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Orlando City B

Orlando City B vs. Chicago Fire FC II: Final Score 3-2 as Young Lions Squander Lead then Mount Comeback Win

Juninho and Jack Lynn scored in the second half to lift OCB past Chicago Fire FC II in Kissimmee.

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2 years ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

The Young Lions of Orlando City B are rarely boring, whether winning or losing. OCB (10-7-2, 33 points) squandered an early 1-0 lead, fell behind, then came back to beat Chicago Fire FC II (6-7-6, 25 points) 3-2 at Osceola County Stadium tonight. Jack Lynn scored a brace, sandwiching his two goals around a Juninho strike. Billy Hency tied the game at 1-1 before the half, and Luka Prpa broke the deadlock and gave Fire FC II a lead early in the second half, but the Young Lions were able to rally at home once again.

“I think it was a really tough match for us,” OCB Head Coach Martin Perelman said after the game. “We faced a really good team. They press really well. We knew that. It’s so hard to play against them. But fortunately we were able to keep the three points. I believe the players had a good game. They had a good performance.”

Perelman’s starting lineup featured Javier Otero in goal behind a back line of Moises Tablante, Nabi Kibunguchy, Zakaria Taifi, and Alex Freeman. Cristian Medina played as a lone No. 6 in front of the back line, behind a midfield line of Jhon Solis, Juninho, Imanol Almaguer, and Shak Mohammed, with Lynn up top.

The match was fairly open from the start. Freeman got the first look at goal when he was send down the right side of the box in the second minute by Mohammed. The fullback hit his shot too close to goalkeeper Mihajlo Miskovic, who stuck out a foot to make the save.

Chicago then won a couple of corners but could do nothing with them.

The Young Lions grabbed the lead in the 10th minute. Almaguer ended up with the ball about 25 yards out from goal on the right side. He spotted Lynn making a run toward the back post and curled a beautiful cross in for Lynn to nod home. It was Lynn’s 11th goal of the season, putting him back in the Golden Boot race.

Lynn tried to make it 2-0 in the 17th minute but had his shot blocked.

Chicago nearly pulled the early OCB goal back a moments later. A slip by an Orlando City defender gave Omari Glasgow a breakaway. Otero came off his line and blocked Glasgow’s shot with his face to preserve the lead in the 18th minute. Two minutes later, the Young Lions gave the ball away inside their own penalty area while trying to play out of the back, but Hency turned and fired his shot just high and wide of the right post.

The Fire were forced to make a change in the 27th minute as defender Andreas Ueland picked up a knock and was replaced by Eric Leonard.

Two minutes later, the Young Lions came within inches of scoring twice. Juninho burst down the left side of the penalty area and fired a shot that Miskovic got a piece of but it got through him. The ball hit the right post and stayed out. Seconds later, the ball was sent in for Lynn, who headed it off the crossbar and Freeman tried to follow but couldn’t keep his shot on target.

Those misses were costly, as Chicago tied the match in the 35th minute. Kibunguchy got caught too high and he slipped, giving Fire FC II a transition opportunity. Freeman was also caught up field, so Chicago had two attackers on three defenders, but OCB wasn’t able to retain its defensive shape in transition. Charlie Ostrem had an easy pass across the box to Hency, who fired past Otero to make it 1-1.

“We had some mistakes, especially on defense that we paid (for) with goals,” Perelman said. “We missed a lot of opportunities for goals as well, but again, the players showed great heart to turn around the game and I really appreciate that, and we are so happy.”

Hency should have put Chicago up two minutes after his goal. The Fire roasted OCB’s high defensive line and had a 2-v-1 opportunity. Glasgow fed Hency from right to left but the shot missed the net. A minute after that, Glasgow had a shot blocked at the top of the area as Chicago stayed on the attack.

The Young Lions got back on the attack late in the half. Medina had a shot blocked from outside the area in the 41st minute, and moments later, Almaguer fired a shot in that was right at Miskovic. Mohammed had the last look of the half in the third minute of stoppage time. He streaked down the right side of the box but fired right at Miskovic at the near post, when he probably had a better option to cross it for Lynn.

