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Orlando City

Intelligence Report: Orlando City vs. New York City FC

Familiarize yourself with a New York City FC team that looks very different compared to past years.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Orlando City’s busy month of May continues at a breakneck pace this week. The Lions will be back at home tomorrow night to take on New York City FC.

A visit from NYCFC means I spoke to Oliver Strand, the executive editor over at Hudson River Blue. Like us here at The Mane Land, the folks over at HRB have gone independent, and they’re continuing to do excellent work covering NYCFC, NJ/NY Gotham FC, and other soccer in the Tri-State area. I also took the time to answer some of their questions about Orlando City, so make sure you head over to their place and check those out!

Orlando and NYCFC both seem to have had an up-and-down start to the season. What’s the feeling among the fans about the first two months for New York?

Oliver Strand: Frustration and patience. Frustration because the team has put in some of the most lifeless performances in club history, which are especially jarring after the triumphs of 2021 and 2022. It’s not just that NYCFC has lost games it coulda/shoulda won, it’s that it can look nothing like the technical, possessive, progressive team we have come to expect. 

Patience because the team is in the middle of a rebuild after losing most of its most important players (see below), and the fans fully understand this is a work in progress. 

Who were some of the big off-season departures for NYCFC, and how have they been replaced?

OS: The short answer: Everybody, and nobody. The long answer: The backbone of the team that won MLS Cup in 2021 and made a deep run in the 2022 playoffs is now gone. Valentin Castellanos left last summer and hasn’t been replaced. 

Goalkeeper Sean Johnson has been replaced by former backup Luis Barraza to mixed results. Playmaker Maxi Moralez was one of the best in the league, and he has nominally been replaced by the promising Richy Ledezma — he’s good, and shows signs of becoming great, but we’re at the start of that journey. Center back Alexander Callens was also one of the best in the league, and his replacement is Tony Alfaro, who is more of a depth piece. 

To be fair, the additions to the defense are strong. Right back Anton Tinnerholm is gone, but new signing Mitja Ilenic is an 18-year-old Slovenian who puts in consistently strong performances. New left back Braian Cufré has made 10 of 12 starts. 

But the biggest gap is in the attack. After Castellanos left, Héber and Talles Magno shared duties as the No. 9. Héber is now with Seattle, and Magno is back to his preferred position on the left wing, leaving the team without a focus to the attack. Santiago Rodríguez has played as a false nine a couple of times, but that’s not exactly a replacement. There’s a striker-sized hole in this team.

This is the team’s first full year with Nick Cushing at the helm, what type of soccer does he want NYCFC to play?

OS: He wants to pick up where Ronny Deila left off and play in a way that’s possession-based and progressive: Attractive, attacking soccer. It was clicking into place at the end of last year — the 3-0 win over Inter Miami in the MLS Cup playoffs was one of the most beautiful games NYCFC has ever played.

The problem is he doesn’t quite have the personnel to pull that off right now. Is it because of chemistry? Maybe they just need more time together. Is it ability? Maybe this group isn’t technical enough. Or is it desire? This team is missing that edge that Castellanos, Moralez, Callens, and Johnson brought to every game they played. 

What we’re left with is possession-based soccer that rarely progresses into the attacking third. There’s a lot of triangle passes between the goalkeeper and defenders, but it’s not that attractive or dangerous. 

Are there any players who will be unavailable due to injury, suspension, etc? What is your projected starting XI and score prediction?

OS: Alfredo Morales was out with an injury on Saturday. It’s hard to say who might make the injury list — NYCFC doesn’t announce it until the last minute. There are no suspensions.

The starting XI is also hard to say. Out of the 12 games this season, Cushing has played 11 different starting XIs. He experimented with a back three two games ago, echoing the back three he used at the end of the 2022 season to incredible effect, but then abandoned it on Saturday.

Here’s a best guess:

Luis Barraza; Braian Cufré, Maxime Chanot, Thiago Martins, Mitja Ilenic; Keaton Parks, James Sands; Richy Ledezma; Talles Magno, Santiago Rodriguez, Gabriel Pereira.

