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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. New England Revolution: Final Score 2-1 as Lions Drop Fourth Straight

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When a team is struggling, every bounce matters and Orlando City isn’t getting any of them. The Lions (10-8-8, 38 points) scored their third own goal in the last five games and squandered yet another penalty kick in a 2-1 loss to the New England Revolution (19-4-5, 62 points) at Gillette Stadium. Adam Buksa’s early goal was canceled out by Daryl Dike, but a cross from Tajon Buchanan hit Rodrigo Schlegel’s leg and went in to provide the winning margin.

The Orlando losing streak grew to four straight matches and the Lions have still never won in New England (0-5-1). The loss could have become a draw had Nani scored on a penalty kick attempt late in the second half but he tried to go down the middle and Matt Turner was able to stop his movement to the right and get a shoulder on it.

“It’s painful to say that after playing a good game, we’re still leaving with disappointment in not getting the result,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “We did not want to come here and put eight or nine players in behind, but we wanted to come and fight our game.”

Pareja started Pedro Gallese in goal behind a back line of Joao Moutinho, Robin Jansson, Schlegel, and Ruan with Antonio Carlos suspended. Sebas Mendez returned to the central midfield alongside Junior Urso for the first time since July 17. Andres Perea and Mauricio Pereyra facilitated the attack forward to Benji Michel and Dike with team captain Nani on the bench.

It didn’t take long for New England to take the lead. After an opening spell of both teams playing it around the midfield, looking for an opening, the Revs struck first. A ball played down the left side found Gustavo Bou, who was left all alone when Ruan slipped on the artificial turf. Bou sent in a perfect cross for Buksa to tap home in the ninth minute to make it 1-0.

New England is lethal when scoring first and improved to 15-0-2 on the season when scoring the game’s first goal.

The Revs should have doubled the lead five minutes later. The ball came to DeJuan Jones down the left flank and Gallese came out of his goal to cut down his angle, but the New England fullback found Buksa in front with a quick pass and the forward skied his shot with the net completely empty.

Orlando withstood the Revs’ efforts at a second goal and equalized. Pereyra found Dike on the right. The Lions’ forward out-muscled his college teammate, Henry Kessler, then smashed a shot too hot for Matt Turner to handle, making it 1-1 in the 18th minute. It was Pereyra’s 10th assist on the season, tying a team single-season record shared by Nani, Yoshimar Yotún, and Kaká. As secondary assists are now counted, it’s important to note that seven of Pereyra’s 10 have been primary assists.

“It’s just like a position that I like to be in and, you know, Henry and I — obviously him and I are buddies and he’s a good defender,” Dike said. “For that moment I guess I just got the better of him and then I just kind of stick it in the back of the net. It was a good battle. I love competing with him. I think it’s always a pleasure and an honor to be able to fight against top players like that.”

The Lions had a couple of opportunities in the attack after that, with Dike trying to play in Pereyra first and then Michel, but neither teammate made a run, so those opportunities evaporated without incident. Dike also had a chance off a good cutback pass from Ruan in the 24th minute but he couldn’t hit the ball cleanly and it squirted well off to the right of goal. Three minutes later, Pereyra’s service on a set piece bounced to Perea, who sent a shot on target but Turner made a sprawling save to keep the game tied.

That was an important save, because the Revs regained the lead in the 35th minute. Buchanan made a couple of dazzling moves to free himself up on the right and sent in a cross that hit Schlegel and bounced in for an own goal. Buksa had given the Orlando defender two huge shoves just before the ball was crossed but those went uncalled and the hosts took a 2-1 lead.

That was the last good look for either side and the hosts took their one-goal lead to the locker room.

New England finished the half with more shots (5-3) but Orlando got more on target (2-1). The Revs held more possession (59.3%-40.7%) and were more accurate passers (84.1%-80.5%), while Orlando got the half’s only corner.

The teams traded a couple of half-chances in the opening minutes of the second half and Orlando fashioned the first good look. Moutinho sent in a great cross into the area for Perea, who had a free header but he missed badly and sent it well off target in the 63rd minute. Six minutes later, Urso had his shot from the top of the area deflected by a defender. It fell for Moutinho but the Portuguese left back badly misfired and sent a weak shot well wide of the target.

Pareja sent Nani, Silvester van der Water, and Tesho Akindele on to try to go for the equalizer and the opportunity came when Dike was fouled in the area by Andrew Farrell with a quarter of an hour to go. Nani took the spot kick and tried to go down the middle. Turner started to dive to his right but stopped himself, and was crouched on the ground. He managed to throw a shoulder up to deflect the penalty out of harm’s way. The Lions continue to fail miserably from the spot, regardless of who takes them.

