Orlando City
Orlando City vs. Austin FC: Player Grades and Man of the Match
Orlando City went on the road to take on Austin FC for the first time and ultimately walked away with a point after a 2-2 draw. Goals from Ercan Kara and Ruan gave the Lions a lead in the first half, but they were reduced to nine men and had to hold on for a result.
Despite poor officiating and missed chances, Orlando showed plenty of resilience on the road in a packed Q2 Stadium. Let’s dive into how each Lion individually performed in the draw.
Starters
GK, Pedro Gallese, 6.5 — El Pulpo was able to get a tentacle to Sebastian Driussi’s penalty kick, but not enough to keep it from going in goal as he still hunts for his first penalty save of the season. His first save of the match came in the 25th minute as he snatched a header from Driussi out of the air. His other two saves in the match came from diving efforts as he denied Nick Lima from a tight angle and then made a huge stop by shifting direction to slap away a low effort from Alex Ring. There wasn’t much he could’ve done about the late equalizer as Moussa Djitte scored from the far post on a short corner kick that shouldn’t have been given. His distribution could have been a bit better as he was accurate on just 45% of his 22 passes and six of his 18 long balls, but the team wasn’t exactly trying to build out of the back while down two players and trying to hold on for a win. The Peruvian goalkeeper also did a great job managing the clock over the last 30 minutes of the match to help ensure Orlando didn’t leave Austin empty-handed.
D, Joao Moutinho, 6.5 — The left back ended up leading the Lions with six clearances as he shifted to a central position once Orlando was reduced to nine men. With Rodrigo Schlegel out of the game due to a second yellow card, Moutinho did well to fortify the defense and clear the danger. He likely would have come up with the clearance on Austin’s equalizer if not for the unfortunate deflection the ball took off of Kyle Smith’s head. Moutinho also had a tackle, an interception, and a blocked shot in the match. He could’ve been a bit more accurate as he completed a subpar 63% of his 30 passes and only two of his eight long balls found their mark. He did have a key pass though and was accurate on one of his two crosses during a night in which he wasn’t often able to surge forward and provide service.
D, Robin Jansson, 6 — It’s never easy trying to defend a lead while down two players, but Jansson was a leader for Orlando’s defense. The Beefy Swede had five clearances and blocked two shots in a solid defensive effort to help Orlando get a result. He understandably didn’t have much of an impact on offense, but four of his nine long balls were accurate and he completed 69% of his 29 passes. He picked up his seventh yellow card of the season, tied for the most in MLS, for Diego Fagundez walking into him and falling over. Another strong defensive effort like last night will be needed from him next Saturday against FC Dallas.
D, Rodrigo Schlegel, 5.5 — His night will be overshadowed by receiving two yellow cards for handballs in the span of a couple of minutes. Schlegel was booked for a handball just outside the penalty kick and then again on the ensuing free kick as part of Orlando’s wall. Referee Joe Dickerson sent him off in the 61st minute without going over to the monitor and the center back finished with four clearances and an interception. He was accurate on 89% of just 18 passes and his lone long ball found its target. Schlegel will miss Saturday’s game, giving him plenty of rest to come back stronger in league play in June.
D, Ruan, 6.5 — The right back scored his second goal of the season by pouncing on a loose ball in the box after a save from Brad Stuver. It was a nice first-time shot from the Brazilian to double Orlando’s lead in the first half. He had a chance to increase Orlando’s lead even further later in the first half on a breakaway but was offside due to a mistimed run and missed the shot regardless. It was a missed opportunity that will be looked at a little harsher considering how the game played out in the second half. Still, Ruan is showing plenty of life offensively in recent games and his speed works well with Facundo Torres to provide options during counter attacks. He didn’t have any crosses but was successful on one of his two long balls and completed 88% of his 16 passes. Defensively, he had a tackle and a clearance and was subbed out in stoppage time to kill off some of the clock and get fresher legs out there.
