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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Toronto FC: Player Grades and Man of the Match

How did your favorite Lions perform in a Fourth of July victory against Toronto FC?

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1 year ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City supplied the fireworks both during and after a 4-0 win over Toronto FC on the Fourth of July. Cesar Araujo and Duncan McGuire gave the Lions the lead in the first half, then substitutes Dagur Dan Thorhallsson and Ercan Kara put the game to bed. Toronto’s Federico Bernardeschi was shown a second yellow card in the 62nd minute, putting an already shorthanded Toronto side at a disadvantage.

Here’s how each Lion individually performed in the big win at Exploria Stadium.

Starters

GK, Pedro Gallese, 6 — Gallese didn’t have to make any saves in this match, as Toronto’s best shot was a Bernardeschi strike that smacked the post. He did have a tackle though, doing well to poke the ball out of play for a throw-in while away from his goal. El Pulpo completed 73.7% of his 19 passes and was accurate on three of his seven long balls.

D, Rafael Santos, 7 — The left back notched an assist with a pinpoint cross to Araujo at the far post. He’s been delivering some really dangerous crosses this season, so it’s nice to see one put away. His other three crosses missed their mark, but all five of his long balls were accurate. One of those crosses was also deflected and wound up finding McGuire at the near post. Santos isn’t credited for an assist for McGuire’s goal because of the deflection but he put himself in a good attacking position. He completed 90.9% of his 55 passes and had two key passes to keep Orlando’s offense sharp. Santos had two headed shots from corner kicks, but both were deflected. He had two clearances, an interception, and a tackle to take care of business on the defensive side of things as well. This match was a testament to how the Brazilian is finding his footing with the Lions.

D, Robin Jansson, 6 — It was a statistically odd match for the Beefy Swede, as he didn’t have any defensive stats — that’s how dominating Orlando was in the match. He also didn’t attempt any long balls, a method of attack that’s been fairly common from the center back. He did, however, complete all but two of his 58 passes for a fantastic 96.6% success rate. Jansson muscled off Toronto players who challenged him, took care of the ball, and didn’t commit a foul.

D, Antonio Carlos, 7.5 — Carlos hardly put a foot wrong in this match. He had a team-high 77 passes, completing 94.8% of them, while also being accurate on nine of his 11 long balls. Carlos also led the Lions with three interceptions and had three tackles, a clearance, and a blocked shot as well. His best tackle came late in the match on a sliding challenge in the box to prevent the visitors from having a quality scoring chance. Toronto didn’t create many chances, especially once Bernardeschi was sent off, but Carlos was there to snuff out the few fires that came.

D, Kyle Smith, 6.5 — Smith was fairly understated in the 67 minutes he was on the field, which is hardly a bad thing for a defender. Of course that’s not to say he wasn’t effective. The right back completed 93.3% of his passes, provided a key pass, and connected on two of his three long balls. Neither of his two crosses found their mark, but he did well finding open space and open Lions to keep momentum rolling on offense. Defensively, he had three tackles as well. It was a solid outing from the 31-year-old, who went 88 minutes on Saturday.

MF, Wilder Cartagena, 7.5 — The Peruvian was a force to be reckoned with once again for Orlando. He nearly scored with a nice strike following a corner kick, but his shot smacked the post. It was his only shot of the match and he helped out on offense by making two key passes and connecting on all seven of his long balls to really exploit Toronto’s tired legs. Cartagena completed all but three of his 71 passes for a great 95.8% success rate. In terms of his defensive contributions, he was an irritant for Toronto and ended the night with two tackles, an interception, and a blocked shot. He was also fouled four times, including Bernardeschi’s second yellow that ended the Italian’s night.

MF, Cesar Araujo, 8 (MotM) — This was a fantastic performance from Araujo in his return from suspension. The midfielder scored his first MLS goal in style, using a diving header to generate enough power to put away the cross from Santos. It was a great way for him to cap off an attack he kickstarted by winning the ball in the midfield. He then provided a terrific assist in the second half, with a weighted ball over the top for Thorhallsson to chase down. He narrowly missed on a secondary assist on the fourth goal, feeding the ball to Martin Ojeda, who bobbled his control, allowing a defender to get a touch. Araujo was accurate on all eight of his long balls and had 76 passes at an impressive 93.4% success rate. Both of his shots were on target and he had two key passes as he stirred Orlando’s attacks. His 91 touches were also the most on the team. Defensively, he had three tackles and an interception to control the midfield. Simply put, it was one of his best games in purple and deserving of Man of the Match honors.

