Connect with us

Orlando City

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

Published

3 years ago

on

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.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/21/25

Orlando Pride release preseason camp roster, scouting Costa Rica, women’s soccer transfer grades, and more.

Published

22 hours ago

on

January 21, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone! If you had yesterday off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, then I hope you enjoyed some restful time off. If not, then I hope you got your week started off on a good and productive note. There’s a lot going on around here this week as the United States Men’s National Team is in town, and Orlando City will play its first preseason match on Saturday. That means we have plenty to discuss, so let’s dig into today’s links.

Orlando Pride Drop Preseason Roster

Monday might have been a holiday but the Orlando Pride were busy, as they announced the roster for their upcoming preseason camp. Almost all of the usual suspects from the 2024 season are back, as the Pride return 98% of the player-minutes from last season and every single scorer. Mariana Larroquette is on the list although she’s currently on loan in Argentina, and Amanda Allen is likewise included after her loan at Lexington Sporting Club was terminated due to a torn labrum. The biggest intrigue comes from the trio of non-roster invitees: goalkeeper DeAira Jackson, midfielder Aryssa Mahrt, and forward Simone Jackson.

Scouting Costa Rica

The USMNT takes on Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium to wrap up the team’s annual January camp. Like the U.S., Costa Rica is bringing a roster devoid of the majority of its important players. Costa Rica also has a new manager at the helm in Miguel Herrera, who will take charge of the team for the very first time on Wednesday. Herrera typically lines his teams up in a 5-3-2 where the wingbacks take on a very important role and the team looks to hit on the counter while staying compact at the back. This will be the last time we see the USMNT in action until the Concacaf Nations League semifinals in early March.

Women’s Soccer January Transfer Grades

January has been a busy time for transfers in the women’s soccer world, so which teams have done the best business? Well, the Orlando Pride received an A grade for signing Marta to a new two-year deal, retaining a player who helped the team win its first ever trophies. Liverpool got an A for signing Julia Bartel on loan from Chelsea. Leicester City made an interesting call by transferring goalkeeper Lize Kop to Tottenham despite just being a point above the relegation zone. The Foxes get a C for the move, while Spurs get a B+ for adding a capable netminder.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans taking part in some very important games over the course of this week. Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Juventus face Club Brugge today in the UEFA Champions League, while Ricardo Pepi, Richy Ledezma, Esmir Bajraktarević, Malik Tillman and PSV Eindhoven take on Crvena Zvezda in the same competition. Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will play Girona in the UCL on Wednesday, while Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Celtic take on Young Boys. On Friday, John Tolkin could make his Bundesliga debut when his new team, Holstein Kiel, travels to face Wolfsburg.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando Pride players reported for their preseason physicals on Monday.
  • Meanwhile, Orlando City took on the dreaded beep test during Monday’s training session.

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

Continue Reading

Orlando City

Striker Suddenly a Position of Need for Orlando City

Departures and a key injury mean Orlando City needs a striker heading into the 2025 MLS season.

Published

2 days ago

on

January 20, 2025

By

Image Courtesy of Orlando City SC

Orlando City reached the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in 2024, a milestone for the club. The core of the team was locked up through the 2025 season, so there was no reason to believe it needed to add much this off-season. Unfortunately, injuries and departures have created a serious problem for the team.

The group of forwards last year consisted of Duncan McGuire, Ramiro Enrique, and Jack Lynn. McGuire scored 15 goals in 2023 and was expected to depart for Blackburn Rovers before a clerical error allowed the Lions to keep their target man. The team’s primary striker scored 11 goals in 37 games — the same number as the previous season — but split time starting with Enrique. The Argentinian improved greatly in 2024, increasing his total goal tally from four to 12. Even Lynn showed tremendous improvement last year, playing a greater role in the team and scoring his first two MLS goals.

The future also seemed bright for the Orlando City forwards because of their ages. Lynn is the oldest of the trio at just 25 years old. Meanwhile, McGuire and Enrique are only 23, so there was no reason to believe this group couldn’t produce this coming season.

The problem at striker began in the postseason when McGuire was pulled down by Charlotte FC midfielder Djibril Diani in the final first round game of the playoffs. McGuire suffered a shoulder injury during the challenge that required surgery on Dec. 13. It’s expected that the striker could take four to five months to return to action, possibly leaving him out until May or June.

Another blow to Orlando’s attack occurred Saturday when Lynn surprisingly announced his retirement from professional soccer. In just over a month, Orlando City went from having three strikers to having just one as preseason training starts.

With McGuire injured and Lynn gone, one option would be to have Designated Player Luis Muriel play up top. However, the Colombian prefers to play a more withdrawn position and proved to be effective in that role last year. Since Head Coach Oscar Pareja prefers to play a 4-2-3-1 formation, the Lions need someone up top to control the ball and involve the midfielders in the attack. That’s not Muriel’s game.