MF, Cesar Araujo, 4.5 — It was Araujo’s roughest performance of the season. Although he had 16 passes at a great 94% success rate, he had three unstable touches in the match and made costly mistakes. The biggest was his red card in the 69th minute as he needlessly kicked out at Ring, who milked the minimal contact as much as he could. It was a frustrating mistake from a player who’s been levelheaded in recent weeks. That wasn’t his only mistake in the match, as he whiffed on an attempt to send the ball up the field, giving Austin a counter-attacking opportunity in the first half. It wasn’t all terrible, as Araujo led the Lions with three tackles while also chipping in defensively with two interceptions and two clearances. However, his ejection while Orlando was already down a player may have been the difference between a draw and a win and he’ll miss Saturday’s game against Dallas.
MF, Andres Perea, 6 — Playing in the center of the field, Perea quietly led the Lions with four interceptions as he capitalized on the pressure created by teammates to then pick off passes. He wasn’t necessarily dynamic in the match, sending his only shot of the match off target despite a good look, but he was solid and played his part in the team’s efforts to hold on for a result. Along with those interceptions, Perea had three clearances, a tackle, and also blocked a shot. His passing could have been better, as he completed 70% of 23 passes, but that’s not horrific, and he was accurate on one of his two long balls. It was the 21-year-old’s third straight start as he continues to earn minutes in Orlando’s crowded midfield.
MF, Facundo Torres, 5.5 — Torres did well on Orlando’s second goal, sprinting down the left side of the pitch to whip in a cross that wasn’t cleared cleanly and fell to Mauricio Pereyra and then Ruan. The 22-year-old had other opportunities in the match to score, but instead laid the ball off for teammates to take the chance. It was unselfish of Torres, but he could have afforded to be a bit more ruthless, as he finished with no shots or key passes. The unsuccessful cross that led to a goal was his only one of the game and his lone long ball didn’t find its target. He completed 74% of his 19 passes and helped out defensively with two tackles and plenty of pressure before being subbed out in the 71st minute. Torres’ speed makes him an asset for Orlando’s offense, but he lacked a killer instinct that could have helped put the game away before the second half.
MF, Mauricio Pereyra, 6.5 — The captain’s only shot of the game was a strong effort that forced a tough save from Stuver, with Ruan putting away the ensuing rebound. The captain had a few miscues, including a great opportunity to send Kara in on goal in the first half, but was adept at delivering quick balls forward to find Lions in open space as he was accurate on five of his six long balls. Both of his crosses were unsuccessful though, and he completed 83% of his 23 passes. His night ended in the 71st minute as he exited the game along with Orlando’s other offensive players once the Lions were reduced to nine men. It will be a sore trip back to Orlando for Pereyra, who was fouled four times in the match as Austin broke up plays without being booked for it.
MF, Junior Urso, 6.5 — The Bear played out wide in this match and intercepted a bad pass from Stuver to then find Kara in front of goal for an easy assist. Urso led the Lions with five shots, putting three of them on target. He had a great chance to score in the final moments of the first half, putting a header on frame and then beating his defender to the ensuing rebound after Stuver’s save. But the shot missed the open net and soared into the Austin sky. He didn’t have any crosses and his only attempted long ball was inaccurate while he also completed 70% of his 23 passes. Urso supplied great defensive pressure throughout the match, made two tackles, and stopped Jon Gallagher in the box after Schlegel was beaten. Like Pereyra, he was fouled four times in the match and all were in Orlando’s own half.
F, Ercan Kara, 7 (MotM) — The Austrian was in the right place at the right time in front of goal after Stuver’s mistake allowed him to score in the second minute of the match. The goal was one of two shots he put on target, the other coming in the 43rd minute when he fired from distance and was stopped by a diving save from Stuver. Kara led the Lions with three key passes, creating great opportunities for Urso and Perea. He was physical throughout the match, winning two of his four aerial duels and battling to take the ball from Austin players in dangerous areas. He had 24 touches and completed all but one of his 10 passes for a 90% success rate. Kara is our Man of the Match for scoring and creating plenty of chances in a productive outing despite few crosses from the wings and being substituted in the 71st minute.
