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Orlando City SC vs. FC Dallas: Final Score 3-1 as Lions’ Second-Half Mistakes Prove Costly

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3 years ago

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Orlando City’s third game in seven days started out OK. In fact, the Lions were in control for the bulk of the match, but a second-half spell of mistakes turned a potential win into a 3-1 loss at Exploria Stadium. The Lions (6-5-3, 21 points) got a goal from Ercan Kara late in first-half stoppage time and had opportunities to add a second but then a series of giveaways and an uncharacteristically soft goal conceded by Pedro Gallese allowed FC Dallas (7-3-4, 25 points) to run away with it.

Paul Arriola and Franco Jara also scored in a three-minute span and Arriola added a second goal shortly after that, as the Lions continue to struggle against Dallas. Orlando City fell to just 1-4-2 and scored only its third goal in the all-time series.

“Until they scored the first goal, I thought we had a very good game,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “And then lack of concentration, a couple plays. The first one we had the ball and then we gave it away. Something that Dallas knows how to do is just counter and have players up front that are dynamic. We conceded that equalizer that hurt us and our reaction was not right and we conceded a second goal as well.”

With a couple of regular starters suspended and others needing rest, Pareja’s lineup included Gallese behind a back line of Joao Moutinho, Robin Jansson, Kyle Smith, and Ruan. Sebas Mendez took over in central midfield for the suspended Cesar Araujo with Andres Perea as his partner behind an attacking midfield line of Junior Urso, Mauricio Pereyra, and Jake Mulraney, with Kara up top.

Orlando City came out like a team playing its third game in a week. Movement was slow and deliberate and players’ first touch sometimes left a lot to be desired. But despite that, the team did well to keep the ball for spells of possession, although it wasn’t until late in the half that those spells produced shots and quality scoring chances.

The Lions had an early opportunity when Mulraney sent a header toward the back post to an open Urso but the pass was too far off line.

The first Dallas shot came from long range in the eighth minute, when Alan Velasco sent a shot over the bar. Arriola fired a shot right at Gallese in the 16th minute, as the USMNT forward was threatening throughout the game with his movement off the ball.

The Lions had a good chance to get something going on a free kick in the 23rd minute. Pereyra sent in a good ball that was just inches over Jansson’s head.

Arriola did well to smash a shot from the right in the 26th minute that Gallese parried away.

Late in the half, the Lions strung together a number of set pieces but weren’t doing much with them. A recycled ball into the area found Jansson, who flicked a header toward goal but hit teammate Urso with it in the 44th minute. Seconds later, Pereyra had a good opportunity. From the top of the box, he sent a shot on target that goalkeeper Maarten Paes palmed over the bar.

The breakthrough came deep in first-half stoppage time. The Lions had a corner kick cleared and Mendez was first to the loose ball. He was bundled over from behind to set up a free kick from the left. Pereyra sent in a good ball toward the near post for Kara. The Designated Player got his head on it and popped it up and over Paes’ outstretched hand and into the net near the back post to make it 1-0. It was Kara’s fourth goal of the year and his third in the last five games in all competitions. The goal also produced Pereyra’s team-leading sixth assist on the season.

The goal was effectively the last play of the half. Orlando went to the break up a goal. Dallas held a slim lead in possession (50.3%-49.7%), while Orlando fired more shots (5-4), with each team getting two on target. The Lions had more corners (5-0), while the visitors passed more accurately (86.6%-84%).

Orlando City had a chance to double the lead just after the restart. Ruan took the ball down the right and found Perea in the box in the 47th minute but the midfielder hit his shot into the outside netting. Two minutes later the Lions had a good flurry in front of goal but couldn’t get a shot to go. Jansson and Kara each had an effort blocked in the sequence.

FC Dallas had a good spell shortly after that, earning some set pieces in the attacking end. The only decent look for Dallas during that time was a shot wide of goal by Facundo Quignon in the 56th minute.

Three minutes later, Kara nearly pulled off the spectacular. The big forward had his back to goal and went for the bicycle kick in the box. He didn’t get a lot on his shot but it bounced right in front of goal and needed a good save by Paes to keep it out.

Orlando continued to get forward and win fouls but couldn’t do much with its set pieces. However, the wheels came off for the Lions starting in the 67th minute. Perea had a terrible giveaway at midfield that sent Dallas into the attack. A ball across the top of the box from second-half sub Jara wasn’t dealt with by Ruan and found its way to Arriola, who beat Gallese to tie the match.

