Connect with us

Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Real Salt Lake: Player Grades and Man of the Match

How did your favorite Lions perform against Real Salt Lake?

Published

1 year ago

on

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City went on the road to Sandy, UT and was blanked 4-0 by Real Salt Lake on a forgettable Saturday night. The Lions traveled cross country for the matchup and battled tired legs and the altitude, along with the formidable hosts. Here’s how each Lion performed individually in the loss against RSL.

Starters

GK, Pedro Gallese, 6 (MotM) — Just a few nights earlier, Gallese had virtually nothing to do in a 4-0 victory. But on Saturday night, El Pulpo was on the other end of a 4-0 drumming. Without Gallese in goal though, it strangely enough could have been an even larger deficit. He faced 15 total shots throughout the match, with RSL putting six on frame. He conceded four goals on the evening, two from set pieces which were horribly defended in the first half and an additional two from wide-open, point-blank range in the second half. There was little he could have done on the four goals. Gallese was accurate on 31 of his 34 passes (91.2%), including nine accurate long balls on 12 attempts.

D, Rafael Santos, 5.5 — The left back completed 40 of his 43 passes (93%), including one key pass and four accurate long balls on seven attempts. Two of his six crosses were accurate. while going the full duration of the match. A player who has been growing into his role as off late showed some regression as there were multiple times he found himself out of position and much of RSL’s danger came from his side of the pitch. On the defensive side of the field, Santos was successful on both of his tackles, and logged one clearance, one blocked shot, and one interception. Santos also won one aerial duel during the match. Santos logged one ill-advised shot that was blocked and nearly turned into a breakaway the other way for Cristian Arango, and was dispossessed twice.

D, Antonio Carlos, 6 — AC and his center back partner Robin Jansson were mostly fine until the game got stretched after the two set piece goals. Whether Carlos or Wilder Cartagena was responsible for Arango on the first goal isn’t clear, but the Brazilian went for the headed clearance and came up just inches short. The two goals from open play came from the opposite side from Carlos, who completed a respectable 39 of his 47 passes (83%) with three successful long balls on seven attempts. Additionally, Carlos recorded one successful tackle, one blocked shot, and four clearances, while drawing two fouls.

D, Robin Jansson, 6 — The Swedish center back was culpable on the fourth goal, but he still probably kept the game closer than it could have been with a couple of timely vital challenges, including the one mentioned above on the blocked Santos shot that would have seen Arango in alone on Gallese without his intervention. Jansson also completed a decent 44 of his 52 passes (84.6%) with two successful long balls, albeit on six attempts. He won one aerial, blocked a shot, and was credited with one interception, but knocked another potentially dangerous ball out for a throw. Jansson did not record a clearance or tackle on evening and was also limited getting forward into the attack in this match while committing two fouls, one of which was super soft on the offensive end during a corner kick.

D, Kyle Smith, 5.5 — Subbed off after 58 minutes of action, Smith’s tired legs were apparent with several passes and clearances fired off the opposing player in front of him. He only completed 11 of his 20 passes (55%), which included two accurate long balls on five attempts and two inaccurate crossing attempts. He was unsuccessful on both of his tackle attempts, while winning one aerial duel. On offense, Smith was able to put one shot on target, but it was basically right at the goalkeeper. Smith committed and drew two fouls a piece in less than an hour of game play. It is unclear if it was always the game plan for Smith to come off around the hour mark or not but it did appear as if he might have picked up a slight knock and motioned to the bench prior to being subbed off.

MF, Cesar Araujo, 6 — The Uruguayan was one of the better defenders on the pitch for OCSC in this one. Araujo completed 32 of his 37 passes (86.5%), including one key pass and four successful long balls on five attempts. Defensively, he completed three of his five tackle attempts and blocked a shot but did not record a clearance or interception. A game removed from scoring his first MLS goal, Araujo failed to record an offensive stat throughout the match, going 0-for-2 on cross attempts, but did manage to draw two fouls on the night. He was unable to do anything to stop Justen Glad on the second RSL goal but perhaps shouldn’t have been tasked with covering the team’s biggest aerial threat.

