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Orlando City B

Orlando City B vs. Rochester New York FC: Final Score 5-2 as OCB Dominates

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4 years ago

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KISSIMMEE — Orlando City B (6-10-3, 23 points) used a first-team heavy squad to down Rochester New York FC (7-7-5, 30 points) 5-2 at Osceola County Stadium. Jesus Baitz gave the visitors a 25th-minute lead, but OCB scored five unanswered goals through Tesho Akindele, Jack Lynn, Wilder Cartagena, Ivan Angulo, and Favian Loyola. Bubacar Djalo got one back for Rochester but it wasn’t nearly enough as the Young Lions took all three points, winning their second straight match.

The midweek kickoff gave Orlando City the opportunity to give some first-team players that usually don’t start some minutes. Nine players in the starting lineup were first-team players, including Mason Stajduhar, Mikey Halliday, Rodrigo Schlegel, Thomas Williams, Cartagena, Jake Mulraney, Niko Gioacchini, Angulo, and Akindele. The only two full-time OCB players in the starting lineup were Ignacio Galvan and Erick Gunera.

“We’re one team, mentally,” OCB Head Coach Martin Perelman said about the largely first-team squad. “First team’s priority, as I always say, but everybody at OCB is so proud to receive those guys to start helping. We worked all together this week. It’s amazing working here with our first-team staff and our first-team players.”

“It’s really good to get them integrated into the system and get some familiarity at this level,” Lynn added about including some of the newest players. “Before we try to put it on the field with the first team.”

Despite several first-team players in the starting lineup, OCB got off to a slow start. Rochester got the first chance of the game and got on the board first. However, OCB took over after the goal. Angulo’s and Gioacchini’s MLS ability shined as the two dominated most of their time on the field.

Rochester’s first chance came in the second minute when Ian Garrett took a shot from the top of the box. The shot was blocked but went right to Baitz, who immediately looked to cross the ball. However, it was too close to Stajduhar, who made the catch.

OCB appeared to get its first chance in the 10th minute when Mulraney sent Akindele through on goal. The forward put the ball in, but the assistant’s flag was up for offside.

The visitors felt as though they should’ve had a penalty in the 19th minute when Gilbran Rayo carried the ball into the box and went down. It appeared as though there was contact from behind by a defender, but referee Catherine McCormick told the players to play on.

Rochester was the first to break through in the 25th minute. Quick passing by Pedro Dalabella and Edward Williams allowed the latter to send Baitz through in the box. Halliday was challenging Baitz but the forward was able to hold off the right back, putting it past Stajduhar for the opening goal.

It didn’t take long for OCB to respond and it appeared the Young Lions had evened up the contest in the 29th minute. Mulraney lifted a ball over the top for Angulo and the midfielder put it past Caique to even the game at 1-1. However, Rochester’s players were adamant that Angulo was offside. McCormick went to the far side to discuss the play with assistant Miguel Martes, which resulted in Martes belatedly raising his flag for offside, although it wasn’t during play and there is no video review in MLS NEXT Pro.

Mulraney nearly had a chance himself when Gioacchini found him at the top of the box. The midfielder dribbled inside, looking for enough space to take a shot. He created enough room for an attempt, but sent it just over the crossbar.

In the 34th minute, OCB put it past Caique again, but this time it counted. It started when Schlegel took the ball off a Rochester player on the opposing side of the field. Gioacchini quickly picked up the ball and played Schlegel into the box. The center back sent it across for Akindele, who tapped it home to even the game at 1-1.

The entire first team not in the OCB side tonight were in the stands after training to support their teammates. They especially enjoyed the run forward by Schlegel, cheering him on as he ran back to his center back position.

OCB had a good chance to take the lead in the 42nd minute when Mulraney was taken down by Lamar Batista just outside of the box. Akindele went for goal from the set piece, but sent it well over the crossbar.

A minute into first-half injury time, Rochester players again felt as though they should’ve had a penalty. This time it was Pedro Dalabella that went down, but there was less contact than the first penalty claim, and it was the same result as no foul was called.

