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Orlando City vs. Charlotte FC: Final Score 2-1 as Lions Win at Home

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3 years ago

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Ruan and Facundo Torres scored in the first half and Orlando City survived in the second period for a 2-1 win over Charlotte FC at Exploria Stadium. The Lions (5-3-2, 17 points) had control of the match until a questionable penalty allowed Christian Fuchs to pull one back at the hour mark, but Orlando was able to hold off expansion Charlotte (3-6-1, 10 points) to claim all three points in the first meeting between the teams.

Charlotte FC remained winless on the road (0-5-1) since joining MLS and Orlando got a much-needed home win, improving to 3-3-0 at Exploria Stadium.

“It’s good to get back to the good results, the victory, the three points, the goals,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “I feel very pleased with the effort of the players and just coming from a difficult result and getting this one is what we needed.”

Pareja’s lineup included Pedro Gallese in goal behind a back line of Joao Moutinho, Robin Jansson, Rodrigo Schlegel, and Ruan. Cesar Araujo and Junior Urso took their spots in central midfield behind an attacking line of Benji Michel, Mauricio Pereyra, and Torres, with Ercan Kara up top.

Charlotte got off to the quicker start in the match, pressing high and creating issues for the Lions in the midfield. Daniel Rios and Christian Ortiz sent shots wide in the game’s early moments.

Orlando’s first chance came in the 14th minute after earning a corner. The Lions played the corner short and Pereyra sent a cross that hit the back post and bounced out. Torres sent the ball back in for Michel to head on target but his shot was no problem for Kristijan Kahlina to save.

Two minutes later, the Lions broke the deadlock. Michel got the ball down the left side and after a cutback, he sent a cross into the area to Jansson, who had ventured forward to start the attack. Jansson flicked the ball to the back-post side for Ruan to finish easily into the empty side of Kahlina’s net.

“On the goal, I just traveled with the ball. I gave it to Benji and then I felt like I can go on this one,” Jansson said. “I flicked it a little bit to Ruan’s side because I felt like they were pushing to one side a lot. I’m not the most technical one but I tried to do something for a big guy, and it went over there. I couldn’t hit the ball on target because my body was not in that position so I had to do something else.”

Ruan was booked for his celebration, which included donning a Flash mask. After previous celebrations with sunglasses and cowboy hats, it seemed a strange place to draw the line, but nevertheless the right back went into Fotis Bazakos’ book.

Karol Swiderski tried his luck from distance in the 25th minute but he was under pressure and didn’t come close with his shot.

Pereyra sent Kara in behind in the 33rd minute and the Austrian fought off Christian Makoun the whole final third of the pitch. Kara tried to round Kahlina rather than shoot past him and in doing so he allowed Makoun enough room to get behind him to block Kara’s shot.

A minute later, Rios got his head on a cross in the box but Schlegel did well to pressure him into nodding well off target.

The visitors got a late opportunity to equalize just before halftime with a corner kick, but it was Orlando City that pounced. Orlando cleared and the ball ended up on Ruan’s foot as the speedy right back got 15 yards behind his defender. As he approached Kahlina’s goal, he spotted Torres on his right and sent the ball over for the Crow to finish easily. Torres’ goal in first-half stoppage time doubled Orlando’s lead just before the teams headed to the locker room.

Charlotte held more possession (51.5%-48.5%), and out-shot the Lions (5-4), but Orlando City got more shots on target (3-0) and was more accurate in the passing game (84.5%-82.3%). Each team finished the half with one corner kick taken.

Charlotte subbed leading assist man Ben Bender on at halftime for Ortiz and the visitors were the more lively looking team out of the break. Bender took the first shot of the second half but didn’t hit it well and it was off target.

The visitors got their lifeline on a controversial call. A routine ball over the top for Alan Franco had no shot at success with Schlegel and Moutinho converging and Gallese waiting to collect the ball. There was contact from Schlegel and the opposing forward went down to sell the call. Bazakos was buying and for the second straight game Schlegel conceded a penalty and was booked.

“I think the second half was not the same as the first,” Jansson said. “They had the ball more and obviously they got the 2-1 goal, which was a cheap one by the way.”

Fuchs waited until Gallese committed and scored easily on the ensuing spot kick to make it 2-1 in the 60th minute.

