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Orlando City vs. Atlanta United: Player Grades and Man of the Match

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3 years ago

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Orlando City started the 2021 season with a 0-0 draw at Exploria Stadium against Atlanta United. Orlando Head Coach Oscar Pareja crafted a lineup working around injuries to usual starters such as Robin Jansson, Joao Moutinho, and Uri Rosell, as well as the suspension of Mauricio Pereyra. Atlanta finished with a majority of the possession, but Orlando had the better scoring chances in yet another season-opening draw for the Lions.

Here’s how each Lion rated in the first game of the year, as well as my pick for the team’s Man of the Match.

Starters

GK, Pedro Gallese, 6 — The Peruvian goalkeeper only had to make two saves in this one, the toughest coming in the 89th minute, when he had to go to ground to stop a shot from distance Franco Ibarra. It won’t be making a highlight reel anytime soon, but when it mattered, he played his part in Orlando’s clean sheet. Those clean sheets didn’t come often last season, with Orlando’s defense letting at least one goal squeak by in most matches, so it’s nice for Gallese to start the season without conceding.

D, Kyle Smith, 7 (MotM) — Filling in for the injured Moutinho at left back, Smith led the team in passes (45), touches (65), aerials won (3), and clearances (6). He finished with two tackles, an interception, and a blocked shot and passed at an 86.7% rate. Although he wasn’t able to replicate Moutinho’s crossing ability — though he was 1/2 on crosses (both with his weaker left foot) — Smith made critical tackles to snuff out Atlanta’s chances on the left side of the field without Jansson there to back him up. Smith is our Man of the Match for not giving Atlanta time to breathe or find the final pass in a scoreless draw. Left back is Orlando’s position with the least depth and Smith prevented that from being a weakness in this match.

D, Rodrigo Schlegel, 7 — With Jansson nursing a lower leg injury, Schlegel came in and managed a pretty good impression of the Swede. Schlegel was imposing, physical, and stood his ground while anchoring the defense. While many will joke about his heroics in goal during the MLS playoffs last year, this performance showed Schlegel’s prowess as a center back. It was important for him to step up after departures at the position this off-season and Schlegel did just that, finishing with two tackles, two clearances, and a notable 35 passes with a team-leading 94.4% passing rate to help Orlando build out of the back.

D, Antonio Carlos, 6.5 — Defensively sound as always, Carlos came up huge in stoppage time by chasing down Ezequiel Barco and stopping Atlanta on the counter to maintain Orlando’s clean sheet. On the other end of the field, Carlos had a great opportunity to score off of a corner kick in the 49th minute. Unmarked in front of goal, he headed the ball down instead of on target and the opportunity was lost. Despite the missed shot and a few errant passes here and there (on 89.7% passing overall), it was a good outing from Carlos as he prevented the kind of heartbreak Orlando fans were likely terrified of late in the match. Defensively, he contributed two tackles, a clearance, and a blocked shot.

D, Ruan, 6 — The 25-year-old dueled with George Bello throughout the match, using speed and silky footwork to get the better of Bello on occasion. Ruan finished second in touches with 63, often working with Chris Mueller or Nani to stretch Orlando’s attack and crash the box. Like the rest of the back line, Ruan played all 90 minutes and hustled in the game’s final minutes to make sure Orlando wasn’t beaten. He finished with one tackle and three clearances on defense. Despite three dribbles, he wasn’t as sharp going forward, with only one cross attempt, which wasn’t accurate, a shot that was blocked, and just a 69% passing rate.

MF, Sebas Mendez, 6.5 — It was the kind of quiet game that Mendez has often had with Orlando City, plugging up Atlanta’s passing lanes and making life difficult for the opposition. He had a chance to score in the 61st minute, pouncing on a loose ball in the box after dribbling from Alexandre Pato, but wasn’t able to get enough contact to put it away. He finished fourth in touches with 49, mostly due to Pareja running the offense through the wings rather than the center of the field. Mendez pushed forward more as the game went on and finished second on the team with 42 passes (92.9% accuracy), one of them a key pass. He had two tackles, an interception, a clearance, and one shot attempt.

MF, Junior Urso, 6.5 — Like many times last season, Urso often found himself in great positions on offense but failed to find the back of the net. The Bear led the team in shots, with three, but either sent the ball into the stands or couldn’t make clean contact on his attempt. He deserves some recognition for his effort on both sides of the ball in the Florida heat. A force in the air and often tracking back on defense, Urso ended the match with a team-high three tackles, a team-high two interceptions, and a key pass on 81.5% passing.