At the half, OCB had more possession (55.7%-44.3%), corners (2-1), and crosses (5-4), but fewer shots taken (5-4). Meanwhile, both teams had one shot on target and both were goals.

Perelman made one change at the break, replacing Akindele with the team’s leading scorer, Lynn. The substitution had an immediate impact as OCB took the lead just two minutes into the second half.

This goal started on the OCB side of the field when Lynn was fouled by Gerardo Lopez. Mulraney took the kick quickly, sending it forward for Gioacchini, who was making a run. The midfielder could’ve shot himself, but decided to play it across to Lynn at the back post, allowing the striker to knock it in and give OCB a 2-1 lead.

It was Lynn’s 15th goal of the MLS NEXT Pro season, tying him with Columbus Crew 2’s Jacen Russell-Rowe for the league lead.

“On the goal, the ball was played up to me,” Lynn said about his goal. “Just tried to do my job and hold the ball up. Drew the foul and then we knew there was space in behind so we just played a quick one and I just busted my ass to get to the far post and tap it in.”

OCB extended its lead 11 minutes later off a set piece. Gioacchini was fouled just outside the box by Michael Smith, resulting in the latter getting booked. The set piece was in nearly the exact spot that Akindele took earlier in the game, but this time Mulraney stood over the ball. Rather than shooting on goal, Mulraney sent the ball to the back post, where Cartagena got his head to it, putting it past Caique to give the Young Lions a 3-1 lead.

In the 63rd minute, Lynn made a good run to the top of the Rochester box. He had Gioacchini on his left, but decided to carry the ball across the top of the box instead. Shortly after, it was taken away and a good opportunity by OCB went by the wayside.

The Young Lions got their fourth goal in the 68th minute when Djalo took down Gioacchini just outside of the box. It was in nearly the same spot as the previous two free kicks, but this time Angulo stepped up to take it. The Colombian sent the set piece around the wall and towards the far post. Caique couldn’t pick it up until it was too late and it snuck inside the post to make it 4-1.

After the goal, Loyola came on for Mulraney, and it didn’t take long for the teenager to make a difference. Just after the kickoff, Lynn won the ball back and sent Loyola through on goal. The academy product didn’t make any mistakes, putting it past Caique to give OCB a 5-1 lead.

“I’ve been really impressed with him,” Lynn said about Loyola. “He’s someone that kind of came into the group halfway through the year, once (the U-17 team) finished their season, and he’s just been lighting it up since he’s been here. As you can see, he’s got a wand of a left foot. So if you just give him one-v-one situations, he’s going to score.”

Three minutes after OCB’s fifth goal, Rochester got one back. Galvan fouled Wilterlynd Inalien about 35 yards out and on the right side of the field. Gabriel Costa sent a long ball towards the back post that was met by Djalo, who put it in to make it a 5-2 game.

The Young Lions had a chance to make it six when Williams found Angulo in the box. The midfielder took a shot, looking for his second goal of the night, but it went wide of the target.

In the 86th minute, Neicer Acosta, who had come on for Angulo four minutes earlier, was sent through on the left. Caique came out of his goal and it looked like Acosta might chip the goalkeeper, but Caique got enough of the ball to block it away, keeping his team’s deficit at three.

As time wound down, the result was a foregone conclusion. However, Rochester did create a few chances in the dying moments. In the 90th minute, Gabriel Costa took a shot from the top of the box. He had enough space to put it on target, but it was right at Stajduhar, who made the catch.

In the final seconds of the game, Costa took a shot that was deflected and appeared to be going wide. But Stajduhar wanted to make sure, so he dove and tipped it out for a corner kick. The ensuing set piece ended up at the foot of Djalo, who shot but hit it well over the target.

In the end, OCB ended up with more possession (56.6%-43.4%), corners (5-2), crosses (12-7), and completed more of their passes (83%-73.8%). While the teams had the same number of shots in the game (12-12), OCB put more on target (6-4).

