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

Here’s how your favorite Lions rated during a waterlogged draw on the road up in Charlotte.

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1 year ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

It wasn’t pretty, but Orlando City nabbed a point on the road against a Charlotte FC team that’s had the Lions’ number this season. Martin Ojeda scored the kind of goal that OCSC usually finds itself on the wrong end of, and Orlando managed to squeak out the result.

Here are my thoughts on the individual performances from a soggy night up in North Carolina.

GK, Pedro Gallese, 6.5 — Gallese only made one save on the night but it was an absolute beauty. Ten minutes before halftime, Derrick Jones found himself unmarked in the six-yard box but was stonewalled by El Pulpo to keep the game scoreless. At 50%, his distribution wasn’t the best, but he did have a key pass, which led to Duncan McGuire’s overturned goal. He made a good effort on Copetti’s penalty but couldn’t quite get over fast enough as he dove the right way. Overall, a good night’s work from him.

D, Rafael Santos, 6 — Santos didn’t get involved going forward as much as Oscar Pareja typically likes from his fullbacks, and seeing him only attempt 11 passes with 73% accuracy was indicative of that. He was impressive on defense though, finishing with two tackles, one interception, five clearances, and two aerial duels won. He drew one foul and was withdrawn with a little under 15 minutes left to play, possibly with an eye towards trying to keep his legs fresh for Saturday’s match.

D, Robin Jansson, 7 (MotM) — Jansson was excellent in this one, and it perhaps isn’t an accident that Charlotte’s breakthrough came mere moments after he left the field. He made one tackle, one interception, and a whopping five clearances on defense. He also blocked a shot in the first half, saving what almost certainly would have been a goal, and generally spent his time on the field shutting down dangerous moments left and right. At 65%, his passing accuracy left a bit to be desired, but he did chip in a key pass and two accurate long balls on five attempts. If Orlando has to spend any stretch of time without both him and Antonio Carlos, then things could get ugly, especially when looking at the upcoming fixture list. He’s the choice for Man of the Match in this one.

D, Rodrigo Schlegel, 6 — Schlegel had a busy night on defense. He had a team-high six clearances to go along with one tackle and two aerial duels won. He was heavily involved in the physical side of the game, committing two fouls, while drawing three on Charlotte players, and he committed the foul on Enzo Copetti in the box that gave Charlotte its penalty kick. He passed the ball at an 81% clip and had three completed long balls. The foul in the box wasn’t great, but he didn’t know too much about it, and it’s hard to hold it against him too much. Overall, a steady night of work for him.

D, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson, 6.5 — Dagur Dan has settled in nicely at right back while Mikey Halliday works his way back to fitness, and he had a good game in this one. He had more success getting forward than Santos did, and completed 81% of the passes he attempted, with two complete long balls on three attempts thrown in for good measure. Defensively he had two interceptions and two clearances while committing a foul, and was largely steady out on the right side of the back line. He also completed a dribble, and Thorhallsson’s versatility has quietly been one of the reasons for Orlando’s good run of recent results.

MF, Cesar Araujo, 6.5 — As we’ve grown accustomed to, Araujo was plenty involved in this game. He had two tackles, three clearances and drew a whopping seven fouls, none of which resulted in a yellow card. He did pick up a yellow of his own for a needlessly hard foul, which was the lone black mark against his play. He completed 74% of his passes and delivered four long balls successfully on eight attempts. He churns out performances that range from solid to spectacular game after game, and I’m struggling to recall the last time he had a truly poor game. Aside from Jansson and Carlos, he might very well be the most consistent player on the team.

MF, Junior Urso, 5.5 — The Bear got the first start of his second stint with the Lions. Like most of Orlando’s midfield, he had trouble settling into a good rhythm and wasn’t able to impact the game going forward, as demonstrated by the seven passes he played with 71% success. He did contribute a long ball on his only attempt, as well as an interception and a clearance on defense, but other than that it was a quiet night for him.

MF, Ramiro Enrique, 6.5 — Ramiro went the full 90 and was very involved in the match. He took a team-high three shots and was desperately unlucky to see an excellent strike rattle off the post in the first half, while the other two were blocked. He drew two fouls while committing two of his own, and had an interception and three clearances on defense. He delivered 73% of his passes to their intended target and completed a successful long ball on two attempts. His decision-making still needs to improve at times, but he works hard and makes plenty of good runs. With a little more luck he could have had the opening goal, but it wasn’t quite his night.

