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Orlando City vs. Seattle Sounders: Player Grades and Man of the Match

How did your favorite Lions perform in a 0-0 draw on the road against the Seattle Sounders?

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2 years ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

In a match that saw Orlando City pass the ball wherever and whenever it wanted, only to squander multiple scoring chances, the Lions ultimately drew 0-0 at the Seattle Sounders. The Lions struggled to find the frame, putting only three of 13 shots on target. The old adage says “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,” but I would argue some of those shots just weren’t worth taking and some were flubbed so badly that I wish they weren’t taken either.

Here’s how I rated Orlando City’s individual performances at Lumen Field.

Starters

GK, Pedro Gallese, 7 — It is always great to get your first-choice goalkeeper back in the net. And you really remember how much you missed him once he’s called to action in the opening minutes. In total, Pedro made a couple saves across the course of 90 minutes and held the Sounders scoreless in a match that saw him face a 1.22 expected goals against stat line. His 30 passes only found their mark 43% of the time, which isn’t great for a team that usually depends on him to spring a counterattack. For his efforts keeping the ball out of the net and being an outlet for a drop ball to relieve the high pressure, El Pulpo was good enough, but didn’t need to be spectacular. His best save came in the first minute against Heber.

D, Rafael Santos, 6.5 — Santos was the cause of the aforementioned Gallese save in the first minute. He must have been worried about something he left on the team bus because Heber made it look like he still hadn’t gotten off of it to start the match. But perhaps that was the exact wake-up call that he needed. Santos had a decent defensive performance against the Sounders but struggled in the attack. Defensively, he recorded two tackles and a clearance while only giving up one foul. Offensively, he found himself on the ball 80 times, completing 81% of his 60 passes. He found his man with only one of his five long balls and was inaccurate on all three of his crosses. Ultimately, he defended well against those coming down his left wing. Overall, I think Santos can give himself a pat on the back as he boards the plane back to the east coast.

D, Robin Jansson, 6.5 — Sometimes we look back at the statistics from a match to try to help us remember what a player did that was notable. For Jansson, it is rare to not think of a single key moment where the Beefy Swede stepped up big for the team, but it wasn’t really required. With zero tackles or interceptions on the night, Jansson only offered a clearance, a pair of blocked shots, and a foul conceded. He completed 92% of his 39 passes, with three of five long balls also being accurate, and he also drew a yellow card on Cody Baker. The center back wasn’t the cause for a goal against or booked in the match, so that in itself is noteworthy.

D, Antonio Carlos, 7 — As the match came to a close and players began to shake hands, we saw the camera pan to Antonio Carlos sitting on the pitch with a trainer and players next to him. Hopefully, this was just the picture of a man disappointed to only draw after all his efforts and nothing more serious, but I think it was also a good depiction of what Carlos gave in the match. He used his body to block two shots and was hacked down once for a foul. The Brazilian had three clearances and won two aerial duels. With 51 touches, he passed at an 84% success across 45 attempts and was one-for-two on his long balls. Perhaps at the end of the match he was just feeling a bit tattered and torn for having gone the distance against a potent attack of Heber, Nicolas Lodeiro, Leo Chu, and Albert Rusnak.

D, Michael Halliday, 6 — The 20-year-old right back drew a tough assignment by having to keep up with Chu down the flank all night. Early on, it looked as if Chu made a meal of Mikey by drawing a penalty, but thankfully he was offside on the play. In the 48th minute, Chu created another opportunity getting behind Halliday and swinging in a dangerous cross. Aside from that, Halliday mostly held firm on the right side of the defense. With 48 touches, Halliday had one key pass in his 26 attempts (84% accuracy). He was accurate on one of three crosses, made four tackles, and added a clearance. Unfortunately, his night came to a close in the 70th minute when he pulled up mid-dribble, grabbing his hamstring in obvious pain. Hopefully, the severity of the injury won’t turn out to be too serious.

MF, Cesar Araujo, 6.5 — Only seven minutes in, we almost witnessed the spectacular. Araujo tried to channel his inner Jose Martinez from the midweek Philadelphia Union match and go full volley at the back post. For Araujo though, he realized just how rare it is for a defensive midfielder to convert on those, as his attempt hit the side netting on the wrong side of the post. For the rest of the match, Araujo was his regular workhorse self. He made a tackle, won an aerial, and intercepted the ball once, but was booked with his only foul in the match. He had 69 touches, attempted 53 passes (81% accuracy), missed both of his crossing attempts, and completed only one of his three long ball attempts. But he maintained his positioning well and Seattle created very little up the middle.

MF, Wilder Cartagena, 7.5 (MotM) — The Peruvian returned from international duty and put in a solid shift. During his absence, there was a distinct piece missing defensively in the midfield. While the statistics show he only made two tackles, won an aerial duel, and cleared once, Cartagena does so many little things off the ball that it is hard to mention them all. He subtly finds attackers like Rusnak coming through and cuts down passing lanes or offers a bit of his body to them as they try to collect a pass. While these things do not make the stat sheet, they do matter. A key pass, a dribble, and a foul conceded won’t get you in the conversation for Man of the Match alone — but 100% passing accuracy will on 41 attempts and going seven-for-seven on long balls in a crowded and talented Seattle midfield. Welcome back, Wilder Cartagena. You were missed.