“I didn’t think it was a PK at all, but it is what it is,” Michel said. “I mean, both of our guys were in front of him. I guess he fell or someone touched him. I don’t know. It just happened so fast. But I didn’t see anything that was like, you know, bad for it to be a PK, but you know, I think the ref gave it to him. That’s my opinion.”

Just after the Charlotte goal, Orlando had a chance to pull it back. Pereyra was fouled on the left side and Brandt Bronico was booked for the foul. Pereyra sent the free kick across the top of the box for Jansson who hit his shot with his first touch but fizzed it over the bar in the 61st minute.

Both teams made substitutions as the visitors looked for an equalizer and the Lions looked for more balance. Charlotte got some half chances in the final half hour but nothing terribly dangerous.

Orlando had two decent opportunities but second-half sub Silvester van der Water didn’t get all of his shot on target, giving Kahlina an easy save in the 85th minute and on the second opportunity, Torres was pulled back by a defender and Bazakos inexplicably called no foul, despite it preventing a transition chance.

Instead, the visitors took the ball the other way, won a corner kick, and Jansson picked up his fifth yellow card — meaning he’ll be suspended for the team’s next game.

The Lions survived a few set pieces and several long throw-ins from Fuchs, including one that came after an obvious handball on Charlotte wasn’t called. Orlando had to defend one last long throw, rather than taking a free kick, and van der Water was injured in the aftermath of the play that should have drawn a whistle. Alexandre Pato cleared the final Charlotte ball in and the game ended with the Lions on top.

Charlotte held a big possession advantage (57.9%-42.1%), finished with more shots (8-7), won more corners (4-1), and passed more accurately (83.7%-81%). Orlando City got more shots on target (4-1).

“They changed their tactics and we didn’t adjust to it as we wanted to,” Michel said. “But I still feel like we were able to manage them.”

Pareja’s team has fired just 10 shot attempts in the last two matches — both at home — and he said that still has to improve.

“Offensively, we need to get better,” he said. “It’s something that we recognize and the boys know that. If we want to become that team that needs to dominate and aspire to become a protagonist in the league, we need to get that better. I’m just trying to build from those good things that we saw today.”

“We need to continue building the victories,” Jansson said. “We bounced back good (from the Red Bulls loss) and hopefully we will continue to stay in the good way in the future.”

The Lions return to the road for their next game as Orlando City visits CF Montreal next Saturday at 4 p.m.

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Lion Links: 7/2/25

Big names leave Toronto FC, hot conditions in Club World Cup match, FIFPRO makes ACL recommendations, and more.

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18 hours ago

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July 2, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Wednesday, everyone. It already feels like it’s been a long week, as I just got home from being out of town traveling up and down the East Coast for the last few days. The soccer world hasn’t stopped in my absence though, and as usual we have a lot to cover today. Let’s wish a happy birthday to OCB defender Tahir Reid-Brown, and jump into today’s links!

Italians Leave Toronto FC

It’s the end of an era at Toronto FC, as the club has parted ways with both Federico Bernardeschi, and Lorenzo Insigne. The Reds used both of their two buyouts of guaranteed contracts this season in order to get the transactions done, so the club was pretty keen to get them out the door. It’s hard to blame the Reds, as Insigne was the second-highest paid player in the league while Bernardeschi was the fifth highest. They didn’t have much to show for it though, as Bernardeschi had 26 goals and 22 assists in 99 games across all competitions, while Insigne had 19 goals and 17 assists in 76 matches. TFC never made the playoffs while the duo was on the team, and the decision to turn the page is an understandable one.

Difficult Conditions in Juventus vs. Real Madrid

The Club World Cup Round of 16 concluded on Tuesday, with Real Madrid knocking off Juventus 1-0 in afternoon match. Kylian Mbappe made his tournament debut for Madrid as a substitute, but it was Gonzalo Garcia’s 54th-minute goal that made the difference in the game. Juve boss Igor Tudor highlighted the difficult conditions in Miami, saying in his postgame press conference that 10 different players asked to come off the field during the game. Tudor didn’t outright blame the loss on the high heat and humidity during the 3 p.m. kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium, but noted that they were among several factors that made the game a very difficult one for his side.

