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Orlando City vs. Columbus Crew: Five Takeaways

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3 years ago

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Orlando City ran its MLS regular-season unbeaten streak to seven games after Saturday night’s 3-2 win over the Columbus Crew at Exploria Stadium. Despite a lack of continuity on the pitch in terms of personnel, the Lions keep finding ways to gain points and move through the schedule toward the place they really want to be — the playoffs.

But what did we learn from the team’s fifth consecutive win over the defending MLS Cup champions? I have raised my degree of difficulty for this column by using only Loverboy song titles as my section headers.

“The Kid is Hot Tonite”

Daryl Dike’s return to the lineup last weekend against Inter Miami was an uneventful one. With only 11 touches on the ball, the big striker couldn’t impact the match. And it looked like more of the same early on Saturday night. Dike managed about three touches in the first 20 or so minutes against the Crew and two of those came on a play in the 16th minute when he flicked a Ruan pass toward goal and then had the ricochet of his blocked attempt come back and hit him in the foot, bouncing back toward goal.

But Dike found his rhythm in the game and became a problem for Columbus. He overpowered Aboubacar Keita in the 26th minute, threw a couple of fakes at Vito Wormgoor to keep him off balance, then smashed a shot into the top of the net to open the scoring. He was active the rest of the night, including getting the fans to make some noise during a video review of the Crew’s second goal, helping his team get over the shock of the sudden turnaround in momentum. His layoff to Junior Urso became his second assist of the season when the Bear sent his seeing-eye shot through traffic and inside the left post for the winner. It was an all-around solid night for Dike, who looked more like himself against the Crew.

“It’s Never Easy”

For a brief, shining moment, it looked like Orlando City might win a match comfortably. That hasn’t happened since a 5-0 shellacking of San Jose back on June 22. In fact, the Lions have only won by more than one goal twice all season. Last night’s victory was more difficult than it had to be and that started with the bizarre own goal in the 52nd minute. Robin Jansson kicked the ball up in the air trying to prevent Alexandru Matan from having a scoring chance. The ball sailed high and slightly back toward the Orlando net. With Antonio Carlos and Ruan to deal with Miguel Berry, the Lions should have been in good shape and, as such, Adam Grinwis stayed on his line. But Carlos’ header unfortunately found its way inside the right post to throw Columbus a lifeline in a game it had no business being in. Two minutes later, the Crew tied it.

After Urso scored to restore Orlando’s lead, the Lions continued to look for insurance but could never get it. Chris Mueller sliced a shot just wide in the 77th minute, but that was a difficult chance from outside the area. The game should have been put away by Tesho Akindele a few minutes later. Mauricio Pereyra sent a diagonal pass behind Wormgoor that set up a breakaway down the left side of the box. Akindele’s chance to put the game to bed went just inches wide of the far post. The Crew didn’t have any clear-cut chances the rest of the way anyway, but Orlando missed another opportunity to take the late-game drama out of a match and just couldn’t do it. The game shouldn’t have been close with Columbus getting only two shots on target all evening.

“Queen of the Broken Hearts” (or…King in this case)

Mueller couldn’t buy a break right now if he won the Powerball jackpot. It’s been a rough season for the Money Badger and Saturday night was one of the roughest. If it weren’t for bad luck, Cash would seemingly have no luck at all. Mueller still works hard, does a lot of the little things Oscar Pareja needs him to do, and gets into dangerous positions, but then…something goes wrong and opportunities seem to melt away. On his first good chance Saturday, Mueller cut in from left to right, got into space, and tried to drive a shot toward goal. But he struck the ball oddly and it flew high into the air and ended up somewhere in The Wall. On his best opportunity, he found space on the left, let loose a shot from just inside the box, and it was heading toward goal…and then it hit Dike, who had somehow strayed into the ball’s flight path. That’s just terrible luck! Then there was the rocket he sent wide in the 77th minute mentioned above. One of these nights, something’s going to go in off his neck or his rear end and maybe that’ll open the floodgates.

