Orlando City
Orlando City vs. CF Montreal: Five Takeaways

Orlando City spiraled out of the playoffs Sunday night, courtesy of a 2-0 defeat to CF Montreal at Stade Saputo. The Lions played better than I thought they would, but couldn’t get the job done north of the border. Here are my five takeaways from OCSC’s final game of the 2022 season.
A Well-Officiated Affair
I’ll get this one out of the way up top. While a loss stings, Orlando can have no complaints about the way the game was called. Ismail Elfath was a tad trigger happy with the yellow cards in the first half of the game, but other than that, he and his team were excellent. They saw through a couple different instances of Montreal players making more out of contact than necessary to try to win penalties, and Elfath did well to keep a lid on things in the second half when tensions threatened to boil over and get out of hand. While the penalty being awarded hurt and put the game out of the Lions’ reach, it too was the correct call. In a season where Orlando has had plenty of games with cause to bemoan officiating, last night’s match in Montreal was not one of them.
All Montreal in the Early Going
As expected in front of a ravenous Stade Saputo crowd, Montreal came flying out of the gates. The hosts had almost all of the ball and were pressing hard on the few occasions they didn’t. The Lions barely had a sniff of the ball inside the opening 15 minutes, and while Montreal’s early dominance only led to one shot, there was plenty of reason to be concerned that we might be about to witness another showing of OCSC being completely bereft of intensity. Fortunately, that proved to not be the case, as Orlando grew into the game around the 20-minute mark, and acquitted itself fairly respectably from that point onward, aside from one very important aspect.
Quiet Night for the Goalkeepers
There’s no getting around the fact that neither goalkeeper had much to do on the night. Of the 11 shots that Montreal took, only two were put on target, and both were goals (although one came from the penalty spot). The Lions have to be disappointed that they weren’t able to trouble James Pantemis. The first time he had to really do anything with the ball in open play came 87 minutes into the match when he fell on a ball that was pinging around in the box. Considering our friends at Mount Royal Soccer highlighted goalkeeping as a potential area of weakness for the hosts, OCSC’s inability to test Pantemis was extremely disappointing.
Missed Chances Prove Costly
It wasn’t like Orlando didn’t have dangerous chances either. Prior to Ismael Kone’s goal, Orlando probably had the three best chances of the game, all of which came in the first half. First, Ercan Kara got in behind the defense and shot over the bar when he had Ruan open in the box to square the ball to. Ivan Angulo’s chance from the edge of the area 10 minutes later wasn’t quite as clear cut, but it still came from a position where he should be hitting the target. By the time Antonio Carlos volleyed a great opportunity over the bar from a free kick in first-half stoppage time, it absolutely felt like the missed chances would cost Orlando before the night was over. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened, as the visitors were unable to generate any looks of similar danger in the second half while Montreal converted its best chance of the game.
Substitutes Unable to Provide a Spark
There have been multiple instances of substitutes impressing for Orlando City this year. From Tesho Akindele’s late goals to Benji Michel’s heroics in the U.S. Open Cup, fresh legs have been capable of changing games when the Lions needed goals. Sadly, that wasn’t the case Sunday night. Oscar Pareja had to change something after going behind 68 minutes into the game, but the introductions of Benji Michel and Jake Mulraney in the 77th minute, and Tesho and Michael Halliday with three minutes to play, did not bring the needed boost. It may feel harsh to pick on Mulraney, given he had to take on Angulo’s duty of marshaling Alistair Johnston, but three touches in 20 minutes for an attacking player when chasing a one-goal deficit just didn’t cut it. None of the four substitutes made much of an impact, and Orlando’s last shot of the night came in the 77th minute. Not great.
To close things out, Orlando gave a better go of it than I was expecting against one of the hottest teams in the league. The Lions had the three best chances of the game until the opening goal, but a familiar lack of finishing and inability to get shots on target let them down. If even one of those chances gets put away, then who knows what happens, but ultimately Montreal was clinical and Orlando wasn’t. The result hurts, but you can’t really say that it wasn’t the right one.
Orlando City
2023 Orlando City Season in Review: Alex Freeman
We start our Orlando City player reviews with a look at a Homegrown fullback who made his MLS debut this season.

Orlando City signed fullback Alex Freeman to a Homegrown Player contract on February 15, 2022. He became the Lions’ 12th Homegrown signing and his deal runs through the 2025 season with a club option for 2026, but the youngster did not see action in Major League Soccer last season. With the departure of Ruan, there was an opportunity for Freeman to win a job with the first team in camp but he wasn’t quite ready to make the jump, instead playing an important role with Orlando City B throughout the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season.
Let’s take a look back at Freeman’s 2023 campaign.