MF, Mauricio Pereyra, 5.5 — It wasn’t a bad night for Pereyra, but it was a fairly quiet one. He found it a little difficult to get involved and seemed to have trouble finding his rhythm, something that was reflected in the two times he was dispossessed. He chipped in well defensively with two tackles and an interception, and contributed a key pass while completing his passes with 77% accuracy. He only attempted 13 passes in his half of play though, and that sums up his problems getting involved in the game.

MF, Facundo Torres, 6.5 — The wet turf and ball seemed to give Torres trouble controlling the ball in the first half, and the little delay meant he didn’t release his pass in time to play McGuire onside. Still, he looked dangerous on offense and his wicked dipping shot was very close to going in and breaking the deadlock. He also completed a dribble, drew a foul, and passed at an 83% clip while providing two key passes. He continues to be in good form this summer, and while he couldn’t make the difference in this one, his play is still reminiscent of the heater he went on from last summer to the end of the season.

F, Duncan McGuire, 6 — Duncan did his best work during the occasions that Orlando was coming forward on the break. He put his one shot of the night in the back of the net but was denied a goal due to not being able to stay onside when Facu had trouble bringing the ball under control to play him in. He contributed a clearance, won an aerial duel, completed the one dribble he attempted and passed with 67% accuracy while committing one foul.

Substitutes

MF, Ivan Angulo (46′), 6 — Angulo got the entirety of the second half to work with after a rocky first 45 from Pereyra. He had a great flash of danger in the 64th minute when he drove a low shot to the far corner, but Kristijan Kahlina did well to get down and parry it away from goal. He completed a dribble, drew a foul, and generally looked lively on offense, although his 63% passing accuracy left something to be desired, as did his pass behind Enrique on a promising attack late in the game. Defensively, he made a tackle and an interception, and ran hard on several instances to track back as the game opened up.

MF, Martin Ojeda (61′), 6.5 — I’m not sure how much he knew about it, but a goal is a goal and Ojeda got one when the Lions desperately needed one — and didn’t look likely to get it. He put a great ball into a dangerous area and sometimes that’s half the battle. His other shot was one of his typical efforts from…shall we say, preposterous range, but he at least put it on target. He recorded an interception, a clearance, and a foul drawn while passing with 75% accuracy and completing one key pass and one of his two crosses. It hasn’t been the easiest first season for him in MLS, but he’s quietly putting up decent numbers, and if he can find a way to contribute more on a regular basis then OCSC could pick up some serious steam down the stretch.

MF, Felipe (61′), 5 — Felipe had an exceedingly quiet performance in his 30 minutes on the field. He completed 50% of his four passes and accurately delivered a long ball (on three attempts), but didn’t record any other stats aside from picking up the game’s first yellow card. His most notable contribution may have been getting caught offside on a fierce Rodrigo Schlegel header from a set piece. Suffice it to say, it wasn’t quite his night.

D, Kyle Smith (77′), N/A — Smith came on in relief of Santos and had a solid, if unspectacular outing. He passed with 50% accuracy and made two clearances while helping limit any dangerous chances for Charlotte as the game wound down.

D, Abdi Salim (78′), N/A — Salim made his third appearance of the season and the first since mid-March. He was solid at the back and made a tackle, two clearances, and two aerial duels won while passing with 83% accuracy.

That’s how I saw the individual performances in a game where Orlando got an important point on the road to keep pace in the crowded Eastern Conference. What did you think of the performances during this game? Be sure to vote in our Man of the Match poll, and let us know your thoughts down in the comments. Vamos Orlando!

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Orlando City

Orlando City Signs Colombian Winger Nicolas Rodriguez

The Lions add a skilled young winger ahead of the 2025 season.

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10 hours ago

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January 17, 2025

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Orlando City has announced the previously reported signing of Colombian forward Nicolas Rodriguez from Fortaleza CEIF through 2027 with a club option for 2028. Rodriguez, 20, will occupy an MLS U22 Initiative slot.

“We’re very excited to have Nico join us here in Orlando. With the characteristics he has as a player, he’s someone that we feel really fits our model and culture at the club,” Orlando City Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi in a club press release. “Nico has a skilled left foot that makes him a challenge to defend, likes to take defenders on one-on-one, and has a promising future. We’re excited for all he’ll achieve here during his time in purple.”

