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Orlando City B

Orlando City B vs. NYCFC II: Final Score 1-1 as OCB Claims an Unlikely Point

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3 years ago

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Orlando City B (2-4-3, 11 points) took an early lead but faltered and had to settle for a 1-1 draw against NYCFC II (5-3-3, 19 points) at Osceola County Stadium. Jack Lynn gave OCB the lead in the 14th minute, but John Denis equalized in the 62nd minute for NYCFC II. With the game ending in a draw, it went to penalties. Mauro Bravo’s shot off the crossbar was the difference in the shootout as NYCFC II took the extra point.

OCB Head Coach Martin Perelman only made two changes from the team that lost 5-3 to FC Cincinnati 2 last weekend. Alex Freeman is away with the U-19 U.S. Men’s National Team in Spain and Wilfredo Rivera is with the Puerto Rico senior national team as they begin their 2022-2023 Concacaf Nations League campaign. Owen Van Marter started for Freeman at left back and Nick Taylor took the place of Rivera.

OCB came out strong in this game, creating most of the early chances. However, NYCFC II worked its way into the game late in the first half, taking control of some poor passing by OCB. The visitors continued their dominance into the second half, eventually finding an equalizer.

The Young Lions can count themselves fortunate to come away with a point in this game as they were thoroughly outplayed in the latter stages of the first half and all through the second half. It’s probably fair that NYCFC II won the penalty shootout 5-3 and took home the extra point as the visitors were the better team in this one.

The first good chance of the game came in the third minute through an NYCFC II corner kick. Stephen Turnbull sent the ball towards the back post where it met the head of El Mahdi Youssoufi. The attacker got his head to the ball, but sent it just wide.

OCB broke the other way and almost had a chance of its own. Taylor was a consistent first-half threat on the right and sent a dangerous ball into the box for Lynn. However, NYCFC II goalkeeper Alex Rando beat the OCB striker to the ball.

In the sixth minute, Lynn found Taylor making a run down the right. The midfielder carried the ball towards the end line as Lynn made a run towards goal. It appeared as though Taylor would get his cross in, but Piero Elias blocked it out of play. The ensuing corner was to the near post, but NYCFC II intercepted and an offside ended the attack.

Moises Tablante nearly had an opportunity in the eighth minute as he darted down the left. He got into the NYCFC II box, but was tripped up and the visitors headed the other way on the counter attack. Youssoufi found Denis on the left side, but his shot was high and wide right of the target.

The ensuing goal kick was taken short to Andrew Forth, but the defender immediately gave it back to NYCFC II. The bad turnover in his own third allowed Turnbull to get a shot off, but it was right at Javier Otero.

The Young Lions came very close in the 10th minute when Lynn found Tablante making a run near the top of the box. The midfielder cut inside to lose his defender and shot on goal, but his shot was just over the crossbar and out for a goal kick.

Four minutes later, OCB broke through. Victor Yan won a free kick from about 35 yards out, which was taken by Taylor. The free kick was behind the NYCFC II back line, where Lynn was making a run. His first touch was a shot past Rando and in for the game’s first goal.

“That’s actually something we worked on yesterday in training,” Lynn said about his goal. “I knew that if I timed my run right, I’d be wide open on the near post. And once the ball came to me, I had plenty of time to just pick out a corner.”

This is the third straight game in which Lynn has scored. He previously had a hat trick against Inter Miami II on May 21 and a brace last weekend against FC Cincinnati 2. He now has six goals in his last three games. His eight goals on the season leads MLS NEXT Pro.

“I think he’s doing a great job,” Perelman said about Lynn’s scoring streak. “He’s working so hard for that.”

“I think my teammates have put me in really good positions to score,” Lynn said about his lead-leading goal tally. “And I think the coaching staff’s worked with me on refining some of my movements that have helped me get open too. And I think ultimately when I get chances, I’m a good enough player that I’m going to score the goals.”

Despite having the lead, the Young Lions didn’t let up. In the 18th minute, Tablante found Taylor to the right of goal. The midfielder attempted to curl the ball around Rando and inside the far post, but just missed.

Two minutes later, Elias got his head to a cross sent to the back post. However, the header was right at Otero, who made the easy stop.

