Orlando City B

Orlando City B vs. Philadelphia Union II: Final Score 3-1 as Young Lions Open Season with Road Win

Published

2 years ago

March 26, 2023

Image Courtesy of Orlando City B

If the home team falls at Subaru Park in Chester, PA, and no one is able to see the stream of it happening, does it make a sound? Orlando City B got two early goals and added a third in the second half to beat Philadelphia Union II by a 3-1 scoreline in the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season opener for both teams.

However, very few outside the stadium saw much of the game as the Young Lions (1-0-0, 3 points) gave Orlando a weekend sweep of Philadelphia with their victory over Union II (0-1-0, 0 points) because of difficulties starting and maintaining the league’s stream of the match. Neither the opening goal by defender Abdi Salim or the final goal by either Moises Tablante or Jack Lynn — depending on whether you go by the play-by-play announcer, the club, or the league’s stat feed — were shown live on the broadcast.

At least fans watching the live stream got to see Cristofer Acuña score his first OCB goal and the lone goal by Union II, which was scored by CJ Olney, Jr. Acuña starred in the match with his goal and an assist on the third OCB goal.

Head Coach Martin Perelman’s first starting lineup of the season was a 4-4-2 that included Javier Otero in goal behind a back line of Franco Perez, Nabi Kibunguchy, Abdi Salim, and Zakaria Taifi. The midfield consisted of Jhon Solis, Juninho, Imanol Almaguer, and Alejandro Granados, with Tablante and Acuña up top. First-team players Lynn and Shak Mohammed were on the bench.

Our first Starting XI of the season 👊#OCB x #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/iKOMfCWcdS
— Orlando City B (@OrlandoCityB) March 26, 2023

The early part of the game is a mystery to all who weren’t in the stadium. The MLS NEXT Pro stream did not start at 2:50 p.m. as advertised and in fact did not start at all until the 10th minute. That denied fans the opportunity to see Salim’s first professional goal, which came in the fifth minute on a header off a corner kick, putting the Young Lions ahead early. The young defender celebrated his first career professional goal with an acrobatic flip.

Salim opens the scoring for @OrlandoCityB! 🔥

That flip tho 👀 pic.twitter.com/kOzBF7zLXg
— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) March 26, 2023

Acuña nearly doubled the lead in the 13th minute, getting into the box down the left side. Goalkeeper Andrew Rick came way off his line and made the stop and pounced on the rebound before an OCB player could get to it. Two minutes later, Solis had an opportunity near the top of the area and Rick made a spectacular save to keep it out of the top left corner.

But that OCB pressure paid off in the 16th minute. A run down the left channel by Perez drew everyone’s attention and when he slipped a centering pass to Acuña, there was no one to stop the easy goal. Acuña’s first goal with OCB double the lead at 2-0.

After going down two, Philadelphia started to play with desperation and applied much more pressure. The Young Lions started turning the ball over more often and it started with a quick transition that gave the Union a prolonged spell of pressure in the 19th minute but no one could get a shot off and eventually an offside allowed OCB players to catch their breath

Two minutes later, OCB did well to block a couple of Philly shots. The Young Lions then had to withstand a shorthanded situation after a player required more than 15 seconds to get up from an injury, per MLS NEXT Pro rules.

Otero came off his line with a strong punch to clear a cross in the 26th minute, and then did well to catch a ball into the area from Boubacar Diallo moments later, holding it through contact with his own defender, Kibunguchy.

The hosts finally pulled one back in the 29th minute and it came off a turnover from Union II’s sustained pressure. In what was a mirror image of OCB’s second goal, Union II broke into the attacking third in transition and CJ Olney Jr. slotted home from around the penalty spot after taking the centering pass from Nelson Pierre.

The game was a bit more even after the Union got on the board. A good OCB attack was thwarted when the ball in from the left flank was just beyond the reach of two Orlando attackers in the 32nd minute.

Pierre headed well off target in the 38th minute for Philadelphia. Then Tablante had two shots blocked in rapid succession at the top of the penalty area a minute later after the Young Lions did well to break the press.

The only eventful moment in the first half after that was a scuffle between the teams in the 42nd minute. Granados was knocked down from behind and landed on the ball. The referee called no foul and so a Union player tried to kick it out from under the Young Lion. OCB players took exception to that and some pushing and shoving ensued, resulting in yellow cards to OCB’s Almaguer and Francis Westfield of Philadelphia.

The halftime stats showed OCB with a slight advantage in possession (51.6%-48.4%), shots (7-6), and shots on target (4-2). Philadelphia passed slightly more accurately (81.5%-79.1%) and each team had one opportunity to take a corner kick.

Whatever the problem was with the first half stream, the league (or Philadelphia II) doubled down at halftime. The stream switched off and a second link was posted on YouTube. But it didn’t start streaming at all on some devices in the second half, despite a notice posted on the MLS NEXT Pro site that the stream was unavailable due to technical issues and the league was working to restore it as quickly as possible. It did come on for YouTube users — albeit not on the Firestick plugged into my television, just via browser — around the 67th minute.

OCB — apparently, to those who were actually at Subaru Park — struck again in the 61st minute. Tablante (or was it Lynn?) scored from near the top of the area with a header off an Acuña cross. The play came off another OCB corner kick and gave the Young Lions a 3-1 advantage.

Mohammed made his professional debut in the 67th minute, coming on for Acuña.

Otero made a big save deep in stoppage time on a header by Westfield off a corner kick cross. That’s really all I saw in real time. I caught the last few minutes of normal time and all seven minutes of stoppage, so it’s pointless to discuss much about the second half, aside from the goal scored by…well, somebody on OCB. If the club says it was Lynn, it probably was, so we’ll go with that.

Philadelphia, pressing to get back in the game in the second half, led in several statistical categories, including possession (53.4%-46.6%), shots (14-12), corners (9-4), and passing accuracy (79.7%-76%). The Young Lions got more shots on target (8-3) — a statistical category that plagued OCB at times last season.

The important thing is the outcome, even though the third goal is in question and the stream situation is an embarrassing one for a league that has already supposedly gone through such growing pains.

The Young Lions will open their home schedule on Friday when expansion Huntsville City visits Osceola County Stadium at 7 p.m.

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

6 days ago

February 13, 2025

Michael Citro

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.

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

January 30, 2025

Sean Rollins

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.

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

3 weeks ago

January 27, 2025

Michael Citro

Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

The 2025 MLS NEXT Pro schedule was r eleased 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.