The result of these issues is that nobody is currently behind Enrique when the season begins. If the Argentinian gets tired, hurt, or simply needs rest, Pareja is limited in his options. 

Whether there was a lack of strikers or a lack of goals from the position previously, that problem was resolved by the club’s all-time leading goal scorer. Facundo Torres scored 20 goals in 2024, becoming the first player in Orlando City’s MLS history and the second player in club history to do so. He went on to set a new club record for total goals of 47.

However, Orlando City sold its best player to Brazilian side Palmeiras on Dec. 20. It was a gut punch to fans as Torres had signed a new contract on Jan. 10, 2024 that ran through the 2026 season. There had been talk for the last couple of years that the attacker would look for a move to Europe and rumors of a move to South America arose this off-season. Still, it created a huge gap the club has to fill.

There are players on the roster that can make up for the injury and departures. Martin Ojeda had a strong season in 2024, finishing with seven goals and 13 assists. His seven goals ranked fourth on the team and his 13 assists topped the squad alongside Nico Lodeiro. Muriel came on strong later in the season, finishing with five goals and eight assists. But those numbers are a long way from the 20 goals that Torres tallied last year.

Even if you consider all goal contributions, Ojeda and Muriel fall well short of Torres. Ojeda had a total of 20 goal contributions in 2024 while Muriel had 13. In addition to Torres’s 20 goals, he added nine assists for a team-leading 29 goal contributions.

All of this information leads to one undeniable fact — Orlando City needs to sign a striker prior to the season. And there’s not much time for Luiz Muzzi to act. The European transfer window closes on Feb. 3 and many MLS teams have already been filling similar needs. With the season starting in just over a month, the options will be limited if the Lions don’t do something soon.

After the best postseason finish in Orlando City’s MLS history, things were looking good heading into 2025. While the back line and most of the midfield is returning, McGuire’s injury and the departure of Torres and Lynn have left the Lions in a tough spot offensively. If they don’t do something in the next couple of weeks, it could be a long 2025.

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/20/25

Orlando City signs Nicolas Rodriguez, Jack Lynn announces retirement, USMNT defeats Venezuela in friendly, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

January 20, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope you’re all having a good holiday weekend as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Over the past week, I’ve been working and covering high school ice hockey. It will be a busy week in Orlando, with the United States Men’s National Team’s match against Costa Rica on Wednesday and Orlando City’s first preseason match against Atletico Mineiro on Saturday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Signs Nicolas Rodriguez

Orlando City announced on Friday that the club has signed forward Nicolas Rodriguez from Fortaleza CEIF in Colombia’s top flight. The deal is through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028, and Rodriguez will occupy a MLS U22 Initiative slot. Rodriguez made 19 appearances for Fortaleza, recording 1,607 minutes, five goals, and three assists during the 2024 Primera A Clausura season. The Lions add a young attacking player the club can develop and Rodriguez can play on the right wing, the right side of a three-man midfield, or in the No. 10 spot.

Jack Lynn Announces Retirement

Orlando City forward Jack Lynn announced his retirement from professional soccer on Saturday. Lynn was drafted by Orlando in the first round of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. He became a regular starter for Orlando City B, scoring a team-record 38 goals in over three seasons with the MLS NEXT Pro side. Lynn also won the Golden Boot with 19 goals during the 2023 season and became the first OCB player to be named MLS NEXT Pro MVP. He played sparingly with the first team, but he scored twice last season as his role increased. The Lions will likely look to add another striker for more depth up top.

Orlando Pride Acquire Allocation Money in Trade

On Friday, the Orlando Pride announced that the club has acquired $50,000 in Allocation Money from the Washington Spirit. In exchange, the Pride sent the Spirit a 2025 international roster spot. The Pride will face the Spirit in the NWSL Challenge Cup final on March 7 at Inter&Co Stadium.

USMNT Defeats Venezuela in Friendly

The USMNT defeated Venezuela 3-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday in a friendly. Jack McGlynn and Patrick Agyemang scored in the first half to give the USMNT a 2-0 lead just before halftime. Matko Milijevic scored the third goal for the Americans in the second half, with Venezuela pulling one back thanks to a goal from Jorge Yriarte. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has led the USMNT to winning four out of its first five matches since he took charge last September. The USMNT’s next match will be against Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium.

Alyssa Naeher Named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year

On Saturday, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was voted 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. Naeher won 40% of the vote, while defender Naomi Girma finished in second with 32%. In her final year with the USWNT, Naeher ended 2024 with 18 starts, playing 1,170 minutes and only conceding 11 goals. She played a crucial role with clutch saves to help the USWNT win the 2024 SheBelieves Cup, 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup, and gold at the Olympics in Paris. Naeher is the second goalkeeper to win the award since Hope Solo won it in 2009.

Free Kicks

  • Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has reached an agreement with the club on a record-breaking contract that extends his deal through 2034.

That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

Continue Reading

Trending