OCB went the other way, looking to double the lead. Lynn found Tablante to his left on the counter attack and the attacker sent the ball across goal in what was likely a cross rather than a pass. However, the ball veered toward the far corner, forcing Rando to dive and tip the ball out of play for a corner kick.

The ensuing corner by Taylor was partially cleared away, but only to Ignacio Galvan at the top of the box. The outside back shot toward the low far corner, forcing Rando to get down and make a quality save, knocking the ball out of play.

After a pair of good chances by the Young Lions, Owen Van Marter took a shot from the top of the box that sailed out of play, allowing NYCFC II to finally clear.

OCB thought it had a penalty in the 27th minute when a long ball for Lynn saw the striker get tripped up in the NYCFC II box. Lynn threw his arms into the air, claiming a penalty, but the referee determined that it wasn’t a foul.

Following the no-call for Lynn, NYCFC II created multiple chances the other way. In the 28th minute, Denis found Jack Beer who fired on goal. But the shot was blocked. NYCFC II retained possession and Turnbull found Youssoufi, but his shot was saved by a diving Otero.

OCB was unable to completely clear the danger as Elias found space for a shot in the 31st minute. However, Otero was again there to make the stop, finally allowing OCB to clear.

The Young Lions were looking outside most of the first half, either for Taylor on the right or Tablante on the left. In the 41st minute, a long ball for Taylor nearly connected, but it was just a bit too far and Rando beat the midfielder to the ball.

OCB quickly won it back and sent it out left for Tablante. After a few dribbles, the third-year OCB midfielder played it across for Lynn, but it was too close to Rando and the goalkeeper made the grab.

Back the other way, NYCFC II created a couple of late chances as the game neared halftime. In the 43rd minute, Julian Gomez got his head to a Turnbull cross, but Otero did well to jump up over everyone in the box and make the catch.

Two minutes later, the visitors had their best chance of the first half. Denis found Beer to the left of goal and the midfielder shot on goal. The ball got past Otero’s outstretched hand but bounced off the crossbar.

OCB had one more chance to double its lead a minute into first-half stoppage time. Taylor sent a long cross for Tablante, who was making a run down the left, but it was too far and went out of play.

While the Young Lions had the best of the early minutes in the game, NYCFC II controlled most of the first half. The visitors had more possession (60%-40%), shots (10-6), shots on target (5-3), and crosses (9-5), as well as better passing accuracy (86.3%-72.5%). However, OCB benefited from Otero’s play in goal and NYCFC II’s lack of finishing, taking a 1-0 lead into the break.

As the second half started, it was as if OCB had remained in the locker room. NYCFC II got off to the better start and didn’t let up. In the first minute of the second period of play, Youssoufi found Gomez in the box, but the shot was right at Otero.

In the 48th minute, Brandon Hackenberg tripped Beer feet outside the box, resulting in Hackenberg being booked. Denis took the free kick but hit it right into the wall.

After OCB thought it should’ve had a penalty in the first half, NYCFC II had its own shout for one in the 52nd minute. An apparent kick to the back of the leg saw the attacker go down. The visiting team swarmed the referee, but his mind wasn’t going to change and OCB was awarded a goal kick.

As happened too frequently in this game, OCB was unable to hold onto the ball, giving it back to the opposition before the Young Lions could reach midfield. As a result, Elias had the opportunity to send a dangerous cross through the box just a minute after the penalty shout. Fortunately for OCB, nobody in orange was there.

In the 60th minute, Erick Gunera fouled Youssoufi in a scenario very similar to the foul earlier in the half. OCB argued the call, resulting in Victor Yan being booked, but the referee stood by his original decision.

Again, Denis took the free kick from a very dangerous position. However, while the first set piece was from the right, this one was from the left. Denis used his right foot to curl the ball around the OCB wall and inside the far post, beyond the outstretched arms of Otero to make it 1-1.

NYCFC II seemed emboldened by the equalizer, continuing to pressure the OCB back line. In the 64th minute, a quick buildup created a cross into the box. There were orange jerseys there, but Forth did well to block it away.

OCB quickly broke out on a counter attack the other way. Galvan found Lynn near the six-yard box and the striker fired on goal, but it was just wide left.

The Young Lions created another chance in the 71st minute when quick passing at the top of the box saw Tablante receive the ball on the left. He took a quick shot but the defender was able to get into position, blocking it out behind the goal.