Rodriguez made 19 appearances (all starts) in the 2024 Primera A Clausura season with Fortaleza, compiling 1,607 minutes, scoring five goals, and adding three assists.

“It’s an honor and a point of pride to be able to wear this kit, to be able to represent this badge, and it’s very important to me and to my family,” Rodríguez said in the club’s press release. “I’m excited about this next step along my journey.”

The San Jose del Guaviare, Colombia native joined Fortaleza’s youth team in 2021, making his debut in the Categoria Primera B against Boyaca Chico. After rarely appearing in his first two years, the 5-foot-8 winger became a regular starter in 2023, appearing in 44 matches and scoring eight times, helping the club earn promotion to Primera A. He played in 42 games in all competitions for Fortaleza in 2024, scoring eight goals.

What It Means for Orlando City

The Lions get a talented, young offensive-minded player who can help the club while developing. If things go well, Orlando City will be able to move him in the future for a great deal more than what the club is investing in him now, which is good business, but not at the expense of the team on the field. Rodriguez isn’t a like-for-like replacement for Facundo Torres — at least not yet — but he doesn’t have to be. The Lions could play Martin Ojeda or Luis Muriel opposite Ivan Angulo, allowing Rodriguez time to develop with minutes off the bench and spot starts during heavy fixture congestion. And, with an open Designated Player slot, there may still be a forward or winger brought in before the 2025 season starts.

In addition to playing right wing, Rodriguez can also play the right side in a three-man midfield and even the No. 10 spot. In Oscar Pareja’s system, he would likely project as the right attacking midfielder in the 4-2-3-1.

Rodriguez will occupy an international and U22 Initiative slot for the Lions. He’s a player with a lot of upside and with the financial investment of the transfer fee, coupled with the reports that Fortaleza will retain as much as 30% of a future sale, the club must feel good about his future. Fans should as well after seeing the video below, which shows Rodriguez has plenty of confidence and finishing ability, even from outside the box.

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Opinion

Likes and Dislikes from the First Week of Orlando City’s Preseason

Here are a few things that stood out from the first week of preseason — some good and some bad.

Published

14 hours ago

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January 17, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

The 2024 Major League Soccer season has barely had time to breathe, but Orlando City opened preseason training on Monday. If it feels like time has flown by, that’s because it has. Hell, we’ve already got a whole working week’s-worth of practices in, and things are only going to pick up from here. With that being the case, I wanted to stop and reflect on a couple things that I liked, and a couple things that I disliked from the first week of the Lions’ preseason.

Likes

The Boys Are Back in Town

First and foremost, it’s good to be back in soccer mode. Its always nice to reflect on fond memories from the most recent season — particularly when its a successful one like the Lions just had, but reminiscing only takes you so far. But now we’re getting daily looks at OCSC’s preseason work and are able to check in with the familiar faces we know and love while also getting to know a few new ones. Videos like this one are always nice and help build excitement for the games to come.

Games Just Around the Corner

Speaking of games, we aren’t too far from Orlando’s first game of 2025. The Lions will play a preseason match a little over a week from today on Jan. 25, when they take on Atletico Mineiro at home in the FC Series. It may be only a preseason game but it still provides us with our first glimpse of what Orlando City will look like during the 2025 season. We’ll presumably get to see some of the team’s draft picks in action and should get some clues as to how the positional pecking order is starting to shape up.

Dislikes

The Wait for Reinforcements

It isn’t out of the norm for Orlando City to take its time making off-season signings when compared to its fellow MLS teams, and that’s been the case once again this year. Granted, there are plenty of teams that have more spots to fill than the Lions and some teams are in the midst of outright rebuilds. Still, OCSC has several spots that are in need of strengthening, depth, or both, not to mention a Facundo Torres-sized hole out on the right wing. There’s absolutely work to be done, and while I’m all for taking the time to make sure you sign the right players, there’s also something to be said for giving those players as much time in preseason as possible to adapt to their new teammates and unfamiliar surroundings. Here’s hoping that some moves start getting made soon.