“I’m really happy for our one team, mentally,” Perelman said after the game. “We joined rosters for today. Everybody helped each other. It’s a really good message from our club. We work all together but first team’s priority and I’m happy today because both rosters did a great game together.”

With these three points, the Young Lions remain in eighth place. They move closer to Philadelphia Union II, but are still five points back. They also remain in third in the Central Division and are six points behind Inter Miami II.

OCB will return to action Saturday night when it hosts Columbus Crew 2 at Osceola County Stadium, kicking off at 7 p.m.

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Orlando City B

Orlando City B vs. Atlanta United 2: Final Score 5-1 as Young Lions Fall for Fifth Straight Time

OCB ended its horrid four-game road trip by getting crushed in the second half after going into the break even at 1-1.

Published

21 hours ago

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August 22, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B

Orlando City B (8-9-7, 35 points) continued its slide this afternoon, falling 5-1 to Atlanta United 2 (12-8-4, 40 points) at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground in Marietta, GA. Cameron Dunbar and Issah Haruna traded late first-half goals, but the hosts took over in the second 45 minutes. Dunbar scored a second in the 52nd minute and Arif Kovac added a third in the 74th minute. It got out of hand in stoppage time as Patrick Weah and Kovac added two more goals.

OCB Head Coach Eddie Wilding made three changes to the team that lost 2-0 to Chicago Fire II on Aug. 15. Landon Okonski, Nolan Miller, and Haruna replaced Titus Sandy, Jr., Clovis Archange, and Gustavo Caraballo. The most significant change was the inclusion of Miller. The center back was in the first team early in the season, but has been out since April 25 after suffering a knee injury. This game was his return to competitive action.

Goalkeeper Tristan Himes started behind a back line of Albright Chikamso, Miller, Okonski, and Parker Amoo-Mensah. Nicolas Lasheras and Ignacio Gomez were the defensive midfielders behind Matthew Belgodere, Haruna, and Justin Hylton with Pedro Leao up top.

Atlanta was the better team throughout this game, creating more chances and causing constant concern for the OCB back line. The Young Lions were fortunate to go into halftime at 1-1 and let the game get away from them in the second half. Dunbar scored an early second-half goal to give the hosts a deserved lead, while OCB didn’t create a shot after the break until the hour mark. It was only 3-1 heading into stoppage time, but Atlanta scored two late goals to create the lopsided result.

The Young Lions created the first shot of the game in the fifth minute when Lasheras played the ball wide on the left for Belgodere. It initially looked like the attacker would shoot as he dribbled inside, but he laid it off for Lasheras instead. The 17-year-old attempted to curl the ball around Atlanta goalkeeper Jonathan Ransom, sending his attempt wide of the target.

The hosts had their first chance in the ninth minute when Dunbar found Amir Henry on the right. The defender looked to send a cross to the top of the six-yard box, but Chikamso got in front to deflect it out of play for a corner kick. Himes and Kovac attacked the ensuing set piece, resulting in it going to Mohamed Cisset. The center back headed the ball over Hylton and wide of the near post.

Amoo-Mensah lost possession in the 11th minute as Matthew Senanou intercepted his pass forward for Leao. The center back’s first touch got away from him, but his long legs allowed him to beat Lasheras to the ball. He ended up colliding with Chikamso as he shot, sending the ball wide. The collision caused Chikamso to go down and he went down again three minutes later. This time, the left back wasn’t able to continue, forcing Wiliding into an unwanted early substituion. Nicolas Bobea Torres came into the game in a like-for-like change.

Atlanta had a good chance for an opening goal in the 20th minute when Henry made a strong run down the right, using his change of pace to beat Belgodere and Torres. Kovac stopped his run outside the six-yard box to create space between Miller and Okonski, getting his head to the cross. However, his effort sailed just over the crossbar.

Atlanta wanted a penalty in the 36th minute when Dunbar used his speed to get past Okonski and into the OCB box. The attacker went down after some contact, causing the Atlanta players, bench, and fans to appeal for a spot kick. Instead, referee Izlen Peksenar told Dunbar to get up and continue playing.