The visitors nearly took their first lead of the night in the 77th minute when Youssoufi found Denis near the penalty spot. He attempted to beat Otero to the bottom left corner, but the OCB goalkeeper did an excellent job of getting down to make a diving one-handed save.

The corner by Diego Rossi found the head of Youssoufi in the box. He attempted to redirect it into the lower left corner but missed just wide.

OCB should’ve had an opportunity in the 85th minute when it broke out after Beer’s shot from outside the box was blocked. Lynn and Tablante played a quick one-two, resulting in the latter receiving the ball in the final third. However, he was unable to beat the final defender and it was blocked away.

Both teams had a late chance to claim the win before time ran out. In the 90th minute, Stevo Bednarsky took a shot from outside the box, but it was well high and wide.

On the other end, Bravo found Lynn near goal and the striker got his head to the ball, looking for his second goal of the night. But Rando did well to make the save and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

NYCFC II dominated the second half. The visitors out-shot the Young Lions 9-2 and put more shots on goal (5-1) in the second 45 minutes. The visitors ended the game with more possession (57.2%-42.8%), shots (19-8), shots on goal (10-4), corners (7-5), crosses (16-9), and passing accuracy (83.5%-73%).

However, the Lions were able to keep NYCFC II off the board following the equalizer, securing a point. But MLS NEXT Pro rules state that games ending in a draw must go to a penalty shootout to see who gets the extra point. It was OCB’s third penalty shootout this season and the second against NYCFC II at Osceola County Stadium. The Young Lions were previously 2-0, with the other shootout win coming against New England Revolution II at Exploria Stadium.

“I think we did good the first half,” Perelman said after the game. “I mean, we could’ve won that half 4-0. We knew New York. We did the situation plan well. We created the situations. But we didn’t score. They played well, they’re a good team. We knew that there was a part of the game that they would take control of the ball. A set piece for them and then penalties is penalties. It was a tough game.”

“I think in the first half (we) executed our strategy pretty well,” Lynn added. “We were just unable to finish off a lot of the transition moments that we created with our pressure. And ultimately we got a goal. We’re up 1-0 at half and I think we would’ve been fine with just a 1-0 win. But they scored on a set piece and that’s always tough to take.”

The shootout went back and forth, with each of the first six shooters converting. While Otero was strong in previous shootouts, the OCB goalkeeper was sent the wrong way on every attempt in this one.

The deciding moment came in the fourth shot when 88th-minute substitute Bravo stepped up. One of the newer additions to the team, Bravo shot hard down the middle but the ball slammed off the crossbar.

Beer stepped up to take the fifth penalty for NYCFC II with a chance to end the game. As Otero dove to his left, Beer calmly played the ball right down the middle and the visitors claimed the extra point.

Despite losing the shootout, a point is more than the Young Lions deserved in this game. There were times where they looked good going forward, but they made too many mistakes, especially in the second half.

Without some heroics by their goalkeeper and some poor finishing by the opposition, they probably should’ve lost by multiple goals. However, they move their overall record to 2-4-3 on the season and 1-1-3 at home.

After a three-game homestand that saw the Young Lions go 1-1-1, OCB will now head out on a four-game road trip, lasting through the beginning of July. It starts next Saturday when the Young Lions face New England Revolution II at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA.

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Orlando City B

Orlando City B vs. Crown Legacy FC: Final Score 1-0 as Young Lions Remain Undefeated

OCB continued its undefeated start to the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season by edging Crown Legacy in North Carolina.

Published

5 days ago

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March 26, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B

Orlando City B (2-0-1, 8 points) scored with their lone shot on target tonight in a 1-0 win over Crown Legacy FC (0-1-1, 1 points) at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex in Matthew, NC. Shak Mohammed’s 30th-minute goal was the difference as the Young Lions continue their hot start to the season.

OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg made three changes to the team that drew 2-2 with Atlanta United 2 on March 16 and took the extra point 4-1 on penalties. Carlos Mercado returned to net for Javier Otero, Gustavo Caraballo replaced Colin Guske — who is on international duty — and Dyson Clapier replaced Justin Ellis.

The back line in front of Mercado was Tahir Reid-Brown, Jackson Platts, Thomas Williams, and Zakaria Taifi. Dylan Judelson and Jhon Solis were in the defensive midfield behind Caraballo, Mohammed, and Clapier with Thalles up top.