Whether it’s been Nani, Pereyra, or Akindele, penalties have not been a good source of offense for the Lions in 2021.

“It is my responsibility,” Pareja said after the match about who can take penalties. “(The players) work (at penalties) because it’s part of our training. And then that selection is my responsibility. I’m the head coach and I take that.”

Van der Water had a late chance blocked by a defender and nobody could get on a set piece pinging around in the area late, allowing the Revs to hang on for the 2-1 win.

Shots finished even at 13-13 but Orlando got more on target (3-1) and ended up as the more accurate passing team (83.8%-83.5%). The Revs held more possession (54.1%-45.9%) and won more corners (4-3).

“We’ve got to look at ourselves,” Dike said. “Obviously, we don’t want to concede. Obviously, we don’t want to give them chances. We’ve got to look at the chances we created for ourselves. Are we playing our principles? Are we playing the way Oscar wants us to play and enjoying our freedom? I think at some points in the game we were able to do that. We were able to be the imposing factor and play our game, and impose ourselves on the other team.

“I think, in other games recently, we might not have been able to, and it’s just another step in the right direction. I think, even though we lost, even though we want a better result, I think it’s a step that we need to do.”


The Lions’ schedule becomes more congested now with a trip to Nashville coming up on Wednesday and a visit from D.C. United to Exploria Stadium next Saturday. Orlando City will be without Robin Jansson Wednesday due to a suspension for yellow card accumulation after he took one tonight.

Orlando City

Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Three Keys to Victory

What does Orlando City need to do to earn a second victory in a row at home this Saturday?

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City is coming off its first win of the MLS regular season and will look to carry that momentum into Saturday night’s Eastern Conference matchup against the New York Red Bulls. The Lions will have several players back from international duty, making Oscar Pareja’s job a bit easier, although some of them will be on short rest. What does Orlando City need to do to earn all three points against the Red Bulls?

Stop Morgan

Lewis Morgan has been on a tear this season with five goals in five matches. That is more than every Orlando City player combined so far this season. The Red Bulls were held scoreless in two matches, meaning those five goals have come in three matches, with Morgan scoring a hat trick against Inter Miami. I love that he took it to the Herons like that, but I’m going to need him to cool off a bit against the Lions.

If Orlando City is to stop Morgan it will take excellent defending from the Lions’ back line and of course Pedro Gallese, who is returning from international duty. Orlando City also gets Wilder Cartagena and David Brekalo back, meaning more of the first choice lineup will be available to keep a clean sheet. With the match at home, earning a clean sheet is all the more important.

Proper Rest and Preperation

It might seem silly to say, but having more than a few days between matches is conducive to earning points. When Orlando City was participating in the Concacaf Champions Cup, the Lions never had time to properly recover or train with a game plan for the next match. Now, the Lions are able to do so, and the result against Austin FC reflects that.

Pareja is a top level MLS coach. We know that he has a plan for about the first 20 minutes of any match, and then makes adjustments throughout the remainder of the match. Even so, many of those adjustments have been planned out prior to the match. That, paired with a more rested roster, allows the Lions to be the protagonists Pareja wants them to be.

Shots, Shots, Shots

Orlando City was able to create plenty of chances against Austin FC, and will need to do so again against the Red Bulls. The Lions took 22 shots Saturday night, with eight on target, and they put two in the back of the net against Austin. Hopefully, Orlando City can be more efficient going forward, but if you don’t create opportunities, you won’t score.

The Red Bulls have some decent defenders who Orlando City will have to deal with, including fullback John Tolkin and Carlos Coronel at keeper. If the Lions can pass even close to the way they did against Austin, the opportunities will come, and if that is the case, hopefully the goals will come. Orlando City still has a sizable goal deficit, thanks to the early part of the season, that can only be corrected with more goals on the other end.


That is what I will be looking for this Saturday night at Inter&Co Stadium. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/28/24

Getting to know Rafael Santos, Orlando Pride prepare for Chicago, Midge Purce out for the season, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope the work week has been treating you well as we gear up for another weekend of soccer. March flew by for me and April is shaping up to be a pretty busy month as well. In other news, I’m looking into adopting a cat and gathering the supplies to make that happen. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Getting to Know Rafael Santos

Orlando City left back Rafael Santos was the latest Lion to field questions as part of the club’s video series for fans to learn more about its players. The 26-year-old spoke about the decision process behind joining Orlando and playing outside of Brazil for the first time in his career after five years with Cruzeiro. He’s brought his attack-minded style of play to the team, particularly in terms of providing lethal crossing from the wing. Make sure to check out the full video as Santos also shared photos of his newborn and showcased his skill with a cavaquinho.

