Orlando City
2022 Orlando City Season in Review: Kyle Smith
Orlando City signed defender Kyle Smith in December of 2018 from Louisville City, reuniting him at the time with his USL coach, James O’Connor, who was then leading the Lions. He signed a new two-year deal to extend his stay with Orlando in March of 2021. That contract includes a club option for 2023.
Since his arrival, the 30-year-old has served as a key role player, stepping into the lineup in a variety of positions when necessary for injured or suspended teammates, or when fixture congestion required some squad rotation. He has become a player that Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja has come to trust to do any number of jobs all across the pitch.
Let’s take a look back at his 2022 season.
Statistical Breakdown
In the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Smith made six appearances (four starts), playing 343 minutes. He did not score a goal or assist on one, attempting three shots and getting one on target. Smith completed 87.1% of his passes in the competition and contributed five key passes. He had eight interceptions on defense, committed three fouls, drew one from the opposition, and was not booked.
During the regular season, Smith made 29 appearances, starting 14 matches and logging 1,376 minutes. He attempted eight shots, getting five on target and scored twice, setting a new career high for goals in a season. He passed at a 77.3% rate and contributed 12 key passes but did not record an assist for the first time since 2019. Defensively, he recorded 44 tackles, 12 interceptions, 61 clearances, and five blocks. Smith committed 22 fouls and drew 10 on the opposition, receiving five yellow cards on the season.
He did not appear in Orlando City’s first-round playoff match against CF Montreal.
Best Game
Smith had some standout performances, including the regular season finale at home against the Columbus Crew, but I would go with the quarterfinal match-up in the U.S. Open Cup against Nashville SC back on June 29. Smith filled in at left back in that match for Joao Moutinho and worked alongside Robin Jansson, Rodrigo Schlegel, and Ruan for the match. Smith started and played the full 90 minutes, plus 30 minutes of extra time when neither team could decide the match in open play and it went to a penalty shootout. While he didn’t score a goal or assist on one, he completed 86.5% of his passes on his 75 total touches. Smith won all five of his duels and recorded two tackles, two interceptions, and had three clearances in the match.
His two biggest plays on the night were critical in the Lions advancing past Nashville to the semifinals. He blocked a Walker Zimmerman shot on a free header off a set piece to keep the USMNT defender off the board and preventing Alex Muyl from tapping it in if it was going wide. The USOC Twitter account got the name wrong in the tweet but on the second replay you can clearly see it’s No. 24 — Smith.
Close one for @thewalkerzim & @NashvilleSC…
Off the line by @OrlandoCitySC‘s Cesar Arauju.
0-0 | #USOC2022 pic.twitter.com/9cP2kNH9xS
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) June 29, 2022
His second critical contribution was scoring on his penalty in the postgame shootout as Orlando City’s third shooter. A few rounds of spot kicks later and the Lions were through to the semifinals. Smith was part of a solid team effort to hold the talented Nashville offense to just one goal on the night and he turned in a great performance.
2022 Final Grade
The Mane Land staff awarded Smith a composite grade of 5.5 out of 10 for the 2022 season. Smith’s hard work, solid play, and versatility made him a key player for the coaching staff coming off the bench, and he played in more matches this season than last year. His overall grade is down a full point from last season’s grade in 2021, when he received a 6.5 from the staff. In the 2020 season, Smith’s grade from the staff was a 6. His final grade for his first season with the Lions in 2019 was 5.5. Although Smith was a solid role player for the team, he struggled through some games against speedy wingers that beat him for pace and created dangerous scoring opportunities. This was particularly true when he played left back, which is not his natural side.
2023 Outlook
Orlando City has a club option on Smith for next season, so the front office will need to decide whether or not to keep him through 2023. Smith’s base salary for this season was an affordable $128,580 and even though he’ll be 31 in January, it seems likely that Orlando will decide to pick up his option. He is a selfless player who is willing to play wherever he can to help the team, provides a veteran presence, has a terrific work ethic, is versatile and inexpensive, and Oscar Pareja seems to value having him.
Expect Smith to continue his role coming off the bench and getting spot starts, putting in solid minutes, and remaining a versatile option on defense.
Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)
- Jack Lynn (10/21/22)
- Joey DeZart (10/22/22)
- Nicholas Gioacchini (10/24/22)
- Thomas Williams (10/24/22)
- Michael Halliday (10/26/22)
- Tesho Akindele (10/28/22)
- Mason Stajduhar (10/29/22)
- Ivan Angulo (10/30/22)
- Jake Mulraney (10/31/22)
- Andrés Perea (11/1/22)
Orlando City
Intelligence Report: Orlando City vs. Toronto FC
Get the inside scoop on Toronto FC ahead of Saturday’s match.
