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Orlando City B vs. Columbus Crew 2: Final Score 2-0 as OCB Outplayed for Second Straight Game

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3 years ago

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Orlando City B (1-2-1, 5 points) was thoroughly outplayed for the second straight week as the Young Lions fell 2-0 to Columbus Crew 2 (3-1-0, 9 points). The hosts scored a goal late in each half to come away with the two-goal victory. Jacen Russell-Rowe and Erik Hurtado scored the goals for the hosts.

Martin Perelman made the most changes between consecutive games that he has all year in Columbus. Defenders Alex Freeman, Quembol Guadalupe, and Thomas Williams were all out of the starting lineup, with Williams not even on the bench. Additionally, Diego Pareja was out of the starting lineup for the first time this season.

David Boccuzzo was back in the lineup after coming off the bench in Fort Lauderdale Sunday evening and Erick Gunera got his first start since the season opener against Chicago Fire II. The most notable additions to the lineup were first-team defender Michael Halliday and newly signed Victor Yan.

Last weekend in Fort Lauderdale, Inter Miami II dominated the majority of the game on its way to a 2-0 win. This game wasn’t much different for OCB, as Crew 2 dominated play for most of the game. Better finishing by the hosts would likely have seen this game out of hand well before the final whistle.

Crew 2 kicked off the game and most of the first half was spent on the OCB side of the field. The attacks started in the fifth minute when Columbus got its first chance. A Mohamed Farsi cross ended up with Isaac Angking but the midfielder put it wide of the target.

An odd situation happened just after the shot. The players were called to the sideline on an overcast night. However, storms weren’t expected in the area until after the game. It turned out the delay was because of a change in officials. Shane Kennard started as an assistant referee and Alex Billeter was the center referee. But after just five minutes, Billeter became the fourth official and Kennard was put in charge of the match.

“The referee felt that she wasn’t physically able to perform the duties of a center official,” PRO said in a statement after the game. “For the integrity of this match, the best course of action was to change roles and complete this assignment as the 4th official.”

When the game started up again, Crew 2 remained on the attack. The hosts continued to push numbers into the opposing third, while OCB looked to break on the counter. They almost got that opportunity in the 11th minute, but a poor pass by Moises Tablante gave it back to Crew 2.

In the 17th minute, Crew 2 had its first great chance when a corner by Angking found the head of Philip Quinton. The center back attempted to redirect the ball on target but sent it wide. It was one of several excellent chances the Crew sent wide to keep the game close.

Farsi created another chance in the 25th minute, finding Noah Fuson in the box. Fuson was able to get his shot on target but OCB goalkeeper Javier Otero, who had another great game, blocked it.

OCB finally got a decent chance in the 29th minute. After nearly a half hour of defending, Tablante did well to win a corner for the Young Lions. Joey DeZart’s cross found the head of OCB’s leading goal scorer, Jack Lynn, at the back post, but the shot was right at Crew 2 goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.

OCB got its best chance of the first half in the 35th minute. A flurry in front of goal allowed Lynn and Wilfredo Rivera to get shots on goal, but both were blocked.

It appeared as though Crew 2 was set to get back on the attack a couple of minutes later, but Yan won the ball back for the Young Lions at midfield. OCB had numbers going forward on the counter and Yan found Tablante heading towards goal. The midfielder got into the Crew box and fired on goal but Schulte was able to make the save.

After being played off the field in the first 30 minutes, OCB was finally getting into the game and looked as though it could take the lead. In his first game back in the starting lineup since the season opener, Gunera decided to get in on the action, taking a long-distance shot. It was a good attempt and was on target, but Schulte did well to tip it over the crossbar.

As the game neared first-half stoppage time, Crew 2 started to take over again. In the 43rd minute, a bad turnover gave Russell-Rowe a chance in front of goal. His shot beat Otero but not the post as OCB was saved by inches.

A minute later he had another chance. Angking found Russell-Rowe in the box again, but his right-footed shot from the right of goal was wide.