“I feel like we were comfortable enough,” Mulraney said. “I can’t remember them having many big chances before the first goal.”

Arriola then nearly put Dallas in front in the 69th. Another giveaway — this time in the attacking third — again sent the visitors on the attack. The ball ended up on the left again and was crossed in for Arriola, who timed his run well but his deflection went off target.

But a minute later Dallas took the lead anyway. Jara timed his run well and Smith was unable to step in front in time to put him offside. As a result, Jara got well behind the back line and flicked the ball over Gallese and just barely inside the far post to make it 2-1. The play was reviewed upstairs but the Lions just kept Jara onside.

“He was going in behind a lot more (than other players),” Smith said of Jara’s introduction to the game. “I tried to hold the line. I thought he was offside and then I just tried to get back, and fair to him. It was a good finish.”

The Lions should have leveled the game in the 78th minute. Substitute Alexandre Pato sent in a fantastic corner kick cross to Kara at the back post. The big forward got his head to it at the post but somehow sent his shot just wide.

Seconds later, Gallese made a huge save. Kara lost the ball in the attacking third and Dallas came forward. The ball ended up on Ferreira’s foot and he sent a curling shot toward the far post but Gallese got a hand to it and knocked it away.

Arriola put the game away in the 84th minute. The Lions did nothing with a free kick from the right side and Dallas regained possession, working it upfield. Arriola ended up with the ball on the left side of the box and sent in a tough-angle shot that Gallese would normally save, but it squirted through him and inside the far post to effectively seal the Lions’ fate.

Dallas finished with a tad more possession (50.9%-49.1%) and slightly better passing accuracy (86%-84.1%), while Orlando had more shots (15-13) and corners (7-3). Dallas got more attempts on target, however (6-3). That lack of precision in front of goal and a short spell of giveaways ultimately killed the Lions in this one.

Nobody used the team playing its third game in seven days as an excuse for this result.

“We’re all getting professional recovery and we’re all professionals,” Smith said. “I just think we have to learn from the experience and take something from this.”

“I mean, look, it’s no excuse. We’re professionals,” Mulraney said. “You know, we look after each other well. We look after our own bodies well.”

The Lions are still wasting too many scoring chances that can put teams away and the team is dropping too many points at home. Orlando is just 3-4-0 at home after losing three games combined at Exploria Stadium across the previous two seasons.

“At this point in the season we have given away results at home where we normally are very strong, with games that we have played way better than many others,” Pareja said. “We walk off in defeat and frustration. It is a concern, for sure. I think it’s something that we’ll analyze.”

Orlando City finally gets a rest but will have to sit with the feeling of this loss for a couple of weeks. The Lions are off until June 15, when they travel to Gillette Stadium to face the New England Revolution.

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Lion Links: 7/3/25

Orlando Pride loan five players out, Orlando City academy players selected for All-Star Team, USMNT beats Guatemala, and more.

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32 minutes ago

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July 3, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s been a weird week for me so far, as it’s felt simultaneously like it’s flying by and taking forever for the weekend to get here. All of the soccer has been nice at least, and I’ve been able to get some reading and painting done when not swamped. But enough about me, let’s dive into today’s links!

Orlando Pride Loan Multiple Players Out

The Orlando Pride loaned out five players for the rest of the 2025 season, with four of them joining USL Super League teams. Forward Amanda Allen, who was loaned to Lexington SC last year and injured her shoulder in December, is headed to her home country of Canada to join Halifax Tides FC in the Northern Super League. As for the players headed to the USL Super League, right back Brianna Martinez will join Carolina Ascent FC, goalkeeper Kat Asman and forward Mariana Larroquette were loaned to Lexington, and Aryssa Mahrt was sent to Spokane Zephyr FC. These loans should provide solid opportunities for minutes for these players, so hopefully they can make some noise with their respective teams.

Orlando City Academy Players Make All-Star Team

The rosters for the 2025 MLS NEXT All-Star Game are out and Orlando City B midfielders Gustavo Caraballo and Dylan Judelson were both selected for the event. The East All-Stars will be coached by Orlando City SC Academy Director Javier Carrillo, who also coached Orlando’s U-18 team to victory in the Generation Adidas Cup this year. Caraballo was named MVP of that tournament’s U-18 age group and scored 16 goals over the course of the MLS NEXT season. Judelson appeared in 32 games for Orlando this season and could factor into Canada’s U-17 World Cup plans come November. The MLS NEXT All-Star Game will take place on July 21 and can be viewed on the MLS YouTube channel.