The first chance for either team came in the seventh minute when Mohammed intercepted a poor pass in the Crown Legacy third of the field. He played it forward for Thalles, who was taken down by Baye Coulibaly.

Solis took the set piece, aiming for the near top corner. However, he was unable to get the ball to dip down enough, sending it off target.

Caraballo tried to make something happen in the 13th minute, dribbling into the Crown Legacy box. He took a shot on the run, but Jack Neeley got in front of the attempt, blocking it with his foot.

Crown Legacy got its first decent chance in the 16th minute when Nikola Petkovic received a pass near the top of the OCB box. He took a touch to get around Judelson and attempted to curl the ball into the far top corner, but it sailed off target.

The hosts nearly had another chance in the 28th minute when right back Yves Tcheuyap made a good run to the end line and sent a dangerous ball into the six-yard box for Jack Sarkos. However, Williams got in front to clear it out for a corner kick. Crown Legacy recycled the ball, forcing Williams to clear it away again. This time the Young Lions were able to clear the danger.

OCB took the lead in the 30th minute when Platts played the ball forward for Caraballo, who sent it further down the right for Taifi. The right back sent a dangerous ball into the box that was beyond the reach of Thalles and Clapier, but fell to Mohammed. The attacker didn’t make any mistakes, placing the ball past Isaac Walker to give the Young Lions a 1-0 lead.

OCB displayed some terrific breakout play in the first half. In the 32nd minute, a long ball by Mercado was flicked on by Mohammed for Clapier. The midfielder tipped the ball over Neeley and had a step on Coulibaly. The defender pushed Clapier over just before he entered the box, giving OCB a free kick in a dangerous spot.

Coulibaly was lucky to only get a yellow card for the play. Fortunately for him, another defender got back, so he wasn’t the last defender. Otherwise, it would’ve been a red card.

Taifi and Solis stood over the set piece with Solis taking the kick. The midfielder curled the ball towards the near post, just missing wide.

Crown Legacy created some danger in the 40th minute when Brian Romero sent a dangerous ball across the box. Coulibaly was making a run to the far post and the ball reached him, but the midfielder couldn’t get his foot on it.

Reid-Brown sent a good ball to the top of the six in the 44th minute. Williams was making a run between two defenders, but he wasn’t able to redirect the ball on target.

At halftime, OCB had more possession (64%-36%), shots (7-6), and shots on target (1-0). Meanwhile, Crown Legacy had more corner kicks (4-3) and crosses (6-3), with better passing accuracy (90.3%-88.4%).

Shortly after the restart, Rocket Ritarita lifted a ball near the penalty spot in the 50th minute that was chested down for Aron John. The attacker’s first touch was a shot on target that forced Mercado into a good save. The rebound ended up with Petkovic, who sent a second shot towards goal, but Platts slid in to block the attempt.

OCB nearly had a chance in the 53rd minute when Taifi made a long run down the right and sent a cross in for Thalles. The striker had position on his defender, but the cross was too strong for the striker to get his head on it.

A minute later Taiif made a similar run and took it himself. The right back fired from a tight angle, trying to lift it into the top of the net. However, Walker reacted well to block the attempt.

Crown Legacy had a golden chance to equalize in the 58th minute when a cross from the right went through the box and over the end line. Platts and Sarkos were tangling and referee Jeremy Scheer pointed to the spot.

John stepped up to take the penalty, sending it towards the left post. Mercado guessed correctly, diving to his right and making the save to keep the OCB lead and his shutout.

Goldberg made his first change of the night in the 62nd minute as Zinedine Rodriguez came into the game for Clapier.

The 70th minute brought a scary moment for OCB when Mikah Thomas sent a through ball into the OCB box for Ritarita. Mercado got to it first but couldn’t handle it. Ritarita continued his run, colliding with Mercado. The goalkeeper required some medical attention, but he was eventually able to continue.

OCB won a free kick in the 81st minute when Neeley pushed Mohammed down from behind just inside the Crown Legacy third of the field. Neeley was issued a yellow card for the challenge. Caraballo took the free kick, finding an unmarked Thalles making a run to the back post. The forward’s first touch was a redirection, but it went over the top.