The teams went to the break even at 1-1 and both could be considered fortunate not to be trailing.

OCB dominated possession in the first half (63%-37%), largely because Chicago was content to try to win the ball back and hit on the break. The Young Lions had more shots (8-7), shots on goal (5-2), corners (3-2), and passing accuracy (83.9%-71.4%).

OCB won a couple of quick corners to start the second half, but got burned on the second one. A high ball into the area was caught by Miskovic, who didn’t have to worry about Kibunguchy, who got wrapped up and bearhugged by a Chicago player. That enabled the Fire to break and it ended up down the right on Glasgow’s foot. He crossed for Prpa to finish, giving Chicago a 2-1 lead in the 50th minute (the announcer thought it was Hency, but it was Prpa).

Juninho tried to pull the goal right back all on his own. He dribbled from the midfield line all the way to the top of the area through multiple Chicago defenders. Once he got there, rather than even looking at his other options, he fired a shot that wasn’t directly at Miskovic, but it was close enough to the Chicago keeper to make for a comfortable save.

Perelman sent on Wilfredo Rivera and Abdi Salim for Mohammed and Freeman in the 54th minute, trying get his team back in the match. For Salim, it was his first action since sustaining a knee injury on May 19. Favian Loyola then replaced Taifi in the 64th for more attacking presence.

Just a minute after Loyola entered the match, OCB tied the game. The play started with a giveaway by Chicago, but it was yet another good individual effort by Juninho that allowed the Young Lions to level the game. He was surrounded just inside the top of the box but managed to fight through traffic and get the ball onto his right foot, blasting it past Miskovic to make it 2-2 in the 65th minute.

Just seconds after Juninho’s goal, Chicago got a good look. Prpa cut in from the right onto his left foot and sent a shot on target but sent it right at Otero. Two minutes later, Chicago again went on the break after OCB turned over the ball and a good cross nearly found Prpa, who collided with Otero and a foul was called on Chicago. Prpa had to leave the match for a concussion substitution.

Lynn got a few good looks just past the 70-minute mark and one eventually paid off. The first took place in the 71st minute when Tablante did well to get down the left side and fired in a cross that Lynn pegged for the inside of the near post. Miskovic got just enough of it to send it wide for a corner. Another cross off the ensuing set piece came to Lynn in front but it was just behind him and hit off his heel.

Lynn scored his second goal on an almost identical play to the one Miskovic stopped a minute earlier. Tablante got to the end line and fizzed a good, low cross into the box to Lynn at the near post. This time, Lynn was able to get more power on his shot and gave OCB the lead in the 72nd minute. It was Lynn’s 12th of the year, momentarily pushing him past Atlanta’s Nick Firmino for the Golden Boot lead.

“You always like scoring,” Lynn said. “Two crosses with Moises and Ima. It’s something we work on a lot in training, so it’s good to see those patterns we work on a lot in training come to fruition in games.”

“I’m happy for him,” Perelman said of Lynn’s performance. “He really wants to become the Golden Boot (winner) and I think he’s going to make it with his talent and with the help of the team that is doing a great job with him. He’s momentarily the top scorer in the league and I wish that he can finish like this the season. It’s important for him and for the team.”

OCB tried to put the game away just after taking the lead. A scramble in front in the 75th minute deflected high off the leg of Miskovic and nearly went in. A try on the other side of the net from a tight angle ended up going over the crossbar and out of play. In the 77th minute, Tablante did well to beat a man on the end line, bringing the ball into the area. He picked out Rivera near the top of the box but the Homegrown Player’s shot went high over the net. Loyola then forced a Miskovic save in the 78th minute.

From that point on, OCB just tried to survive, facing a series of set pieces. Chicago wasn’t able to do much with them, but did fashion a shot off a short corner in the 83rd minute. Noeh Hernandez curled in a left-footed shot that skipped in front of Otero. The OCB goalkeeper spilled it but regathered before a Fire II player could arrive.

Hernandez had a second chance in stoppage time after a foul was called on Solis. The free kick was from just outside the box on the right side. Hernandez curled a shot just over the bar in the 93rd minute. That was the last look for either side and OCB held on for the win.