The Departure of Mason Stajduhar

I won’t lie to you guys, when the news came through on Wednesday afternoon that the Lions had traded Mason Stajduhar to Real Salt Lake for General Allocation Money and a draft pick, it was a tough blow and one that I’m still having trouble coming to terms with. Professional soccer is a business, and I understand that, but it’s tough to see a guy like Mason head out the door. The team’s fourth Homegrown Player had been around since 2015 and beat cancer, made his MLS debut, got his first MLS wins and shutouts, helped OCSC hoist the club’s first silverware as an MLS team, and got engaged and then married — all while wearing Orlando purple. As our editor Michael Citro put it, we watched him grow up from a teenager into a young man, and it’ll always be tough to watch someone leave who has been around for 10 years and has been a consummate professional for each one of them. I’ll miss him but wish him all the best.

What did you guys make of the first week of the 2025 preseason? Are there any things that you’re keeping a particularly close eye on as we begin building towards the match against Atletico Mineiro? Be sure to have your say down in the comments, and I’ll see you next week. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/17/25

Orlando Pride loan out Mariana Larroquette, USMNT gets ready for Venezuela, MLS transfer news, and much more.

Published

18 hours ago

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January 17, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Happy Friday! Maybe it’s just because I’m a San Jose Sharks fan when it comes to hockey, but I sure do miss being able to watch Orlando City and the Orlando Pride win games. Thankfully it won’t be much longer until Orlando’s soccer teams are back in action, although I wish the Lions would make some moves to get us excited for 2025. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Mariana Larroquette Heads to Argentina on Loan

The Pride have loaned forward Mariana Larroquette to Newell’s Old Boys Women in Argentina. The loan lasts through July 1, so Larroquette may still provide some attacking depth for the Pride later in the season. This should be a good opportunity for her to get some minutes in her home country after only making four appearances for the Pride last season. Larroquette joined the Pride back in July of 2023 on a contract through 2025, so this is a solid chance for her to get some consistent playing time to showcase her talent before her current contract ends.

USMNT Prepares for Friendly Against Venezuela

The United States Men’s National Team will play its first game of 2025 when it takes on Venezuela Saturday at 3 p.m. in Fort Lauderdale. This is just the seventh meeting between the two nations, with Venezuela winning the most recent match 3-0 back in 2019. Goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez started for Venezuela in that shutout and is expected to get the nod in goal again, with Orlando City’s Javier Otero backing him up. The Yanks will be without multiple players who were called up, as Jesus Ferreira, John Tolkin, Jalen Neal, and Drake Callender will no longer be available. The USMNT will be back in action on Tuesday for a friendly against Costa Rica at Inter&Co Stadium.

Catching Up On MLS Transfer News

Every MLS team apart from Orlando City seems to be making major moves in preparation for the 2025 season. Austin FC is reportedly signing Albanian forward Myrto Uzuni as a Designated Player, which would trigger a $12.3 million release clause in his contract with Granada. Uzuni has scored 14 goals in 18 appearances for the Spanish club this season. Austin also added midfielder Nicolas Dubersarsky from Instituto in Argentina’s top flight. He will be a U22 Initiative Player and signed a five-year contract with the club.

New York Red Bulls left back John Tolkin was officially transferred to Holstein Kiel in the Bundesliga for a reported $3 million transfer fee. The New England Revolution continued to strengthen their attack, signing veteran forward Maxi Urruti to a one-year deal with an option for 2026. Atlanta United and Middlesbrough have reportedly reached a verbal agreement on a deal for forward Emmanuel Latte Lath, although Atlanta still has to finalize personal terms with him.

Chelsea Reportedly Leads Race for Naomi Girma

One of the biggest questions this NWSL off-season is whether or not San Diego Wave defender Naomi Girma will remain with the club. The 24-year-old is under contract through 2026, but European teams are reportedly willing to pay up to secure her talents. Chelsea is the reported frontrunner, with Arsenal and Lyon also in the mix to sign her. Girma is one of the best defenders in the world and was a major reason behind the United States Women’s National Team winning Olympic gold last year. Speaking of Girma, she will not be in attendance for the USWNT training camp in Florida due to a minor injury.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter followed through on her promise to dye her hair after a historic season.
  • In news that impacts Orlando City duo Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena, Jorge Fossati is no longer Peru’s head coach. Peru only won one of its six CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers with Fossati at the helm and is last in the standings.
  • Former Lion Chris Mueller spoke on the importance of mental health and the resources available to help.

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

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