Thalles won a 50-50 ball in the 83rd minute, tapping it forward for Mohammed to run onto. The attacker got behind the back line and was in goal as Walker came off his line. Mohammed tried to chip the goalkeeper, but his attempt bounced wide to the right.

Immediately after the miss, Goldberg made his second change of the game. Hayden Sargis made his professional debut, coming on for Caraballo.

Crown Legacy had a great chance in the 85th minute when Ferna Ferreira used a nice touch to lose Taifi and reach the endline. He sent a dangerous cross into the six with two teammates running in, but Judelson got back to clear it away.

In the 90th minute, Ritarita sent a cross into the box that Mercado should’ve handled easily. However, it bounced off his hands. A Crown Legacy attacker was making a back post run, but it went out of play.

During the stoppage, Goldberg made his final change of the night, replacing Thalles with Juan Quevedo.

In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Mohammed broke out near midfield. Neeley, who had been booked earlier, pulled him back. The professional foul required a yellow card, his second of the night.

The final attempt of the game came in the final seconds when Ferreira twisted and turned Quevedo to create space. It looked like the attacker would have a free shot on goal, but Judelson came flying in to block it. That was the final attempt as the Young Lions held on for the 1-0 win.

At full time, Crown Legacy had the advantage in shots (16-10), shots on target (3-1), corner kicks (11-3), crosses (21-6), and passing accuracy (90%-83.1%). However, the Young Lions took advantage of their one shot on target and held on for another three points.

The Young Lions continue their strong start to the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season. They’ve only dropped one point this year, acquiring eight points from three games. They sit atop the Eastern Conference, tied with New York City FC II.

OCB will now have an extended break, not taking the field again until April 5 when the team travels to take on Chattanooga FC in Tennessee.

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Orlando City B

Orlando City B vs. Atlanta United 2: Final Score 2-2 as Young Lions Claim Extra Point in Penalties

OCB led in the second half but conceded an equalizer before claiming the extra point in the penalty shootout.

Published

2 weeks ago

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March 16, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Orlando City B (1-0-1, 5 points) played to a 2-2 draw against Atlanta United 2 (0-1-1, 1 point) tonight at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee. Luke Brennan gave Atlanta the lead in the 30th minute before Justin Ellis equalized just before halftime. Shak Mohammed gave the Lions their first lead in the 56th minute and Ronan Wynne equalized for the visitors in the 78th minute. The Young Lions then took the extra point by winning the penalty shootout, 4-1.

OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg made two changes from the team that won 2-1 over Columbus Crew 2 last Sunday night. First-team backup goalkeeper Javier Otero got his first start of the season, replacing Carlos Mercado. Thalles got his first start for OCB, replacing Dyson Clapier.

The back line in front of Otero was Tahir Reid-Brown, Thomas Williams, Jackson Platts, and Zakaria Taifi. Dylan Judelson and Colin Guske were the defensive midfielders behind Mohammed, Ellis, and Jhon Solis. Thalles started alone up top.

Atlanta had the first attempt at goal in the sixth minute when former Lion Moises Tablante found Brennan near the top of the box. Reid-Brown was in front of him and the midfielder shot, but Judelson flew in to block the attempt out for a corner kick.

The ensuing set piece was knocked out for a second corner and the second attempt was caught by Otero, ending the threat.

It looked like OCB would have its first chance in the eighth minute when Taifi sent a dangerous low ball across the box. Three players in purple were making runs, with Solis closest to it. However, nobody could get to the end of the pass as it went all the way through.

The Young Lions’ first shot came in the 10th minute when Thalles knocked the ball off a defender, giving OCB its first corner kick. Solis’ set piece went through the box where it ended up with Taifi. The defender fired from outside the box, but the shot was right at Atlanta goalkeeper Jayden Hibbert.

Atlanta nearly had a chance in the 25th minute when Brennan sent a dangerous ball into the six for Rodrigo Neri. Williams was on the attacker, putting enough of his body on him to keep Neri from getting onto it.

A minute later, Mohammed was called for a foul on Brennan just outside the box and to the right of goal. The short set piece between Cooper Sanchez and Tablante resulted in a Brennan shot from distance, but Platts was in position to block it.

The visitors finally got their goal in the 30th minute after a pair of clearances. Ryan Carmichael sent a long cross to the back of the six-yard box where Salvatore Mazzaferro headed it towards goal. The ball went past Otero and Brennan ran onto it to knock it in, giving Atlanta a well-deserved 1-0 lead.