MF, Chris Mueller, 6 — The Money Badger created Orlando’s best chance of the afternoon, setting Pato up in front of goal in the 72nd minute. He seemed to take over as Orlando’s playmaker once Nani was subbed off, working on the left side of the pitch to get things going offensively. Mueller also drew a foul late in the first half to give Orlando good positioning for a free kick. Taking the free kick himself, Mueller served a good cross, but Urso just couldn’t get his header on target. Although his skill level has improved, he tended to dribble into trouble at times and was stymied by Atlanta’s defense. Cash passed at just a 75.8% rate, but had three key passes and was 2/2 in crossing accuracy. He made two tackles, attempted one shot, and drew three fouls.

MF, Nani, 6.5 — The captain was the one pulling the strings on offense, finding players in space and delivering good crosses on corner kicks. With Pereyra serving his suspension, the team looked most dangerous when Nani had the ball at his feet. He finished with three key passes and one shot (on target), taking a chance from distance when Atlanta gave him space to set up the strike. He passed at a 79.4% rate and was accurate on two of his three crosses. Defensively, he chipped in three tackles, three clearances, and an interception. All in all, it was a decent game from Nani, albeit without a goal or assist, and perhaps a few turnovers too many, and he exited in the 70th minute for fresher legs.

F, Tesho Akindele, 5 — A bad first touch by Akindele ruined an early opportunity on the counter and the Canadian wasn’t able to make much of an impact against a stout Atlanta defense. Akindele used his large frame to win two aerial duels and hold up play on offense, but was subbed off after an uneventful first half with no shots and nine passes. His passing rate of 66.7% wasn’t great, he had no key passes, and he contributed no defensive stats.

F, Alexandre Pato, 6 — It was Pato’s first taste of MLS action on a team filled with returning players and there were predictably moments of disconnect between himself and the rest of the team. His best chances came in the second half once he became the team’s lone forward up top after Akindele’s substitution. He dribbled around Brad Guzan in the box only to run into Mendez and not be able to put the ball away, and he had a shot on goal that was deflected and then saved by Guzan later in the match. His day ended in the 78th minute after an awkward landing that left him on the field reaching for his leg and forced him out of the contest, so that will be something to keep an eye on moving forward. His 41.7% passing rate will improve with more time with his new teammates but he showed his footwork with a team-high four dribbles. He also got his only shot attempt on frame.

Substitutes

MF, Andres Perea (45’), 6.5 — Orlando’s shape changed once Perea came on after the first half and the introduction of the U.S. youth international also changed the entire offensive flow for the Lions. Within 30 seconds of taking the field, he delivered a strike but it was right at Guzan. Perea certainly looked hungry in this one, building play in central midfield and ruffling Guzan’s feathers by jumping at a floating Ruan cross in the box. He got his one shot attempt on target, and had a key pass (78.6% accuracy on 14 attempts).

F, Benji Michel, (70’) 5 — Michel didn’t do much as a substitute in this one. Any energy he brought to the offense was erased once Pato was taken off the field due to injury. Until Matheus Aias came on in stoppage time, Michel pushed up into the striker position. The flow of the game shifted and Michel finished with just six touches and two passes, although he completed both. He had one clearance on the defensive end.

MF, Silvester van der Water (80’), N/A — Coming on for Pato to make his Orlando debut, van der Water showed similar miscommunication with teammates. It may take some time for him to learn the habits of the other Lions, but the Dutchman did show quality bits of skill to beat defenders. He finished with one shot (off target), a dribble, and a tackle, completing three of his four passes. He wasn’t on long enough to warrant a grade, but it will be interesting to see him more as he settles in.

F, Matheus Aias (91’), N/A — New season, same late cameo for Aias. He came on for Mueller and didn’t even touch the ball in his brief appearance.

That’s how I saw the individual performances in Orlando City’s first game of 2021. Let us know what you thought in the comments below and make sure to vote for who you think was the Man of the Match.

Polling Closed

PlayerVotes
Kyle Smith42
Rodrigo Schlegel12
Nani1
Junior Urso3
Chris Mueller4
Other (write in comments)6

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2023 Orlando City Season in Review: Jack Lynn

The 2022 draft pick spent most of his time with Orlando City B during his second year in purple.

Published

9 hours ago

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December 8, 2023

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Jack Lynn joined Orlando City through the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, when he was selected in the first round by the Lions with the No. 18 overall pick. He was then signed to a one-year deal in February of last year with options for the next three years. Much of his time during his first season was spent with Orlando City B, although he did make a few appearances for the first team.

Let’s take a look back at Lynn’s second year in purple.

Statistical Breakdown

Lynn made three appearances in Major League Soccer with the senior side, all of which came as a substitute, and finished with 33 minutes on the field. Defensively, he recorded one interception and two clearances, while committing one foul. Offensively, he won four aerial duels, took one shot, which was on target, drew two fouls, and completed three long balls while passing with 76% accuracy. He did not score a goal or assist on one.