Substitutes
MF, Jake Mulraney (71’), 5.5 — The Irishman was brought on to give the Lions some fresh legs while down two players. He had a chance to shift the momentum back in Orlando’s favor as he dribbled his way through Austin’s defense, but his shot was a tough one to pull off and sent wide of goal. He didn’t see much of the ball after that, finishing with only three touches and no passes. Mulraney did have a clearance though, doing his part on the defensive end as Orlando desperately tried to hang on.
F, Tesho Akindele, (71’), 5.5 — Akindele’s role after coming on was to contest the team’s long balls and clearances heaved up the field in an effort to win the ball or at least stall Austin from pushing forward. The Canadian won two of his three aerial duels and had 11 touches while completing two of his four passes. While he did a decent job holding up play, he had an opportunity to find Ruan making an uncontested run down the field but either didn’t see him or just didn’t have a way to get him the ball as Austin players descended on him. All in all, it was a decent shift from Akindele.
D, Kyle Smith (71’), 6 — The defender came on to solidify Orlando’s defense, playing in the center of defense as Orlando gave up the wings to focus on filling open spaces in the box. The plan worked for the most part as Smith had four clearances. However, Austin’s goal came from a corner kick that should’ve been ruled a goal kick and Smith’s attempted clearance flicked the ball back to Djitte at the far post. It was unfortunate in many ways for Smith, who scored Orlando’s winner last weekend. The 30-year-old ended the game with no passes and six touches.
MF, Sebas Mendez (91’), N/A — The defensive midfielder didn’t play long enough to earn a grade as his substitution mostly helped remove some of the time left in the match. He did complete his one pass though and had just the one touch. The Ecuadorian has not started since May 7 but that may change with Cesar Araujo suspended.
D, Michael Halliday (93’), N/A — Like Mendez, Halliday was brought on late in stoppage time. The 19-year-old didn’t have much of an opportunity to make an impact with just one touch in his first appearance of the 2022 MLS season.
That’s how I saw the individual performances in Orlando City’s controversial 2-2 draw against Austin FC. What do you think? Be sure to let us know in the comments and vote in the poll below for your Orlando City Man of the Match.
Polling Closed
| Player | Votes |
| Ercan Kara | 14 |
| Pedro Gallese | 16 |
| Junior Urso | 8 |
| Ruan | 3 |
| Joao Moutinho | 2 |
| Other (Let us know who in the comments) | 3 |
Orlando City
2024 Orlando City Season in Review: Kyle Smith
The Accountant turned in another solid season playing wherever and whenever he was asked to.
Orlando City signed fullback Kyle Smith on Dec. 21, 2018 when James O’Connor was Orlando City’s head coach. Since his arrival, Smith has proven time and again that he’s a valuable Swiss Army knife-type player, earning a new contract on March 29, 2021 through the 2022 season with a 2023 club option. Orlando City picked up his 2023 option at the end of the 2022 season but then signed Smith to a new one-year contract for 2023 just weeks later with an option for 2024. That sixth season concluded earlier this month, and it’s hard to imagine anyone (except perhaps Smith himself) expected him to still be getting lots of minutes with the Lions and sitting second on the club’s all-time list for appearances.
Let’s look back at the sixth MLS season — all in Orlando purple — from the man Oscar Pareja calls El Soldado.