Final score: Orlando 2-1 NYCFC. It’s hard to see this squad winning on the road given its recent away performances.


Thank you to Oliver for helping us get up to speed on NYCFC. Vamos Orlando!

Orlando City

Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Three Keys to Victory

What does Orlando City need to do to earn a second victory in a row at home this Saturday?

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City is coming off its first win of the MLS regular season and will look to carry that momentum into Saturday night’s Eastern Conference matchup against the New York Red Bulls. The Lions will have several players back from international duty, making Oscar Pareja’s job a bit easier, although some of them will be on short rest. What does Orlando City need to do to earn all three points against the Red Bulls?

Stop Morgan

Lewis Morgan has been on a tear this season with five goals in five matches. That is more than every Orlando City player combined so far this season. The Red Bulls were held scoreless in two matches, meaning those five goals have come in three matches, with Morgan scoring a hat trick against Inter Miami. I love that he took it to the Herons like that, but I’m going to need him to cool off a bit against the Lions.

If Orlando City is to stop Morgan it will take excellent defending from the Lions’ back line and of course Pedro Gallese, who is returning from international duty. Orlando City also gets Wilder Cartagena and David Brekalo back, meaning more of the first choice lineup will be available to keep a clean sheet. With the match at home, earning a clean sheet is all the more important.

Proper Rest and Preperation

It might seem silly to say, but having more than a few days between matches is conducive to earning points. When Orlando City was participating in the Concacaf Champions Cup, the Lions never had time to properly recover or train with a game plan for the next match. Now, the Lions are able to do so, and the result against Austin FC reflects that.

Pareja is a top level MLS coach. We know that he has a plan for about the first 20 minutes of any match, and then makes adjustments throughout the remainder of the match. Even so, many of those adjustments have been planned out prior to the match. That, paired with a more rested roster, allows the Lions to be the protagonists Pareja wants them to be.

Shots, Shots, Shots

Orlando City was able to create plenty of chances against Austin FC, and will need to do so again against the Red Bulls. The Lions took 22 shots Saturday night, with eight on target, and they put two in the back of the net against Austin. Hopefully, Orlando City can be more efficient going forward, but if you don’t create opportunities, you won’t score.

The Red Bulls have some decent defenders who Orlando City will have to deal with, including fullback John Tolkin and Carlos Coronel at keeper. If the Lions can pass even close to the way they did against Austin, the opportunities will come, and if that is the case, hopefully the goals will come. Orlando City still has a sizable goal deficit, thanks to the early part of the season, that can only be corrected with more goals on the other end.


That is what I will be looking for this Saturday night at Inter&Co Stadium. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/28/24

Getting to know Rafael Santos, Orlando Pride prepare for Chicago, Midge Purce out for the season, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope the work week has been treating you well as we gear up for another weekend of soccer. March flew by for me and April is shaping up to be a pretty busy month as well. In other news, I’m looking into adopting a cat and gathering the supplies to make that happen. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Getting to Know Rafael Santos

Orlando City left back Rafael Santos was the latest Lion to field questions as part of the club’s video series for fans to learn more about its players. The 26-year-old spoke about the decision process behind joining Orlando and playing outside of Brazil for the first time in his career after five years with Cruzeiro. He’s brought his attack-minded style of play to the team, particularly in terms of providing lethal crossing from the wing. Make sure to check out the full video as Santos also shared photos of his newborn and showcased his skill with a cavaquinho.

Orlando Pride Prepare to Host Chicago

After a pair of draws to start their season, the Orlando Pride will have a chance to claim their first win of the season when they host the Chicago Red Stars tomorrow night at 6 p.m. Head Coach Seb Hines spoke about how the Pride have shown plenty of resilience so far this young season. The team managed to secure a point in last week’s 1-1 draw with Angel City FC despite a patchwork back line due to injuries. That defense will likely have its hands full against Mallory Swanson and a Chicago team that won both of its first two games. Hines spoke about how the Pride are preparing for Chicago and how they will need the home crowd to bring the support tomorrow night.