MF, Wilder Cartagena, 5.5 — The Peruvian ended up marking nobody on the first Real Salt Lake goal to start the scoring deluge. He completed 23 of his 25 (92%) passes on the night without a key pass and his lone long ball attempt was not accurate. He also recorded two tackles and one successful aerial duel throughout the match. Cartagena logged one successful dribble but was also dispossessed once. He committed two fouls, including picking up a tactical yellow card, and was ultimately subbed off in the 58th minute for fresh legs.

MF, Ivan Angulo, 6 — The speedy Colombian at times looked like the only Orlando City player who had life left in his legs after a long week. He completed only seven out of 11 passes (64%) but did manage one key pass. On offense, he completed one of his two attempted dibbles while being dispossessed twice. He suffered one foul and also recorded one shot but sent it nowhere near the goal frame. On defense, Angulo chipped in with two successful tackles on three attempts.

MF, Mauricio Pereyra, 6 — Pereyra played the full 90 minutes and completed 37 of his 48 passes (77.1%), recording two key passes on the night. Seven of his long balls were accurate but none of his three crosses were. In a game mostly devoid of rhythm, the maestro tried unsuccessfully to unlock Orlando City on the offensive side of the pitch. He was dispossessed three times, while the ball often stuck at his feet. He did win one aerial duel, while contributing two tackles on the defensive side of the ball. Pereyra committed two fouls but drew a team-high five.

MF, Facundo Torres, 6 — For the second straight match, Facu failed to affect the stat line that mattered most — goal contributions. He completed 27 of his 34 passes (79.4%) and contributed one key pass. He was two-for-two on long balls but his lone cross was off target. Torres had one shot on target early in the match, which was just a little to close to the keeper but still required a good save. The Uruguayan also won an aerial duel, logged an interception, and completed one successful tackle. He was subbed off in the 76th minute for fresh legs and will undoubtedly welcome a week without a midweek fixture.

F, Duncan McGuire, 5 — The striker completed four of his six passes (66.7%) and put only one of his three shot attempts on target. He had a good go from distance just seconds into the match that could have changed the entire complexion of the game had it gone in, but it missed just wide. While he showed good hustle to track back and steal the ball from Braian Ojeda, he then not only quickly lost it back, but committed an unnecessary and silly foul that set up the first RSL goal. McGuire wasn’t able to impose himself on this particular game and much of that is due to good defensive work by RSL and Orlando City failing to find any connectivity in the final third. He only had 15 touches and didn’t attempt a cross or contribute a key pass. McGuire won two aerial duels and was unsuccessful on his lone tackle attempt while committing two fouls in 65 minutes on the field.

Substitutes

D, Martin Ojeda (58’), 6 — Orlando City elected to bring fresh legs on a little prior to the one hour mark as Designated Player Martin Ojeda looked to get the Lions back into the match. Ojeda completed nine of his 11 passes (81.8%), with one successful long ball on two attempts and one shot on target — albeit from too far away and without much pace. His only cross attempt was off the mark. Once RSL found the net for the third time, any chance of Ojeda helping to claw OCSC back into the match seemed to evaporate into the mountain air.

MF, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson (58’), 6 — The midfielder/defender provided fresh legs but was unable to provide his usual burst of energy, while completing all seven of his attempted passes (100%) in 32 minutes. He provided one key pass, committed one foul, and defensively wasn’t burned in a decent but uneventful showing.

MF, Ramiro Enrique (58’), 4.5 — Coming on with Ojeda and Thorhallsson, Enrique took the place of Angulo on the wing. He completed five of his six passes (83.3%) in a little over a half hour on the pitch. His lone shot attempt on the evening was badly hit and ended up being more embarrassing than dangerous. Enrique was able to win one aerial duel and recorded one interception. But he was largely invisible despite playing more than half an hour, registering only 10 touches, going 0-for-1 on crosses and failing to produce a key pass.