USMNT Takes Down Guatemala in Gold Cup

The United States Men’s National Team secured a spot in the Concacaf Gold Cup final after winning 2-1 against Guatemala in St. Louis. The Yanks got off to a hot start thanks to Diego Luna’s brace in the first 15 minutes of the match. The offense wasn’t able to extend the lead beyond that though, and a late goal by Olger Escobar made the match a bit more tense the U.S. would have liked. Regardless, the U.S. got the job done in the end and will play in Sunday’s final in Houston.

USWNT Breezes Past Canada in Friendly

The United States Women’s National Team beat Canada in convincing fashion, shutting out its northern rival 3-0 in a friendly. Sam Coffey and Claire Hutton scored in the first half to give the USWNT a nice lead, and Yazmeen Ryan came off the bench to put the nail in the coffin with a late goal. The defense did well to claim its third clean sheet of this series of summer friendlies. Emily Sams didn’t make an appearance for the U.S., and Zara Chavoshi didn’t come off the bench for Canada either.

NWSL Announces Layout For 2026 Schedule

The 2026 NWSL regular season will kick off on March 13 and finish on Nov. 1 according to the league’s announced framework for next year’s action. Although there will be 16 teams next year, the playoff format remains the same and the top eight teams in the standings will qualify, with the 2026 NWSL Championship set for Nov. 21. There will once again be a balanced schedule, with each team playing 30 matches over the course of 27 weeks. The league will also notably be on break for a majority of June due to the FIFA World Cup, citing expectations to accommodate stadium demands in markets where World Cup games will take place

Free Kicks

  • Boston Legacy FC signed American midfielder Annie Karich as its first player ahead of its inaugural season next year. Karich spent the past two seasons with SC Freiburg in Germany and joins Boston as a free agent.
  • San Diego FC forward Anders Dreyer was named MLS Player of the Month after recording three goals and six assists in June. He leads the league with 23 goal contributions this season and is a major reason behind San Diego’s rise to the top of the Western Conference standings.
  • Atlanta United bolstered its defense by signing Albanian center back Enea Mihaj to a contract through 2028. The 26-year-old joins as a free agent after spending the past three seasons with FC Famalicao in Portugal top flight.
  • The 2025 Women’s European Championship kicked off in Switzerland, with Finland beating Iceland 1-0 in the first match of the tournament. Switzerland struck first against Norway, but Ada Hegerberg scored an equalizer and an own goal by Swiss defender Julia Stierli gave Norway the 2-1 win.
  • It seems the Concacaf co-hosts for next year’s World Cup will be able to serve suspensions in friendlies rather than missing out on the World Cup.

That’s all I have for you all this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/2/25

Big names leave Toronto FC, hot conditions in Club World Cup match, FIFPRO makes ACL recommendations, and more.

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1 day ago

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July 2, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Wednesday, everyone. It already feels like it’s been a long week, as I just got home from being out of town traveling up and down the East Coast for the last few days. The soccer world hasn’t stopped in my absence though, and as usual we have a lot to cover today. Let’s wish a happy birthday to OCB defender Tahir Reid-Brown, and jump into today’s links!

Italians Leave Toronto FC

It’s the end of an era at Toronto FC, as the club has parted ways with both Federico Bernardeschi, and Lorenzo Insigne. The Reds used both of their two buyouts of guaranteed contracts this season in order to get the transactions done, so the club was pretty keen to get them out the door. It’s hard to blame the Reds, as Insigne was the second-highest paid player in the league while Bernardeschi was the fifth highest. They didn’t have much to show for it though, as Bernardeschi had 26 goals and 22 assists in 99 games across all competitions, while Insigne had 19 goals and 17 assists in 76 matches. TFC never made the playoffs while the duo was on the team, and the decision to turn the page is an understandable one.

Difficult Conditions in Juventus vs. Real Madrid

The Club World Cup Round of 16 concluded on Tuesday, with Real Madrid knocking off Juventus 1-0 in afternoon match. Kylian Mbappe made his tournament debut for Madrid as a substitute, but it was Gonzalo Garcia’s 54th-minute goal that made the difference in the game. Juve boss Igor Tudor highlighted the difficult conditions in Miami, saying in his postgame press conference that 10 different players asked to come off the field during the game. Tudor didn’t outright blame the loss on the high heat and humidity during the 3 p.m. kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium, but noted that they were among several factors that made the game a very difficult one for his side.

