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Orlando City vs. D.C. United: Five Takeaways

What did we learn from Orlando City’s loss at home to Wayne Rooney’s D.C. United?

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2 years ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City

Orlando City’s struggles at home continued in a 3-1 loss to D.C. United at Exploria Stadium. Unlike last weekend against Minnesota United, the Lions weren’t able to mount a comeback despite another goal from Duncan McGuire. While the Lions didn’t play poorly for most of the match, they had a couple of defensive lapses and weren’t clinical enough on the attacking end to get a result. Here are my five takeaways from another loss at home.

Orlando Runs, Then Limps, On Duncan

Rookie Duncan McGuire got the start up top for the Lions and impressed yet again. He scored his third goal of the season to equalize for Orlando in the first half. Martin Ojeda zipped him a great ball and his first touch was perfect to give himself enough time and space to slot his shot past Tyler Miller. It was a great goal, but he also impressed with his hustle off the ball as well. Unfortunately, his night was cut short by an injury away from the run of play that required him to exit. Although he was able to walk off the field under his own power, it’s a worrying thing to see, considering he now leads the Lions in scoring.

D.C. United’s Stars Shine

All three of D.C. United’s Designated Players had a goal contribution in this one. Taxiarchis Fountas had a hat trick at Exploria Stadium last year and continued to torment Orlando fans by beating Pedro Gallese on the counter to open the scoring. Mateusz Klich delivered the assist from the corner flag on D.C.’s second goal and Christian Benteke grew his team’s lead with a goal that will likely be a Goal of the Matchday contender. Benteke in particular gave Orlando headaches with his hold-up play. The Lions weren’t able to keep D.C.’s stars in check and paid the price, conceding more than twice for the first time this season.

Three’s a Crowd

The Lions rolled out their same back line as the one used in Minnesota, with a trio of center backs in Robin Jansson, Rodrigo Schlegel, and Antonio Carlos. However, there was no comeback win to overshadow the defensive struggles this time around. Benteke would win possession and then exploit the ample space the center backs had to concede to find quick players like Ruan and Fountas. When the wingers go up to contribute in the attack, the defense is left vulnerable and the defenders have struggled in terms of reliably covering the space with one another. Jansson overcommitted out wide on D.C.’s first goal while Carlos was still sprinting back to defend, and no center backs were in the same time zone as Donovan Pines on his header at the near post. It feels wrong to say that three talented center backs who have played together for years are worse off when all on the field together, but they certainly looked out of sorts at times. The return of the team’s fullbacks, who were absent in this game except for substitute Rafael Santos and backup Kyle Smith, should help the defense in the future.

A Tale of Two Wingers

After contributing towards both of Orlando’s goals last weekend, Ivan Angulo wasn’t able to replicate his recent success in this match. His worst moment was the turnover in the center of the field that led to D.C.’s first goal. His 65 touches were tied with Torres for the most on the team, but Angulo wasn’t able to create many chances with them and had no shots or key passes. Only one of his nine crosses were accurate and some of the misses ended Orlando’s possession and stalled its momentum. This match was an opportunity for him to show consistency, but this was a much different performance from him compared to his outing in Minnesota.

Meanwhile, fellow winger Gaston Gonzalez seems to be on an upswing. Granted, he had similar struggles as Angulo in terms of creating chances, but he looked a bit sharper while powering up and down Orlando’s left wing than in past games. Gonzalez also had two great opportunities in the box by getting his head onto a pair of crosses and won a foul from a good position late in the match. He needs to continue improving in some areas, namely crossing and finishing, but there were plenty of encouraging signs from him that bode well for the future.

Lions’ Offense Spins Its Wheels

McGuire’s injury is especially concerning because Orlando’s offense couldn’t find the back of the net without him. To be clear, Orlando’s Designated Players weren’t bad in this match. Ojeda’s assist on McGuire’s goal was pinpoint, Facundo Torres delivered some great crosses for teammates at the far post, and Ercan Kara made some good runs as a substitute. Yet, they couldn’t claw Orlando back into this match. Although not all on the field at the same time, Orlando had all of its DPs and U22 Initiative players in action and only managed one goal. Like a sports car stuck in mud, the offense looked good but didn’t get anywhere in the end. The Lions are going to have to find a way to turn this talent into more goals.