Statistical Breakdown
Smith matched a career high with 29 appearances in the regular season in 2024, starting 12 matches and playing 1,143 minutes. He didn’t score a goal in the regular season, but he matched last year’s career high with three assists. The Cincinnati, OH native attempted just five shot, which is a career low, as was his single shot on target, which can account (see what I did there?) for his lack of goals in the 2024 regular season. He completed a career-high 83.7% of his 1,143 passes, which includes eight key passes, seven successful crosses, and 20 completed long ball. Although his seven successful crosses weren’t a career high, his 41.2% accuracy on cross attempts was the best success rate of his MLS career. The defender recorded 22 tackles, nine interceptions, 17 clearances, and three blocks. Smith committed 13 fouls on the season, drew 11 from his opponents, and picked up three yellow cards.
As with the regular season, Smith posted a career high in postseason appearances, playing in five games (although without a start) but logging just 51 minutes off the bench. He did not record a goal contribution and his lone shot attempt was off target. Smith completed 80.5% of his 41 passes with one key pass and two successful long balls but no completed crosses. He recorded a clearance on the defensive end, committed two fouls in the playoffs, suffered one, and did not pick up a booking.
In the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup, Smith started all four of Orlando City’s matches, logging 323 minutes. He scored a goal in the 3-1 home win over Cavalry FC but did not register an assist in the competition, attempting just the one (on-target) shot. Smith completed 81.5% of his 146 passes with two key passes, however none of his three crosses found the target. On the defensive end, he recorded five clearances. He committed five fouls, suffered two and received one yellow card.
In Leagues Cup, Smith appeared in two of Orlando City’s three matches, starting both but playing just 113 minutes because he was sent off against San Luis for denial of a goal-scoring opportunity, suspending him for the Cruz Azul game. He didn’t register a goal, assist, or a shot in the competition, passing at a 91.1% rate on his 79 attempts and tallying one key pass and one successful cross on two attempts (50%). He added a clearance on the defensive end, committed one foul without suffering any, and picked up the one red card.
Best Game
With any defender who only scores one goal across all competitions, it’s tempting to select the game in which he scored. In Smith’s case, his one goal was a well-worked give-and-go on the left side with Facundo Torres in the Concacaf Champions Cup home match against Cavalry FC.
It was an important goal, providing insurance late and helping propel the Lions into the second round against Tigres. However, I’m not choosing that match as Smith’s best.
The defender’s best match finished with the same 3-1 scoreline, but it came in his return home this year, as Orlando City traveled to face FC Cincinnati on Oct. 5.
Smith helped the Lions get the party started just 10 minutes into the match, sending a gorgeous, curling cross that wrapped beautifully around the back line and onto the run of Ramiro Enrique, who knocked it past Roman Celentano with his right foot to make it 1-0.
After Luciano Acosta tied the match just before halftime, Smith also played a role in the second goal of the game to put the Lions back in front in the 66th minute. Smith again picked out Enrique in the box with a great cross, but this time the striker had his back to goal. Enrique touched it back to Ivan Angulo, who got a bit fortunate that Celentano made a mess of the bouncing shot, letting it sneak into the net to make it 2-0.
Smith’s two assists were his only cross attempts of the match, making him 2/2 (100%), and his primary assist earned him a key pass. Those were the bright spots offensively, as the right back (in this game, anyway) did not attempt a shot and passed at just a 62.5% rate in his 81 minutes. However, Smith also was a force on the defensive end, finishing the match with a season-high four interceptions — his only multi-interception game of the season — to go along with a tackle and a clearance. He committed two fouls, suffering one, and he was not booked. It was a terrific homecoming for the veteran defender.
2024 Final Grade
The Mane Land awarded Smith a composite score of 6.5 out of 10 for the 2024 season. This equals the highest rating we’ve given him, which took place after the 2021 season. His grades haven’t fluctuated a ton from year to year, as he earned a 5.5 in 2019, again in 2020, and once more in 2022. He earned a 6 out of 10 in 2023. So, in six years, Smith’s score has been within a single full point on our 10-point rating scale. That’s the kind of remarkable consistency you want out of your accountant, and it’s what The Accountant has brought with his gritty, blue-collar style of play for Orlando City.