Another Orlando City matchday is almost upon us, and the Lions will try to extend a four-game unbeaten streak Saturday night and finish off an undefeated month of April. OCSC will do so back in the comfortable confines of home, as Toronto FC travels south for the first of two games between the teams this season.
A visit from Toronto means I caught up with Tomas Karageorgos of Waking the Red. As usual, he was very helpful in bringing us up to speed on TFC ahead of the upcoming match.
This is John Herdman’s first year in charge of Toronto. What sort of style does the team play under him?
Tomas Karageorgos: John Herdman plays a variation of a 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1 formation that prefers to build plays out of the back. Herdman also relies on his center midfielders to win possession back and push the ball to either flank. German striker Prince Owusu’s constant pressure on opposing defenses has caused some turnovers in TFC’s favor. Owusu’s style of play has not only helped his teammates but himself as well — he has scored five goals in the club’s last six matches.
Run me through some of the additions and departures that took place during the off-season. Who are some new faces to keep an eye on?
TK: The four major additions that the club made was signing defensive midfielders Deiby Flores and Matty Longstaff; Canadian fullback Richie Laryea is back for a third time; and Irish center back Kevin Long. Flores has been described as a dog in the sense of not being afraid to get stuck into tough challenges. Longstaff was signed from Newcastle United and is beginning to play consistent minutes — he still has room to grow as he’s a young player. Long was signed from Birmingham City and has been a rock in the center of the back three. A strong aerial presence and calmness has helped to contribute to Toronto’s six clean sheets across all competitions this season. There’s not much to say about Laryea that hasn’t been said, he’s arguably the best defender in MLS when healthy. Another underrated signing was French defender Nicksoen Gomis from Sheffield United, he has had quiet-yet-consistent performances. Notable departures include Salvadoran goalkeeper Tomás Romero, Norwegian striker Adama Diomande, and club legend Michael Bradley, who retired at the conclusion of the 2023 season.
TFC has quite the list of injured players at the moment. Who has been filling in for the missing faces, and how have they looked?
TK: Lorenzo Insigne, Richie Laryea, and Shane O’Neill continue to miss action due to thigh injuries. Midfielder Brandon Servania is slated to return during the middle of the season as he is recovering from knee surgery. First overall draft pick Tyrese Spicer has filled in for Insigne and has two goals in his account for the club — he has a high work rate on both sides of the ball. Canadian youngster Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty is gaining more experience on the right side while Laryea is sidelined. Gomis and Sigurd Rosted have been taking turns covering O’Neill, and Alonso Coello is continuing to build on an impressive first season with the club in the absence of Servania.
Which players will be unavailable due to injuries, suspensions, etc.? What is your projected starting XI and score prediction?
TK: The names I noted above who are injured will be unavailable. Also, attacker Deandre Kerr is listed as questionable.
Predicted starting XI: Sean Johnson; Nickeson Gomis, Kevin Long, Sigurd Rosted; Tyrese Spicer, Alonso Coello, Deybi Flores, Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty; Jonathan Osorio, Federico Bernardeschi, Prince Owusu.
Score prediction: 1-1.
Thank you to Tomas for his insight into Toronto FC. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 4/26/24
Orlando City gets ready for Toronto FC, Thiago Silva linked with Orlando, Marta announces international retirement, and more.
I don’t know about you, but I sure am glad it’s Friday. It’s been a bit of a brutal week for me, but the weekend is nearly upon us, and I plan on spending it with my family for my dad’s birthday. I’m also hoping to find some time to read the new book that came out this week from my favorite author, Emily Henry. For now though, let’s enjoy these links from around the soccer world!
Orlando City Prepares for Toronto FC
After a shaky start to the season, the Lions are unbeaten in their past four games and can make it five when they host Toronto FC Saturday night. Toronto has lost three of its past four games, but is coming off of a 1-0 win over the New England Revolution. In the time since Oscar Pareja took over as head coach, Orlando City has won six of its seven games against Toronto. It will be the first meeting between the two with John Herdman at the helm of Toronto, so we will see if the trend of recent Orlando dominance continues. It should be a great game and is another opportunity for the Lions to climb up the table.
Thiago Silva Linked With Orlando City
Brazilian defender Thiago Silva’s contract with Chelsea ends this summer and Orlando City was mentioned as one of many reported clubs interested in signing him. Beyond the surface-level facts that Silva is an incredibly talented defender and Orlando City is a popular landing spot for South Americans who want to play in MLS, the move would not make much sense. The club signed David Brekalo this off-season and Rodrigo Schlegel is a solid option off the bench as well. Even if Orlando does want Silva, there will be plenty of competition. Returning to Fluminense is the expected choice, but Silva could stay in Europe or make the move to Saudi Arabia.
