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Orlando City vs. FC Dallas: Final Score 0-0 as 10-Man Lions Run Unbeaten Streak to Eight Games

The Lions were the better team but after Sebas Mendez got sent off they were forced to battle for whatever they could get in Dallas.

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4 years ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Orlando City probably deserved more than a single point with a good performance against FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX, tonight, but after midfielder Sebas Mendez was sent off, the Lions (7-2-5, 26 points) will take the single point and be satisfied with running their unbeaten streak to eight matches (5-0-3) against a stubborn FC Dallas (5-3-5, 20 points) side.

City played well in all phases but had trouble breaking Dallas down in the final third, and when the Lions did create something, the shots were either saved or just a tad off target. The Lions felt they were the better side even though they played down a man for almost half an hour.

“It was a point and we’ll take it,” Orlando City Oscar Pareja said after the match — his first at FC Dallas since leaving that club after the 2018 season. “We’re proud after such effort that the players gave on the field. But knowing that we had the majority of the options and the personality, and the most important consistency during the game, we feel that it was not enough for us, the point.”

“Honestly, we felt like it was two points lost tonight,” Tesho Akindele said. “We were happy to get the point, especially after we went down to 10 men, but I think that we outplayed them for most of the game and probably deserved three points and I think that’s how everybody feels tonight.”

Pareja’s lineup featured fewer changes than expected. Pedro Gallese lined up behind the same back line as Wednesday — Kyle Smith, Robin Jansson, Rodrigo Schlegel, and Ruan — as Antonio Carlos did not make the trip. Mendez and Junior Urso stayed in the central midfield but starters Mauricio Pereyra and Chris Mueller were inserted back into the attacking midfield with Nani. Akindele got his second straight start at striker.

The Lions had a bright start to the game and held most of the early possession. But when Orlando got into the final third, things generally broke down. Ruan put an early cross into the box but split his two teammates and passed directly to the defense. Nani had shots blocked in the third and fourth minutes and then sent a cross through the area that was just a bit too far out in front of Ruan at the back post.

FC Dallas finally got a foot in the game in the 10th minute with a nice buildup that sent Santiago Mosquera in on goal alone but Gallese made a huge stop with his leg to keep the game scoreless.

Mosquera picked up an apparent quad injury and had to be subbed off for Fafa Picault shortly after his golden scoring chance.

Andres Ricaurte took a weak shot in the 19th minute that almost became a problem when it deflected off Jansson, but it skipped just wide of the right post.

The Lions had to make their own injury substitute shortly after that, as Ruan went down on the pitch and came off with what appeared to be a hamstring issue. Kamal Miller checked in and took up the left back position, with Smith moving over to the right.

Pereyra sent in a nice cross for Mueller in the 27th minute but Cash headed his shot right at Jimmy Maurer, who made the easy save. Ten minutes later, the Lions had a good attack building on the counter. Akindele had options to pass to either Nani or Mueller but opted to shoot instead from just outside the area and his shot was blocked out for a corner.

Late in the half Matt Hedges headed just over the bar on an FC Dallas corner and then the Lions got their best opportunity of the half when Pereyra picked out Nani with a gorgeous pass from right to left. The captain headed it to the back post but Akindele couldn’t get to it and by the time Mueller got there he was out of room and headed into the outside netting.

Orlando City held the advantage in shots (8-7) but got only one on frame to FC Dallas’ three. The Lions also had more corners (4-3), and possession (56.1%-43.9%), with both teams passing at an 85% rate.

Dallas fashioned a chance just after the break after an apparent foul on Pereyra went uncalled and Ricaurte fired over the bar. Three minutes later, Nani smashed a shot from distance that forced a good diving save from Maurer. The rebound was tantalizingly close to Mueller but a bit off line for the Orlando forward to pounce on.

Mendez got his marching orders in the 69th minute. He’d picked up a yellow card for time wasting just five minutes earlier, kicking the ball away after a foul was called on Miller. Then he was late into a challenge on Bryan Reynolds, and a bit behind, and was well deserving of his second yellow.

The sending off put his teammates in a hole as it was the first time this season the Lions had played a man down due to a red card. Mendez will miss Saturday’s match against the New York Red Bulls.

Despite being down a man, Orlando continued to play the same way. They pressed when they could, defended well, and looked to counter. Nani smashed a shot just wide of the left post in the 75th minute as the Lions still looked the likelier side to score.

Just after Tanner Tessman’s long-range effort in the 79th minute was easily saved by Gallese, the Lions nearly got their game-winner. The outlet pass from Gallese found Nani on the left side and the captain drew a defender toward him and played a diagonal ball for Urso to run onto. The Bear sent a shot on target that forced a good save by Maurer to keep the game scoreless.

“I saw good space to run in,” Urso said. “I think I made a good shot but I think I can do more power the next time. I just say congratulations to the keeper because he saved his team.”

On the ensuing corner, the ball was played short — as it had been all night, mostly ineffectively — and a good cross came into the area where multiple players took a swing at it as it ping-ponged around, but no Orlando City player could make good contact.

Dallas earned a few late corners but was unable to do anything with them. Orlando defended well and looked to break out. Nani got the last chance of normal time, sending a shot just wide — on the right side this time — in the 90th minute off a throw-in play.

Miller made a rare bombing run forward in the 97th minute and got all the way into the Dallas penalty area, but just as he was freeing himself up for the shot, he had his pocket picked and the final chance evaporated. After one more FC Dallas corner, the game was over.

Orlando finished with more shot attempts (17-14) but Dallas got more on target (4-3). Corners ended up at six apiece, and the extra player allowed the hosts to finish with a slightly better passing rate (83%-82%), while the Lions held more possession (53.4%-46.6%), even though they were a man short for a good chunk of the second half.

“We had the possession, we had the options, and we continued with the ambition of winning. And that says a lot about the character of these guys,” Pareja said.

“I’m very proud of the team because we were running to the end,” Urso said. “And one player less is not easy to play, so I think we did a good job today.”

With the draw, Orlando fell to fourth in the Eastern Conference and Supporters Shield standings due to wins by Philadelphia and Toronto tonight, but the team earned its first-ever point at Toyota Stadium. Orlando City is now 0-2-1 at FC Dallas and 1-3-2 in the all-time series.

Orlando City now gets its longest rest until the one after the penultimate game of the season, with a meeting with the New York Red Bulls set for next Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/21/25

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

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18 hours ago

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January 21, 2025

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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!

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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.

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2 days ago

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January 20, 2025

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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.

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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

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January 20, 2025

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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.

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