D.C. continues to be a thorn in Orlando’s side, but at least the Lions won’t have to face Wayne Rooney’s side again this regular season. Make sure to let me know your thoughts on the team’s loss. The Lions will aim to right the ship with another home match on Saturday against the LA Galaxy.

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Lion Links: 6/5/25

MLS All-Star voting update, Kerry Abello shines with USWNT, Sergio Zapata earns recognition, and more.

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2 hours ago

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June 5, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this week has been treating you well as we enjoy some international soccer and prepare for the return of NWSL action this weekend. Before we jump right into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando City B midfielder Dylan Judelson!

Pair of Lions Lead MLS All-Star Voting

Voting for this year’s MLS All-Star Game remains underway and an update was provided on which players are leading at each position. Orlando City defender Alex Freeman leads all right backs as he enjoys a breakout season. I was aware of the buzz he’s been getting this year, but it’s still surprising to see a Lion as an All-Star frontrunner. What’s even more surprising is that Pedro Gallese leads the voting for goalkeepers. The Peruvian made a rough gaffe last week, but has otherwise had a stellar season with Orlando that’s included seven clean sheets. Voting will close on June 11, so make sure to get those votes in before then.

Kerry Abello Impresses With USMNT

Orlando Pride defender Kerry Abello made her first appearance for the United States Women’s National Team Tuesday, playing every minute of the 4-0 win over Jamaica. The versatility she’s shown with the Pride translated well in Head Coach Emma Hayes’ system, as she was able to hold things down defensively and contribute to the attack as well. Abello could end up bringing solid depth to the USWNT as Hayes figures out the team’s future core of players. Enjoy this video from the USWNT that provides a look behind the scenes of Abello’s international debut.

Sergio Zapata Named Player of the Month

Sergio Zapata scored a whopping 11 goals for Orlando City’s U-19 team over the course of just four matches in May, winning the honor of MLS NEXT Player of the Month. He had three hat tricks last month, including one against Hoosier Premier at MLS NEXT Fest. Zapata committed to Cornell, so hopefully we’ll get to see him tear it up in the Ivy League over the next couple of years.

Zack Steffen Sustains Knee Injury

Goalkeeper Zack Steffen injured his knee at the United States Men’s National Team’s training camp and will reportedly miss this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup. It’s rough news for the 30-year-old, as he was expected to compete with Matt Turner for the starting job with the USMNT. He’s been having a great season with the Colorado Rapids and returned to the club for further evaluation on the injury.

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

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Lion Links: 6/4/25

USWNT wins as Abello gets first cap, Orlando Pride’s Concacaf W Champions Cup draw, Club World Cup in Orlando, and more.

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1 day ago

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June 4, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Tuesday was a busy soccer day, especially on the women’s side. We have plenty of Orlando Pride news, and the USWNT secured yet another victory. I’m hoping the good vibes continue since I’ll be coming down to Orlando for the Pride’s match this Saturday. If you’re going to the match, let me know, as I’d love to meet as many of our readers as possible. For now, let’s get to the links.

USWNT Blanks Jamaica

The USWNT defeated Jamaica 4-0 in a friendly at Energizer Park in St. Louis. The Orlando Pride’s Kerry Abello got her first start and her first cap in the match. She went the full 90 minutes and almost had her first international goal in the second half, but the chance went a bit wide of the right post. Ally Sentnor and Lynn Biyendolo each scored a brace as the U.S. rolled to an easy win.

Pride Internationals

Abello wasn’t the only Pride player to make an international appearance. Marta returned to international duty for Brazil getting the start and the captain’s armband in a 2-1 win over Japan. Both Grace Chanda and Barbra Banda started for Zambia in the 2-0 loss to South Africa in the Three Nations Challenge. Congratulations are also due to Zara Chavoshi, who earned her first cap with the Canadian Women’s National Team in the match against Haiti.