Dominik Chong Qui dribbled into the OCB third in the 40th minute and attempted a cross that Lasheras blocked out of play for a corner kick. Lasheras beat Senanou to the near-post ball, heading it out of the box. Santiago Pita collected it and shot from distance, sending his attempt well high and wide.

Atlanta put its first shot on target in the 42nd minute when Dunbar collected a weak header by Amoo-Mensah and chipped the ball to the penalty spot. Kovac was making a run and got his head to the cross. But it was a little too low, ensuring the striker couldn’t get much on it and allowing Himes to make the stop.

The fourth official showed eight minutes of first-half stoppage time, largely due to the two OCB injuries and hydration break. The hosts took the lead in the second of those eight minutes.

Torres knocked the ball off of Henry’s foot, sending it to Andrew Jardines. A quick give-and-go with Pita allowed Jardines to find Dunbar near the penalty spot. The attacker placed it past Himes to give the hosts the 1-0 lead.

Following the goal, the Young Lions went on the attack, looking for an equalizer. In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Hylton played a square ball for Leao. The striker dribbled inside to create space from DD Sibrian and unleashed a shot that Ransom blocked wide for a corner kick.

The ensuing set piece was partially cleared to the top of the box where Leao — with a defender on his back — played it back to Amoo-Mensah. The right back sent a long ball to Hylton on the right, who dribbled into the box before Sibrian knocked the ball off his foot, but it went right to Haruna, whose hard shot deflected off Chong Qui and inside the far post to even the game at 1-1 just before the break.

Atlanta had the better of the first half, finishing the opening period with the edge in shots (8-3), shots on target (3-2), and passing accuracy (86.9%-81.8%). OCB had more crosses (4-2) and both teams won two corner kicks. Despite Atlanta being the better side in the first 45 minutes, the teams traded stoppage-time goals to enter the break tied.

Wilding made one change at halftime. Caleb Trombino came into the game for Miller, who was on a minutes restriction as he returns from injury.

Atlanta retook the lead with its first second-half chance in the 52nd minute when Jardines played Dunbar into the OCB third of the field. Nobody stepped up to challenge the attacker, so he fired from distance. Himes clearly wasn’t expecting the shot, allowing Dunbar to beat the goalkeeper to his near post and giving the hosts the 2-1 lead.

Two minutes later, Atlanta won a throw-in and nearly turned it into a third goal. Senanou flicked on the long throw by Chong Qui for Kovac making a run into the six-yard box. He had a step on Amoo-Mensah and got a touch to the ball, tapping it just wide of the far post.

Atlanta nearly scored again in the 60th minute when Daniel Chica played the ball to Henry on the right. Chica backheeled Henry’s low pass into the box to Dunbar. Looking for a hat trick, Dunbar sent a shot toward the far post that deflected off Amoo-Mensah past a diving Himes and just beyond a sliding Lasheras for a corner kick. The Young Lions headed away the ensuing set piece to keep the deficit at one.

OCB created its first chance of the second half in the 62nd minute when Amoo-Mensah played the ball forward for Trombino and continued his run into the box. Trombino played a beautiful ball through multiple defenders back to Amoo-Mensah, whose first-touch shot forced Ransom into a save with his right foot.

Belgodere looked to get OCB back even in the 67th minute when he received the ball on the left. The midfielder didn’t have anyone with him as he challenged Henry one on one. He dribbled inside to find some space, but Henry did well to keep up with him, blocking the shot.

Dunbar was sent long down the left in the 70th minute with Kovac making a run into the OCB box. As the cross came in, Kovac went down with Okonski right behind him. For the second time in the game, the Atlanta players, coaches, and fans appealed for a penalty and Peksenar again allowed play to continue.

