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Orlando City B

Orlando City B vs. Philadelphia Union II: Final Score 3-1 as Young Lions Blasted at Home

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3 years ago

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Orlando City B (4-9-3, 17 points) fell 3-1 to Philadelphia Union II (5-7-3, 20 points) at Osceola County Stadium in a chippy affair that saw the visitors score twice after OCB equalized late. Both teams lost their starting goalkeepers to second-half red cards and OCB went down to nine men in the closing moments when Diego Pareja was sent off. Matt Real gave the visitors the lead in the 52nd minute and OCB answered through Ethan Subachan in the 85th. But late goals by Jesus Bueno and Nelson Pierre saw Philadelphia leave with all three points.

OCB Head Coach Martin Perelman made four changes from the team that completed a 4-3 comeback win last weekend against Chicago Fire II. Joey DeZart was injured last weekend, taking him out of the lineup. Additionally, Wilfredo Rivera, Erick Gunera, and Neicer Acosta were out of the lineup. They were replaced by Nick Taylor, Alejandro Granados, Favian Loyola, and Moises Tablante, who came back from his one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation.

The Lions had one player in the starting lineup that was in the team Saturday night when the first teams faced off at Exploria Stadium. Jack Lynn came off the bench late for the senior side and started up top tonight. Meanwhile, Philadelphia had four players in the team that were in the first team last night. Christopher Donovan and Quinn Sullivan came off the bench and Real and Bueno were unused subs in Philadelphia’s 1-0 win.

The Young Lions got off to the better start in this game, creating their first chance in the sixth minute. Loyola found Tablante on the far side of the field, creating a shot for the midfielder. The shot was blocked and Alex Freeman picked it up but it was quickly knocked out for a corner kick.

A minute later, Loyola sent another ball towards the back post. It was likely supposed to be a cross for Tablante on the far side, but the ball drifted toward the far post and appeared to be on target. In fact, it was close enough that Union II goalkeeper Matt Freese felt that it was necessary to dive and catch the long ball.

Tablante should’ve opened the scoring in the 12th minute when he took the ball away on the Philadelphia half of the field and bolted the other way. The midfielder had a breakaway on goal and attempted to dribble around a defender and beat Freese. However, he lost control, which resulted in a weak shot, allowing the Union II goalkeeper to jump on the ball.

It appeared that Tablante might have another breakaway chance in the 18th minute when a nice flick on by Lynn with the outside of his right foot sprung the midfielder free. However, the assistant had his flag up, signaling for offside.

Philadelphia had its best early chance in the 23rd minute when Brandan Craig played a ball through for Bueno. The midfielder nearly caught up to the ball in the box behind the OCB defense, but it was a bit too far in front of the sliding Bueno and Javier Otero collected it.

The Union had another chance in the 26th minute when Real sent a cross in looking for Bueno. The cross found Bueno’s head, but he couldn’t get it down and the shot went over the crossbar.

The best first-half chance for OCB came in the 28th minute. It started with Tablante, who used some nifty footwork to beat a pair of defenders. He found Lynn in front of goal but the striker’s shot was right at Freese. The block went right to Victor Yan, who fired on goal from the top of the box. However, his shot bounced off the crossbar and the Young Lions missed another great opportunity to open the scoring.

A bit of history occurred for OCB just after the missed chances. Philadelphia broke the other way and Juan Perdomo went down injured in the OCB box. The midfielder required medical assistance, forcing him to come off for three minutes, as the recently released injury rule for MLS NEXT Pro dictates. While other players have received attention during OCB games since the rule came into effect, it was the first time that the player wasn’t substituted.

Sullivan nearly gave the visitors the lead in the 37th minute. The midfielder fired a shot off from the top of the box that was dipping and appeared to be headed just below the crossbar. As a result, Otero was forced to tip it over.

In the 42nd minute, Sullivan attempted a curling shot from outside the box toward the lower right corner, but Otero did well in goal, diving to make the catch and keeping the game scoreless.

A minute later, Sullivan attempted to catch Otero off his line from his own side of the field. The ball was sailing close to the crossbar but went just over, falling on top of the net. However, Otero wasn’t too far out and was close enough that he would’ve caught it had it not gone over.