As in 2022, the majority of Lynn’s season was spent in MLS Next PRO with Orlando City B. He had a phenomenal year in the developmental league, and his campaign finished with him being named the league’s MVP and winning the Golden Boot. He played in 27 games for the young Lions, 20 of which were starts, and racked up 1,826 minutes. Defensively, he recorded three interceptions, committed 16 fouls, and was shown four yellow cards. On offense, he took 72 shots and put 40 of them on target, scored 19 goals, drew 15 fouls, and passed with 74% accuracy while completing 13 long balls and 12 key passes but no assists.

Best Game

There weren’t a lot to pick from, but I’ve gone with his longest appearance of the year, which was a 20-minute shift during Orlando City’s 4-3 comeback win over the Columbus Crew. He didn’t record many statistics on the night, as he won two aerial duels, committed a foul, and passed with 50% accuracy. However, he provided a big target up front as the Lions continued to lump the ball forward in search of goals, and he factored in on Facundo Torres’ goal, pulling players away so Ramiro Enrique could collect the ball and start the move that ended with the ball in the back of the net. Michael Citro graded him as a 5 out of 10 in our Player Grades piece, the only game this year in which he received a grade.

2023 Final Grade

As he fell well short of the 450 minute threshold that we require for a player to be given, Lynn has been given a grade of incomplete for the 2023 season. After spending the bulk of his time with Orlando City B in his first two seasons as a Lion, we still don’t have a great idea of what he might be able to contribute to the first team, and we simply need to see more of him to get a better read on his abilities.

2024 Outlook

Lynn remains fairly young and inexpensive, has option years left on his contract, and just tore up MLS Next PRO with Orlando City B. With there being some whispers about overseas teams scouting Duncan McGuire, and the Lions already a little thin at the striker position, it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see Lynn’s option year exercised. What sort of role he’ll have will then likely depend on what he’s able to show during preseason, but if nothing else he should remain a key part of OCB.

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Lion Links: 12/8/23

Orlando City will play Flamengo in preseason friendly, Kylie Strom signs new deal, USMNT’s Copa America group draw, and more.

Published

13 hours ago

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December 8, 2023

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Happy Friday! The work week is almost over and I’m really looking forward to the weekend. I’ll be celebrating a friend’s birthday and knocking out most of the holiday shopping that I haven’t gotten around to just yet. Hopefully the malls aren’t too chaotic. Regardless, it should be a nice next few days. But for now, let’s get to the links!

Orlando Will Face Flamengo in 2024 FC Series

Orlando City’s first preseason game will take place on Jan. 27 when it takes on Flamengo at Camping World Stadium as part of the 2024 FC Series, which was previously known as the Florida Cup. Going up against one of Brazil’s powerhouses should be great preparation for the Lions after a record season in 2023 that earned them a spot in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup. It will be the second meeting between the two sides after a 2015 friendly in Brazil that Flamengo won 1-0. It will be nice to see the Lions in action at Camping World Stadium again and the kickoff time for next month’s match will be unveiled at a later time.

Kylie Strom Signs New Deal With Pride

Defender Kylie Strom, who was a free agent following the 2023 season, will return to the Orlando Pride after signing a three-year deal with the club. She joined the Pride in the summer of 2021 from Atletico Madrid and started in 26 games this past year, holding down the left back position. The Pride now retain their starting back line heading into 2024 and have full protection in Tuesday’s expansion draft. Although the defense struggled at times, it improved as the season wore on and the Pride nearly made the playoffs. Jordyn Listro is now the only free agent left from last year’s squad.

NWSL Announces Blueprint for 2024 Schedule

The framework for the 2024 NWSL season was revealed and the 182-match regular season has been formatted so that NWSL games don’t take place during international breaks. The biggest change is that the NWSL Challenge Cup is no longer a tournament and now just a match between the NWSL Shield winner and the NWSL champion, meaning San Diego Wave FC will play NJ/NY Gotham FC on March 15. However, there will be a weekend tournament organized by the league for all 14 teams during a break in the regular season while the Summer Olympics take place. The playoffs will feature eight teams and won’t include byes this year, with the quarterfinals starting on Nov. 9 and the NWSL Championship set for Nov. 23. Clubs can begin their preseason camps as early as Jan. 22 and no later than Jan. 29.