Oh, and then to make matters worse, he took a shot in the back late in the game and needed the trainers to come on and attend to him. Hopefully it’s nothing serious, but he did sub out shortly after that.

“Emotional”

Orlando had to feel good about seeing Grinwis get a start and a win in MLS for the first time since 2018. Grinwis was a fan favorite with his heroics in City’s 2019 U.S. Open Cup run and many were sad to see his option declined after that season ended. Then the Grinch tore his ACL after becoming the Sacramento Republic’s starter the next season. It was a long road back and although it’s tough to see Mason Stajduhar suffer an injury now that he’s finally getting some games, it was great to see Grinwis come back from his ACL, make a big save in the match, and win a game with Orlando City.

Grinwis looked excited during warmups. He made a stellar save on Lucas Zelarayan for his best stop of the night in the 36th minute. He had command of his box and perhaps his only miscue was hitting Robin Jansson in the back of the head with his follow-through of a punch in the game’s early moments. After the match, Grinwis had trouble putting his thoughts into words when discussing his road back from the injury.

Coincidentally, Grinwis’ last win in an Orlando City uniform came on Oct. 21, 2018 — also against the Columbus Crew. That 2-1 victory was his first MLS win and all of his team’s offense came from the penalty spot that night. Yoshimar Yotun and Sacha Kljestan each buried a penalty to lead Orlando back after Federico Higuain had given the Crew a 1-0 lead.

“Lovin’ Every Minute of It”

There was a lot to love for Orlando City fans on Saturday. The Lions beat the Crew for the fifth consecutive time and that win gave the club its seventh straight game in league play with either a win or a draw, dating back to a 3-2 win over Atlanta United on July 30. That win jumped Orlando back over Nashville for second in the Eastern Conference by virtue of the games won tiebreaker. All of this is very good for the Lions.

Getting back to beating Columbus on Saturday…the Crew were one of the first thorns in Orlando’s side when the Lions joined MLS. Columbus was 5-2-3 against Orlando City in the team’s first four seasons in Major League Soccer. Now the Lions have the Crew’s number, and Orlando beating them feels normal somehow. Orlando seemed the likelier team to get a third goal after Miguel Berry scored and eventually did. That’s a new thing for fans who suffered through 2015 through 2019. We’ll see if that continues when the teams meet in Columbus on Oct. 27.

One other thing to love about the win over Columbus: with his 23rd victory in all competitions, Oscar Pareja passed Jason Kreis as the club’s all-time winningest coach (in 16 fewer matches — the U.S. Open Cup hasn’t been played since Pareja has been with Orlando City). Papi also tied Kreis for another club record with 21 regular-season MLS wins with Orlando (in 18 fewer matches).

That’s what caught my attention during Orlando’s victory over the Crew. What stood out to you? Do you even like any of the Loverboy songs namechecked above? Let me know in the comments.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/14/24

MLS playoff predictions, Barbra Banda and Marta earn recognition, USMNT takes on Jamaica tonight, and more.

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4 hours ago

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November 14, 2024

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’ve been a bit under the weather this week, but it’s at least meant I’ve been able to spend more time with my cat and get some reading done when not hacking up a lung. But enough about that, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

MLS Conference Semifinal Predictions

Former Orlando City captain Sacha Kljestan weighed in on which of the remaining eight teams will prevail in the MLS playoffs. He predicts that Atlanta United can lean on its counterattacking and Brad Guzan’s goalkeeping to beat Orlando City when the two rivals face off in Orlando on Nov. 24. A key thing to watch heading into the match is if Head Coach Oscar Pareja switches things up up top given Ramiro Enrique’s slump.

Kljestan predicts a tight match between New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls, but has NYCFC moving on. He also has both the LA Galaxy and LAFC advancing in the Western Conference, which would set up a playoff edition of El Trafico.

