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Orlando City vs. Houston Dynamo: Five Takeaways

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3 years ago

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Orlando City welcomed the Houston Dynamo to Exploria and secured all three points in a 2-1 win. Ercan Kara scored both of Orlando’s goals, although they were far from solo efforts. The Dynamo kept things close, making for a dramatic second half as the Lions were able to hold on for their first regular-season win at home since April 30. Here are our five takeaways from the match.

A Rollercoaster of Emotions

The Lions may have won, but it was far from a comfortable affair. The first half was fairly smooth sailing for Orlando as the Lions took the lead and mostly just had to contend with hard fouls and chances from distance by Houston. The second half was a different story. There was hardly any time to enjoy Orlando doubling its lead in the 58th minute as the Dynamo equalized just a minute later. The game script flipped after that, with momentum shifting into the Dynamo’s favor as they searched for an equalizer. In the 87th minute, Thorleifur Ulfarsson went down in the box and the referee reached for a yellow card. Just as supporters had to brace for an assumed penalty, the referee revealed he was booking Ulfarsson for simulation. Disaster truly did seem to strike in the dying moments of the match though, as the ball wound up past Gallese and in the back of the net. But Darwin Quintero had been in an offside position and influenced the play. The goal was waved off and the Lions held on for the win.

A Pair of Designated Goals

Orlando’s three Designated Players all came together to create Orlando’s first goal of the match. Mauricio Pereyra lofted a nice pass to Facundo Torres, who found Ercan Kara directly in front of the net. It was a goal that showcased what each player brings to Orlando’s offense. Pereyra can seemingly place the ball anywhere on the pitch no matter the angle, Torres has the speed and touch to add an edge from the wings, and Kara’s positioning gives him plenty of opportunities. Kara was credited with the brace, but his second goal came from him deflecting Pereyra’s shot into the net. The Austrian forward put four of his five shots on target and now has six goals this season while Pereyra leads the league in assists, with eight. The trio did well while on the pitch together and hopefully that trend continues as the season goes on. 

The Defense Kept It Together

Conceding just moments after scoring is never a great look and the defense looked far from solid during the second half. It benefited greatly from a lack of the final pass or finishing touch from Houston. Regardless, the defense managed to hang on and claim all three points despite Kyle Smith playing at center back. Smith didn’t play poorly by any means, racking up seven clearances and stopping a pass in the box that would’ve granted an open look on goal. Ruan could’ve done better defensively, but the back line itself did well coming together and backing each other up while Rodrigo Schlegel was suspended. Gallese was also great in this one, making tough saves once Houston started to put shots on frame. This team may only have one clean sheet in its past 10 games across all competitions, but it showed plenty of resolve and persistence in this match.

Moutinho and Mulraney Make a Nice Duo

Orlando left back Joao Moutinho has quietly played nearly every minute this season and did well again in this match while playing on the left alongside Jake Mulraney. Neither’s stats from this match will jump off the page, but the two did the little things throughout the match. Mulraney recovered a cross to keep possession and cycled the ball to Moutinho, who found Pereyra to ignite the series of passes that led to Orlando’s first goal. In the second half, Moutinho whipped in a cross that Mulraney raced to flick on, the ball bouncing around a bit before falling for Pereyra to shoot and knock into the goal after Kara’s deflection. Mulraney’s willingness to take on defenders and crash the box allows Moutinho to sneak into dangerous areas to cross from rather than the two running on top of each other down the wing. Mulraney was subbed off for Benji Michel in the 65th minute and it will be interesting what the timeshare at that position will look like moving forward as Michel earns more minutes following his injury.

The Angry Swede

Robin Jansson won’t be available for Orlando’s next match after he was shown a yellow card for dissent just 14 minutes into the match. Maybe it’s the gas prices or the summer heat, but it didn’t take long for Jansson to receive yet another yellow card when it absolutely could have been avoided with a cooler head. After a foul was called on Pereyra, Jansson was vocal about the call and was quickly booked. It was his eighth yellow card of the season — the most of any player in the league. This card was just the latest time he’s been booked for dissent, but it now puts the Lions in a difficult spot next week. He’s an excellent player, as evidenced by his skill on both sides of the ball shown in this match. But none of that matters if he’s not on the field.