After two near misses, Russell-Rowe finally converted two minutes into first-half injury time. A nice one-two between Farsi and Marco Micaletto allowed the former to get a low cross into the box. Russell-Rowe beat three OCB defenders to the ball at the top of the six and his first touch knocked it past Otero for the opening goal.

Off of the ensuing kickoff, Tablante darted down the field and tried for a quick response. The midfielder got into the Crew 2 box but shot from a narrow angle and could only hit the side netting.

After the first 45 minutes, Crew 2 led in most statistical categories, including possession (56.7%-43.3%), shots (9-8), passes (268-207), passing accuracy (82.5%-79.7%), crosses (23-17), and duels won (23-17). However, the late goal was the only Crew 2 shot on target, while OCB put four shots on frame in the opening period.

Both teams got an early chance in the second half. OCB got the first shot when a weak Lynn attempt was saved by Schulte. In the 48th minute, Fuson got a good chance on goal for the Crew, but he couldn’t keep the shot down as it sailed high and wide to the right.

Then, in the 62nd minute, OCB nearly found an equalizer. Tablante carried the ball into the Crew 2 box and went down. The referee didn’t blow for a penalty, but Tablante was able to send the ball outside to DeZart before hitting the turf. The first-team midfielder got his shot on target but Schulte did well to get low and make the stop with his trailing leg.

OCB’s inability to finish nearly cost the Young Lions moments later, when Crew 2 went right down the field and created a flurry of chances. In the 64th minute, Isaiah Parente found Fuson in the box. The Young Lions had a chance to clear, but couldn’t get a foot on the ball and it ended up with Fuson. This time he got his shot on target, but Otero made the save.

Two minutes later, Parente took his own chance on goal. A corner kick found Parente but his header was right at Otero and OCB was able to briefly clear.

However, a minute later, Crew 2 got a third successive chance. This time a Hurtado cross found Fuson in front of goal and the forward redirected it. Fortunately for OCB, it was just wide right of the post and the Young Lions were able to clear again.

In the 76th minute, Crew 2 had a great chance to double the lead. A set piece just outside the box was played short to Farsi, who took it toward the end line. Two OCB defenders converged but Farsi used some nice footwork to split the defenders and send a ball towards the top of the box. Crew attackers wisely left the ball as Jordan Knight entered the 18. His shot was strong and on target, but Otero was up to the task, knocking it over the crossbar.

The hosts finally doubled their lead with nine minutes remaining in regular time. In the 81st minute, another quick one-two between Farsi and Micaletto allowed Farsi to find Hurtado making a run in the box. Gunera was on Hurtado but was caught flat footed as the Crew 2 attacker got behind him. With no other defenders between him and the goal, Hurtado slipped the ball by Otero and into the far corner, giving Crew 2 a 2-0 lead.

Fuson almost made it three for Columbus when OCB once again failed to clear the ball. Fortunately, his shot was blocked and the deficit remained at two.

While OCB fell 2-0, it could’ve been much worse. Crew 2 ended the game with more possession (54.4%-45.6%), shots (20-13), passes (457-388), corners (8-6), crosses (14-7), duels won (59-34), and tackles won (13-9). What kept the game close was Columbus’ lack of shooting accuracy. After putting just one of nine shots on target in the first half, Crew 2 put just four of 11 shots on target in the second half.

OCB did much better in terms of accuracy, putting seven of its 13 shots on target. But most of those shots were weak attempts or from long distance. Additionally, Schulte had an excellent game, finishing his clean sheet with six saves.

The loss sees the Young Lions fall to 1-2-1 on the season, with five points due to the extra shootout point after the draw with NYCFC II. The record places OCB in third in the Central Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, Columbus moves to 3-1-0 with nine points and sits atop the Eastern Conference.

After a tough two-game road trip, OCB will return home next Sunday when the Young Lions host New England Revolution II. That 6:30 p.m. game will be at Exploria Stadium and will follow the MLS team’s match against the New York Red Bulls.

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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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