Pride Players Make ESPN’s Top 50

ESPN unveiled its annual list of the top 50 women’s soccer players and a pair of Orlando Pride players made the list. Forward Barbra Banda is ranked third on the list for crushing it in her first year in the NWSL, scoring 13 goals to help the Pride win the NWSL Shield. Marta, who has not been listed in the past two years, ranked 26th for turning back the clock at 38 years old and creating 46 chances for Orlando this season. Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati tops the list, with Naomi Girma in second, Caroline Graham Hansen in fourth, and Sophia Smith rounding out the top five. There are many voters for this year’s list from around the world, including Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter.

Steven Moreira Named Defender of the Year

The Columbus Crew’s Steven Moreira was named 2024 MLS Defender of the Year after a strong season. He made 27 appearances for the Crew this season and was a key part of his team’s success in the Concacaf Champions Cup and Leagues Cup this year. Moreira also helped out offensively with two goals and four assists and was an All-Star this year. The 30-year-old beat out Inter Miami’s Jordi Alba and Seattle Sounders center back Jackson Ragen for the award.

USMNT Takes On Jamaica Tonight

The United States Men’s National Team will play its first competitive match under Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino tonight when it takes on Jamaica in Kingston in the Concacaf Nations League. Although the U.S. may be favored in this series, playing on the road in Concacaf is always tough and Jamaica tends to keep things close against the Yanks. Tonight’s match is the first of the two-leg quarterfinals, with the two nations facing off again in St. Louis on Monday. Hopefully Pochettino can get the team firing on all cylinders as it continues to prepare for the 2026 World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • In a rollercoaster of a match, the U.S. Men’s Deaf National Team fell in a penalty shootout to Brazil in the Deaf Pan American Games. The U.S. took the lead in extra time, but Brazil battled back to tie it, winning from the spot to reach the final.

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: 11/13/24

Orlando City’s international call-ups, Orlando Pride playoffs preview, NWSL Awards voting opens, and more.

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1 day ago

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November 13, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Orlando City might have to wait a week to continue its playoff journey, but the Orlando Pride do not. The Kansas City Current are coming to town this Sunday for the third meeting between these NWSL heavyweights this year, and I will be there. I hope you will make it to Inter&Co Stadium to show this Pride club how much we appreciate all they have done this season in their final home match of the season. For now, let’s get to the links.

Lions on International Duty

Several Orlando City players received call-ups for this international break, including Facundo Torres for Uruguay. Additionally, the following also got the call: David Brekalo with Slovenia, Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena for Peru, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson for Iceland, and Favian Loyola for Chile’s U-20 squad. All we can hope for is they all stay healthy and in form. Orlando City’s next opponent, Atlanta United, also had several players called up.

The NWSL Playoffs Continue

The Orlando Pride will face the fourth-place Kansas City Current this weekend after decimating the Chicago Red Stars Friday. There’s been a lot of drama between these two clubs, making this an intriguing semifinal match. The other match sees the second-place Washington Spirit take on third-place NJ/NY Gotham FC. While we get to enjoy seeing the Pride continue their NWSL playoff run, many clubs are now watching from home and working on next season’s campaign.

NWSL Award Voting Open

The NWSL has opened the “fans voting round” for its 2024 end-of-season awards. There are several Pride players who were named finalists, including Barbra Banda, Marta, Emily Sams, Kylie Strom, and Anna Moorhouse. Of course, Seb Hines is up for NWSL Coach of the Year in what should be a foregone conclusion. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get out there and submit your vote here. This is your chance to make a difference for Hines and these Pride players who have given so much this season.

Pepi is Ready

The USMNT will play its first competitive match under Mauricio Pochettino against Jamaica Thursday night in the first leg of a Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series. The U.S. doesn’t have a ton of options at forward, meaning Ricardo Pepi will likely get the start. The PSV striker said he feels he’s “ready to be the man.” It’s been years since anyone locked down the starting role up top for the USMNT. Let’s hope that Pepi is indeed ready.