MF, Ivan Angulo, 6.5 — Although he didn’t have a goal, Angulo did well when on the ball and was credited with an assist for feeding the ball to Santos on Orlando’s first goal. His speed and ability to turn defenders inside out was effective against a Toronto side on short rest in the heat. In 68 minutes of action, Angulo had 24 passes at an 83.3% success rate and a key pass. He earned corner kicks, stretched Toronto’s defense, and pressed the opposition into mistakes. It wasn’t his best game, but it didn’t have to be and he took care of what was asked of him more often than not.

MF, Mauricio Pereyra, 6 — The captain missed another chance to score in front of an empty net, sending his first shot of the match into the stands after a rebound from Greg Ranjitsingh. His only other shot of the match was soon after from a tougher angle, but it skipped wide of goal. Although a bit sluggish in this one after playing a few days ago, Pereyra had two key passes, connected on both of his long balls, and two of his six crosses. His best moment may have been a threaded ball that hit Angulo perfectly on a diagonal run, but the Colombian couldn’t control it and was unable to get a shot off. Pereyra was subbed off in the 58th minute and ended up with 34 passes at a strong 88.2% success rate. He also helped out defensively with a tackle, an interception, and a clearance.

MF, Facundo Torres, 6.5 — The Designated Player had plenty of room to operate against Toronto. He put one of his two shots on target, delivering a strike from distance that Ranjitsingh had to parry away for a corner. While he wasn’t credited with a key pass, he was fairly involved in Orlando’s attack until coming off in the 79th minute. He completed 88.6% of his 44 passes, was a little off with his crosses (hitting just two of six accurately), and his lone long ball didn’t connect. Of his seven dribbles, only two were successful, but he still looked dangerous while on the field.

F, Duncan McGuire, 7 — McGuire has a knack for being in the right place at the right time and it paid off again for him in this one. The rookie pounced on a deflected cross to beat Ranjitsingh to it and poke it home for his seventh goal of the season. He nearly scored another later in the first half after getting on the end of a long ball, hitting the post with his strike. Those were two of his three shots in the match, the other going off target before he was subbed off in the 57th minute. He finished with 16 touches and nine passes at a 55.6% success rate. The pressure he provided on defense was also notable to prevent Toronto from getting much of a foothold and he contributed a clearance as well.

Substitutes

F, Ramiro Enrique (57′), 6 — Enrique’s decent run of form continued in this match, even if he didn’t get on the scoresheet. The 22-year-old made good runs that weren’t always rewarded with a pass and played with plenty of energy off the bench. His only shot was from a similar position as his goal a few days ago, but this time his strike went wide instead of sneaking into the bottom right corner. Enrique completed 85.7% of his seven passes as well. Hopefully he can continue providing a spark when on the field.

MF, Martin Ojeda (58′), 7 — Ojeda had a great game off the bench, putting all three of his shots on target and providing an assist with a backheel for Kara. His first shot was a lightning bolt while cutting across the top of the box, but Ranjitsingh did well to keep it out. His second was from distance and hit the post after a slight touch from the goalkeeper, while the third was a free kick that was easily saved. Ojeda also had two key passes and completed both of his long balls as he often switched play and tried to break Toronto’s defense. He had 26 touches, completed 88.9% of his 18 passes, and his lone cross missed its mark. Ojeda was a key reason why Orlando was able to break down Toronto’s low block once it was reduced to 10 men.

D, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson (68′) 6.5 — Dagur Dan scored his first MLS goal by turning on the jets and getting to a long ball before Ranjitsingh, dribbling around the goalkeeper to easily put the ball in the net. Usually a midfielder, he replaced Smith as the team’s right back and raced up and down the right side of the field. There was a defensive lapse or two, but Carlos was there to back him up and he made some nice runs to try increasing Orlando’s lead. His only cross was inaccurate and he was successful on 87.5% of his eight passes.

F, Ercan Kara (68′) 6.5 — The Austrian forward scored his fifth goal of the year by burying an opportunity created by a backheel from Ojeda. He made the goal look easier than it was, as he had little time to strike the bouncing ball with his first touch while a defender was breathing down his neck. It was his only shot of the match and he had four touches and two passes, completing one of them.

MF, Luca Petrasso (79′) N/A — Petrasso came on for Torres and took his position as a winger on the left. He only had five touches, completing all five of his passes with them. We didn’t see enough of him in action to warrant a grade, but it’s nice to see some of his versatility come into play.