F, Ercan Kara (65’), 5 — Kara came on for McGuire at a point in the match where Orlando may have felt that if it could just pull one back than it may have a shot to salvage a point on the road. Instead the offense was never able to really get him meaningful service. Like Enrique, he only touched the ball 10 times. He was successful on five of his seven passes (71%) and logged one key pass while winning an aerial duel. He also recorded an interception.

D, Luca Petrasso (76’), 4.5 — Petrasso subbed on late for Torres and completed two of his four passess (50%) but did little else to have a positive effect on the match. He didn’t close down Jefferson Savarino quickly enough on the third Real Salt Lake goal, allowing the hosts to ice the game. He managed just six touches.

That is how the players graded out from an absolute drumming out west. They will have a full week off before an incredibly important match on the road in Atlanta. Vote for your Man of the Match in our poll below, and let us know your thoughts on who stood out to you.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Atlanta United: Player Grades and Man of the Match

How did your favorite Lions perform in Orlando City’s 2-1 home loss to Atlanta United?

Published

7 hours ago

on

October 21, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

In a somewhat disappointing fashion, Orlando City closed out the 2024 Major League Soccer regular season at home with a 2-1 loss against rival Atlanta United. Following the most recent international break, Orlando City failed to recapture the form that had propelled the squad to three straight victories. After digging themselves an early two-goal hole, the Lions found a way to score before the half and then thought they’d equalized late, only for a Decision Day video review decision to go against them.

Let’s take a look at how Orlando City’s players rated individually in their matchup with Atlanta in the regular-season finale.

Starters

GK, Pedro Gallese, 6.5 — Atlanta attempted nine shots in the match and was able to put five on target. In a blink-and-you-will-miss-it type of start to the match, the visitors found the back of the net twice before the game was even 20 minutes old. It is hard to fault the Peruvian for either of the first two goals as the defense allowed Saba Lobjanidze to walk right through before slotting a ball past the keeper and then failed to mark properly on a ball that Gallese had already parried away from point-blank range, though he might have been able to grab it or control the rebound a bit better. The highlight of Gallese’s night came just seconds after halftime when Dagur Dan Thorhallsson committed a foul in the box. Gallese chose correctly and made a huge save on Atlanta’s penalty to keep it a one-goal game. The Peruvian international completed 11 of his 12 passes for a 91.7% completion rate, including four of five long balls attempted.

D, Rafael Santos, 6 — The match did not start well for Santos as he first conceded a corner that eventually led to Atlanta’s second goal, and then got caught ball-watching on the ensuing corner attempt, allowing Jamal Thiare to find the back of the net. He improved from there, leading the team with 110 touches while completing 68 of his 79 passes (86.1%) with three key passes. That included an assist on a good cross for Martin Ojeda’s header. Defensively, he recorded one interception, one clearance, and one tackle while winning a team-high four aerial duels. Offensively, Santos attempted one off-target shot and completed two successful dribbles.

D, Robin Jansson, 6.5 — The captain contributed a solid, if unspectacular, performance against a team that had been fairly anemic on offense down the stretch. He had 93 touches and completed 77 of his 83 passing attempts for a 92.8% rate, including six of eight long balls. On defense, he had one interception, a team-high four clearances, and a blocked shot. The Swede failed to contribute an offensive statistic against Atlanta.

D, Rodrigo Schlegel, 6 — Orlando fans know at this point that you have to take the good Schlegel with the bad Schlegel and unfortunately bad Schlegel showed up during the first Atlanta goal as he was caught flat-footed as Lobjanidze blew right by him. Aside from that, he was mainly solid in the match. Schlegel had 84 touches and won two aerials. He completed 78 of his 80 passes (97.5%), including eight of nine long balls. Defensively, he contributed one clearance while committing two fouls. He attempted one shot which was off target.

D, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson, 5.5 — Thorhallsson returned to the starting lineup after missing several matches and looked the part early of someone trying to get back up to speed and match fitness. Considering Atlanta had only scored four goals in the first 30 minutes of a match the whole season, Thorhallsson and company allowed the Five Stripes far too much daylight, resulting in a goal just a few minutes into the game. He had 64 touches and completed 45 of his 49 passes (91.8%), including one key pass. Thorhallsson was accurate on both of his long ball attempts but only logged one successful cross on four attempts. Defensively, he recorded a team-high three tackles and three clearances. Things could have gone sideways quickly for Orlando after the halftime break, as Thorhallsson was whistled for a foul in the box, resulting in an Atlanta penalty kick. He was subbed off in the 80th minute and will look to get his offensive rhythm back during training this week as he failed to record a shot.

MF, César Araujo, 6.5 — Missing his dynamic defensive partner, Wilder Cartagena, due to yellow card accumulation, Araujo was asked to do a little bit of everything against Atlanta and had an overall successful outing in front of the home crowd. He registered 107 touches and completed 81 of his 87 passes (93.1%). He tied Santos for the team lead in key passes with three and completed seven of his eight long ball attempts. He was unsuccessful on his lone crossing attempt. Defensively, he contributed one tackle, one interception, and three clearances. Offensively, Araujo was more involved than usual, logging two shots with one on target, and he was fouled a team-high five times.

MF, Felipe, 5 — Inserted for Cartagena due to his suspension, Felipe was also partly culpable on Atlanta’s first goal. The veteran from Brazil logged 47 touches in 52 minutes of action and completed 32 of his 38 passing attempts (84.2%), contributing two key passes. Felipe was unsuccessful in all three of his long ball attempts and defensively contributed one tackle and two interceptions. Offensively, Felipe recorded a shot but it failed to land on frame. He was subbed off in the 52nd minute for Kyle Smith.

MF, Iván Angulo, 6 — Angulo did not play badly but he was more invisible than usual. The key to the Colombian speedster’s game is to create chaos and to blow by opponents. Against Atlanta, Angulo failed to do much of that, but he also did not create egregious errors. Angulo logged 62 touches and completed 43 of his 48 passing attempts (89.6%) and mainly avoided some of the turnovers in his own half that have plagued him in recent games. He was credited with one key pass and one shot attempt that was off target. His cross turned into the McGuire goal that was overturned in the 89th minute. The season leader in minutes played went the full 90 once again and chipped in one tackle on defense.

MF, Martín Ojeda, 7.5 (MotM) — Ojeda was in full attack mode throughout the match and in my humble opinion was sacrificed far too early for how well he was playing. He scored Orlando’s lone goal in the 42nd minute with a glancing header and was credited with 56 touches. He completed 36 of his 39 passing attempts (92.3%), including two key passes. All three of his long ball attempts were successful and he completed one of his three crosses. Defensively, he failed to record a statistic but this match was all about Ojeda hunting his shot. The Argentine attacker led the team with eight total shots, four of which were on target, which was easily the best mark on the team. He might have had a hat trick had his right-footed attempts fallen instead for his preferred left foot. Ojeda picked up a yellow card in the 62nd minute — the only card shown to either team on the night — and was substituted out for Luis Muriel in the 68th minute of the match. With the way Ojeda was playing on offense, I would have much preferred that Muriel replace Angulo or Facundo Torres.

MF, Facundo Torres, 6 — With Ojeda hunting, fellow Designated Player Torres had an off night. He had 68 touches and completed 49 of his 56 passes (87.5%). Torres recorded one key pass, was unsuccessful on his lone cross, and completed one of his two long balls. Defensively, Torres failed to record a statistic, but he won three aerial duels. Offensively, he logged two shots, which were both off-target.

F, Ramiro Enrique, 5.5 — Enrique had a quiet night, logging only 18 touches which is simply not enough, considering the Lions were trailing essentially from the jump. He completed eight of his 10 passes (80%), including two key passes, and his lone shot attempt was on target. Defensively, Enrique did not contribute a statistic and was substituted off in the 68th minute for Duncan McGuire.