Union II had one more chance as the first half neared its end. Anton Sorenson made a nice run, getting a shot off to the right. Otero blocked it away and Thomas Williams cleared it away from danger.

OCB had the better first half overall, with better chances. At the half, OCB had more possession (61.1%-38.9%) but Philadelphia had more shots (8-5), shots on target (4-2), corners (3-2), and crosses (5-2).

The visitors got off to a roaring start to the second half. Inside the first minute, a good cross to the far side met the foot of Perdomo. The midfielder attempted to shoot to the far post, but missed just wide.

In the 50th minute, Donovan dribbled into the middle of the box and found enough space to shoot. With no defenders in front of him, it was a golden chance to open the scoring, but the shot was right at Otero, who easily caught it.

Union II finally broke through two minutes later. A long corner kick towards the far side of the box was headed back across by Donovan. Real beat the OCB defenders to the ball and headed it past Otero to give Philadelphia a 1-0 lead.

Philadelphia nearly got a second in the 54th minute when an attempted cross by Sullivan was blocked out of play by Ignacio Galvan. The corner was redirected on goal by Nathan Nkanji and beat Otero, but Lynn was there to head it off the line and the Young Lions avoided a two-goal deficit.

OCB could have found the equalizer in the 59th minute when Lynn was sent through into the Philadelphia box. However, Boubacar Diallo played it well, clearing the ball out of play for a corner kick.

The ensuing corner fell in the middle of the box. As the Union II players failed to clear it, OCB attempted to find space for a shot. Unfortunately, they were unable to find enough space to put the ball on goal. The ball popped out to Loyola outside the box and the midfielder shot but it was well off target.

The Young Lions had another opportunity in the 65th minute when Taylor’s cross was over the head of Lynn at the top of the six-yard box. However, it landed at the feet of Freeman who played it back for Lynn, who sent his shot over the crossbar.

In the 68th minute, OCB caught a break. Tablante was sent through on goal and Freese came out to challenge. He took down Tablante just outside the box, which referee Anya Voigt determined was a denial of a goal-scoring opportunity and issued Freese a red card. As a result, Philadelphia took Diallo off for backup goalkeeper Brooks Thompson.

The ensuing free kick was right into the wall. Lynn ended up with the ball with more space in front of goal but sent it right to Thompson. However, the backup goalkeeper was unable to control it and it fell to Loyola, whose shot missed high.

In the 75th minute, the teams went to the sidelines for a hydration break. During the stoppage, multiple OCB players surrounded the officials near midfield. Voigt ended up showing a red card to Otero. In about 10 minutes, both teams had lost their starting goalkeepers.

The sending off of Otero meant that OCB had to bring on backup goalkeeper Dominic Pereira. It was the 17-year-old Orlando City academy product’s first professional appearance. To make room for the goalkeeper, Perelman took off Galvan. He also replaced Lynn with Ethan Subachan, which helped the Young Lions get back into the game.

OCB found its equalizer in the 85th minute. Freeman received a long pass on the right and sent it back across the box. Freeman’s beautiful cross sailed beyond Thompson to where Subachan was standing near the back post. The second-half substitute didn’t waste his opportunity, putting it in for his first professional goal and evening the game at 1-1.

However, the game didn’t remain tied for long. Just two minutes after the Young Lions scored, Philadelphia took the lead back. Real sent a long cross into the box that found Bueno, but Williams blocked his shot. The rebound went to Sullivan, who aimed for the far post. Making a run further into the box, Bueno got his heel to the ball and it went into the far corner, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead.

A minute into second-half injury time, Union II nearly put the game away. Pierre found space for a shot and aimed for the right low corner but sent the ball just wide. Moments later, OCB’s Freeman sent a ball across the box, but nobody in purple was there to get on the end of it.

Four minutes into added time, Philadelphia put the game away. Pareja lost the ball to Sullivan near midfield and the Union II midfielder started a three-on-two break. With an option on either side, he sent the ball to the left for Pierre. After missing just wide minutes earlier, Pierre put it into the top corner to make it 3-1.