The hosts found their third goal in the 74th minute when Gomez won the ball from Chica but quickly gave it away to Ignacio Suarez-Couri. The halftime substitute sent the ball wide for fellow substitute Gonzalo Riveras as they broke on the counterattack. Riveras found Kovac, who held his run to create space from Okonski. The striker handled it well, bringing the ball in and beating Himes to give his team a commanding 3-1 lead.

Wilding made his final change before the restart, bringing Deshnick Nkeh on for Haruna.

Atlanta found a third goal in the second minute of second-half stoppage time when Suarez-Couri dribbled into the OCB third of the field. Torres blocked his through ball for Weah, but Suarez-Couri retook possession and completed his second attempt. Lasheras got into a defensive position on Weah, but the attacker cut inside and sent a hard, low shot past Okonski and Himes to make it 4-1.

The final goal came two minutes later, starting with a long ball by Ransom from the top of his box. Okonski headed the ball down for Amoo-Mensah, who immediately lost possession. Dunbar looked like he was going to shoot from distance, but played it to his left for Kovac instead. The striker sent an excellent shot past a sliding Okonski and a diving Himes to seal the 5-1 victory.

At full time, Atlanta had more shots (17-6), shots on target (7-3), and corner kicks (3-2), and better passing accuracy (87.9%-85%).

The Young Lions have now lost five consecutive games, dating back to their 1-0 loss to Huntsville City FC on July 26. Their last point was a 1-1 draw with Chattanooga FC on July 18 and they haven’t won since July 12 when they earned a 2-1 victory over FC Cincinnati 2.

At the beginning of this losing streak, OCB sat in fourth place and weren’t far behind the league leaders. They’ve now fallen all the way to 10th place and could fall further as Philadelphia Union II and Huntsville City both have games in hand.

This game ends the team’s four-game road trip in which it was outscored 14-3. The Young Lions will return home on Aug. 30 as they welcome league-leading Crown Legacy FC to Osceola County Stadium.

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Orlando City B

Orlando City B vs. New York City FC II: Final Score 3-0 as Young Lions Fall Again

OCB falls for the third straight time, continuing its drop down the table.

Published

2 weeks ago

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August 11, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B

Orlando City B (8-7-7, 35 points) was completely outplayed in a late morning kickoff today, falling 3-0 to New York City FC II (9-7-4, 33 points) at Icahn Stadium in New York City. Kevin Pierre and Maximo Carrizo scored three minutes apart to give the hosts an early 2-0 lead. Carrizo then scored a second in the 51st minute to seal the victory.

OCB Head Coach Eddie Wilding made several changes to the team that lost 4-2 to Connecticut United FC on Aug. 1. Albright Chikamso, Clovis Archange, Caleb Trombino, Brady Kendall, and Nicolas Bobea Torres entered the lineup, replacing Landon Okonski, Tahir Reid-Brown, Ignacio Gomez, Nicolas Lasheras, and Issah Haruna.

The back line in front of goalkeeper Tristan Himes was made up of Archange, Chikamso, Titus Sandy, Jr., and Parker Amoo-Mensah. Trombino and Justin Hylton were the defensive midfielders behind Matthew Belgodere, Kendall, and Torres, with Pedro Leao up top.

OCB was never really in this game from the start. NYCFC II dominated the chances early and never let go of control of the game. NYCFC II goalkeeper Mac Learned wasn’t threatened and was rarely called into action as New York handled the Young Lions with relative ease.

NYCFC II created the first chance of the game in the sixth minute when Juan Ponce sent Cooper Flex to the end line. As the attacker attempted to cross the ball into the box, Hylton slid in to block it out of play.

The short corner kick was sent through the box to El Hadji Samb on the far side. The attacker played the ball in front of goal before Ponce cleared the ball to the top corner of the box. However, Amoo-Mensah blocked his shot.

Four minutes later, the hosts took the lead. Carrizo sent a dangerous ball down the right for Samb, whose first touch was a low cross into the box. Sandy and Flex attacked the ball, and it popped out to Pierre. The midfielder guided the ball past Himes to give NYCFC II the 1-0 lead.