Substitutes

MF, Kyle Smith (52′), 6 —  After starting much of the last month for the injured Thorhallsson, Smith started on the bench against Atlanta, replacing Felipe in the early moments of the second half. Smith had 49 touches as a substitute, and he completed 45 of his 47 passes (95.7%). He logged one tackle on the defensive end and did not contribute an offensive stat.

F, Duncan McGuire (68′), 6 — The second-year attacker thought he’d scored a late equalizer, in the 89th minute, but it was disallowed as referee Rubiel Vazquez ruled the ball had clearly hit his hand before he scored. McGuire had just six touches and completed two of his three passing attempts. Besides the overturned goal, McGuire recorded a shot on target.

MF, Luis Muriel (68’), 6 — Muriel entered the match for Ojeda with a little more than 20 minutes left in the match, and Orlando down a goal. He had 20 touches and completed 14 of his 17 attempts (82.4%), including two key passes, and was accurate on both of his long ball attempts. Muriel was credited with two successful dribbles but did not attempt a shot.

MF, Nicolas Lodeiro, (80’), N/A — Lodeiro entered the match late with Orlando hunting for the equalizer. He had 23 touches and completed 14 of his 18 passes (77.8%). Lodeiro attempted two shots, putting one on frame, and did not contribute a defensive statistic.

That’s how I saw the individual performances from the final match of the regular season. What did you think? Be sure to let us know in the comments, and vote in the poll below for your Orlando City Man of the Match.

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/21/24

Orlando City and Orlando Pride lose, Orlando City B eliminated from playoffs, Seb Hines discusses diversity in soccer, and more.

Published

14 hours ago

on

October 21, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I just finished setting up broadcasting for the NISA championship match in California over the weekend. This week, I’m back to staying busy at Under Armour and covering high school sports. It was a rough weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams, and we have plenty to cover today. Let’s get to the links!

Lions Fall to Atlanta United at Home on Decision Day

Orlando City fell 2-1 to Atlanta United on Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium on Decision Day. The Lions trailed 2-0 early in the first half before Martin Ojeda pulled one back for Orlando just before halftime. The Lions thought they had a late equalizer from Duncan McGuire, but the referee overturned the goal after a video review. The loss ended Orlando’s three-match winning streak, but it still clinched fourth place in the Eastern Conference as New York City FC lost to CF Montreal. Orlando’s next match will be in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs at home against Charlotte FC on Sunday.

Orlando Pride Lose to NJ/NY Gotham FC on the Road

The Orlando Pride lost their second straight match with a 3-1 defeat on the road to NJ/NY Gotham FC on Sunday at Red Bull Arena. The Pride were down 1-0 early in the first half before Adriana converted a penalty to tie things up. Gotham added two goals from Rose Lavelle and Ella Stevens to seal the victory and extend its unbeaten streak to seven matches. The Pride’s next game will be on Nov. 2 at home when they face the Seattle Reign in their final match of the regular season.

Seb Hines Speaks on Diversity in Soccer

BBC Sport interviewed Pride Head Coach Seb Hines after the club won its first NWSL Shield. Hines discussed how he’s helped reshape the club’s culture and advocates for more opportunities for black coaches in the sport alongside assistant coaches Giles Barnes and Yolanda Thomas.

“Being a trailblazer comes with a big responsibility because I want to advocate for more black coaches and diversity within the sport.

“It’s a responsibility to fight for more equality globally. It’s less about winning and more about breaking those barriers. I want to continue to give hope to others.”

Thomas, who joined the Pride’s coaching staff in 2023, also spoke on her passion to drive change and how she was inspired by former England manager Hope Powell.

