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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Nashville SC: Five Takeaways

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3 years ago

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What seemed like a great start did not last very long as Orlando City’s first goal early on was not enough to propel the Lions to the next round of the MLS playoffs. It was another close match between the two sides this year, but Nashville SC ended up winning 3-1 to send the Lions back home and out of the playoffs.

Here are my five takeaways from a disappointing end to the season.

Orlando Took Advantage of Corner Kicks

Orlando City set the tone early in the game as it cashed in on the second of its two corner kicks in the first half. Daryl Dike climbed the ladder to head in the first goal of the game and his fifth in the last five straight matches. His goal was Orlando’s only shot on target in the first half. The Lions got the best start they could have hoped for as the away side in the playoffs and they were level with Nashville after Hany Mukhtar’s goal from an unlucky deflection off Antonio Carlos. Corners overall would continue to give Orlando City great looks and opportunities throughout the match as players made good runs into the box. Here is a look at Dike making the most of Mauricio Pereyra’s service from the corner kick.

Gallese Kept The Lions in The Game

Despite not being able to do anything about the cruel deflection that got by him on Nashville’s first goal from Mukhtar, Pedro Gallese was able to fend off scoring chances from Nashville up until the final third of the match. Nashville’s Randall Leal had a chance from outside the box in the 24th minute that El Pulpo was able to hang on to and end the threat on goal without a rebound. Mukhtar again put a shot on goal in the 40th minute, this time getting past the Lions defense without a touch. An outstretched Gallese made a great effort to get his hands on the ball and deny a goal from the initial shot. The rebound fell to Anibal Godoy, who put the ball away in the net, but he was correctly ruled offside. Gallese had dependable hands for most of the night as he caught most of what came his way but it wasn’t enough in the end.

Stalling Out in Midfield

It was a rough night in Nissan Stadium for Orlando City’s midfield. Orlando had trouble connecting in the center of the field due to sloppy passes that either put players in bad spots, ended up out of bounds, or turned the ball over. Even the first goal from Nashville came from a turnover as Junior Urso received a pass from Sebas Mendez and was looking to turn up field when the ball was poked away from behind and led to a break for Nashville and the eventual score. Field conditions on the pitch (there was a heavy rain during Sunday’s NFL game on that surface) may have also contributed to the poor play in midfield as players on both sides could be seen slipping to the ground on some occasions. The midfield battle is an important part of the game, as it is the starting point of offensive chances and can just as well be the downfall without proper ball security. This was on display when a two-man show put on by CJ Sapong and Mukhtar started in the midfield and led to Nashville’s second goal of the game with little resistance from Orlando’s midfield during the counter attack. This proved to be critical for Orlando and ultimately let the Lions down too many times.

Bad Timing Thwarts Nani Sub Strategy

Oscar Pareja’s usual substitution pattern includes making halftime adjustments and giving the starters the first 15 minutes of the second half to implement them. With the threat of 30 extra minutes in case of a tie, and with the match still hanging in the balance by the 70th minute, Pareja had Nani — who isn’t 90-minutes fit due to a knock down the season’s final stretch — set to come on and give his best for the remainder of normal time. The coach said after the match that had been the plan on how best to use the captain in limited minutes. However, while he was waiting to come on, Nashville took the lead in the 74th minute. Benji Michel had been getting into good positions but struggling to get much going offensively.

Pareja made several attacking substitutions as a result of the second Mukhtar goal, replacing Chris Mueller with Alexandre Pato and defensive midfielder Mendez with Tesho Akindele. Tesho had a chance when a deflection from a corner kick dropped right to him, but with Daniel Lovitz closing him down and ready to block the shot, he sent his attempt at goal wide. These offensive subs tried their best to provide a spark for the Lions as they got on the ball often to dribble forward and create chances. Because the Lions fell behind before they came on, instead of the game still being tied, it just felt like playmakers such as Nani and Pato did not have enough time on the pitch to impact the game. Had the ball gone out of play prior to the goal and the match still been tied, it’s impossible to say how the strategy would have played out.

Not Clinical Enough

Although Orlando ended the night with nine shots, it was the lack of quality shots on goal that left the Lions with only one goal. It was frustrating to watch many of Orlando’s chances go wide and not challenge Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis. Orlando had a tough time trying to break through Nashville’s defense to get a clean shot on goal and players were too hesitant at times in the box, looking for the perfect play. You don't score when you don't shoot, especially when the shots you do end up taking don’t find the frame of the goal. Nashville held onto its lead at the end by parking the bus, but Orlando did not take quality chances on its opportunities throughout the whole match.

Overall, it was a depressing way to see the Lions exit the playoffs after a promising start and an end to the 2021 season. At least we have 2022 to look forward to. Let’s hope the Lions can build for an even better 2022 season. What are your thoughts on this game? Let us know by leaving your comments down below.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/23/25

The Orlando Pride drop, OCSC Academy awards, USMNT characters, and more.