Orlando Pride Prepare to Host Chicago

After a pair of draws to start their season, the Orlando Pride will have a chance to claim their first win of the season when they host the Chicago Red Stars tomorrow night at 6 p.m. Head Coach Seb Hines spoke about how the Pride have shown plenty of resilience so far this young season. The team managed to secure a point in last week’s 1-1 draw with Angel City FC despite a patchwork back line due to injuries. That defense will likely have its hands full against Mallory Swanson and a Chicago team that won both of its first two games. Hines spoke about how the Pride are preparing for Chicago and how they will need the home crowd to bring the support tomorrow night.

Sophia Smith Signs Record-Breaking New Deal

American forward Sophia Smith signed a new contract with the Portland Thorns that will make her the highest-paid NWSL player, according to the club. The new deal will last through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026 as well. The 23-year-old was drafted by the Thorns with the first overall pick in the 2020 NWSL Draft and has gone on to score 34 regular-season goals. Smith re-signed with the club in 2022 and was set to become a free agent following this season, but will instead stay in Portland.

Midge Purce Out for NWSL Season

NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Midge Purce will miss the remainder of the NWSL season after tearing her ACL. The 28-year-old will undergo surgery and suffered the injury in her team’s 1-0 victory over the Portland Thorns this past weekend. She’s been with Gotham since 2020 and assisted on both goals in her team’s 2-1 win in the 2023 NWSL Championship. It’s a tough blow for the United States Women’s National Team too, as she will not be representing the U.S. during this summer’s Olympics in France.

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  • Orlando City B’s match against Carolina Core FC on April 14 has been rescheduled.

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: 3/27/24

Bally Sports will broadcast Orlando Pride matches, Pride players called up, USWNT announces SheBelieves Cup roster, and more.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Hello, Mane Landers. I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I attended my friend’s wedding this past weekend and have been getting myself back into work mode by covering high school tennis this week. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Bally Sports Will Broadcast Select Orlando Pride Matches

Bally Sports was announced as the new local television partner for the Orlando Pride. There will be 13 select Pride matches broadcast this season across Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports Sun, and on the Bally Sports app. The partnership will begin this Friday, with the Orlando Soccer Insider show taking place before the kickoff of the Pride’s home match against the Chicago Red Stars at 7 p.m. The show will be broadcast on Bally Sports Florida, and then you can switch to the Bally Sports app to watch Friday’s match. Below are all the select matches that will be broadcast on Bally Sports this season.

Brazilian Orlando Pride Players Called Up

The Orlando Pride’s Marta, Angelina, and Luana were all called up by Brazil for next month’s SheBelieves Cup. Brazil heads into this tournament after a solid showing in the Concacaf W Gold Cup. The format is different for this year’s SheBelieves Cup, as there will only be four matches instead of six. Brazil’s first match of the tournament will be a semifinal on April 6 against Canada in Atlanta.

USWNT Announces Roster for SheBelieves Cup

United States Women’s National Team interim head coach Twila Kilgore announced the 23-player roster for the 2024 SheBelieves Cup matches next month. The USWNT has won this competition four consecutive times since 2020, and is going for a seventh title in 2024. Of those called up, 19 players on this squad were part of the team that won the Concacaf W Gold Cup earlier this month. San Diego Wave forward Jaedyn Shaw, the Concacaf W Gold Cup’s MVP, is back on the roster after she led the USWNT with four goals. The squad also includes familiar names like former Pride forward Alex Morgan, Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, and Olympique Lyon midfielder Lindsey Horan. Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario return to the squad after being sidelined with injuries. The USWNT will begin its quest to defend its SheBelieves Cup title when it faces Japan on April 6 in Atlanta.

MLS Referees Agree to New CBA

After a lockout that resulted in Major League Soccer starting the season with replacement referees, the Professional Soccer Referees Association voted to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement with the Professional Referee Organization. The new CBA is a seven-year deal that runs through January of 2031. This deal will also include significant pay raises for referees, assistant referees, and video assistant referees. The PRO referees will return to the pitch for this weekend’s MLS matches.

Ukraine, Georgia, and Poland Qualify for Euro 2024

Ukraine has qualified for this summer’s Euros after edging out Iceland 2-1 in its playoff final, with Mykhaylo Mudryk scoring the winning goal in the second half. Georgia eliminated Greece 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw to book a spot in the tournament as well. Georgia qualifies for its first major tournament after coming up short in 2020. Poland also needed penalties to qualify, with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny making the final save against Daniel James to beat Wales 5-4 on penalties after a scoreless draw.

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That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Wednesday and I’ll see you next time.

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