Copa America Teams Learn Their Groups

The United States Men’s National Team will take on Uruguay, Panama, and Bolivia in its group in the 2024 Copa America. Uruguay was one of the strongest opponents the U.S. could get drawn against, as the South American team has scored 13 goals so far in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying. The important match between the USMNT and Uruguay will take place on July 1 in Kansas City. We’ll see how much Orlando City winger Facundo Torres plays for Uruguay in the tournament. As for Orlando’s Peruvian pair of Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena, Peru is in a tough group against Argentina, Chile, and whichever nation prevails between Canada and Trinidad & Tobago.

We also have a clearer idea on which teams will be playing in Orlando. Two games will take place at Exploria Stadium, with Chile playing either Canada or Trinidad & Tobago on June 29 before Bolivia and Panama face off on July 1.

Gisele Thompson Signs With Angel City FC

Angel City FC signed young defender Gisele Thompson to a three-year contract that had this year count as the first year, with an option for an additional year in 2026. She turned 18 earlier this month and turned down an offer to play at Stanford to instead sign with Angel City, meaning the club did not need to use a draft pick for her to join. Gisele is the sister of Alyssa Thompson, who Angel City traded up to select with the first pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft. They are the youngest players on Angel City’s roster and will become the second pair of sisters to play in the league.

Free Kicks

  • The Colorado Rapids are reportedly in talks with American goalkeeper Zack Steffen to sign him from Manchester City.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!

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2023 Orlando City Season in Review: Favian Loyola

The Homegrown midfielder spent most of the year with OCB but made his MLS debut in July.

Published

1 day ago

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December 7, 2023

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Orlando City signed midfielder Favian Loyola to a Homegrown Player deal through 2025 on Dec. 2, 2022, with club options for 2026 and 2027. The OCSC Academy product became the club’s 13th all-time Homegrown signing and it was no surprise after his fantastic 2022 season. The Camp Lejeune, NC, was coming off a breakout year in the club’s youth system, which culminated with his selection to the 2022 MLS NEXT All-Star Game, in which he was named MVP. After starting the 2022 season on an academy contract, Loyola earned an MLS NEXT Pro deal, signing it last August. When he signed his Homegrown deal in December he became the first player to climb the club’s developmental ladder from the academy, to the current OCB setup in MLS NEXT Pro, to the first team.

Let’s take a look back at Loyola’s 2023 campaign, which was abbreviated due to surgery on his arm to remove a blood clot on Aug. 27.

Statistical Breakdown

Loyola played in just one MLS match with the Lions, making his first-team debut July 1 in a 3-1 home win over the Chicago Fire. The 18-year-old came on as a substitute in the third minute of stoppage time for Facundo Torres and is officially credited with one minute played, although that match went to nine minutes of stoppage. In that short amount of time he managed six touches and attempted six passes, completing all of them — one of them being a key pass. Loyola did not attempt a shot or record any defensive stats, but he did commit one foul, but he was not booked for it.

The bulk of Loyola’s 2023 season was spent with Orlando City B in MLS NEXT Pro, where he was a key player off the bench for Martin Perelman’s side. He appeared in 20 of the team’s 28 matches, starting seven, and logging 732 minutes. He scored two goals and added three assists, putting 10 of his 21 shots on target during the year. Loyola completed 80.3% of his passes with OCB, served up seven key passes and six successful long balls, and completed three crosses. He recorded four tackles and three interceptions, committed 11 fouls while drawing 10, and was booked three times.

Best Game

With just the one MLS match to his credit, Loyola’s MLS debut against Chicago was his best game of the 2023 Major League Soccer Season. It was a memorable match, as he subbed on for Torres, who set the tone for the Lions with a brace that night, and it was also the game in which Mauricio Pereyra made his 100th appearance with Orlando City. Loyola made the most of his short amount of time on the pitch, despite committing a foul during his first minute of MLS play. He settled in and completed all six of his passes and created a scoring chance just seconds after his foul, when he sent a ball to Ramiro Enrique, although the Argentine had his shot attempt blocked from a tight angle.

2023 Final Grade

As Loyola came up short of the minimum total of 450 minutes played to receive a rating on our 1-10 scale, The Mane Land has no choice but to mark his grade as incomplete for the 2023 season. If his meteoric growth continues, Loyola will likely have much more than one appearance next season as his skills at passing and finding pockets of space translate well to the next level. He wasn’t able to return to the pitch after the surgery for his blood clot, but he should be ready to go for 2024.

2024 Outlook

With Loyola being just 18 years old and the club having him under contract, I would expect his role to be the same in 2024. He’ll be learning the ropes with OCB, playing most of the season with the club’s reserve side in MLS NEXT Pro, where he will continue to be a key player. However, if he continues to develop his game, he could push for more late substitute appearances with the first team or even get a start if the Lions draw a lower-league team in the U.S. Open Cup. One thing Loyola will need to work on is controlling the ball, as he turned the ball over 15 times with OCB in 2023.

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