Statistical Breakdown
Freeman made his MLS debut on April 29 in a 2-0 home win over the LA Galaxy. It was not just his debut with the first team, but it was also his only appearance with the senior squad in 2023, although he did make the substitutes’ bench a few times after that. Officially, he logged only one minute, entering in the 93rd minute. He was only on the pitch a matter of seconds, so it’s unsurprising that he registered nothing on the stats sheet.
The son of former NFL receiver Antonio Freeman, Alex starred with OCB in 2023. In MLS NEXT Pro play, Freeman appeared in 24 of OCB’s 28 matches, starting 22, and logging 1,855 minutes. He finished tied for third on the squad in goals (4), adding three assists and passing at a 79.1% success rate. Freeman attempted 25 shots, putting 11 on target, and contributed 10 key passes. He committed 22 fouls, drew 27 on the opposition, and was booked four times. He also started OCB’s playoff match at Columbus, playing 89 minutes in the Young Lions’ 2-1 road loss. Freeman didn’t contribute a goal or assist or attempt a shot in the match, but he passed at an 88% rate, created one scoring chance, and committed one foul.
Best Game
With only one MLS appearance to his credit, the default best game for Freeman came on April 29 in Orlando City’s 2-0 home win over the LA Galaxy. Freeman didn’t even officially touch the ball in the game, but it’s not every day a teenager gets to play in an MLS match, and I’m sure it was a special moment for him. It was certainly a milestone in his professional soccer career.
2023 Final Grade
As Freeman fell well short of the minimum 450 minutes played mark to receive a rating on our 1-10 scale, The Mane Land has no choice but to mark his grade as incomplete for the 2023 season. There are areas of Freeman’s game that need a bit of refining, but at the same time, it’s easy to see why he landed a Homegrown contract, why Orlando City would find him an intriguing prospect, and why he’s been getting called up by the United States for U-20 international duty. His attacking presence was huge for OCB in 2023 and he was one of the key players that led the Young Lions to the postseason.
2024 Outlook
I would expect Freeman to get more seasoning at OCB in 2024, although he’ll be given opportunities in preseason camp to show whether he’s closed the gap on the likes of Michael Halliday and Kyle Smith (assuming both return). If the club moves on from both Halliday and Smith, it’s not hard to picture Freeman starting the season providing depth at right back for the first team. Having just turned 19 in August, Freeman has a lot of potential and he should start to unlock that within the next year or so.
This is the first of our 2023 Orlando City Season in Review articles. Every player who played minutes this past season and who finished the year on the club roster will be reviewed (exceptions may be made for players let go when the club officially announces its roster moves). Players who logged fewer than 450 minutes (combined regular season plus playoffs, Concacaf Champions League, U.S. Open Cup, and Leagues Cup) will receive a composite score between 1 and 10 as determined by a panel of The Mane Land writers, while those who did not reach that threshold will receive an incomplete grade.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 11/29/23
Orlando Pride players called up by Brazil, MLS announces 2023 Best XI, latest MLS roster moves, and more.

Hello, Mane Landers I hope all is well down in Florida. I’ve been very busy working throughout the holiday weekend at Under Armour. This week I’ll be working at Wrigley Field for Winterland while getting ready to cover high school wrestling tomorrow night. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Pride Players Called Up By Brazil for Friendlies
Orlando Pride defender Rafaelle and forwards Marta and Adriana have been called up to the Brazil Women’s National Team for its upcoming friendlies.
Brazil will play two matches against Japan on Nov. 30 and Dec. 3 in Sao Paulo before playing Nicaragua on Dec. 6 at Estadio Fonte Luminosa in Araraquara.
MLS Announces the 2023 Best XI
Major League Soccer announced its 2023 Best XI, recognizing the league’s top players at each position. There were no Orlando City players selected for the team and eight players received the honor for the first time. Those players are St. Louis City’s Roman Burki and Tim Parker, FC Cincinnati defender Matt Miazga, Atlanta United duo Thiago Almada and Giorgos Giakoumakis, Houston Dynamo midfielder Hector Herrera, LAFC’s Denis Bouanga, and Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernandez. Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar made the Best XI for the third consecutive time, while teammate Walker Zimmerman was named to it for the fifth time. MLS MVP Luciano Acosta of FC Cincinnati rounds out the list.
Latest MLS Off-season Roster Moves
The Colorado Rapids announced their latest roster changes as they prepare for the the 2024 season under new Head Coach Chris Armas. The club exercised its options for defender Andrew Gutman, midfielder Ralph Priso, and forward Calvin Harris. The Rapids declined contract offers to seven players, with the most notable names being defender Steven Beitashour and goalkeeper William Yarbrough, although the Rapids are in discussions about re-signing Yarbrough. Elsewhere, the New England Revolution exercised the permanent transfer option on forward Tomas Chancalay, signing him to a Designated Player contract through 2026, with a club option for the 2027 season.