The Young Lions had their best first-half opportunity in the 40th minute when Taifi was sent long on the right behind the back line. The defender dribbled into the box as Hibbert came off his line, making a good save.

On the other end, a short corner kick resulted in Tablante sending a ball into the box. Mazzaferro got his head to the ball, flicking it towards the far post, but sent it wide.

The Young Lions got their equalizer in the 44th minute when Ellis received a throw-in and played a quick give-and-go with Solis to beat three defenders. The forward’s first touch after receiving the ball back from Solis was past Hibbert and off the far post to even the game at 1-1.

Atlanta was the better team in the first 45 minutes with the advantage in shots (10-4), crosses (7-0), corner kicks (6-1), and passing accuracy (87%-79.3%). However, OCB put three of its four shots on target while Atlanta only put one of 10 on frame.

Atlanta got off to an aggressive start to the second half and nearly scored in the 46th minute. While OCB attempted to clear an Atlanta corner kick, Solis got caught playing with the ball in his own box. Neri came in from behind and shoved Solis to the ground, taking possession. The attacker tried to beat Otero to his near post, but hit the outside of the net.

The Young Lions got their first second-half attempt in the 55th minute when Ellis found Reid-Brown near the top of the box. The left back cut inside to lose his defender and shot, but Wynne got in the way, blocking it out for a corner kick.

The ensuing set piece by Taifi sailed beyond the back post where Mohammed came flying in to volley the ball past Hibbert, giving his team a 2-1 lead.

“We’ve been training for me to make the run to the second post and I happened to be there. And unbelievable delivery by Taifi and I was there to meet it,” Mohammed said. “So it’s good. It’s a good connection and hopefully many more to come.”

“Very participative, very active, very aggressive with a lot of desire,” Goldberg said about the goal scorers. “And that’s what we want. Sometimes the ball will go in. Sometimes it won’t. But the more we try to do it, it’s going to be better.”

Tablante tried to find an equalizer against his old team in the 61st minute. He ran into a defender but kept possession. A touch inside allowed him to shoot between Reid-Brown and Judelson, but he sent his shot over the crossbar.

In the 64th minute, Dominik Chong-Qui fired from the corner of the box, forcing Otero to block the ball over the crossbar at his near post. Tablante took the ensuing corner kick, but Otero was there to catch it.

Goldberg made his first two changes of the game during the next stoppage. Gustavo Caraballo and Clapier came into the game for Thalles and Judelson.

Otero was called into action in the 72nd minute when Braden Dunham’s shot from outside the box was deflected. Otero had to adjust to block the attempt, sending it wide. However, Neri was following up. Otero quickly jumped up to block that attempt as well, sending it out of play.

“Outstanding,” Goldberg said about Otero’s performance in goal. “I’m really happy for him. That he could take the chance properly for the team and for himself. And he did an outstanding job.”

Caraballo tried to double the OCB lead in the 73rd minute. The first-team midfielder took the ball to the end line before cutting back, creating space from Mazzaferro and Dunham. He was aiming for the far post, but the shot traveled wide.

The visitors found their equalizer in the 78th minute through a set piece. Guske was unable to clear Nykolas Sessock’s free kick near the top corner of the box, enabling Neri to head it back into the middle of the six-yard box. Wynne and Williams were tussling as they approached the ball, but the Atlanta attacker beat the first-team center back, evening the game at 2-2.

Goldberg was forced into another substitution in the 84th minute when Ellis went down injured. The forward received some attention before eventually being replaced by Zinedine Rodriguez.

Atlanta substitute Adyn Torres tried to be the hero in the 87th minute when he received the ball about 25 yards from goal. The attacker took a touch before firing a shot from long distance. Otero felt it was close enough to jump, but the attempt continued rising and went over the crossbar.

Torres’ attempt was the final chance for either team, as the 90 minutes ended in a 2-2 draw. Atlanta controlled the game in nearly every statistical category. Despite being on the road, the visitors had the advantage in shots (19-9), shots on target (6-5), crosses (11-2), and corner kicks (10-3). They also had better passing accuracy (85.8%-76.1%).