That’s how I saw each Lion’s performance in the shutout victory. Many Lions did well in this one, so be sure to vote for who you think deserves the title of Man of the Match. Let us know what you think in the comments below as well.

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Orlando City

In Praise of Orlando City’s Game 3 Penalty Kicks

The Lions employed some crafty strategy and flawless execution to win the Game 3 penalty shootout, and it deserves to be recognized.

Published

3 days ago

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November 15, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Depending on who you talk to, penalty kicks aren’t a great way to decide a soccer game. They’re exciting, of course, but not exactly a good measuring stick of which team is more deserving of winning the game. Fortunately for Orlando City fans, the team has excelled at shootouts for the vast majority of its MLS existence. In fact, the Lions hadn’t lost one until this year, when they were bounced from Leagues Cup by Cruz Azul after losing 5-4 in penalties. The team then accomplished another first in Game 2 of the MLS Cup playoffs against Charlotte, when it missed three of four spot kicks, and lost 3-1 in penalties.

With recent history far from being in OCSC’s favor, there was plenty of reason to be pessimistic when the deciding Game 3 went to a shootout, but the Lions breezed right through it, winning by a score of 4-1 and sending Charlotte packing. While there’s only so much strategy you can employ in shootouts, the Lions pulled a couple fast ones that may just have given them a leg up when they needed it most.

Let’s first talk about the shootouts the Orlando has been involved in this year, because even before Game 3, there had been a lot. The Lions’ final two games in Leagues Cup were both decided at the penalty spot, with the good guys emerging victorious against San Luis 5-4, and then losing by that same score to Cruz Azul to exit the tournament. Game 2 against Charlotte was therefore the team’s third shootout of the year, and by that point we were starting to see some familiar faces in the team’s shooting lineup.

There isn’t anything inherently wrong with sending the same (or mostly the same) guys up in a shootout. Conventional wisdom says that you want your best, most reliable guys from the spot taking penalties. However, if the opposing goalkeeper has done his research, and a player tends to favor shooting in a certain direction, it can potentially give the man between the sticks an advantage in making the save. Let’s examine who Orlando City sent to the spot this year in shootouts, starting with the two Leagues Cup games.

Against San Luis, the order went: Nico Lodeiro, Duncan McGuire, Wilder Cartagena, Rafael Santos, and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson. Lodeiro went central, McGuire went to the goalkeeper’s right, Cartagena to his left, Santos to his right, and Thorhallsson to his left. All five penalties were scored, but the keeper got a strong hand to Thorhallsson’s and it only just went in.

Against Cruz Azul, the order was: Robin Jansson, Luis Muriel, McGuire, Facundo Torres, and Thorhallsson. Jansson shot to the goalie’s left and had it saved, Lodeiro and Muriel both went to his right and scored, McGuire and Torres both went to his left and scored, and Thorhallsson went to his left and had it saved.

That brings us to Game 2 against Charlotte. The order was: Lodeiro, Jansson, Muriel, and McGuire. Nico shot to Kristijan Kahlina’s left and had it saved, Jansson went to his right and put his shot over the bar, Muriel also went right and scored, and McGuire went to the goalie’s left and had his shot saved.

Let’s pause for a minute and dig deeper into those Game 2 takers. Lodeiro had already taken two penalties on the year, and scored both. Jansson had taken one and had it saved, Muriel had taken one and scored, and McGuire had taken two and converted both. Interestingly enough, Kahlina also went the right way on Jansson’s shot, although the Swede put the ball over the bar. After taking penalties in the two previous shootouts and the goalies getting strong hands to both, Thorhallsson wasn’t used, but he couldn’t be, because he’d already been subbed off late in the second half. McGuire went to the goalie’s left for the second shootout in a row, with Kahlina guessing correctly and making the save.

In the all-important Game 3, the takers were: Muriel, Kyle Smith, Torres, and Santos. Muriel and Smith both went to Kahlina’s right, while Torres and Santos went to the Croatian’s left, with all four men scoring. It was Muriel’s third time in a shootout for the club, third time going to the goalie’s right, and third time converting. Smith made his first appearance from the spot on the year. It was Torres’ and Santos’ second time taking in a shootout this year and they both went left for the second time. Taking a closer look at each shooter, I really like the selection choices and the order in which they went.