2025 Outlook
Although he was out of contract after the 2024 season, Orlando City immediately looked to re-sign the veteran defender to a new contract and did just that on Friday. Smith is back for 2025 on a new one-year deal. The 32-year-old, who will turn 33 on Jan. 9, will likely fill the exact same role he’s held for his entire Orlando City career. He’ll fill in wherever he’s asked, spending time in the starting lineup when other players’ injuries or form require his services. He’ll be solid but not spectacular nearly every outing, and occasionally he’ll be overmatched by a pacey opponent. But he won’t short you on his effort and he’ll make it hard for Pareja to leave him on the bench for the entire match, regardless of whether the team is ahead or behind.
Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/17/24
OCSC signs Colin Guske to Homegrown Player contract, Orlando City linked with Noah Levis, Barbra Banda wins another award, and more.
Happy Tuesday, everyone. I hope you all had a good weekend, and haven’t been putting your Christmas shopping off until the last minute, which is something I’m definitely guilty of. Despite it being the off-season, we have plenty of Orlando soccer news to cover today, so let’s jump right into the links.
Orlando City Signs Homegrown Player
On Monday afternoon, Orlando City announced that the club has signed midfielder Colin Guske to a Homegrown Player contract. Guske is a defensive midfielder who spent the year with Orlando City B this season, playing 2,044 minutes across 24 appearances in MLS NEXT Pro. With Felipe and Jeorgio Kocevski leaving and Heine Gikling Bruseth getting pinched in the MLS Expansion Draft, there’s a need for depth in the midfield. Whether or not that’s what the club is intending for Guske this year remains to be seen, as he’s still only 17 years old. That being said, he was with the senior side for its preseason training camp this year, played well enough to make the MLS NEXT Pro All-Star Game, and has represented the United States at the youth level, so he does have potential. Either way, he becomes the Lions’ 16th Homegrown Player signing.
Orlando City Linked With Midfielder Noah Levis
According to Transfermarkt‘s Manuel Veth, Orlando City has signed young midfielder Noah Levis. The 18-year-old currently plays for Mikkelin Palloilijat in Finland’s second division and would reportedly join OCB to develop. Only time will tell if Levis will become a Lion, but he would give Orlando a young player who could hopefully make an impact with the first team down the line.
Barbra Banda Wins CAF Women’s Player of the Year
Barbra Banda was named 2024 CAF Women’s Player of the Year. The award caps an outstanding year for her, as she helped the Orlando Pride win the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship, was included in the league’s Best XI, was named BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year, and also made the FIFPRO World XI. She also scored four goals for Zambia in the Olympics this summer, and she’s the first Zambian player to win this award. Banda was up against NWSL MVP Temwa Chaminga, whose Kansas City Current were beaten by the Pride in the semifinals. Congrats to Banda on a deserved win!
Orlando City B Announces Roster Updates
Orlando City B announced the roster status of its squad following the 2024 season. Contracts have expired for six OCB players, but they could still sign new deals and return to the team next season. Zakaria Taifi, Jhon Solis, and Gustavo Carballo remain under contract, while, as mentioned earlier, Guske has been signed to the first team. As is usually the case, next year’s OCB roster will be largely composed of academy players and guys who have been signed to contracts with the senior side.
MLS Transfer Roundup
There are a few pieces of MLS transfer news that we need to catch up on. First, the Chicago Fire officially signed defender Jack Elliott as a free agent. He’s been handed a deal that runs through 2025 and has an option year for 2026. Up next, D.C. United signed winger Joao Peglow on a deal that runs through 2027 with an option for 2028. The 22-year-old joins from Polish side Radomiak Radom and is a former Brazilian youth international. Finally, the Philadelphia Union have put a contentious subject to rest by re-signing club captain Alejandro Bedoya on a one-year deal.
Free Kicks
- Plenty of American players will be playing midweek games, so make sure you have everything noted down on your calendar.