OCB quickly went the other way and created a chance. Leao received a pass from Sandy and flicked it forward, sending Torres behind the back line. Driving down the right, the attacker let his touch get a little too far in front of him, allowing Learned to come out and block Torres’ attempted chip.

NYCFC II took advantage of a terrible mistake by Himes in the 13th minute for the second goal. Sandy played a pass back to Himes with plenty of time and space. However, the goalkeeper misplayed his pass out of the back, giving it straight to Carrizo. The first-team player calmly passed the ball past Himes to make it 2-0.

The Young Lions created their second chance in the 15th minute when the high press caused a turnover. Archange dribbled to the end line before lifting a cross to the top of the six-yard box. A poor clearance went to Leao, but the striker was unable to get over the ball, sending his attempt over the target.

As NYCFC II broke on a counterattack in the 27th minute, Carrizo played a beautiful ball forward for Seymour Reid. It looked like the forward would be in on goal, but Sandy did well to catch up and force the shot wide of the far post.

OCB went on the attack with numbers in the 36th minute. Torres carried the ball over the midfield stripe before finding Belgodere on the left. The midfielder tried to find space for a shot but was well defended. He laid the ball off for Trombino, who took a first-touch shot, but it was blocked, ending the attack.

Belgodere used some nifty footwork in the 40th minute to create enough space for a cross. Leao volleyed the ball on target with a scissor kick at the back post, forcing Learned into an excellent save. However, it wouldn’t have counted as the flag went up for offside.

At halftime, NYCFC II had more shots (6-4) and shots on target (2-1), while each team won one corner kick. It could’ve been a bigger deficit for OCB, but NYCFC II was offside five times.

The hosts continued to cause problems for OCB, creating their first chance less than a minute after the restart. Flax took the ball off Amoo-Mensah’s foot in the OCB third, creating an attack for the hosts. Jonathan Lopez found Reid just outside the box and the forward unleashed a shot, but Chikamso was there to block it wide.

The Young Lions gave the ball away in their own end again in the 50th minute as Sandy played a pass out of the back directly to Flax. The young attacker’s sent a long-distance shot sailing wide of the target.

Less than a minute later, NYCFC II scored its third goal of the game. Leao headed a long ball out of the back to Kendall, whose header was right to Carrizo. The ball ended up with Flax on the left and, after Sandy blocked his first cross, the midfielder found Carrizo near the top of the box. Carrizo did well to place the ball past Himes to give the hosts a commanding 3-0 lead.

Ponce played Reid toward the end line in the 53rd minute, and the forward attempted to cross the ball, but Sandy did well to slide in and block it. The Young Lions quickly went the other way and created their own chance. Kendall found Belgodere on the left, and the midfielder dribbled inside before being tripped up. The ball found Torres, whose second touch was a shot that forced a diving, one-handed save from Learned.

Wilding made his first change of the game in the 55th minute, replacing Trombino with Lasheras.

Peter Molinari played a long diagonal ball for Samb in the 56th minute, sending the hosts into the OCB third of the field. The forward sent a ball into the middle for Reid, who split Amoo-Mensah and Sandy to find space in front of goal. His first touch was a redirection that went just wide of the near post.

Flax received a pass in the OCB third in the 59th minute before laying it back for Molinari and making a run behind the back line. Molinari’s first touch was a pass forward for Flax, sending the attacker in on goal. Lasheras pulled at the attacker, causing his shot to roll wide of the far post.

Ponce received a pass on the left from Pierre and attempted a rabona cross in the 60th minute that Archange headed to the top of the box. Pierre collected the clearance and took a shot that Lasheras got in front of.

Kendall lost possession as he attempted to carry the ball out of the OCB third, allowing NYCFC II to get back on the attack. Lopez dribbled into the box and took a shot that Chikamso was able to slide in and block.

Wilding made two more changes in the 63rd minute as Jakob Garcia and Hector Aguirre replaced Torres and Kendall.

Samb was sent to the end line in the 72nd minute before playing it back for Ponce at the top corner of the box. The attacker had plenty of space and attempted to beat Himes to the top far corner. However, he sent his shot just wide.