Concacaf W Champions Cup Draw

The Concacaf W Champions Cup draw happened yesterday and the Orlando Pride are in Group A with Club America Femenil, CF Pachuca Femenil, LD Alajuelense, and Chorrillo FC. Group B consists of NJ/NY Gotham FC, the Washington Spirit, CF Monterrey Femenil, Vancouver Rise FC Academy, and Alianza Women FC. The competition kicks off Aug. 19-21.

FIFA Loves Orlando

FIFA President Gianni Infantino sat for an interview with Jamie Seh of WKMG Orlando. Infantino spoke about the upcoming Club World Cup matches at Inter&Co Stadium and Camping World Stadium. FIFA loves Orlando enough for the city to host the Club World Cup, but not the actual World Cup. Here is the schedule for the matches in Orlando. We will be bringing you coverage of these matches.

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That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the return of the Orlando Pride this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 6/3/25

Orlando City B announces signings, details of Concacaf W Champions Cup, UEFA Nations League preview, and more.

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2 days ago

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June 3, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

Good morning, everyone. It’s been a pretty brutal last two games for Orlando City, there’s no getting around that fact. While it’s never fun to not have the team in action, a two-week break between games maybe isn’t the worst thing in this particular case. Even though it’ll be a minute before the Lions are back in action, we still have plenty of things to talk about, so let’s get into today’s links.

Orlando City B Announces Signings

Orlando City B announced on Monday that it has signed Clovis Archange and Jackson Platts to MLS NEXT Pro contracts. The pair are graduates of the Orlando City Development Academy and were part of the team that won the U-18 Generation Adidas Cup earlier this year. The 18-year-old Platts captained the team in the final, while Archange was named as one of the players to watch before the tournament started. They’ve both featured for their countries at the youth level, with Platts appearing for the United States U-16 and U-18 teams, and Archange suiting up for Canada’s U-17 side. Congratulations to both players!

Concacaf Announces W Champions Cup Details

Concacaf has named the 10 teams that will participate 2025-2026 Concacaf W Champions Cup and has announced the pots for tonight’s draw. The Orlando Pride are one of three American teams participating in the second year of the competition, and have been placed into Pot 2. Teams will be divided into two groups of five, with each team facing every club in its group once, and the top two sides from each group then advancing to the semifinals. The winner gets a spot in the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, and the FIFA Women’s Club World Cup, which is set to be held for the first time in 2028. The draw takes place tonight at 8 p.m.

UEFA Nations League Preview

The UEFA Nations League returns this week, with the semifinals set for tomorrow and Thursday, and the third-place game and final taking place on Sunday. Things get started on Wednesday afternoon with Germany facing off against Portugal in Munich. Germany put away Italy 5-4 on aggregate in the quarterfinals to get to the semis for the first time, while Portugal beat Denmark 5-2, and is hunting for its second Nations League trophy. Thursday has Spain taking on France in Stuttgart. The Spanish beat the Netherlands on penalties in the semis to get here, while France took out Croatia on penalties to punch its ticket. There’s plenty of recent history in this one as these teams also met in the semifinals of Euro 2024 last year, with Spain claiming a 2-1 win.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

The transfer rumor mill has kicked into full swing, so let’s catch up on some of the big talking points. Starting in England, Manchester United has reportedly increased its interest in Brian Mbuemo, with the Brentford forward said to also be interested in moving to the club. There are said to be a number of Premier League teams interested in signing Southampton midfielder Tyler Dibling after his team was relegated to the Championship this season. Jobe Bellingham will reportedly follow in his brother Jude’s footsteps, as he’s reportedly decided to join Borussia Dortmund. Finally, Inter Milan is reportedly interested in signing Marcus Rashford as the Italians look to rebuild the squad following a brutal defeat in the UEFA Champions League final.

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  • Here’s a first look at Alex Freeman in his USMNT kit:

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

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