FIFPRO Makes Recommendations to Curb ACL Tears

Amid a rash of ACL injuries to women’s soccer players, FIFPRO has made some recommendations to cut down on the rate at which they occur. Rather than focusing on things that can’t be controlled, the federation has suggested modifying the calendar, number of games, and the playing surfaces. FIFPRO member Alex Culvin is calling for minimum standards in the women’s game relating to pitch conditions and access to physiotherapists. More research around risk factors is also necessary, as is implementing preventative exercises at the youth levels of the game.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

Summer transfer business is in full swing, so let’s catch up on some of the hot rumors currently flying around. First up, Arsenal is said to be in the final stages of signing Viktor Gyokeres to a five-year deal. Staying in the Premier League, Manchester United is reportedly interested in signing midfielder Fabian Ruiz from Paris Saint-Germain. Juventus reportedly is close to signing Jonathan David after his contract with Lille expired. Finally, Bayern Munich is reportedly preparing a formal offer for Liverpool for Colombian winger Luis Diaz.

Free Kicks

Apparently a non -#usmnt drone has crashed the training session. US Soccer staff aiming to identify it.

— Jeff Carlisle (@jeffreycarlisle.bsky.social) 2025-07-01T17:25:12.954Z

That’s all I have for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/1/25

Pride signings, OCB draws, both U.S. national teams in action Wednesday, and more.

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2 days ago

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July 1, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Welcome to July, Mane Landers. If you’re like me, you balanced the excitement and dread of the USMNT advancing on penalty kicks the other night. It was one thing watching Guatemala take out Canada but a whole other level of heart palpitating stress while watching the U.S. avoid a similar fate. There’s no time to relax with plenty of soccer to watch as we head towards Independence Day. Before we get to the links, please join us in wishing Orlando Pride/USWNT defender Emily Sams and OCB defender Clovis Archange each a happy birthday.

Orlando Pride Signings

The Orlando Pride announced a pair of transactions Monday. Midfielder Viviana Villacorta and the club have agreed to exercise the midfielder’s mutual option for the 2026 season. Villacorta was the No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft. The Pride also signed midfielder Ally Lemos to a new contract through the 2027 season with a mutual option for 2028. The Pride selected Lemos with the No. 9 overall pick of the 2024 NWSL Draft. Orlando continues to lock down current players ahead of time. Now, we wait to see if any new players will be added.

OCB Earns a Point on the Road

Orlando City B played Philadelphia Union II to a 1-1 draw in a Monday afternoon match. Unfortunately, the Young Lions lost the end-of-regulation shootout 4-2 and did not get the additional point. Gustavo Caraballo assisted Jackson Platts on the early goal for OCB. Philadelphia equalized early in the second half. Carlos Mercado was the difference maker in the match, recording a career-high 12 saves.

USMNT’s Gold Cup Run Continues vs. Guatemala

The USMNT will face Guatemala Wednesday night in a 2025 Gold Cup semifinal match. The U.S. advanced past Costa Rica on penalties thanks to a stellar performance from goalkeeper Matt Freese. Guatemala stunned Canada with a second-half equalizer and advanced on penalty kicks. Guatemala has been the overachieving underdog of the competition so far. This will be the USMNT’s 17th Gold Cup semifinal appearance.

USWNT Hosts Canada

The USWNT will host Canada in a third friendly of this international window Wednesday at Washington, D.C.’s Audi Field. The U.S. is coming off two 4-0 victories over the Republic of Ireland. Canada should prove a tougher opponent for Emma Hayes’ squad. There is a possibility that the match will feature two Orlando Pride players — Emily Sams for the U.S. and Zara Chavoshi for Canada. Kerry Abello has returned to her club team after picking up a knock.

Free Kicks

Sources: Bayer Leverkusen are finalizing a deal to sign USMNT attacker Malik Tillman from PSV.Deal in region of $40m.

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2025-06-30T20:36:24.359Z
  • Former Orlando Pride midfielder Erika Tymrak has retired from professional soccer.

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for Orlando City’s match against Charlotte FC this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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