“I agree it was tough. We didn’t find ourselves very comfortable in the first half, and that put us there a little uncomfortable in the game,” Goldberg said. “We scored a goal in a very good moment of the match. It was at the end of the first half. And in the second half we were a little bit better. We’ve got a lot of things to work on to get better. But the good news is at least we got those two points and that’s something to look on.”

“I think on the balance of the game, it was a fair point that we got. We got the two points at home and we’re still undefeated at home,” Mohammed added. “So that’s big. It’s good to start the season that way. Two games and undefeated. So it was good. There’s still a lot of ways for us to improve and we’re going to do that. It’s just the second game of the season. So we’re looking forward to the season and it’s good that we started this way.”

Per MLS NEXT Pro rules, the teams had to shoot penalties to see who would get the extra point.

The Young Lions were perfect in the shootout, with goals by Guske, Solis, Platts, and Clapier. Carmichael hit the post on the first Atlanta attempt and Otero saved Mazzaferro’s shot on the second. Neri scored the third to keep the game alive before Clapier ended it.

OCB ends the two-game season-opening homestand with five points. The Young Lions will have to wait 10 days before they take the field again, taking on Crown Legacy FC in North Carolina on March 26.

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Orlando City B

Orlando City B vs. Columbus Crew 2: Final Score 2-1 as Young Lions Win Season Opener

OCB opened its 2025 season with a victory, scoring twice before holding on for dear life in the second half.

Published

3 weeks ago

on

March 9, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Orlando City B (1-0-0, 3 points) opened its 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season with a 2-1 win over Columbus Crew 2 (0-1-0, 0 points) tonight at Osceola County Stadium. Newcomer Dyson Clapier gave the Young Lions the lead in the 10th minute and Zakaria Taifi doubled the advantage just after the break. Crew 2 dominated possession after that and pulled a goal back late through Keesean Ferdinand, but it wasn’t enough, as OCB took all three points.

The first starting lineup of the season for the Young Lions consisted of Carlos Mercado in goal behind a back line of Tahir Reid-Brown, Thomas Williams, Jackson Platts, and Taifi. Dylan Judelson and Colin Guske were the defensive midfielders behind Clapier, Jhon Solis, and Shak Mohammed, with Justin Ellis up top.

OCB got off to an attacking start, trying to send Taifi down the right multiple times. But it was a Crew 2 throw-in that opened the scoring. In the 10th minute, Chase Adams received the throw and played a soft pass to Ferdinand in the Columbus box. Ellis jumped on the play, tipping the ball off of Ferdinand’s foot to Clapier, whose first touch was a rocket past Luke Pruter for the opening goal.

Columbus had its first decent attack in the 14th minute when Owen Presthus made a long run down the right. He sent a hard cross through the box looking for Tristan Brown, but it went all the way through.

It looked like OCB had a penalty in the 18th minute when Taifi did well to control a long pass and was taken down at the edge of the box. The referee initially pointed to the spot but ended up changing it to a free kick just outside of the 18, which was the correct decision.

Solis hit the free kick into the wall, and the ball bounced back to Taifi, who had been standing over it as well. His first touch was another shot, but it too was blocked.

A minute later, Solis found Taifi on the right and the defender sent a dangerous cross into the box. Clapier ran onto it and tried to turn it on goal with his first touch. However, he mishit the ball, ending the threat.

The visitors finally got their first shot of the game in the 27th minute when Austin Su  sent a hard, low shot towards goal. Fortunately, he sent it straight to Mercado, who had no trouble collecting it.

The Young Lions created a good buildup in the 37th minute when Ellis received the ball near midfield and sent it down the left for Reid-Brown. The left back found Clapier in the middle, who laid it back for Ellis making the trailing run. The striker’s first touch was a shot, but he didn’t hit it well, and it skipped wide.

It looked like Crew 2 might find an equalizer in the second minute of first-half stoppage time when Presthus sent Brent Adu-Gyamfi behind the back line and into the OCB box. His second touch was a shot, but Mercado did well to get down and block it, making a vital save.

After 45 minutes, OCB had more shots (5-4). However, Crew 2 had the advantage in attempts on target (2-1), corner kicks (2-0), crosses (5-2), and passing accuracy (89.2%-84.7%).

OCB made one change at halftime as Brazilian forward Thalles made his debut in purple, coming in for Clapier.