OCB finished with the advantage in possession (58.8%-41.2%), shots (18-12), shots on target (11-5), corners (9-5), and passing accuracy (85.2%-75.3%). Despite such a lopsided statistical advantage, the Young Lions had to white knuckle it through the final minutes to preserve their lead.

The win momentarily lifts OCB to fourth in the Eastern Conference and second in the Central Division.

“I thought we played really well,” Lynn said. “We created a lot of chances, scored a few goals from them, and got punished twice in behind, which is something that we knew they were good at and we knew they were going to look for. But ultimately, I think we were able to put a lot of our chances away and win the game, so that was good.”

“We want to achieve a game that we can keep solid a clean sheet but we are not achieving that. That’s the truth,” Perelman said. “But despite that, the players are doing a good job. They are pushing. They never give up. At the end of the day they win and they turned around a result one more time here at home. We want to level up the players in a winning environment, with a good identity and I believe we are doing that job and I’m happy for our club.”

The Young Lions will be back in action Monday, July 31, when they visit New York Red Bulls II at 7 p.m.

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Orlando City B

Orlando City B Signs Bernardo Rhein, Justin Ellis to MLS NEXT Pro Deals

OCB adds two signees ahead of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season.

Published

1 week ago

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February 13, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Orlando City B announced this morning that the club has signed two Orlando City Academy players — midfielder Bernardo Rhein and forward Justin Ellis — to MLS NEXT Pro contracts. Rhein signed through 2025 with a club option for 2026, with Ellis’ deal running through 2026. Both players featured Saturday night in Orlando City’s preseason scrimmage against CF Montreal.

“Bernardo and Justin are two more great examples of young players that have shown belief and trust in the development pathway we have set up here at Orlando City,” Orlando City SC Vice President of Soccer Operations and Technical Director Ricardo Moreira said in a club press release. “By signing with OCB, Justin and Bernardo have shown trust in us, the pathway, and in Head Coach Manuel Goldberg. They both put in the work since their early academy days; took the opportunities that they were given to continue developing their skill sets; and have shown us that they’re ready to take the next step along that pathway, and we’re excited to see how they both continue to progress these next few years.”

The 17-year-old Rhein (known as Bernardo Goncalves in 2024), appeared in six matches with OCB a year ago, coming off the bench each time and playing a total of 33 minutes. The Windermere native and Brazilian national did not record a goal contribution, attempting one shot, which he put on target, and completing 81.8% of his 22 pass attempts. Rhein subbed on for the latter stages of Saturday’s preseason scrimmage against Montreal and looked good, getting himself into scoring position but firing just over the bar in the extra 30-minute sesson.

Ellis, also 17, appeared in 18 matches with OCB in 2024 (three starts), scoring two goals and putting eight of his 13 shots on target. He did not record an assist, but passed well from the forward position, logging three key passes and completing 76.7% of his total pass attempts. The Wellington native traveled with the MLS squad to Mexico for the team’s week-long camp in Cancun. On the international stage, Ellis was called up to the U-18 USMNT in September, scoring two goals in two appearances.

What It Means for OCB

This is positive news for both OCB and the Orlando City Academy. Ellis was a regular contributor last season at a young age, while Rhein got his feet wet with a few appearances at the MLS NEXT Pro level. At just 17, both have shown a lot of potential upside already. Ellis will turn 18 in May, while Rhein won’t reach his 18th birthday until Sept. 21. Both will get a chance to further their development with OCB.

While neither player will be expected to make an impact with the first team in 2025, Duncan McGuire’s injury absence may require Shak Mohammed to spend more time with the first team, meaning Ellis would be in line to get more minutes with the Young Lions in the early part of the season.

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Orlando City B

Orlando City Signs Goalkeeper Carlos Mercado to a New Contract

Carlos Mercado signs a new contract to remain Orlando City’s third-choice goalkeeper.

Published

3 weeks ago

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January 30, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City announced this morning that the club has signed goalkeeper Carlos Mercado to a new contract. The deal is through the 2025 season with club options for 2026 and 2027.