MF, Ivan Angulo, 6.5 — Fresh off a loan extension, Angulo was once again lively and hoping to make an impact. He appeared to be a bit more of himself this match and perhaps understands how to handle the turf a little bit better now. His pace didn’t seem to be hampered and made good runs into the channels playing alongside Santos. He won a corner kick in the 35th minute that nearly turned into an Orlando City goal, but a great effort by Stefan Frei kept it out. Defensively, he only made two interceptions. Offensively, he made one key pass, one cross, one dribble, and passed at a 92% clip on 38 attempts.

MF, Facundo Torres, 7.5 — Facu was everywhere on the night. If he had found the net, he would be a shoo-in for Man of the Match. But ultimately, his lack of finesse left me wanting just a little bit more and while his grade ties Cartagena, I’m docking the nod at the award from him for it. In the 76th minute, he forced Frei to make a save with no chance to control the rebound, but the Lions missed a sitter off the deflection. In the 89th minute, Torres slid a shot wide of the far post. His night finished with one foul drawn, 100% completion on his two long balls, four of six on crossing accuracy, and four key passes, while distributing the ball with 79% accuracy on 39 attempts. Only one of his four shots ended up on target, and he earned himself a yellow card for something off camera in the 41st minute without committing a foul in the match.

MF, Martin Ojeda, 6 — For me, I thought Oscar Pareja couldn’t bring on Mauricio Pereyra soon enough. Ojeda was definitely on the pitch, but he wasn’t doing anything out there that made me want to see him play for a full 90 minutes. He blasted two shots, with neither on target, and was dispossessed twice. He only found himself on the ball 39 times, which is the second lowest among outfield starters. He passed 22 times at a 68% accuracy, with one key pass. Only two of eight crosses were successful, however, his saving grace might be that he was four-for-four on his long ball attempts. I’m still not seeing a great return on investment for Orlando’s latest Designated Player, but I’m willing to be patient. I just think he needs to earn his starting minutes still.

F, Duncan McGuire, 7 — The MAC Hermann Trophy winner continues to be the spark the club needs in the attack. He has great holdup play and can create chances for himself. His imposing size allows him to win balls in the air. This was once again proven in the 35th minute as he put a header on target in the bottom left corner. A great save by Frei is the only thing that kept McGuire off of the scoresheet. Frei made a save on another McGuire header in the 65th minute before he made way for Ramiro Enrique in the 70th minute. Duncan found himself on the ball 24 times, won two aerial duels, put both his shots on target, and attempted 11 passes at a 63% completion rate. He also offered a tackle, two clearances, and two fouls conceded.

Substitutes

MF, Mauricio Pereyra (57′), 6.5 — Brought on to maestro the midfield where Ojeda left the team lacking, Pereyra was eventually able to create some dangerous chances with his pinpoint passing. His vision and quality were on full display as he split the back line in the 89th minute to give Torres a free chance at goal. Torres ultimately pushed the shot wide, which seemed only fair after Pereyra missed his own tap-in that Facu created in the 76th minute. Pereyra had 34 touches (only five fewer than Ojeda) in his time on the field. He had two key passes and a badly missed shot. He passed 26 times with 80% accuracy and even added three interceptions defensively.

F, Ramiro Enrique (70′) 5.5 — There are certain truths in the world and one of them seems to be Ramiro Enrique’s lack of real impact coming off the bench. Why Kara wasn’t chosen after we saw McGuire use his body in the air to relevant success throughout the match is something I don’t understand. However, Pareja called up on the services of Enrique. For that, we witnessed 15 touches, one way-off-target shot, and a 70% passing accuracy on 10 attempts. Surprisingly, he won three aerials, so perhaps even the smaller stature Enrique has picked up a thing or two from the big men on the training ground.

D, Kyle Smith (70′) 6.5 — Brought on to replace an ailing Halliday, Smith didn’t miss a beat. He recorded 21 touches, a key pass, a dribble, a tackle, and two clearances. He completed just 61% of his 13 passes, going one-for-one on crosses and was accurate once on two attempted long balls.

MF, Felipe (83′) N/A — The changes in the 83rd minute were likely Pareja wanting to hold onto the point the Lions had earned on the road. Felipe won an aerial duel and added a tackle in his time on the pitch. He completed eight of his 10 passes but was inaccurate on his only long ball attempt.

MF, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson (83′) N/A — Dagur Dan was able to muster one shot and a tackle in his brief time on the field. Aside from that, he completed six of his eight passes.

That’s how I saw the performances in a draw against the Seattle Sounders on quick turnaround. It was great to have our Peruvians back, with one of them getting my personal Man of the Match honors. Be sure to cast your vote for this game’s Man of the Match in the poll below, and tell us your thoughts about this one down in the comments.

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Lion Links: 1/21/25

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

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16 hours ago

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January 21, 2025

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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!

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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.

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2 days ago

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January 20, 2025

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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.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/20/25

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

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2 days ago

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January 20, 2025

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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.

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