Tensions flared following the goal as the players gathered near midfield. Pierre had been booked for his excessive celebration after the goal but that wasn’t all. The fracas at midfield resulted in Maike Villero and Pareja getting booked. It was Pareja’s second booking of the game, as he also received a yellow in the 83rd minute for a professional foul.

Initially, Pareja thought he had gotten away with it as Voigt didn’t seem to realize that she had already booked the midfielder. However, she eventually realized that he was already on a yellow card and sent him off, reducing the Young Lions to nine men.

Philadelphia had one more chance to make it four when Sullivan set up Bueno but the shot was off target. Down to nine players and two goals, there was no coming back for the hosts and OCB fell again at home.

In the end, OCB commanded possession (60.6%-39.4%), though the Young Lions had less possession in the second half. Philadelphia ended up with more shots (22-15), shots on goal (10-5), corners (5-3), and crosses (12-10).

The two teams were tied on points coming into this game, so Philadelphia ended the night in seventh while OCB fell to eighth. The Young Lions will also stay in third in the Central Division, tied on points with Chicago Fire II and six points behind Inter Miami II.

OCB will now have a two-week break before traveling north of the border to take on Toronto FC II on Aug. 7 at 7 p.m.

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Orlando City B

Orlando City B Signs Bernardo Rhein, Justin Ellis to MLS NEXT Pro Deals

OCB adds two signees ahead of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season.

Published

1 week ago

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February 13, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Orlando City B announced this morning that the club has signed two Orlando City Academy players — midfielder Bernardo Rhein and forward Justin Ellis — to MLS NEXT Pro contracts. Rhein signed through 2025 with a club option for 2026, with Ellis’ deal running through 2026. Both players featured Saturday night in Orlando City’s preseason scrimmage against CF Montreal.

“Bernardo and Justin are two more great examples of young players that have shown belief and trust in the development pathway we have set up here at Orlando City,” Orlando City SC Vice President of Soccer Operations and Technical Director Ricardo Moreira said in a club press release. “By signing with OCB, Justin and Bernardo have shown trust in us, the pathway, and in Head Coach Manuel Goldberg. They both put in the work since their early academy days; took the opportunities that they were given to continue developing their skill sets; and have shown us that they’re ready to take the next step along that pathway, and we’re excited to see how they both continue to progress these next few years.”

The 17-year-old Rhein (known as Bernardo Goncalves in 2024), appeared in six matches with OCB a year ago, coming off the bench each time and playing a total of 33 minutes. The Windermere native and Brazilian national did not record a goal contribution, attempting one shot, which he put on target, and completing 81.8% of his 22 pass attempts. Rhein subbed on for the latter stages of Saturday’s preseason scrimmage against Montreal and looked good, getting himself into scoring position but firing just over the bar in the extra 30-minute sesson.

Ellis, also 17, appeared in 18 matches with OCB in 2024 (three starts), scoring two goals and putting eight of his 13 shots on target. He did not record an assist, but passed well from the forward position, logging three key passes and completing 76.7% of his total pass attempts. The Wellington native traveled with the MLS squad to Mexico for the team’s week-long camp in Cancun. On the international stage, Ellis was called up to the U-18 USMNT in September, scoring two goals in two appearances.

What It Means for OCB

This is positive news for both OCB and the Orlando City Academy. Ellis was a regular contributor last season at a young age, while Rhein got his feet wet with a few appearances at the MLS NEXT Pro level. At just 17, both have shown a lot of potential upside already. Ellis will turn 18 in May, while Rhein won’t reach his 18th birthday until Sept. 21. Both will get a chance to further their development with OCB.

While neither player will be expected to make an impact with the first team in 2025, Duncan McGuire’s injury absence may require Shak Mohammed to spend more time with the first team, meaning Ellis would be in line to get more minutes with the Young Lions in the early part of the season.

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Orlando City B

Orlando City Signs Goalkeeper Carlos Mercado to a New Contract

Carlos Mercado signs a new contract to remain Orlando City’s third-choice goalkeeper.

Published

3 weeks ago

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January 30, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City announced this morning that the club has signed goalkeeper Carlos Mercado to a new contract. The deal is through the 2025 season with club options for 2026 and 2027.