Published

19 hours ago

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April 23, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. This weekend we have the most convenient schedule, with the Orlando Pride playing Friday night, Orlando City on Saturday night, and Orlando City B on Sunday night. It’s nice knowing what I’ll be doing each night. Now, I just need all three teams to get back on the winning side of things. Until then, let’s get to the links.

Bad Pride, Good Pride

It might have been the dumbest way to lose a match against the Washington Spirit, but — actually nevermind, there is no “but” about it. We can, however, decide to move forward rather than dwell on it after today. Unsurprisingly, the Pride dropped in the all-knowing power rankings. All for XI only dropped the Pride one spot to No. 2 since everyone has a bad day now and again. The CBS power ranking dropped the team to No. 3. That was the “bad.” The “good” is that we can revisit the puppies that showed up at Inter&Co Stadium. The loss still hurts, but it’s hard to stay mad after looking at the puppies.

The (OCSC) Academy Awards

Assuming you read Lion Links on Monday morning (or listened to The Mane Land PawedCast this week) you know that the Orlando City SC Academy U-18 team won the Generation Adidas Cup. Now we know that three of the very young Lions — Gustavo Caraballo, Jackson Platts, and Justin Ellis — were named to the U18 Best XI. Additionally, Caraballo and Ellis earned MVP and Top Scorer awards, respectively. It was truly the bright spot of an otherwise forgettable weekend.

Pochettino Prepares

The USMNT did not do well in the Concacaf Nations League, falling to Panama and then Canada in the third place match. Now, U.S. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has to prepare the team for the Gold Cup. Pochettino said that he needs the “right characters” on the squad, whether they are the most talented or not. He also spoke of the need for the players to fight for the badge and the flag. Former USMNT coach Bruce Arena said Pochettino may not be the right man for the job because he’s not an American. The USMNT’s next matches are friendlies against Turkiye and Switzerland on June 7 and June 10, respectively.

MLS Transfer News

The Columbus Crew are making moves. The club received $250,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) from the Houston Dynamo in exchange for a 2025 international roster slot. The club then sent DeJuan Jones to the San Jose Earthquakes for $425,000 in GAM and a 2025 international roster slot. Elsewhere, Sporting Kansas City acquired forward Santiago Muñoz on loan from Liga MX side Santos Laguna.

Free Kicks

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the full slate of matches coming up.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/22/25

Pedro Gallese earns recognition, Americans in midweek action, English promotion update, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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April 22, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Well it wasn’t the worst weekend that Orlando soccer has ever had, but it certainly wasn’t the best either. Fortunately, all three of Orlando’s teams will be back in action soon, so there’s no need to dwell on the past too much. Let’s take a moment to wish a happy birthday to the Orlando Pride’s Brianna Martinez, as well as to Kaká! Now, it’s time to turn our attention to today’s links.

Pedro Gallese Earns Weekly Recognition

Pedro Gallese kept a third clean sheet in a row and Orlando City’s third clean sheet of the year in the team’s scoreless draw on the road against CF Montreal. In recognition of his efforts during the match, Gallese was named to the bench of the latest edition of the MLS Team of the Matchday. El Pulpo made six saves to blank a Montreal team that intently searched for a breakthrough, and made a couple of truly excellent second half stops that kept the score level. Congrats to Pedro and keep up the good work!

Americans in Midweek Action

A number of Americans will be playing games during the working week, and there are some big matches to keep an eye on. The main event is on Wednesday, when Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan face Inter Milan in the second leg of the Coppa Italia semifinal, which is tied 1-1 after the first leg. Also on Wednesday, Chris Richards, Matt Turner, and Crystal Palace will play Arsenal in the Premier League. Thursday then has Malik Tillman, Richy Ledezma, and PSV Eindhoven playing FC Twente in the Eredivisie, while Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis play Valladolid in La Liga action.

English Promotion Update

Following results in the EFL Championship on Monday, Leeds United and Burnley have both secured promotion to the Premier League for next season. Both teams won their respective games and are each on 94 points, and with just two matches left, third-placed Sheffield United has no way to catch them. The other promoted side will be determined after the promotion playoffs, which would feature Sheffield United, Sunderland, Bristol City, and Coventry City if the season ended today. Meanwhile in League One, Wrexham’s 2-1 victory over Blackpool meant the Dragons retook second place and the automatic promotion spot that comes with it. If they beat Charlton on Sunday and Wycombe Wanderers drop points against Leyton Orient, then Wrexham would secure promotion to the Championship.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

Transfer rumors continue to fly thick and fast as we approach the business end of most European seasons, so let’s take a look at a few items worth catching up on. Manchester United is said to be keen on signing 17-year-old Argentine Franco Mastantuono from River Plate. Liverpool is reportedly interested in signing winger Ademola Lookman from Atalanta, although the Reds would likely face competition from several other Premier League teams. Finally, Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro has revealed that he and Xabi Alonso have a gentleman’s agreement that if a team the Spaniard used to play for is interested in hiring him as its coach, then the club will not hinder the process. The statement has led to renewed speculation that Alonso will be named Real Madrid coach if Carlo Ancelotti leaves in the summer.

