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Orlando City B

Orlando City B vs. New England Revolution II: Final Score 5-4 as OCB’s Comeback Comes Up Short

OCB tried to come back from three goals and a man down, but fell just short in a home loss to New England Revolution II.

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2 years ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B

Orlando City B (10-9-3, 34 points) nearly came back from a three-goal deficit and a man disadvantage but fell 5-4 to New England Revolution II (11-5-6, 43 points) at Osceola County Stadium. Rodrigo Schlegel, Jhon Solis, Favian Loyola, and Nabi Kibunguchy were the goal scorers for OCB, and Peyton Miller, Jack Panayotou, Jordan Adebayo-Smith, Joshua Bolma, and an Abdi Salim own goal were the five conversions for New England.

OCB Head Coach Martin Perelman made five changes to the team that drew 1-1 against Inter Miami II in Fort Lauderdale Saturday night. First-team regulars Mason Stajduhar, Felipe, and Schlegel joined the lineup, along with Cristian Medina and Alex Freeman. They replaced Javier Otero, Kibunguchy, Zakaria Taifi, Wilfredo Rivera, and Franco Perez — all of whom started the game on the bench.

The back line in front of goalkeeper Stajduhar for this one was Moises Tablante, Salim, Schlegel, and Freeman. Solis, Medina, Felipe, and Imanol Almaguer were in the midfield with Jack Lynn and Shak Mohammed once again making up the striking partnership.

Despite the result, OCB dominated most of the game. The Young Lions were clearly the better team through the first 45 minutes, but fell a man down when Solis was sent off just before halftime. While the visitors took advantage of the extra man, the Young Lions didn’t give up. Perelman made some inspired second-half substitutions, which got the team back to within one goal. Unfortunately, OCB couldn’t find the final equalizer.

OCB got the first good chance of the game off of a turnover in the back by New England. A Freeman foul on Colby Quinones gave the visitors a free kick. Pierre Cayet played it short for Jake Rozhansky, but the midfielder’s heavy touch allowed Lynn to play the ball forward for Felipe. The first-team midfielder was in on goal, but goalkeeper Jacob Jackson got down to block the shot. The ensuing corner kick by Martins found the head of Salim just beyond the back post, but he sent it over the target.

In the 11th minute, Schlegel got his foot to a near-post corner kick by Martins. The ball bounced dangerously across the top of the six-yard box, but nobody could get on the end of it and the ball went harmlessly beyond the far post.

Two minutes later, OCB took a deserved lead. A short corner kick was swung around for Almaguer at the top of the box. The midfielder lifted the ball into into a group of players and Schlegel was the first to it. Payet was on the center back, but slipped, giving Schlegel a free header on goal. The Argentine didn’t miss the opportunity, heading it down and past Jackson to make it 1-0.

The Young Lions dominated the possession and chances, but a mistake in the back allowed the visitors to equalize with their first chance of the game. It started near midfield when Lynn’s heavy touch from a Schlegel pass allowed Rozhansky to take over. Miller made a long run on the far side of the field with neither Salim nor Medina picking him up. Rozhansky played a long ball across, where Miller did well to control it and put it past Stajduhar for the equalizer.

OCB nearly got the lead right back in the 27th minute when Tablante was given plenty of space and sent an excellent ball into the six-yard box. Lynn got behind the Revs II defense, getting his right foot on it in an attempt to redirect the ball into the opposite corner. He did well to volley it towards the opposite post, but the attempt was just wide.

New England took the lead shortly after the first-half hydration break. In the 35th minute, Freeman left Miller alone on the left side of the field and Panayotou played it across for him. Miller’s second touch was a low ball across the box where Adebayo-Smith was making a run. Salim got to the ball first, but his deflection was past Stajduhar for an own goal.

OCB evened the game back up in the 44th minute. Solis played the ball wide for Freeman, whose first touch was a pass in to the six for the oncoming Mohammed. The forward couldn’t reach the pass and the ball bounced off the far post. It was a fortunate bounce for Solis, who continued his run into the box. Nobody was near him and the midfielder calmly passed it in to tie the game at 2-2.

It didn’t take long for New England to respond to the equalizer, retaking the lead two minutes into first-half stoppage time. Rozhansky sent Adebayo-Smith behind the OCB back line, which had stepped up in an attempt to trap him offside. Salim’s arm went up as he looked to the assistant referee, but the flag stayed down. Stajduhar blocked the initial shot, which popped up into the air. Panayotou beat Salim to the free ball, putting it in to give New England a 3-2 lead.

“Offside,” Perelman said about the goal after the game. “There have been a lot of mistakes from the referees. I don’t like to talk about them, but it’s tough. It’s tough, it’s tough.”

Things got worse two minutes into first-half stoppage time for the Young Lions. Lynn played the ball back for Solis with his back to goal, but Olger Escobar slid in to clear it away. Defender Tiago Suarez immediately began demonstrating to the referee that Solis stomped on Escobar while he was on the ground. Alyssa Nichols agreed, showing Solis a red card and putting OCB down to 10 men for the remainder of the game.

That was the last action of the half as the Young Lions went into the break down 3-2. It was a bizarre half as OCB dominated play. The Young Lions ended the first 45 minutes with more possession (56%-44%), shots (9-5), shots on target (4-3), corners (5-0), crosses (4-0), and passing accuracy (91.5%-84.9%). However, some mistakes defensively and a controversial goal by New England saw the Young Lions trailing at halftime.