It didn’t take long for Thalles to get involved, as he nearly scored inside the first minute of the second half. The Brazilian was sent into the Crew 2 box and it looked like he had an open chance, but 15-year-old center back Gianmarco Di Noto came in from behind to knock it away.

The Young Lions went on another attack in the 48th minute, doubling their lead. Solis sent a long ball across the field to Taifi, who was making a run on the right. The right back chested the ball down and recontrolled it after the defender tried to tap it away. His third touch was a strong shot inside the near post, giving his team a 2-0 lead.

“I scored and I didn’t even see anything. All I did was point to my parents,” Taifi said. “My dad was working all day and he came from like two hours away to come. And I just wanted to give them all the thanks for the goal. And it feels amazing to win the game from that.”

“We talked a lot during the week about bringing out their individual best,” OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg said about Clapier’s and Taifi’s goals. “About everything. Technically, tactically. So this is the stuff we need. They have that ambition, that desire, and that helped them with the goals.”

Crew 2 nearly pulled one back in the 54th minute when Brown received the ball on the left side of the box. The midfielder tried to hit it into the roof of the net, but hit the woodwork.

Four minutes later, the Young Lions had trouble clearing the ball and Nicolas Rincon stuck his leg out to send the ball towards goal. Mercado did very well to dive to his left and make a one-handed save. The OCB starting goalkeeper was down briefly but was able to continue.

Solis tried to make it 3-0 in the 60th minute when Crew 2 goalkeeper Luke Pruter came well off his line. The ball was cleared before it reached the goal line, but only to Thalles not far away. The Brazilian attempted a bicycle kick, sending it wide.

Reid-Brown made a good run down the left in the 70th minute before cutting it back and finding Ellis at the top of the box. The striker took a touch inside before taking a hard right-footed shot. However, Su got in front of the attempt, blocking it wide.

As the ensuing corner kick was sent into the box, the referee called a foul on OCB. As a result, the Young Lions didn’t even get a chance from the set piece.

Goldberg made his second change in the 83rd minute as Clovis Archange came on for Reid-Brown.

A Taifi corner in the 85th minute found a head near the back post and was past Pruter, but cleared off the line. The follow-up attempt was right at Pruter, who made the save to end the threat.

The visitors finally got a goal back in the 88th minute when some quick passing sent Anthony Alaouieh down the left. The midfielder sent his pass back and diagonally through the box to a wide open Ferdinand, as the entire OCB defense had shifted to the other side. With nobody closing him down, it was an easy goal for the defender, sending the ball inside the far post.

The Young Lions immediately went the other way, looking to increase their lead back to two goals. Solis took a shot in the 89th minute from just outside the box that forced Pruter to dive and knock it wide.

The ensuing corner kick found Platts, who put his attempt on goal. But it was cleared off the line. The clearance went to Solis near the top of the box and the midfielder sent the follow-up attempt high and wide.

Crew 2 had another chance in the first minute of stoppage time when Guske was unable to clear a Columbus throw-in and Su took possession. The midfielder carried the ball to the end line and played it to the top of the six-yard box where Ferdinand was waiting. However, Mercado did well to get down to collect it.

Both teams attacked in the six minutes of second-half stoppage time, but the missed opportunity by Su was the final chance and OCB held on for the 2-1 win.

While Crew 2 had much more possession in the second half, it was OCB that created most of the chances. The Young Lions ended up with more shots (15-12), shots on target (7-5), and corner kicks (7-2). Meanwhile, the visitors had the advantage in crosses (8-3) and passing accuracy (89.6%-83%).

“Of course, first of all, very happy for the guys that we could get a win. It’s not easy to start off and starting off always like this is positive,” Goldberg said about the game. “The things we propose ourselves to do this match, we did. So we’re happy about that.”

“I feel like it was a great team performance. We really held it down,” Taifi said. “Had a little lapse of concentration at the end, but it doesn’t matter. We got the three points. So, it feels great to start with a win. Let’s go!”

The Young Lions continue their streak of season-opening wins, which dates back to the start of MLS NEXT Pro in 2022, making it four in a row. That matches the streak of four straight campaigns in which they opened the season with losses, dating back to the team’s inaugural season in 2016.

OCB will continue its season-opening homestand next Sunday night when the Young Lions host rival Atlanta United 2 at Osceola County Stadium.

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