“Carlos did a great job for us last year with Orlando City B and continued to provide a positive work ethic and atmosphere every day in training up with the first team and showed his skill and ability to compete every chance he got,” Orlando City Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi said in a club press release. “He’s part of a strong goalkeeping unit here at the club and we feel confident in the future of that entire position group moving forward.”

Mercado originally joined Orlando City prior to the 2024 season to back up Javier Otero. However, when Mason Stajduhar broke his tibia and fibula in a June 28 game against New York City FC, Otero became the primary backup to Pedro Gallese and Mercado was the starter for the Young Lions.

In his debut season in purple, Mercado started 20 games — including a playoff game in Chicago — playing 1,830 minutes. He conceded 30 goals for a goals-against average of 1.48 and saved 81 of 111 shots faced for a save percentage of 73%. He kept three clean sheets and compiled a record of 9-5-6 (W-L-D) while saving two of the four penalties he faced in regular play.

The 25-year-old signed a short-term deal following Stajduhar’s injury with his lone game on the team sheet being on the bench for a July 3 game against Toronto FC. He went on to sign a first-team contract on Sept. 20 through the 2024 season with options for 2025, 2026, and 2027. However, his 2025 option was declined following the season.

Mercado played for the FC Dallas academy in his youth, earning call-ups to the United States U-16 National Team and Mexico U-18 National Team. He played collegiately at the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX, before joining San Antonio FC of the USL Championship.

The goalkeeper made his professional debut in 2021, coming on for the final 29 minutes in a 3-0 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. He stayed with San Antonio FC through the 2023 season before joining OCB.

What It Means for Orlando City

As previously mentioned, Mercado’s option for 2025 was declined following the 2024 MLS season since the club already had three other goalkeepers. However, signing another goalkeeper became necessary when Orlando City traded Stajduhar to Real Salt Lake on Jan. 15, leaving the club with two under contract.

Mercado will likely continue to be the club’s third goalkeeper and is the presumed starter for Orlando City B when the MLS NEXT Pro season starts in March. He’ll have to join the first team if Gallese goes away on international duty with Peru and Otero enters the starting lineup. Barring unavailability of Gallese and Otero, it’s unlikely he’ll see any MLS action.

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Orlando City B

Orlando City B Announces Schedule for 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Season

Find out where, when, and who the Young Lions of OCB will play in 2025.

Published

4 weeks ago

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January 27, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

The 2025 MLS NEXT Pro schedule was released this afternoon, telling us where, when, and who Orlando City B will play in the team’s fourth year in the league. The league will again feature 29 teams in 2025, with three teams set to enter the league next year. There are 27 MLS affiliated clubs in the league and two independents — Carolina Core FC and Chattanooga FC.

The schedule remains at 28 games, with Orlando City B playing 14 at home, 13 away, and one at a neutral site at IMG Academy in Bradenton. OCB home games will take place at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee again this season.

OCB will start the 2024 season with a two-game home stand, opening the season on Sunday, March 9 against Columbus Crew 2 at 7 p.m. A week later, Atlanta United 2 will visit Osceola County Stadium. The Young Lions will then hit the road for the team’s first two away games starting Wednesday, March 26 at Crown Legacy FC and following with a match at Chattanooga FC on Saturday, April 5.

In addition to opening the season at home, OCB will close the regular season by hosting FC Cincinnati 2 at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5. Last year, the Young Lions opened and closed the season on the road. All Decision Day games in the Eastern Conference will start at 1 p.m. and all Western Conference matches will kick off at 4 p.m. (ET).

OCB will compete in the 15-team Eastern Conference as part of the Southeast Division. The other teams in the division are Atlanta, Carolina Core, Chattanooga, Crown Legacy, Huntsville City, and rival Inter Miami II. The reserve version of the Tropic Thunder rivalry will play out over three meetings in 2025. The Young Lions will travel IMG Academy to face the Baby Herons on April 15, with the home match in Kissimmee coming May 17. The teams will meet again in Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 14.