OCB Eliminated from MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs

Orlando City B was eliminated from postseason play after losing 5-4 on penalties to Chicago Fire FC II following a 1-1 draw at SeatGeek Stadium in the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs . The Young Lions got off to a great start with a goal from Jack Lynn to take the lead in the first half. However, scored an equalizer just before halftime. After 90 minutes and extra time, the game went to penalties, where both teams exchanged goals until sudden death. OCB’s Favian Loyola missed his penalty, while Jean Diouf scored to send Chicago into the conference semifinals. OCB missed out on a chance to get its first postseason win and its 2024 season came to an end.

Orlando City and Pride Announce Hurricane Relief Efforts

Orlando City and the Pride announced hurricane relief effort plans over the weekend so fans can get involved and support those in need following Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. The club also announced that the Wilf Family Foundations contributed $450,000 towards relief efforts, with $350,000 going to the American Red Cross and $100,000 to Heart of Florida United Way, a charity partner for the Pride.

Free Kicks

  • Check out Orlando City’s hype video on social media leading up to its playoff match.

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

Continue Reading

Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Atlanta United: Five Takeaways

Here’s what we learned from Orlando City’s 2-1 loss to Atlanta United.

Published

1 day ago

on

October 20, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City hosted Atlanta United at Inter&Co Stadium on Decision Day. The 2-1 loss had its share of controversy, but the Lions’ home undefeated streak ended at seven. While it was a disappointing result, I’m hopeful it will put a chip on the shoulder of Orlando City so the team rolls through the playoffs.

Here are my five takeaways from a depressing but ultimately meaningless loss.

Not a Great Start, Bob

The right side of Orlando City’s defense decided that the level of difficulty in the match needed to be higher. As such, the defenders on that side all decided to take a nap or close their eyes in the seventh minute. Pedro Amador’s back heel to put Saba Lobjanidze behind the defense was slick, and it allowed Lobjanidze to put the ball past Pedro Gallese and into the bottom right corner of the goal. Nine minutes later, Gallese made the initial save on Atlanta’s corner kick, but he pushed it out to Jamal Thiaré, who gave Atlanta the two-goal lead.

It’s Ojeda’s Half

Martin Ojeda was a difference maker for Orlando City right from the start. He managed seven shots in the first half, but it was his goal in the 42nd minute that truly changed the complexion of the match for the Lions. With Orlando City down two goals, Rafael Santos crossed the ball into the box and onto the head of Ojeda, who redirected it past Brad Guzan to pull the Lions within one. It was fitting that Ojeda got the goal, given the good work he’d done all half.

The Great Gallese

Dagur Dan Thorhallsson almost put a dagger in the hearts of the Orlando City faithful when he fouled Lobjanidze inside the box to give Atlanta United a penalty kick less than a minute into the second half. Alexey Miranchuk stepped up to take the kick for Atlanta, but was denied the goal by Gallese. El Pulpo guessed correctly, diving to his right side and getting a tentacle on the shot to keep Orlando City in the match.

The Hand of McGuire

Duncan McGuire’s arm couldn’t have been closer to his body unless it was inside his ribcage. Regardless, the video assistant referee looked at it and sent referee Rubiel Vazquez to the monitor for a second look. Vazquez determined that the ball hit his hand prior to him putting the ball in the back of the net. I was watching from home, and I didn’t think the video evidence was definitive enough to overturn the goal. Of course, I’m not Don Garber…er…PRO referees. If McGuire’s goal stood, Atlanta was out of playoff contention. Instead, the decision put Atlanta into the playoff Wild Card match against CF Montreal.

Good Enough but Not Good Enough

Ultimately, the result didn’t matter for Orlando City. New York City FC’s loss ensured the Lions finished the regular season in fourth place, earning home field advantage in the round. Other than the two defensive lapses early, the Lions dominated the match. Orlando City took 20 shots to Atlanta’s seven, with eight on target to Atlanta’s four. The Lions also held 67% of the possession, and passed at a 90% rate. The chances were there, but saves by Guzan and a controversial overturned goal contributed to the Orlando City loss.

That is what I saw in the 2-1 loss. What were your biggest takeaways from the game? Let us know in the comments below and as always, vamos Orlando!

Continue Reading

Trending