New England extended its lead four minutes into the second half when Escobar lifted the ball to Bolma, who made a run between Schlegel and Salim. The midfielder’s first touch sent the ball over Stajduhar and was heading in. He would’ve had the goal, but Adebayo-Smith tapped it in just before it reached the line, giving New England a 4-2 advantage.

It got worse for OCB in the 52nd minute when the visitors were awarded a penalty. OCB players felt they had a great chance on goal when a cross in for Lynn resulted in a collision between the striker and Victor Souza. The ball landed at the feet of Felipe, but Nichols called the foul on Lynn.

New England quickly took the set piece forward, and Bolma was sent down the left. Schlegel was the last man back in the OCB box and gave a half-hearted attempt to knock the ball off Bolma as he cut inside. The midfielder went down and Nichols immediately pointed to the spot.

After drawing the penalty, Bolma stepped up to take the kick himself. He sent Stajduhar the wrong way, putting the ball into the right corner of the goal and giving Revolution II a commanding 5-2 lead.

In the 57th minute, Bolma attempted to score his second when he dribbled inside from the right past Schlegel and sent the ball towards the upper corner of the goal. The ball didn’t seem to miss the target by much, sailing just over the crossbar, but Stajduhar looked unconcerned about the shot.

Tablante attempted to get one back for OCB in the 61st minute when a weak clearance landed at his feet about 25 yards out. His shot from long distance took a deflection off of Panayotou, forcing Jackson to dive towards his left post, but the ball went wide.

Down three goals and a man, Perelman made four changes in the next few minutes. The first was a three-player change in the 65th minute, as Rivera, Kibunguchy, and Perez replaced Freeman, Tablante, and Salim. Two minutes later, Lynn came off for Loyola.

“(Perelman) just said, make an impact on the game anyway I can,” Kibunguchy said about the mentality entering the game down three goals and man. “The team needed some energy at the time and I just wanted to give that to keep us going, because the game is never over until the ref blows the whistle.”

It didn’t take long for the attacking substitutes to make an impact on the game, pulling a goal back in the 68th minute. Rivera sent a cross to the top of the six-yard box, where Loyola touched it with the top of his head, directing it into the far corner to cut the deficit to 5-3.

In the 74th minute, the Young Lions cut the New England lead to one. Cayet knocked a throw-in out for a corner kick that was taken by Felipe. The ball was sent into space, where Kibunguchy came charging in. The center back, known for his strong headers, got his left foot to the ball, sending a laser shot inside the far post to make it a 5-4 game.

“We practiced that play a lot during the week,” Kibunguchy said about his goal. “Martin sets us up good for corner kicks, so I had a block for me and I got free and just took my chance.And that’s what corners are about. Taking your chances and getting goals when you need them.”

The Young Lions felt they should’ve had a penalty in the 78th minute when defensive pressure forced substitute Patrick Leal into a turnover. It ended up with Felipe, who sent a long ball forward for Rivera behind the New England back line. Payet caught up with the attacker and there was contact as Rivera went down in the box. Rivera, the OCB bench, and the fans felt there should’ve been a penalty called, but there wasn’t much contact, and Nichols decided it was a fair challenge.

In the 82nd minute, Kibunguchy had a chance for a second goal when Souza conceded a corner kick. Felipe sent the ball into the mixer and Kibunguchy got his head to it. However, he wasn’t able to get it on target, sending it over the crossbar.

The Young Lions had a chance in the 87th minute when Almaguer found Rivera in the box. It looked like the young first-team forward had space for a shot, but couldn’t get around the ball, sending it wide. Perelman made his fifth and final substitution after the miss, bringing on Taifi for Almaguer.

The fourth official showed seven minutes of second-half injury time, a welcome sight for OCB as the team searched for an equalizer. However, it was New England that almost scored four minutes in. Malcolm Fry received the ball on the left with few defenders back and it looked like he’d take it to the corner. Loyola was back, but Fry dribbled inside to beat him and create a shot. Stajduahr did well to come off his line and close down on Fry, getting a piece of the shot to send it wide.

OCB had one final chance to equalize with the last attempt of the game eight minutes into second-half stoppage time. Italo fouled Mohammed just outside of the box and to the right of goal. Felipe took the set piece short to Rivera, who fired towards the far post. Jackson dove to his right as the ball skipped just wide of the post. That was the final touch as Nichols blew the final whistle and OCB fell at home to New England Revolution II.

At full time, OCB had more possession (55.9%-44.1%), shots (17-11), shots on target (7-6), corners (9-3), crosses (15-1), and passing accuracy (88.5%-84.6%). The only statistical advantage New England had was goals scored, but that was enough to take home all three points.

“It’s tough for me to analyze the game. From the tactical perspective, the first 20 minutes we did our job. Then, it’s true that we committed a mistake, two, and received two goals,” Perelman said about the performance. “But we keep going and controlling the game. And we tie the game 2-2. Then the second half, with one player less, they played good, but the team showed that nobody’s going to beat us easily.”

This was only OCB’s second home loss of the season. The Young Lions previously fell 3-0 to Philadelphia Union II on June 28. The loss keeps the Young Lions in fifth in the MLS NEXT Pro’s Eastern Conference, but they fall further behind the teams in front of them as the end of the regular season nears.

OCB will look to bounce back from this loss when the team heads back out on the road, taking on NYCFC II Sunday night.

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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.

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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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