- Folarin Balogun will miss around four months after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder. As a result, he will likely be unavailable for the Concacaf Nations League next year.
- The draw for the UEFA European Women’s Championship is complete and England was drawn into a tough group with France, Wales, and the Netherlands.
- Lamine Yamal will miss up to a month after injuring his right ankle.
That’s all I have for this morning. Vamos Orlando!
Orlando City
Orlando City Signs Midfielder Colin Guske to Homegrown Player Contract
A starter with OCB in 2024, the teenage midfielder has been rewarded with a Homegrown Player contract.
Orlando City announced this afternoon that the club has signed OCB defensive midfielder Colin Guske to a first-team contract. The Orlando City Academy product is the 16th Homegrown Player signed by the club. Guske’s new deal begins Jan. 1, 2025 and will run through 2027 with a club option in 2028.
“Colin is just the latest example of a player that has taken full advantage of our professional development pathway,” Orlando City Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi said in a club press release. “He’s benefited from the full integration between the academy, OCB, and the first team within the training facility and has shown us through his performances, hard work, and dedication in training that he’s ready to take the next step. His talent and potential for growth as a player and person show a bright future and we’re excited to have him join the first team this next year.”
Guske followed his older brothers Owen and Liam in joining the Orlando City Academy. He was invited to Orlando City’s first team preseason in 2024, including its weeklong training camp in Mexico. His play earned him a spot in OCB’s starting lineup, making his professional debut on March 16 against Atlanta United 2. Playing alongside Imanol Almaguer, Guske made 24 MLS NEXT Pro regular-season appearances (23 starts) and recorded 2,044 minutes with one goal and two assists. He also played all 120 minutes of the team’s playoff game against Chicago Fire FC II.
The St. John’s native played the most minutes of any MLS NEXT Pro player born in 2007 and was selected to participate in the 2024 MLS NEXT All-Star Game in July.
In addition to training with the first team throughout preseason and the MLS campaign, the 17-year-old midfielder signed multiple short-term deals with Orlando City in 2024 for the Leagues Cup and regular season. However, he was unable to get on the field in any of those games.
Internationally, Guske has represented the United States at the youth levels, joining the U-18 roster for a trip to Japan in September and the U-19 team in Spain in October, as well as the U-19 team’s West Palm Beach camp in November.
What It Means for Orlando City
The departure of Felipe and loss of Heine Gikling Bruseth in the MLS Expansion Draft following the 2024 MLS season created a need for depth in the defensive midfield that Guske can fill. At only 17, he probably will remain with OCB as he gains more professional experience. However, he had a solid year for the Young Lions last season and appears to be a player with upside for a potential first-team future.
The fact that the club signed him to multiple short-term MLS deals last year indicated that this signing was coming. He’s a tough player who is not afraid to go in on tackles, resulting in being booked seven times last year. In addition to his physical play, he completed 88.2% of his passes last year. These aspects of his game are reminiscent of Cesar Araujo, just at a lower level due to his age and lack of professional experience. But they show that he has the potential to be a future starter.
2024 Orlando City Season in Review: Kyle Smith
2024 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Emily Sams
PawedCast Episode 460: Facundo Torres, Orlando City and OCB News, and More
-
Orlando City2 weeks agoOrlando City Announces Roster Decisions Following 2024 Season
-
Orlando Pride1 week agoOrlando Pride Announce Roster Decisions Following 2024 NWSL Season
-
Lion Links2 weeks agoLion Links: 12/4/24
-
Orlando City2 weeks ago2024 Orlando City Season in Review: Alex Freeman
-
Orlando Pride2 weeks ago2024 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Cori Dyke
-
Orlando City1 week ago2024 Orlando City Season in Review: Mason Stajduhar
-
Orlando City1 week ago2024 Orlando City Season in Review: Yutaro Tsukada
-
Orlando City3 days ago2024 Orlando City Season in Review: Facundo Torres