FIFPRO Makes Recommendations to Curb ACL Tears

Amid a rash of ACL injuries to women’s soccer players, FIFPRO has made some recommendations to cut down on the rate at which they occur. Rather than focusing on things that can’t be controlled, the federation has suggested modifying the calendar, number of games, and the playing surfaces. FIFPRO member Alex Culvin is calling for minimum standards in the women’s game relating to pitch conditions and access to physiotherapists. More research around risk factors is also necessary, as is implementing preventative exercises at the youth levels of the game.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

Summer transfer business is in full swing, so let’s catch up on some of the hot rumors currently flying around. First up, Arsenal is said to be in the final stages of signing Viktor Gyokeres to a five-year deal. Staying in the Premier League, Manchester United is reportedly interested in signing midfielder Fabian Ruiz from Paris Saint-Germain. Juventus reportedly is close to signing Jonathan David after his contract with Lille expired. Finally, Bayern Munich is reportedly preparing a formal offer for Liverpool for Colombian winger Luis Diaz.

Free Kicks

Apparently a non -#usmnt drone has crashed the training session. US Soccer staff aiming to identify it.

— Jeff Carlisle (@jeffreycarlisle.bsky.social) 2025-07-01T17:25:12.954Z

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

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Lion Links: 7/1/25

Pride signings, OCB draws, both U.S. national teams in action Wednesday, and more.

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2 days ago

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July 1, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Welcome to July, Mane Landers. If you’re like me, you balanced the excitement and dread of the USMNT advancing on penalty kicks the other night. It was one thing watching Guatemala take out Canada but a whole other level of heart palpitating stress while watching the U.S. avoid a similar fate. There’s no time to relax with plenty of soccer to watch as we head towards Independence Day. Before we get to the links, please join us in wishing Orlando Pride/USWNT defender Emily Sams and OCB defender Clovis Archange each a happy birthday.

Orlando Pride Signings

The Orlando Pride announced a pair of transactions Monday. Midfielder Viviana Villacorta and the club have agreed to exercise the midfielder’s mutual option for the 2026 season. Villacorta was the No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft. The Pride also signed midfielder Ally Lemos to a new contract through the 2027 season with a mutual option for 2028. The Pride selected Lemos with the No. 9 overall pick of the 2024 NWSL Draft. Orlando continues to lock down current players ahead of time. Now, we wait to see if any new players will be added.

OCB Earns a Point on the Road

Orlando City B played Philadelphia Union II to a 1-1 draw in a Monday afternoon match. Unfortunately, the Young Lions lost the end-of-regulation shootout 4-2 and did not get the additional point. Gustavo Caraballo assisted Jackson Platts on the early goal for OCB. Philadelphia equalized early in the second half. Carlos Mercado was the difference maker in the match, recording a career-high 12 saves.

USMNT’s Gold Cup Run Continues vs. Guatemala

The USMNT will face Guatemala Wednesday night in a 2025 Gold Cup semifinal match. The U.S. advanced past Costa Rica on penalties thanks to a stellar performance from goalkeeper Matt Freese. Guatemala stunned Canada with a second-half equalizer and advanced on penalty kicks. Guatemala has been the overachieving underdog of the competition so far. This will be the USMNT’s 17th Gold Cup semifinal appearance.

USWNT Hosts Canada

The USWNT will host Canada in a third friendly of this international window Wednesday at Washington, D.C.’s Audi Field. The U.S. is coming off two 4-0 victories over the Republic of Ireland. Canada should prove a tougher opponent for Emma Hayes’ squad. There is a possibility that the match will feature two Orlando Pride players — Emily Sams for the U.S. and Zara Chavoshi for Canada. Kerry Abello has returned to her club team after picking up a knock.

Free Kicks

Sources: Bayer Leverkusen are finalizing a deal to sign USMNT attacker Malik Tillman from PSV.Deal in region of $40m.

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2025-06-30T20:36:24.359Z
  • Former Orlando Pride midfielder Erika Tymrak has retired from professional soccer.

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for Orlando City’s match against Charlotte FC this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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Orlando City

Orlando City Striker Ramiro Enrique Hindered By Inconsistency

Ramiro Enrique’s inconsistent play raises the question if he can be the go-to striker Orlando City desperately needs.

