team that won both of its first two games. Hines spoke about how the Pride are preparing for Chicago and how they will need the home crowd to bring the support tomorrow night.

Sophia Smith Signs Record-Breaking New Deal

American forward Sophia Smith signed a new contract with the Portland Thorns that will make her the highest-paid NWSL player, according to the club. The new deal will last through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026 as well. The 23-year-old was drafted by the Thorns with the first overall pick in the 2020 NWSL Draft and has gone on to score 34 regular-season goals. Smith re-signed with the club in 2022 and was set to become a free agent following this season, but will instead stay in Portland.

Midge Purce Out for NWSL Season

NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Midge Purce will miss the remainder of the NWSL season after tearing her ACL. The 28-year-old will undergo surgery and suffered the injury in her team’s 1-0 victory over the Portland Thorns this past weekend. She’s been with Gotham since 2020 and assisted on both goals in her team’s 2-1 win in the 2023 NWSL Championship. It’s a tough blow for the United States Women’s National Team too, as she will not be representing the U.S. during this summer’s Olympics in France.

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  • Orlando City B’s match against Carolina Core FC on April 14 has been rescheduled.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/27/24

Bally Sports will broadcast Orlando Pride matches, Pride players called up, USWNT announces SheBelieves Cup roster, and more.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Hello, Mane Landers. I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I attended my friend’s wedding this past weekend and have been getting myself back into work mode by covering high school tennis this week. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Bally Sports Will Broadcast Select Orlando Pride Matches

Bally Sports was announced as the new local television partner for the Orlando Pride. There will be 13 select Pride matches broadcast this season across Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports Sun, and on the Bally Sports app. The partnership will begin this Friday, with the Orlando Soccer Insider show taking place before the kickoff of the Pride’s home match against the Chicago Red Stars at 7 p.m. The show will be broadcast on Bally Sports Florida, and then you can switch to the Bally Sports app to watch Friday’s match. Below are all the select matches that will be broadcast on Bally Sports this season.

Brazilian Orlando Pride Players Called Up

The Orlando Pride’s Marta, Angelina, and Luana were all called up by Brazil for next month’s SheBelieves Cup. Brazil heads into this tournament after a solid showing in the Concacaf W Gold Cup. The format is different for this year’s SheBelieves Cup, as there will only be four matches instead of six. Brazil’s first match of the tournament will be a semifinal on April 6 against Canada in Atlanta.

USWNT Announces Roster for SheBelieves Cup

United States Women’s National Team interim head coach Twila Kilgore announced the 23-player roster for the 2024 SheBelieves Cup matches next month. The USWNT has won this competition four consecutive times since 2020, and is going for a seventh title in 2024. Of those called up, 19 players on this squad were part of the team that won the Concacaf W Gold Cup earlier this month. San Diego Wave forward Jaedyn Shaw, the Concacaf W Gold Cup’s MVP, is back on the roster after she led the USWNT with four goals. The squad also includes familiar names like former Pride forward Alex Morgan, Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, and Olympique Lyon midfielder Lindsey Horan. Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario return to the squad after being sidelined with injuries. The USWNT will begin its quest to defend its SheBelieves Cup title when it faces Japan on April 6 in Atlanta.

MLS Referees Agree to New CBA

After a lockout that resulted in Major League Soccer starting the season with replacement referees, the Professional Soccer Referees Association voted to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement with the Professional Referee Organization. The new CBA is a seven-year deal that runs through January of 2031. This deal will also include significant pay raises for referees, assistant referees, and video assistant referees. The PRO referees will return to the pitch for this weekend’s MLS matches.