That is what I took away from Orlando’s win at home against the Houston Dynamo. Let me know what you thought of the match in the comments below.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/26/25

Orlando City rises in MLS power rankings, Emily Sams called up, Orlando City B faces Crown Legacy FC tonight, and more.

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23 hours ago

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March 26, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’ve been spending the week reading and eating my way through a pork shoulder after making way too much of it in my slow cooker this weekend. It wasn’t as tender as I was shooting for, but it’ll take some time before I can take another crack at it. But enough about that, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Orlando City Rises in MLS Power Rankings

The league’s latest power rankings are out and Orlando City has moved up two spots to 14th after its 4-1 victory over D.C. United. Orlando’s Designated Players are firing on all cylinders and no MLS team has scored more goals this year. The breakout of 20-year-old defender Alex Freeman, who was noted as one of the top young performers from this past weekend, is also worth recognition. The Lions have been in need of a young player to step up, and Freeman has done well so far. Orlando will be back in action on Saturday for a road match against an LA Galaxy side still searching for its first win of the season.

Emily Sams Called Up For USWNT Friendlies

Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams was one of 24 players called up by United States Women’s National Team Head Coach Emma Hayes for the training camp prior to friendlies against Brazil next month. Forward Trinity Rodman, who hasn’t played for the U.S. since the Olympics, is back in the mix after missing time due to injury. Houston Dash defender Avery Patterson and Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce are other interesting players to keep an eye on. The U.S. will take on Brazil April 5 at SoFi Stadium before a rematch on April 8 at PayPal Park.

OCB Plays Crown Legacy FC Tonight

The Young Lions are back in action tonight for a road match against Crown Legacy FC at 7 p.m. It’s OCB’s first away match of the season after a pair of solid results at Osceola Heritage Park to start the season. Orlando will take on a Crown Legacy team that’s only played one game so far this season, losing a shootout to New York City FC II after a 1-1 draw back on March 7. Following tonight’s match, OCB will get some time off before taking on Chattanooga FC in Tennessee on April 5.

Takeaway From USMNT Defeats

After losing both Concacaf Nations League matches, there is plenty of concern surrounding the United States Men’s National Team as it prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Fullback Joe Scally struggled in both matches, putting more of an emphasis on Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest being ready to roll next summer. Weston McKennie lost duels left and right and there are some real questions regarding where he fits in Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino’s system. There were bright spots as well though. Diego Luna and Patrick Agyemang likely boosted their stock after solid offensive efforts, and Tanner Tessmann was effective in his time on the field. Overall, the Yanks will have to be better in this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup.

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That’s all I have for you all this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday. Go Young Lions!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/25/25

Lions earn plaudits, Marco Pasalic up for Goal of the Week, Kylie Nadaner’s performance honored, and more.

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2 days ago

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March 25, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Tuesday, everyone! It was a great weekend for Orlando soccer as the two teams that were in action each picked up wins for a six-point weekend. It was done in exciting fashion too, as Orlando City and the Orlando Pride combined to score six goals between them. With a little luck, we’ll get to enjoy some similar results this coming weekend. We’ve got a lot to discuss this morning though, so let’s talk through today’s links.

Lions’ Performances Earn Plaudits

Orlando City blew D.C. United away 4-1 on Saturday, and some of the key performers from the win have been rewarded with places in the MLS Team of the Matchday. Martin Ojeda and Alex Freeman are named to the starting XI while Luis Muriel slots in on the bench to ensure the squad has a decidedly purple tint. Ojeda tallied a goal and two assists in a Man of the Match performance, Freeman did his best to match him with a goal and an assist of his own, and Muriel made his own impact by scoring the opening goal and logging a secondary assist. Here’s hoping they keep up the good work!

Marco Pasalic Up for Weekly Honors

Marco Pasalic was the only goal scorer from Saturday’s win to not be included in the MLS Team of the Matchday, but instead he finds himself nominated for the MLS Goal of the Matchday. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you which strike I’m talking about, but in case you’ve been living under a rock for the last several days, the Croatian did this to score Orlando’s fourth goal of the win.

Between the fluid buildup and the beauty of the strike itself, if this doesn’t win Goal of the Week then we live in a world without justice. Make sure you go vote!