While Kahlina had plenty of tape on Muriel by this point, the Colombian had already beaten him once, and the striker prefers to watch the goalkeeper during his run-up and go whichever way he doesn’t. That makes it especially difficult to save his penalties, and his years of high-level experience means he’s no stranger to high-pressure situations. You could hardly ask for a better first shooter to set the tone for what was to come.

We then got a big old wild card in the form of Smith, who hadn’t taken a penalty kick at all this year. Oscar Pareja could have chosen to use Jansson or Lodeiro, both of whom have taken multiple kicks this year and were still on the field, but he opted to go for someone who Kahlina both hadn’t seen already, and who he likely had very little, if any, tape on. It was a decision that paid off, as Smith positively blasted his kick into the top corner, with Kahlina guessing the wrong way on his dive.

We then got Torres, who would ordinarily be a no-brainer when it comes to taking penalty kicks if not for the fact that he’d just had one saved mere minutes earlier in stoppage time. Still, you want your main man to step up in high-pressure situations, so it wasn’t surprising to see him stepping forward to take one, particularly with the Lions already leading 2-0. He won the mental battle with Kahlina and went in his preferred direction to the left of the goalkeeper, with Kahlina guessing wrong again.

Finishing things off was Santos, who had only taken one penalty on the year and employs an unconventional, stuttering run-up. As he did in the San Luis game, the Brazilian went to the goalkeeper’s right and scored, with his penalty being the only one in which Kahlina dove the correct way. The decision to go with another player who there was little film on, especially one with a run-up that’s difficult to time correctly, again proved to be a decision that paid off.

We’ll never know who OCSC’s fifth taker would have been, as the shootout never got that far. We know it wouldn’t have been McGuire, who was being kept on the sideline after injuring his shoulder. I think it’s telling that Jansson and Lodeiro weren’t in the first four, even though both had already taken multiple shootout penalties on the season, and Thorhallsson was the only other player who had taken more than one kick in a shootout this year, and he had been substituted. My bet is on Cartagena, who had only taken one and scored it.

Regardless of what we don’t know, we can give the deserved amount of praise to what we do know. Namely, that the decision to use a mix of guys who are proven in high-pressure situations and ones who have few, if any, recent penalties on film was a strategy that paid off big time. Pedro Gallese also deserves every flower in the garden for the two saves he made, which absolutely made things easier on the takers. I think it’s interesting that Karol Swiderski took a spot kick for the second game in a row, with Gallese getting the better of him in Game 3 despite the Polish striker going to the Peruvian’s right instead of his left.

It’s also fair to say that the men who stepped up in Game 3 simply took better shots in than in Game 2. Nico’s wasn’t far enough in the corner and was a good height for Kahlina, Jansson put his completely over, and McGuire’s was too central and at a height that favored the goalkeeper. There were no such issues in Game 3, with every shot being well placed.

All in all, you couldn’t have drawn up the Game 3 shootout any better if you tried. Pareja threw a couple curveballs Charlotte’s way, Pedro Gallese made two huge saves, and all of the shooters came up with outstanding efforts. From strategy to execution, the shootout was about as perfect as you can get. Now here’s hoping that’s the last one we have to endure for awhile. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/15/24

Barbra Banda speaks about playing alongside Marta, USMNT beats Jamaica, international soccer roundup, and more.

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3 days ago

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November 15, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday! I hope the week hasn’t been too rough on you as we gear up for what should be an exciting weekend. There aren’t too many plans lined up for me, but I’m still looking forward to being able to relax a bit over the next few days. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to our favorite Beefy Swede, Robin Jansson!

Barbra Banda on Playing With Marta

It’s an understatement to say it’s been a fantastic year for the Orlando Pride, and NWSL MVP finalists Barbra Banda and Marta have been major reasons for the team’s success. Marta has been with the Pride since 2017 and is thriving in what may be the twilight of her legendary career. Meanwhile, it’s Banda’s first year with the Pride and she’s taken the league by storm alongside Marta. In an interview with Futbol W, which is co-hosted by former Pride player Ali Krieger, Banda spoke about how motivating it is to play with the greatest women’s soccer player of all time.

Battle of the Rebuilds in NWSL Playoffs

Of the four teams remaining in the NWSL playoffs, only NJ/NY Gotham FC was in the playoffs last year. Not only are this year’s semifinalists a testament to how much things can change each year, but it’s also an interesting showcase of the different ways clubs can build a team capable of winning in this league. The Pride capped off a patient and smart rebuild by signing international players like Banda, while the Current have benefited greatly from adding Temwa Chawinga. After winning the NWSL Championship last year, Gotham added several American stars like Rose Lavelle and Crystal Dunn in free agency to do it again. Meanwhile, the Washington Spirit have leaned on a strong rookie class and other young players to reach this point.