“Carlos did a great job for us last year with Orlando City B and continued to provide a positive work ethic and atmosphere every day in training up with the first team and showed his skill and ability to compete every chance he got,” Orlando City Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi said in a club press release. “He’s part of a strong goalkeeping unit here at the club and we feel confident in the future of that entire position group moving forward.”

Mercado originally joined Orlando City prior to the 2024 season to back up Javier Otero. However, when Mason Stajduhar broke his tibia and fibula in a June 28 game against New York City FC, Otero became the primary backup to Pedro Gallese and Mercado was the starter for the Young Lions.

In his debut season in purple, Mercado started 20 games — including a playoff game in Chicago — playing 1,830 minutes. He conceded 30 goals for a goals-against average of 1.48 and saved 81 of 111 shots faced for a save percentage of 73%. He kept three clean sheets and compiled a record of 9-5-6 (W-L-D) while saving two of the four penalties he faced in regular play.

The 25-year-old signed a short-term deal following Stajduhar’s injury with his lone game on the team sheet being on the bench for a July 3 game against Toronto FC. He went on to sign a first-team contract on Sept. 20 through the 2024 season with options for 2025, 2026, and 2027. However, his 2025 option was declined following the season.

Mercado played for the FC Dallas academy in his youth, earning call-ups to the United States U-16 National Team and Mexico U-18 National Team. He played collegiately at the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX, before joining San Antonio FC of the USL Championship.

The goalkeeper made his professional debut in 2021, coming on for the final 29 minutes in a 3-0 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. He stayed with San Antonio FC through the 2023 season before joining OCB.

What It Means for Orlando City

As previously mentioned, Mercado’s option for 2025 was declined following the 2024 MLS season since the club already had three other goalkeepers. However, signing another goalkeeper became necessary when Orlando City traded Stajduhar to Real Salt Lake on Jan. 15, leaving the club with two under contract.

Mercado will likely continue to be the club’s third goalkeeper and is the presumed starter for Orlando City B when the MLS NEXT Pro season starts in March. He’ll have to join the first team if Gallese goes away on international duty with Peru and Otero enters the starting lineup. Barring unavailability of Gallese and Otero, it’s unlikely he’ll see any MLS action.

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Orlando City B

Orlando City B Announces Schedule for 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Season

Find out where, when, and who the Young Lions of OCB will play in 2025.

Published

4 weeks ago

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January 27, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

The 2025 MLS NEXT Pro schedule was released this afternoon, telling us where, when, and who Orlando City B will play in the team’s fourth year in the league. The league will again feature 29 teams in 2025, with three teams set to enter the league next year. There are 27 MLS affiliated clubs in the league and two independents — Carolina Core FC and Chattanooga FC.

The schedule remains at 28 games, with Orlando City B playing 14 at home, 13 away, and one at a neutral site at IMG Academy in Bradenton. OCB home games will take place at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee again this season.

OCB will start the 2024 season with a two-game home stand, opening the season on Sunday, March 9 against Columbus Crew 2 at 7 p.m. A week later, Atlanta United 2 will visit Osceola County Stadium. The Young Lions will then hit the road for the team’s first two away games starting Wednesday, March 26 at Crown Legacy FC and following with a match at Chattanooga FC on Saturday, April 5.

In addition to opening the season at home, OCB will close the regular season by hosting FC Cincinnati 2 at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5. Last year, the Young Lions opened and closed the season on the road. All Decision Day games in the Eastern Conference will start at 1 p.m. and all Western Conference matches will kick off at 4 p.m. (ET).

OCB will compete in the 15-team Eastern Conference as part of the Southeast Division. The other teams in the division are Atlanta, Carolina Core, Chattanooga, Crown Legacy, Huntsville City, and rival Inter Miami II. The reserve version of the Tropic Thunder rivalry will play out over three meetings in 2025. The Young Lions will travel IMG Academy to face the Baby Herons on April 15, with the home match in Kissimmee coming May 17. The teams will meet again in Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 14.