Marta Will Retire From National Team After 2024
Orlando Pride star Marta announced that 2024 will be her last year playing for Brazil. You will need a translating tool for more of the details from her interview with CNN, but she spoke on how she’s at peace with her decision to stop playing at the international level once the year is over. She made her international debut in 2002 and has since played in five Olympics for Brazil. Marta may play in her sixth this summer, and there would be global attention to see one of the greatest players ever to lead Brazil one last time. Her contract with the Pride also ends after this season, but only time will tell if this is her final season in Orlando.
Orlando’s Academy Teams Get Results Against New England
With the Generations Adidas Cup behind them, Orlando City’s U-17 and U-15 teams earned some important points against the New England Revolution’s youth squads. The U-15 team dominated New England in a 4-1 result that included a hat trick from Jakob Garcia. The match between the U-17 sides was a closer affair, as they split the points in a 1-1 draw. Orlando’s teams will play again tomorrow, with a pair of home games against Nashville SC.
Free Kicks
- The San Jose Earthquakes officially have a new Designated Player, signing Argentine winger Hernan Lopez to a contract through the 2026 season. The reported $6 million transfer fee would break the club record if accurate.
- D.C. United midfielder Russell Canouse had a successful first surgery last month to help correct an ulcerative colitis diagnosis.
- American midfielder Malik Tillman had a fantastic game for PSV Eindhoven, scoring twice and adding an assist in the team’s 8-0 win over SC Heerenveen.
- Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera announced that he is retiring from international soccer. The 37-year-old has played in the past four World Cups for Uruguay.
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jesse Marsch have reportedly been contacted for the coaching vacancy at the Canadian National Team.
- An active bomb from World War II was discovered during renovations of Mainz’s stadium in Germany and it will be deactivated today.
- We will end our links with this pretty entertaining video series featuring Orlando City players and staff competing in Parcheesi. There’s a bracket, trash talk, and an explanation of the rules as well, if you’ve never played before. Here’s a little clip of the most recent game, if you need convincing.
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!
Orlando City
Orlando City vs. Toronto FC: Three Keys to Victory
What does Orlando City need to do to ensure a victory over Toronto FC Saturday at home?
After a successful, four-point road trip, Orlando City returns from Montreal to the friendly confines of Inter&Co Stadium to face one of the other Canadian clubs, Toronto FC. The Lions are hoping to add to a four-match unbeaten streak. A win offers the opportunity to take another step up the standings.
What does Orlando City need to do to secure all three points at home against Toronto FC?
No Early Mistakes
In the last three matches, Orlando City has conceded the first goal of the match. Worse than that, each of those goals happened within the first 21 minutes. Yes, coming from behind for two draws and one win is good, but not giving up those early goals may have meant three wins instead.
Last season, Orlando City’s defense was good. We didn’t see nearly so many mental mistakes by the defense, especially so early in the match. What is frustrating is that these mistakes were seemingly preventable. The back line, the defensive midfielders, and Pedro Gallese need to tighten up in the early going so that the Lions are not chasing the match so early on.
Take Advantage of Tired Legs
Toronto FC played a match against Simcoe County Rovers in the Canadian Championship tournament on Wednesday. I’m in no way saying that Toronto trotted out their first choice lineup for the match, but even if only some of the players got a run out, that could create some tired legs for the match against Orlando. Add in the travel from Canada to Florida on short rest and it could be good news for the Lions.
If the Lions can possess the ball and make Toronto FC chase them, or if Orlando can get the first goal (see above) so that Toronto is chasing the match as well, it might pay dividends in the second half. Orlando City is good enough in the passing game to do so, though it will be interesting to see whether Martin Ojeda rejoins the starting lineup or if Nico Lodeiro gets the nod again.
One Down, Two to Go
Facundo Torres was the first of Orlando City’s three Designated Players to score a goal in the regular season. While it didn’t come in the run of play, it might still spark him to add some more since he usually starts slow and then catches fire at about this point in the season. Of course, both Luis Muriel and Ojeda contributed to the scoring against Montreal. Muriel drew the penalty that Torres took, and Ojeda provided the assist to Ivan Angulo.
Now it is time for either Muriel or Ojeda — or both — to join Torres on the scoreboard. Standing in their way will be a good keeper in Sean Johnson. So far this season, he has allowed seven goals and has 22 saves, with three clean sheets. Muriel seems to be getting closer to scoring with each shot taken, and Ojeda has missed some close ones. If all three of Orlando City’s Designated Players can start scoring regularly, this team will become dangerous quickly.
That is what I will be looking for Saturday night. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!
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