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3 days ago

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June 30, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City’s strike force has been inconsistent this season, to say the least. At times, the players up top have looked like they can score at will, but at other times, they struggle on chances they should finish. Nobody displays that inconsistency better than Ramiro Enrique.

Joining the Lions in 2023, Enrique has primarily served in a backup role for Ercan Kara, Duncan McGuire, and Luis Muriel. The young Argentine has had the occasional start, but ultimately ends up back on the bench, entering later in games. 

Orlando City acquired Muriel prior to the 2024 season when it appeared McGuire was on his way to Blackburn Rovers. However, the English side’s struggle with simple paperwork resulted in the Omaha, NE, native returning to Orlando. It left Oscar Pareja with some decisions to make.

The Lions often employ a 4-4-2 formation with a single striker and Muriel playing underneath. As a result, the three forwards all saw plenty of action in 2024.  Enrique started 12 games, Muriel 14, and McGuire was listed 18 times in the starting lineup. However, Enrique’s strong form near the end of the season saw him start 11 of the final 12 regular-season games and all five playoff contests.

Aiding Enrique’s playing time were injuries to McGuire. The 6-foot-1 striker suffered a shoulder injury on Nov. 9 in an MLS Cup playoff game against Charlotte FC, guaranteeing a starting spot for Enrique. As McGuire continued to work towards his return at the start of the year, Enrique took his place.

At times, it looks like Enrique is more than a substitute for Muriel or McGuire and can be the go-to scorer the Lions have struggled to find since Daryl Dike. But his inconsistency eventually returns, making it hard for Pareja to depend on the young attacker. That issue has been most noticeable during the two most recent games.

Putting shots on frame has been a struggle for the Lions this year, but it wasn’t for Enrique Wednesday night in St. Louis. After the Lions lost back-to-back games against Atlanta United and the Chicago Fire, Enrique was inserted into the starting lineup for Muriel. He took advantage of his opportunity in St. Louis, placing three of his five shots on target. He scored a first-half brace, giving his team a commanding three-goal lead after just 22 minutes.

In the seventh minute, Martin Ojeda sent a strong ball across the box that Enrique ran onto with perfect timing. He didn’t try to do too much, tapping the ball in on the slide. After Marco Pasalic made it 2-0, a bad turnover in the 22nd minute gave the striker a second chance. He was in on goal and made no mistake, slamming the ball past Roman Burki to make it 3-0.

The performance had many wondering if the team had finally found the striker it had been looking for since McGuire went down. But it wasn’t to be as Enrique reverted to his inconsistency with a poor performance in Saturday night’s 2-1 loss to FC Cincinnati.

The striker was unable to put any of his three shots on target, but that’s only part of the story. It’s how he failed to score that was the bigger problem.

In the 51st minute, Pasalic forced Brian Anunga into a turnover just outside the Cincinnati box. Enrique made a run toward the near post and Pasalic found him. The striker should’ve had no problem putting the shot on target, but he hit the ball with his left foot as his right came through, knocking the ball out of play for a goal kick.

He had a chance to redeem himself in second-half stoppage time with the Lions looking for an equalizer. Rafael Santos played a beautiful ball to the near post that only required a slight touch to beat Roman Celentano. However, the striker sent his header well wide, squandering a golden opportunity to claim a point.

These two games show the inconsistency that has plagued Enrique throughout his Orlando City career. He’ll look to be in excellent form and ready to claim the starting striker role, only to follow it up with a poor performance. It’s something that has held the Argentine back since his arrival and continues to do so this year.

Even more troublesome, it leaves Orlando City without a dependable striker. McGuire can’t seem to get over his shoulder problems, and he is currently on the sidelines again while he recovers from surgery on the opposite shoulder to the one he hurt in last year’s playoffs. Muriel and Ojeda often partner each other up top, but both are more comfortable in midfield positions.

Injuries and players in uncomfortable positions provide Enrique with the perfect situation. Consistent scoring would assure Pareja that he can depend on the 24-year-old to produce the goals his team has been searching for. But the striker can’t seem to put it together over the span of multiple games.

He’ll have plenty of opportunities in the near future to win the position he undoubtedly craves. McGuire’s absence due to injury and Muriel’s preference to play underneath means Enrique will likely get more playing time. However, he needs to show more consistency if he wants to hold onto the starting spot long-term.

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