Free Kicks

  • In unsurprising news, Charlotte FC’s Kristijan Kahlina was named 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Orlando fans are all too familiar with how good Kahlina is in goal. Honestly, Khalina is a very deserving winner.
  • England’s squad will look very different this international window with eight players out due to injury, including Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer.
  • The UScpMNT match scheduled for today has been postponed due to inclement weather.
  • Coventry City has its eye on Frank Lampard as a possible replacement for Mark Robins as manager.
  • We have unfortunately seen the last of Memphis 901 FC. It is a sad day, as we’re unlikely to see such a cool name with whatever Santa Barbara comes up with.
  • We’re sad to share that FC Cincinnati’s Marco Angulo passed away as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and teammates.
  • Finally, I leave you with Ally Watt solving a Rubik’s Cube.

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Pride’s playoff match against the Kansas City Current. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/12/24

Examining Orlando City’s playoff path, what to watch in the Concacaf Nations League, Lily Yohannes declares for the U.S., and more.

Published

2 days ago

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November 12, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City / Jeremy Reper

Happy Tuesday, everyone! The weekend couldn’t have gone much better for Orlando’s soccer teams, as both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride advanced after their respective playoff games, with the Pride dominating Chicago and the Lions getting a late, dramatic equalizer before winning the penalty shootout. The Pride will return to action Sunday against the Kansas City Current, while the Lions have a slightly longer layoff before they take on Atlanta United. As usual, we have plenty to discuss this morning, so let’s get into the links.

Orlando City’s Playoff Path

It was a wild weekend for the MLS playoffs as far as the Eastern Conference was concerned, and a slew of upsets suddenly means that the path to the MLS Cup final in the Eastern Conference goes through Orlando. The Lions are the highest remaining seed in the East, and not only will they host Atlanta Nov. 24, but they would also host the Eastern Conference final, should they come out victorious. Oscar Pareja spoke after the game about not wanting the victory over Charlotte FC to be the end of the playoff journey, and says the team intends to chase the MLS Cup. If Orlando does make it that far, the team wouldn’t be likely to host the match, as it would require Minnesota United to come out of the Western Conference in order for the final to be held in Orlando. Stranger things have happened though.

What to Watch For With the USMNT

It seems like we just had an international break, but here we are again with two more United States Men’s National Team games on the docket. These are two important games, as the USMNT squares off against Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals. Besides the obvious chance to advance to the semifinals, there are plenty of other storylines to keep an eye on. With Josh Sargent and Folarin Balogun both absent due to injury, can Ricardo Pepi seize an opportunity to lay claim to the starting striker role? What sort of impacts can Brendan Aaronson and Weston McKennie have in the midst of good starts to the season for their clubs? Last, but certainly not least, is Christian Pulisic, who has had a fantastic start to the season and will have many eyes on him in the first competitive matches under Mauricio Pochettino.

Lily Yohannes Chooses the United States

The United States Women’s National Team has landed a great young talent, as Lily Yohannes announced on Monday that she has chosen to represent the U.S. over the Netherlands. While she was born in Virginia, Yohannes has lived abroad since the age of 10, making her eligible to play for either country. However, she stated that with the United States being her country of birth, as well as where her extended family lives, she decided to commit to representing Emma Hayes’ team. Yohannes made her debut for Ajax’s senior side in November of last year, and has seven goals in 40 appearances for the Dutch team.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

As always, the transfer rumor mill continues to turn, which means we have plenty of things to catch up on. We start with Major League Soccer itself, where FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta has said he may have played his final game for the club. He cited frustration with falling short of silverware as a possible reason for wanting to move on, so he may change his mind once the sting has faded more. Moving to Spain, Barcelona is reportedly monitoring Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush as an option to replace the aging Robert Lewandowski. Arsenal and Manchester United are said to be interested in Leroy Sane, and will pursue him hard if contract talks with Bayern Munich don’t progress well.

Free Kicks

  • NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman had some friendly words for the Orlando Pride.

That does it for me today. Vamos Orlando!

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