Free Kicks

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

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Orlando City

Orlando City’s Focus On Youth Development Showing In The First Team

Orlando City is seeing more and more players promoted from the academy, through OCB, and into the first team.

Published

3 days ago

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April 21, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Orlando City began its academy in the USL Pro days with the goal of developing players for the first team. It took nearly a decade to begin seeing youth development bear fruit, but it’s becoming apparent early in the 2025 season.

Prior to 2019, Orlando City signed four players to Homegrown Player contracts. Tommy Redding, Tyler Turner, and Harrison Heath never played in the academy and the other, Mason Stajduhar, developed primarily at Chargers Soccer Club in Tampa.

Orlando City signed arguably its first true Homegrown Player when the club inked Benji Michel to a first-team contract. The following off-season, the Lions added David Loera and Jordan Bender. Mikey Halliday signed in July 2020. All of the players came through the academy before signing first-team deals. 

So what changed?

Part of it was the growth of the academy. It takes several years to begin producing players. Another major factor was the hiring of Luiz Muzzi on Dec. 18, 2019. Muzzi came from FC Dallas, a club known for promoting from its academy. He brought in Ricardo Moreira, who shares his vision of developing young talent for the first team.

And it’s not only Muzzi and Moreira. Former Orlando City head coach Adrian Heath rarely attended OCB games. James O’Connor only went to one, and that was to see his former teammate, Dennis Chin, who was playing with the opposing Richmond Kickers. The Orlando City boss left when Chin came off.

Oscar Pareja and other first-team coaches have been at several games, far more than their predecessors. That’s largely to do with the games’ location at the training facility, which is another factor in OCB’s development. The 2019 team trained over 40 miles away from the first team. The move to Kissimmee has the first team, OCB, and the development academy under one roof. It’s another display of the club’s more recent commitment to youth development.

Undoubtedly, the transformation of OCB under Muzzi and Moreira has also impacted Homegrown talent coming through. The team’s 2016 and 2017 rosters were primarily made up of first-team reserves and USL lifers. The 2019 team had many players from the Soccer Institute at Montverde Academy (SIMA), many of which were young but ineligible for Homegrown status.

Things began to change in 2020. The roster shifted to include more academy players and that’s only grown. This year, 15 OCB players came out of the academy, two were drafted, and eight are outside signings on MLS NEXT Pro deals. Other than Jhon Solis and first-team goalkeeper Carlos Mercado, everyone to appear for the team is 23 years old or younger.

The focus on giving OCB spots to academy graduates is now seen in the first team. Players like Thomas Williams, Javier Otero, Alex Freeman, Colin Guske, and Gustavo Caraballo have been regulars on the MLS team sheet. Injuries to first-team regulars has seen them receiving regular playing time.

The poster boy for this change is Freeman. The right back came out of the academy and spent a couple of years at OCB before signing his first-team contract. He won the starting role early in the 2025 regular season.

Many players joined the club later in their development, but we’re seeing some come through having been nearly fully developed at the Orlando City Academy. Guske and Caraballo joined at 13 years old, the youngest age group of the development academy. Both signed first-team deals for this year.

The midfield duo continue to play with OCB most games but are also on the first-team roster almost weekly. The only reason they weren’t in Montreal Saturday night is because they were helping the club’s U-18 team reach (and then win) the Generation Adidas Cup final.

With Muzzi and Moreira at the helm, more players continue to come through. U-18 captain and OCB starter Jackson Platts appears to be well on his way to a first-team contract. So does fellow U-18 and OCB starting forward Justin Ellis.

This past weekend saw another academy product make his first-team debut. Zakaria Taifi took over at right back for OCB when Freeman moved up to the first team this year. Signing a short-term deal Saturday, he came on as a late substitute to help the 10-man Lions see out the scoreless draw.

First-team absences have provided opportunities for many young players. If several weren’t at the Generation Adidas Cup, it could be more. Regardless, the last few years have shown a big step forward for the club.

The shift in recent years is more than the pride of seeing local kids representing the hometown team. They’ve been an essential part of the 2025 campaign. The club hasn’t had to use a short bench or dip into outside emergency signings. Instead, the Lions call up kids they know, making it easier to seamlessly place them into the team.

There will be times where several injuries will occur to experienced players. Orlando City is prepared for this more now than ever before, and it’s because of the players coming through the academy and playing with OCB. We’re already seeing it early in this 2025 season.

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