MLS NEXT Pro teams will again only play opponents from their own conference, limiting travel. The Young Lions will play each team in the Southeast Division three times, including Atlanta United 2, and Chattanooga twice at home and once away, and Carolina Core, Crown Legacy, and Huntsville City once each at home and twice away. OCB will play the teams from the Northeast Division once, except Columbus and New England, which the Young Lions will face both at home and away. Orlando City B will face FC Cincinnati 2, New York City FC II, New York Red Bulls II, and Toronto FC II only at home in the regular season, while facing Chicago Fire II and Philadelphia Union II only on the road.

The busiest months for OCB this season will be June and August, when the Young Lions will play five matches. They’ll play four times in April and July, three times in March, May, and September, and once in October. The most common day the Young Lions will play is on Sunday (13 games). Additionally, they have five games on Saturday, four games each on Wednesday and Friday, and one game each on Monday and Tuesday. The most common kickoff time is 7 p.m.. The Young Lions will play 18 games with that start time, three times each at 3 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 8 p.m., and once at 1 p.m. (Decision Day).

Once again, the postseason will include 15 games this year, concluding with the MLS NEXT Pro Cup. The higher playoff seeds will again select their opponents for the matchups in the first two rounds.

The majority of regular season games and all playoff games will again air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. The remaining games will be streamed live on mlsnextpro.com.

As far as viewing conflicts go for Orlando City and Pride fans, there are a few overlaps in 2025. OCB plays at 7 p.m. on April 5 at Chattanooga with the MLS Lions playing at 7:30 p.m. at Philadelphia that night. On May 23, OCB plays at Atlanta United 2 at 7:30 p.m. and the Pride and Royals kick off in Utah at 9:30 p.m. just as that game is concluding. On June 25, OCB plays at home at 7 p.m. against Toronto FC II, with Orlando City at St. Louis City at 8:30 p.m. OCB’s game July 25 at Huntsville City will kick off 30 minutes after the senior side begins playing at Columbus. The Young Lions start at home on Aug. 3 against NYCFCII an hour after the Pride and Utah Royals kick off at Inter&Co Stadium. OCB and the Pride are both home on Aug. 9 as well, with the Young Lions and Chattanooga getting underway at 7 p.m. at Osceola County Stadium, just 30 minutes before the Pride and Racing Louisville battle at Inter&Co Stadium. On Aug. 23, OCB will play at 7 p.m. at home against Atlanta United 2, with the senior Lions and Nashville SC kicking off at 8:30 p.m.

Orlando City B’s 2025 Schedule

  • Sunday, March 9 — vs. Columbus Crew 2, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, March 16 — vs. Atlanta United 2, 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, March 26 — at Crown Legacy FC, 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 5 — at Chattanooga FC, 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, April 9 — vs. New England Revolution II, 7 p.m.
  • Tuesday, April 15 — vs. Inter Miami II (at IMG Academy in Bradenton), 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, April 27 — vs. New York Red Bulls II, 7 p.m.
  • Friday, May 2 — at Chicago Fire FC II, 8 p.m.
  • Saturday, May 17 — vs. Inter Miami II, 7 p.m.
  • Friday, May 23 — at Atlanta United 2, 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, June 1 — vs. Chattanooga FC, 7 p.m.
  • Friday, June 6 — at Huntsville City FC, 8 p.m.
  • Wednesday, June 11 — at Carolina Core FC, 7:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, June 25 — vs. Toronto FC, 7 p.m.
  • Monday, June 30 — at Philadelphia Union II, 3 p.m.
  • Sunday, July 6 — at Crown Legacy FC, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, July 13 — vs. Carolina Core FC, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, July 20 — at New England Revolution II, 3 p.m.
  • Friday, July 25 — at Huntsville City FC, 8 p.m.
  • Sunday, Aug. 3 — vs. New York City FC II, 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, Aug. 9 — vs. Chattanooga FC, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, Aug. 17 — at Columbus Crew 2, 3 p.m.
  • Saturday, Aug. 23 — vs. Atlanta United 2, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, Aug. 31 — vs. Crown Legacy FC, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, Sept. 14 — at Inter Miami II, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, Sept. 21 — vs. Huntsville City FC, 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, Sept. 27 — at Carolina Core FC, 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, Oct. 5 — vs. FC Cincinnati 2, 1 p.m.
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