Wilding made his final two changes in the 77th minute, bringing on two new players for OCB. Deshnick Nikeh and Landon Mellecker came on for Chikamso and Belgodere.

NYCFC II nearly scored a fourth in the 79th minute when Molinari sent Reid behind the OCB back line. Himes came off his line quickly to cut down Reid’s angle and blocked the shot wide.

Drew Kerr sent Reid behind the OCB defense and into the box in the 82nd minute. Himes came out, forcing Reid to turn with the ball away from the goal. The forward turned and tried to beat Himes to his near post but sent his attempt into the outside of the net.

The final chance of the game came in the third minute of second-half stoppage time when Mellecker fouled David Duque 25 yards from goal. The ensuing set piece found Eoin Martin, who sent his headed attempt wide of the far post.

At full time, NYCFC II held the advantage in shots (18-6), shots on target (4-3), corner kicks (6-2), and passing accuracy (90.7%-87.8%).

OCB has now lost three straight games as the Young Lions slide down the Eastern Conference standings. They now sit in sixth place, just one point ahead of Atlanta United 2 and Connecticut United FC, who sit in the final playoff spots. They’re just two points ahead of NYCFC II and Chicago Fire II, who are in ninth and 10th. All of those teams have at least one game in hand on OCB.

It doesn’t get any easier for the Young Lions as they have two more road games before heading home. The upcoming matches are against Chicago and Atlanta, making them crucial for staying in the playoff positions. They then head home to take on first-place Crown Legacy FC.

OCB’s road trip continues Saturday when the Young Lions face Chicago Fire FC II at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, IL

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Orlando City B

Orlando City B vs. Huntsville City FC: Final Score 1-0 as Young Lions Listless In Home Loss

The Young Lions were embarrassed at home by Huntsville City FC.

Published

4 weeks ago

on

July 26, 2026

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City B

Orlando City B (8-5-7, 35 points) was completely shut down tonight, falling 1-0 to Huntsville City FC (7-7-5, 28 points) at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee. The lone goal came from Zidane Yanez in the 64th minute, one of the game’s few decent chances.

OCB Head Coach Eddie Wilding made three changes to the team that drew 1-1 with Chattanooga FC on July 18. Parker Amoo-Mensah, Albright Chikamso, and Landon Okonski replaced Titus Sandy, Jr., Clovis Archange, and Dylan Judelson.

The back line in front of goalkeeper Juan Rojas was made up of Tahir Reid-Brown, Chikamso, Okonski, and Amoo-Mensah. Ignacio Gomez and Caleb Trombino were the defensive midfielders behind Gustavo Caraballo, Issah Haruna, and Matthew Belgodere with Pedro Leao up top.

Despite the narrow scoreline, this was probably OCB’s worst performance of the season. The Young Lions weren’t able to get anything going offensively, taking just three shots and failing to put any on target. A 47th-minute blocked shot from Leao was OCB’s last chance of the game. The goal by Yanez was all that Huntsville needed to claim all three points.

The visitors had the first chance of the game when former Lion Thomas Williams took the ball off Leao’s foot and charged into the OCB third of the field. The OCB striker stuck his leg out in an attempt to win the ball back, tripping Williams and earning a yellow card.

Charles Brunet stepped up to take the set piece and went for goal. However, he sent his attempt high and wide of the target.

Amoo-Mensah tried to play the ball forward down the right in the ninth minute, but Reed Baker-Whiting blocked the ball, allowing Jordan Knight to take possession. The attacker tried to split Okonski and Amoo-Mensah, but Okonski knocked the ball out of play for a corner kick.

Amoo-Mensah cleared the ensuing set piece, but only to Aiden Jarvis at the top of the box. The forward volleyed the ball without getting much on it, allowing Rojas to make the easy save.

In the 12th minute, Belgodere split his defenders, attempting to enter the box from the right before Knight tripped him. Amoo-Mensah took the free kick, sending a hard shot towards the far post that went wide.