MLS NEXT Pro teams will again only play opponents from their own conference, limiting travel. The Young Lions will play each team in the Southeast Division three times, including Atlanta United 2, and Chattanooga twice at home and once away, and Carolina Core, Crown Legacy, and Huntsville City once each at home and twice away. OCB will play the teams from the Northeast Division once, except Columbus and New England, which the Young Lions will face both at home and away. Orlando City B will face FC Cincinnati 2, New York City FC II, New York Red Bulls II, and Toronto FC II only at home in the regular season, while facing Chicago Fire II and Philadelphia Union II only on the road.

The busiest months for OCB this season will be June and August, when the Young Lions will play five matches. They’ll play four times in April and July, three times in March, May, and September, and once in October. The most common day the Young Lions will play is on Sunday (13 games). Additionally, they have five games on Saturday, four games each on Wednesday and Friday, and one game each on Monday and Tuesday. The most common kickoff time is 7 p.m.. The Young Lions will play 18 games with that start time, three times each at 3 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 8 p.m., and once at 1 p.m. (Decision Day).

Once again, the postseason will include 15 games this year, concluding with the MLS NEXT Pro Cup. The higher playoff seeds will again select their opponents for the matchups in the first two rounds.

The majority of regular season games and all playoff games will again air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. The remaining games will be streamed live on mlsnextpro.com.

As far as viewing conflicts go for Orlando City and Pride fans, there are a few overlaps in 2025. OCB plays at 7 p.m. on April 5 at Chattanooga with the MLS Lions playing at 7:30 p.m. at Philadelphia that night. On May 23, OCB plays at Atlanta United 2 at 7:30 p.m. and the Pride and Royals kick off in Utah at 9:30 p.m. just as that game is concluding. On June 25, OCB plays at home at 7 p.m. against Toronto FC II, with Orlando City at St. Louis City at 8:30 p.m. OCB’s game July 25 at Huntsville City will kick off 30 minutes after the senior side begins playing at Columbus. The Young Lions start at home on Aug. 3 against NYCFCII an hour after the Pride and Utah Royals kick off at Inter&Co Stadium. OCB and the Pride are both home on Aug. 9 as well, with the Young Lions and Chattanooga getting underway at 7 p.m. at Osceola County Stadium, just 30 minutes before the Pride and Racing Louisville battle at Inter&Co Stadium. On Aug. 23, OCB will play at 7 p.m. at home against Atlanta United 2, with the senior Lions and Nashville SC kicking off at 8:30 p.m.

Orlando City B’s 2025 Schedule

  • Sunday, March 9 — vs. Columbus Crew 2, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, March 16 — vs. Atlanta United 2, 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, March 26 — at Crown Legacy FC, 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 5 — at Chattanooga FC, 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, April 9 — vs. New England Revolution II, 7 p.m.
  • Tuesday, April 15 — vs. Inter Miami II (at IMG Academy in Bradenton), 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, April 27 — vs. New York Red Bulls II, 7 p.m.
  • Friday, May 2 — at Chicago Fire FC II, 8 p.m.
  • Saturday, May 17 — vs. Inter Miami II, 7 p.m.
  • Friday, May 23 — at Atlanta United 2, 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, June 1 — vs. Chattanooga FC, 7 p.m.
  • Friday, June 6 — at Huntsville City FC, 8 p.m.
  • Wednesday, June 11 — at Carolina Core FC, 7:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, June 25 — vs. Toronto FC, 7 p.m.
  • Monday, June 30 — at Philadelphia Union II, 3 p.m.
  • Sunday, July 6 — at Crown Legacy FC, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, July 13 — vs. Carolina Core FC, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, July 20 — at New England Revolution II, 3 p.m.
  • Friday, July 25 — at Huntsville City FC, 8 p.m.
  • Sunday, Aug. 3 — vs. New York City FC II, 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, Aug. 9 — vs. Chattanooga FC, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, Aug. 17 — at Columbus Crew 2, 3 p.m.
  • Saturday, Aug. 23 — vs. Atlanta United 2, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, Aug. 31 — vs. Crown Legacy FC, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, Sept. 14 — at Inter Miami II, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, Sept. 21 — vs. Huntsville City FC, 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, Sept. 27 — at Carolina Core FC, 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, Oct. 5 — vs. FC Cincinnati 2, 1 p.m.
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