UEFA Champions League Roundup
Champions League action returned in Europe, as we get close to wrapping up the group stage in a couple of weeks. Manchester City overcame a two-goal deficit to beat RB Leipzig 3-2 and win Group G. Newcastle United had a chance to qualify for the round of 16 but gave up a late penalty to Paris Saint-Germain, which Kylian Mbappe converted to end the match in a 1-1 draw. Borussia Dortmund beat AC Milan 3-1 to book its spot in the knockout stage. PSG, Newcastle, and AC Milan are all still alive in Group F heading into the final matchday in December. Shakhtar Donetsk won 1-0 against Royal Antwerp and also still has a shot to advance on the final matchday. Lazio, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, and Young Boys all won their respective matches as well. Today’s matches include Manchester United on the road against Galatasaray, Real Madrid taking on Napoli, and Sevilla facing off with PSV Eindhoven.
Free Kicks
- Concacaf has announced that BMO Stadium, Dignity Health Sports Park, Shell Energy Stadium, and Snapdragon Stadium will be the four venues that will host matches for the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup.
- Barcelona midfielder Gavi will be sidelined for up to 10 months after undergoing knee surgery after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee.
- The International Football Association Board approved a trial for sin bins, meaning players punished for dissent or specific tactical offense would be temporarily removed from the match for a set amount of minutes.
- You have got to see this goal from Cwrt Rawlin FC in the Welsh seventh division.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Wednesday and I’ll see you next time.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 11/28/23
Luciano Acosta named MVP, Americans in action, scheduling news for U.S. national teams, and more.

Happy Tuesday, everyone. I’m dragging a little today after having an extended period of time off for the Thanksgiving holiday, but there’s no rest for the wicked and the only way out is through. With that being the case, let’s get into today’s news.
Luciano Acosta Wins MLS MVP
In a piece of news that plenty of people likely saw coming from several miles away, Luciano Acosta has been named Major League Soccer’s Most Valuable Player. Acosta racked up 34 goal contributions during the regular season, finishing the 2023 campaign with 17 goals and 14 assists as the driving force behind his team’s run to the Supporters’ Shield. He was voted the best player in the league by quite some margin and won the award in a landslide, taking 60.37% of the votes to Denis Bouanga’s 14.97% and Thiago Almada’s 6.46%.
American Stars in Midweek Action
There are a number of United States Men’s National Team players that will be in action this week, with several UEFA Champions League clashes highlighting the viewing slate. Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah and AC Milan will face Giovanni Reyna’s Borussia Dortmund today in a game with huge ramifications for both teams. Malik Tillman, Ricardo Pepi, and Sergino Dest may play in PSV Eindhoven’s match with Sevilla tomorrow, and a win would likely go a long way to securing a place in the Round of 16. Additionally on Wednesday, Brenden Aaronson and Union Berlin have a chance to make a big move towards a place in the Europa League, as a win over Braga would leapfrog the German club into third place in Group C.
USMNT & USWNT Scheduling News
The USMNT will open its 2024 slate of games with a match against Slovenia on Jan. 20 in San Antonio. The match will fall outside of an international window, meaning that the January camp roster will largely be made up of domestic-based players. The USMNT has faced Slovenia twice before, with the most recent time being a 3-2 win in Ljubljana courtesy of a Jozy Altidore penalty kick.
While we already knew that the United States Women’s National Team would play China PR on Dec. 5 in Frisco, we now know that one of the team’s legends will be honored before the game. The U.S. Soccer Federation has announced that former Orlando Pride defender Ali Krieger, who stated in March that she will retire following the NWSL season, will be honored before the match. Krieger played 108 games for the USWNT and is a two-time World Cup winner with the team.
Notable Women’s Players to Miss International Matches
A pair of high profile women’s players will miss upcoming international games. First up, Sam Kerr will not feature in Australia’s back-to-back friendlies against Canada due to a foot injury. Kerr has struggled with injuries this year and her availability was limited during this summer’s World Cup.
Alexia Putellas will miss Spain’s two Nations League matches against Sweden and Italy after picking up a left knee injury. Putellas had missed Euro 2022 due to an ACL tear, but was back to help her side win the World Cup several months ago. Fortunately for Spain, the team is well positioned atop its group and has enough players in the squad that it shouldn’t feel her absence too keenly.
Free Kicks
- A pair of Willian penalties and an early Alex Iwobi goal helped Fulham beat Wolverhampton, with American defenders Antonee Robinson and Tim Ream also starting.
- New York Red Bulls forward Tom Barlow is reportedly headed to the Chicago Fire.
- With just three games remaining, Brazil’s title race is coming right down to the wire.
- The Liga MX playoffs are about to start, so make sure you get up to speed on what you should know as the Apertura gets underway.
That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Y’all stay safe out there.
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