Huntsville nearly opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when Baker-Whiting sent Maximus Ekk past midfield on the right side. Baker-Whiting continued his run and Ekk found him as he neared the six-yard box. Fortunately, his shot with the outside of his right foot hit the outside of the net.

OCB had trouble keeping possession in its own third and turned it over again in the 39th minute. Brunet touched the ball off of Amoo-Mensah’s foot to Williams before receiving it back. The midfielder carried the ball to the top of the box before unleashing a shot that Rojas handled with ease.

Nigel Prince played a long diagonal ball for Knight on the left in the 41st minute. The attacker controlled the pass before laying it off for Baker-Whiting, who appeared to have enough space for a shot. However, he curled the ball so much that it went out of play for a throw-in.

After 45 minutes, Huntsville had the advantage in shots (6-2), shots on target (2-0), corner kicks (2-1), and passing accuracy (90.9%-88.8%). While the visitors had more chances and were closer to scoring, it was even at the break.

Haruna pushed Brunet off the ball in the 47th minute and darted into the Huntsville third of the field. He played it to his right for Leao before making a run between Prince and Williams. However, Leao continued with the ball to the top of the box before taking a shot that Prince blocked.

The ensuing short corner to Amoo-Mensah was crossed into the box. But the right back put too much on it, sending the ball beyond everyone and out of play.

Prince lifted the ball from midfield into the OCB box in the 53rd minute. Ekk headed it down for halftime substitute Malachi Molina, who volleyed it to the near post. Rojas did well to dive to his right, tipping it wide. The short corner ended up with Jarvis, but Trombino got in front of the attempt, allowing the Young Lions to clear.

Brunet received a pass entering the OCB third in the 62nd minute. He briefly lost possession, but got it right back and fired off a shot that sailed off target.

Wilding made his first change in the 63rd minute, replacing Gomez with Nicolas Lasheras. At the same time, Huntsville replaced Ekk with Yanez.

It was an inspired substitution by the visitors, as Yanez scored less than a minute after coming on. Quick passing saw Molina send Misei Yohizawa behind the back line. The attacker was able to cross the ball before it crossed the end line, finding Yanez right in front of goal. The 18-year-old attacker tapped it past Rojas to give Huntsville the 1-0 lead.

Now chasing the game, Wilding made three more changes in the 70th minute. Justin Hylton, Nicolas Bobea Torres, and Sandy entered the contest, replacing Caraballo, Trombino, and Chikamso.

With the Young Lions still unable to create anything in the attack, Wilding made his final change in the 81st minute, replacing Okonski with Brady Kendall.

Huntsville did well to keep control of the game while OCB searched for a goal. During one of the team’s few trips into the opposing third, Belgodere went down near the edge of the box, but referee Carlos Rodriguez saw it as a clean challenge.

The only shot for either team in the final 25 minutes was a Xavier Aguilar attempt from the top of the box in the first minute of stoppage time. However, Amoo-Mensah got in front, ensuring it didn’t go anywhere near Rojas’ goal.

The Young Lions had a final chance on a corner in the dying seconds, sending everyone — including Rojas — into the box. But Huntsville headed it away, securing the win away from home.

At full time, Huntsville had the edge in shots (13-3), shots on target (4-0), corner kicks (4-3), and passing accuracy (89.2%-87.7%). It was a deserved loss for OCB, which was lucky to lose by such a narrow margin.

OCB settles into fifth place in MLS NEXT Pro’s Eastern Conference after 20 games. The Young Lions are two points ahead of Atlanta United 2 and three points ahead of Red Bull New York II. However, they sit one point behind New England Revolution II, two behind Chattanooga FC, four behind Columbus Crew 2, and five behind league-leading Crown Legacy FC. So, the Young Lions could still challenge for the top spot or cling to one of the final playoff spots, depending on how they perform in the upcoming games.

The Young Lions will have to forget this one as they head back out on the road, taking on Connecticut United FC Saturday night.

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