Sophia Smith Signs Record-Breaking New Deal

American forward Sophia Smith signed a new contract with the Portland Thorns that will make her the highest-paid NWSL player, according to the club. The new deal will last through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026 as well. The 23-year-old was drafted by the Thorns with the first overall pick in the 2020 NWSL Draft and has gone on to score 34 regular-season goals. Smith re-signed with the club in 2022 and was set to become a free agent following this season, but will instead stay in Portland.

Midge Purce Out for NWSL Season

NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Midge Purce will miss the remainder of the NWSL season after tearing her ACL. The 28-year-old will undergo surgery and suffered the injury in her team’s 1-0 victory over the Portland Thorns this past weekend. She’s been with Gotham since 2020 and assisted on both goals in her team’s 2-1 win in the 2023 NWSL Championship. It’s a tough blow for the United States Women’s National Team too, as she will not be representing the U.S. during this summer’s Olympics in France.

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  • Orlando City B’s match against Carolina Core FC on April 14 has been rescheduled.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/27/24

Bally Sports will broadcast Orlando Pride matches, Pride players called up, USWNT announces SheBelieves Cup roster, and more.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Hello, Mane Landers. I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I attended my friend’s wedding this past weekend and have been getting myself back into work mode by covering high school tennis this week. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Bally Sports Will Broadcast Select Orlando Pride Matches

Bally Sports was announced as the new local television partner for the Orlando Pride. There will be 13 select Pride matches broadcast this season across Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports Sun, and on the Bally Sports app. The partnership will begin this Friday, with the Orlando Soccer Insider show taking place before the kickoff of the Pride’s home match against the Chicago Red Stars at 7 p.m. The show will be broadcast on Bally Sports Florida, and then you can switch to the Bally Sports app to watch Friday’s match. Below are all the select matches that will be broadcast on Bally Sports this season.

Brazilian Orlando Pride Players Called Up

The Orlando Pride’s Marta, Angelina, and Luana were all called up by Brazil for next month’s SheBelieves Cup. Brazil heads into this tournament after a solid showing in the Concacaf W Gold Cup. The format is different for this year’s SheBelieves Cup, as there will only be four matches instead of six. Brazil’s first match of the tournament will be a semifinal on April 6 against Canada in Atlanta.

USWNT Announces Roster for SheBelieves Cup

United States Women’s National Team interim head coach Twila Kilgore announced the 23-player roster for the 2024 SheBelieves Cup matches next month. The USWNT has won this competition four consecutive times since 2020, and is going for a seventh title in 2024. Of those called up, 19 players on this squad were part of the team that won the Concacaf W Gold Cup earlier this month. San Diego Wave forward Jaedyn Shaw, the Concacaf W Gold Cup’s MVP, is back on the roster after she led the USWNT with four goals. The squad also includes familiar names like former Pride forward Alex Morgan, Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, and Olympique Lyon midfielder Lindsey Horan. Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario return to the squad after being sidelined with injuries. The USWNT will begin its quest to defend its SheBelieves Cup title when it faces Japan on April 6 in Atlanta.

MLS Referees Agree to New CBA

After a lockout that resulted in Major League Soccer starting the season with replacement referees, the Professional Soccer Referees Association voted to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement with the Professional Referee Organization. The new CBA is a seven-year deal that runs through January of 2031. This deal will also include significant pay raises for referees, assistant referees, and video assistant referees. The PRO referees will return to the pitch for this weekend’s MLS matches.

Ukraine, Georgia, and Poland Qualify for Euro 2024

Ukraine has qualified for this summer’s Euros after edging out Iceland 2-1 in its playoff final, with Mykhaylo Mudryk scoring the winning goal in the second half. Georgia eliminated Greece 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw to book a spot in the tournament as well. Georgia qualifies for its first major tournament after coming up short in 2020. Poland also needed penalties to qualify, with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny making the final save against Daniel James to beat Wales 5-4 on penalties after a scoreless draw.

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

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