Ukraine, Georgia, and Poland Qualify for Euro 2024

Ukraine has qualified for this summer’s Euros after edging out Iceland 2-1 in its playoff final, with Mykhaylo Mudryk scoring the winning goal in the second half. Georgia eliminated Greece 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw to book a spot in the tournament as well. Georgia qualifies for its first major tournament after coming up short in 2020. Poland also needed penalties to qualify, with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny making the final save against Daniel James to beat Wales 5-4 on penalties after a scoreless draw.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/26/24

Jack Lynn named to MLS Team of the Matchday bench, Nico Lodeiro and Marta up for weekly awards, USMNT stock watch, and more.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Happy Tuesday, everyone! It was an enjoyable weekend for fans of Orlando soccer as the Lions got in the win column, the Pride stayed unbeaten, and Orlando City B picked up two points by way of a shootout win. As usual, we have plenty to discuss this morning, so let’s dive in.

Jack Lynn Makes Team of the Matchday Bench

Jack Lynn’s efforts in Orlando City’s 2-0 win over Austin FC have earned him a spot on the bench in the latest edition of the MLS Team of the Matchday. Lynn opened the scoring with a well-finished header in the first half, a tally which was also his very first for the senior side. Aside from his goal, he took another shot that was off target, completed 77% of his passes, and recorded 21 touches. The performance earned him a 6 out of 10 grade from Sean Rollins in his player grades from the match. Lynn’s inclusion in the TotM is well deserved, and hopefully it’s the first of many!

Orlando Players Up for Weekly Honors

Nico Lodeiro’s free kick during Orlando City’s win has been nominated for the MLS Goal of the Matchday. In the 64th minute, with the Lions holding a 1-0 lead, courtesy of Lynn’s goal, the good guys were awarded a free kick due to a handball on the edge of the box. Lodeiro proceeded to deliver the goods, scoring his first league goal for OCSC with a powerful, bending effort that Brad Stuver was unable to keep out of the top corner. Make sure you go and vote for Nico to win this week’s award!

He wasn’t the only Orlando player who had an impressive goal either, as the Orlando Pride’s Marta has been nominated for the National Women’s Soccer League Goal of the Week. It was a well-deserved nomination too, as she leveled the score and rescued a point for the Pride in spectacular fashion. With time ticking down in the 88th minute, she expertly volleyed in a corner kick at home. Go and vote for her to win the honor!

Post-Nations League Stock Watch

Several United States Men’s National Team players either boosted or hurt their stock over the course of last week’s Concacaf Nations League matches. Guys like Giovanni Reyna and Tyler Adams turned in impactful and timely performances. Reyna was named the best player of the tournament at a time when minutes at the club level are tough to come by, while Adams looked great as he continues to work his way back from a long injury layoff. Joe Scally and Folarin Balogun struggled though, with Scally being hooked at halftime against Jamaica and Balogun having a relatively quiet two games while fellow striker Haji Wright was the hero against Jamaica. Nobody’s stock dropped more than Mexico’s though, which has now gone seven games without beating the U.S., and hasn’t scored in almost 500 minutes. *Insert eagle screech here*

Big Names Missing for Euro 2024

The club season won’t be over for a couple more months, but there are a number of big stars who we either already know won’t be appearing at this summer’s Euro 2024, or who have a race against the clock in order to feature. The Real Madrid duo of David Alaba and Thibaut Courtois will both miss the tournament through injury, although Courtois’ rocky relationship with Belgium manager Domenico Tedesco means he may not have been called up anyway. Sven Botman will be unavailable for the Netherlands due to an ACL tear. Ivan Perisic suffered the same fate, sidelining him for Croatia. Then there are the cases of Sandro Tonali and Paul Pogba, who are unavailable for Italy and France, respectively, due to suspensions for off-field issues.

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  • Happy National Athletic Training Month from one AT (me) to another!
  • The young Yanks engineered a late comeback to earn a 2-2 draw with France, with Cade Cowell scoring the equalizer.
  • A vote has reportedly taken place on a new tentative agreeement between PRO and the PSRA.
  • LAFC has reportedly sent a formal contract offer for Olivier Giroud to join the Western Conference side once the Serie A season concludes.

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

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