USMNT Beats Jamaica in Nations League

The United States Men’s National Team got its quarterfinal series started with a solid 1-0 win over Jamaica in Kingston. Ricardo Pepi scored the lone foal of the game early on with a nice strike after a silky smooth assist from Christian Pulisic. Matt Turner came up with a great save on a penalty kick in the first half, earning a clean sheet the hard way. It wasn’t exactly a comfortable victory for Mauricio Pochettino and the Yanks, but winning on the road in Concacaf is hardly ever comfortable. The two teams will reconvene in St. Louis on Monday with a spot in the semifinals on the line.

Keeping Up With International Soccer

The U.S. obviously isn’t the only nation taking part in the international break, with teams all around the world in action. Paraguay arguably had the biggest win of the day, beating Argentina 2-1 in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying. Venezuela also had a decent result, drawing 1-1 against Brazil in a match that included a missed penalty by Vinicius Junior.

In 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, Nigeria, Tunisia, South Africa, Uganda, and Gabon all booked their tickets to next year’s tournament after the latest round of matches. Saudi Arabia and Australia battled to a scoreless draw in AFC World Cup qualifying, while South Korea moved closer to qualifying after a 3-1 win over Kuwait that featured Son Heung-min’s 50th international goal. There weren’t too many surprises in the UEFA Nations League, with England cruising past Greece and Italy beating Belgium. France was held to a scoreless draw against Israel but still qualified for the quarterfinals.

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That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/14/24

MLS playoff predictions, Barbra Banda and Marta earn recognition, USMNT takes on Jamaica tonight, and more.

Published

4 days ago

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November 14, 2024

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’ve been a bit under the weather this week, but it’s at least meant I’ve been able to spend more time with my cat and get some reading done when not hacking up a lung. But enough about that, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

MLS Conference Semifinal Predictions

Former Orlando City captain Sacha Kljestan weighed in on which of the remaining eight teams will prevail in the MLS playoffs. He predicts that Atlanta United can lean on its counterattacking and Brad Guzan’s goalkeeping to beat Orlando City when the two rivals face off in Orlando on Nov. 24. A key thing to watch heading into the match is if Head Coach Oscar Pareja switches things up up top given Ramiro Enrique’s slump.

Kljestan predicts a tight match between New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls, but has NYCFC moving on. He also has both the LA Galaxy and LAFC advancing in the Western Conference, which would set up a playoff edition of El Trafico.

Pride Players Make ESPN’s Top 50

ESPN unveiled its annual list of the top 50 women’s soccer players and a pair of Orlando Pride players made the list. Forward Barbra Banda is ranked third on the list for crushing it in her first year in the NWSL, scoring 13 goals to help the Pride win the NWSL Shield. Marta, who has not been listed in the past two years, ranked 26th for turning back the clock at 38 years old and creating 46 chances for Orlando this season. Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati tops the list, with Naomi Girma in second, Caroline Graham Hansen in fourth, and Sophia Smith rounding out the top five. There are many voters for this year’s list from around the world, including Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter.

Steven Moreira Named Defender of the Year

The Columbus Crew’s Steven Moreira was named 2024 MLS Defender of the Year after a strong season. He made 27 appearances for the Crew this season and was a key part of his team’s success in the Concacaf Champions Cup and Leagues Cup this year. Moreira also helped out offensively with two goals and four assists and was an All-Star this year. The 30-year-old beat out Inter Miami’s Jordi Alba and Seattle Sounders center back Jackson Ragen for the award.

USMNT Takes On Jamaica Tonight

The United States Men’s National Team will play its first competitive match under Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino tonight when it takes on Jamaica in Kingston in the Concacaf Nations League. Although the U.S. may be favored in this series, playing on the road in Concacaf is always tough and Jamaica tends to keep things close against the Yanks. Tonight’s match is the first of the two-leg quarterfinals, with the two nations facing off again in St. Louis on Monday. Hopefully Pochettino can get the team firing on all cylinders as it continues to prepare for the 2026 World Cup.

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  • In a rollercoaster of a match, the U.S. Men’s Deaf National Team fell in a penalty shootout to Brazil in the Deaf Pan American Games. The U.S. took the lead in extra time, but Brazil battled back to tie it, winning from the spot to reach the final.

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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