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Orlando City vs. Inter Miami: Final Score 1-1 as Sloppy Lions Drop Points at Home

Antonio Carlos’ goal was canceled out in the second half by Kieran Gibbs as the conference bottom feeders stole a point in Exploria.

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3 years ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Antonio Carlos gave Orlando City a lead late in the first half, but the Lions were wasteful and gave the ball away cheaply in the second half, allowing Inter Miami to sneak out of Exploria Stadium with a 1-1 draw after Kieran Gibbs’ goal. It was an unsatsifactory result for Orlando City (8-4-5, 29 points), which had a chance to close the gap on New England but couldn’t hold the lead against last-place Miami (3-8-4, 13 points).

Tesho Akindele had a late goal disallowed for offside, which didn’t help matters. Miami’s point in Orlando was the first time in the Tropic Thunder rivalry that the Herons took any points away from the Lions at Exploria Stadium.

“I think it was a difficult game for both (teams),” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the game. “It didn’t flow for either team, I think, from the beginning. We couldn’t find a rhythm. Miami didn’t create any chances but we didn’t have that volume in attack that we used to have, either.”

Pareja’s lineup was almost unchanged from the starting XI against Atlanta. Mason Stajduhar got his second straight start, with Adam Grinwis on the bench and Pedro Gallese still out. Kyle Smith and Ruan flanked center backs Robin Jansson and Carlos. Junior Urso started in place of Uri Rosell in the only change, alongside Andres Perea in the central midfield. Chris Mueller and Mauricio Pereyra facilitated the attack to Nani and Benji Michel.

Orlando City was sloppy in possession in the opening 10 to 15 minutes, trying to find a way through the Miami midfield trio of Blaise Matuidi, Victor Ulloa, and Gregore. Miami’s defense was only partly responsible for the numerous poor passes or bad touches, but some of it was just sloppiness on the part of the Lions as they tried to settle into the match. Inter Miami committing seven of the game’s first 11 fouls and 10 in the first half didn’t help the flow of the game, either, but the Lions seemed to lack a sense of urgency for long stretches in the match.

The first good look for Orlando came in the 19th minute. Pereyra floated a cross in for Nani, who timed his run well. The captain got his head on the ball but struck it right at goalkeeper Nick Marsman. Four minutes later, Perea followed his own blocked shot and fizzed a strike just over the crossbar.

Pereyra freed himself up for a shot in the 37th minute but his effort was too close to Marsman, who made the save. Two minutes later, Smith nodded just wide off a Nani corner kick cross.

The Lions found an opener in first-half stoppage time. Michel won a corner kick and the Lions played short, which is usually when things go wrong. But instead, Nani delivered a fantastic ball into the area for Carlos to nod home.

Unfortunately, Carlos clashed heads with Kelvin Leerdam right after the header and needed a visit from the trainers. He finished the first half on the sideline being checked for a possible concussion and was subbed off at the break for Rodrigo Schlegel.

After the match Pareja said the team is waiting for the doctors to fully evaluate Carlos to determine his condition and how to proceed.

Orlando City attempted more shots (8-1), fired more on target (3-0), held more possession (56.6%-43.4%), and passed more accurately (89.4%-85.6%), with each team winning three corners in the opening half.

The Lions should have doubled the lead in the 51st minute. A great through ball sent Ruan in behind the defense on the right. With options to shoot or find one of two teammates in the area, he sent a cross into the path of a defender and it was knocked harmlessly away.

A minute later, Miami sent a warning shot across Orlando’s bow. Schlegel got himself out of position after tussling with Gonzalo Higuain, allowing Robbie Robinson to break in on goal. Robinson stayed wide and beat Jansson. Stajduhar came out to cut down the angle and Robinson chipped the ball over the top. Smith came back and made a leaping play to head the ball off the goal line to preserve the lead.

Miami tied the match in the 66th minute after Orlando had multiple opportunities to clear the ball out of its own end but couldn’t find the handle or make a good pass out of traffic. The ball ended up on Miami’s attacking right side and Ulloa sent in a cross to the back post. Ruan was no match in the air for Gibbs who nodded just inside the left post, leaving Stajduhar no chance for a save.

Smith nearly handed a winning goal away just seconds later. His back pass was too soft, allowing Lewis Morgan a chance to get to it. Stajduhar did well to get off his line quickly and take the ball off Morgan’s foot in the 67th minute.

Orlando fashioned its next good chance in the 74th when Nani got down the left. He shot from a tight angle and Marsman was able to fight it off for a corner. Five minutes later, a pass sent substitute Silvester van der Water down the right but the Dutchman didn’t hit the ball cleanly with his weaker foot and it squirted well wide of goal.

The Lions thought they’d regained the lead in the 82nd when Smith sent a cross in that Marsman spilled in front. Akindele tapped it in while Miami players argued with referee Armando Villarreal. After consulting with the video assistant referee, Villarreal went to the monitor and didn’t take long to overturn the goal, ruling Akindele offside in the buildup.

“I think Silvester had the ball at the top of the box. I thought he was going to shoot, so I ran in to get the rebound, but he passed the Kyle,” Akindele said. “So I came back, and then when Kyle crossed I ran again and I guess I was barely offside. I saw the video. It did look like I was a bit offside, so it’s fair enough. You get some bounce your way, some don’t bounce your way.”

The last good look for Orlando came in the 91st minute when Pereyra fired over the bar from just outside the area and that was that.

The Lions out-shot the visitors 14-4 (4-2 on goal), held more possession (56.7%-43.3%), passed more accurately (88.9%-81.9%), and earned more corners (7-4), but have only one point to show for a game in which Miami created very little. The Herons will happily take the point and their third non-loss in a row (1-0-2) and head back south.

“We couldn’t combine as usually we do and maybe we are not now in our best shape,” Pereyra said. “We are suffering a lot to win the games and we need to keep working and keep growing to go to the next level and try to go to the end of the season in the best shape.”

“At the end of the day, it was just disappointing,” Akindele said. “We expect to win games at home, especially when we’re up 1-0. I think that we have the quality to close it out, so it’s disappointing. I think it’s not like the defense let us down or the offense. I think we just need to — as a group — be more solid and make sure when we have a lead, we take care of it and that when we’re at home we win the games.”

The Lions have another quick turnaround, with a trip to play FC Cincinnati on Saturday looming. That match is set for 7:30 p.m.

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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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16 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: 1/20/25

Orlando City signs Nicolas Rodriguez, Jack Lynn announces retirement, USMNT defeats Venezuela in friendly, and more.

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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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