Pride’s Kylie Nadaner Earns Recognition

The Orlando Pride beat NJ/NY Gotham FC 2-0 on the road on Sunday, and center back Kylie Nadaner has been nominated for the NWSL Player of the Week due to her contributions in the match. Nadaner got the start at center back and helped the Pride keep a clean sheet — marking the first time the club has ever begun a season with back-to-back shutouts. While it wasn’t the Pride’s cleanest defensive performance, Nadaner and her fellow defenders mostly did a good job at preventing any truly dangerous chances, and in the end Orlando picked up three good points away from home.

U.S. Women Announce Three Matches

The United States Women’s National Team has announced three friendlies that will take place during the summer, with two occurring in June and the other in early July. The first two will be against Ireland in Colorado on June 26 and again against the Irish on June 29 in Cincinnati. The last match will be held on July 2 with an opponent and location for the game to be announced at a later date. It will be the first meeting between the U.S. and Ireland since April 2023, when the sides met in a pair of matches during the buildup to the 2023 Women’s World Cup. The USWNT won both of those matches and will try to replicate the feat in a few months.

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  • Barba Banda had hateful language directed towards her during Sunday’s game, and the NWSL, Pride, and Gotham FC have all come out with strong responses.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/24/25

Lions and Pride win, USMNT falls to Canada, UEFA Nations League quarterfinals recap, and more.

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3 days ago

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March 24, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve had a very busy week, finishing my orientation and ballpark training to return to working ballgames and concerts at Wrigley Field for the Chicago Cubs. Our Lions and Pride won while OCB was off this weekend. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Beats D.C. United at Home

Orlando City defeated D.C. United 4-1 on Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium in a dominating performance. Luis Muriel, Martin Ojeda, Alex Freeman, and Marco Pasalic all scored for the Lions as they raced out to a 4-0 lead. You’ve no doubt heard this a lot since Saturday, but it was the first time in club history that all three Designated Players for Orlando scored a goal in the same match. Also, Freeman became the second-youngest player in club history to score a goal and add an assist in the same match. The youngest was Daryl Dike.

D.C. United pulled one back in stoppage time, but the Lions claimed the three points. Goalkeeper Javier Otero made his first MLS start while Pedro Gallese was away on international duty with Peru, and despite not getting a shutout, he made six saves. Orlando City will be on the road for its next match Saturday, facing the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Orlando Pride Shut Out NJ/NY Gotham FC on the Road

The Orlando Pride defeated NJ/NY Gotham FC 2-0 Sunday at Sports Illustrated Stadium to get back-to-back wins to start the season. The Pride were the fortunate recipients of an own goal from Gotham defender Lilly Reale to take an early lead in the first half. Angelina’s crafty cutback drew a penalty just before halftime, and Marta converted it from the spot to extend Orlando’s lead to two goals just before halftime. The Pride held on to earn the shutout to secure their first road win of the season. The Pride return home to Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday to take on San Diego Wave FC.

USMNT Falls to Canada in Nations League Third-Place Match

On Sunday, the U.S. Men’s National Team fell 2-1 to Canada at SoFi Stadium in the third-place match in the Concacaf Nations League. It’s the second consecutive loss for the USMNT after dropping a 1-0 decision to Panama in the semifinals last week. The Yanks finish fourth in the tournament after winning the first three editions. Canada struck first before Patrick Agyemang scored the equalizer for the USMNT just before halftime. Jonathan David scored the winning goal in the second half to seal the win for Canada. The USMNT has lost consecutive matches to Canada for the first time since 1985. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just 14 months away, things don’t look good at the moment for the United States men. The next pair of matches are friendlies against Turkey on June 7 and Switzerland on June 10.

UEFA Nations League Quarterfinals Recap

There was plenty of drama Sunday in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Nations League. France overturned a 2-0 deficit in the first leg and defeated Croatia 5-4 on penalties after a 2-0 win in the second leg to advance. Spain also defeated the Netherlands 5-4 on penalties to advance after the second leg ended in a 3-3 draw and level 5-5 on aggregate. Germany blew a three-goal lead in the second leg against Italy to end the match in a 3-3 draw but won 5-4 on aggregate to move on to the semifinals. Portugal needed extra time against Denmark after being tied 3-3 on aggregate in the second leg. Francisco Trincao scored his second goal of the match, and Goncalo Ramos added another in extra time to help Portugal win 5-3 on aggregate after a 5-2 win in the second leg. The semifinals are set as Portugal faces Germany on June 4 while Spain takes on France on June 5.

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

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