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Top 10 Moments of 2023: Orlando City Battles Tigres to Standstill in Champions League Debut

In our No. 4 moment, the Lions battled Liga MX giants Tigres to a 1-1 aggregate draw in their first-ever Champions League appearance.

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10 months ago

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

As we count down to the new year of 2024 — which will be Orlando City’s 10th in MLS and the Orlando Pride’s ninth in the NWSL — and say goodbye to 2023, it’s time to look back at the club’s 10 best moments of the year as selected by The Mane Land staff via vote.

Orlando City could hardly have gotten a more difficult draw for its debut in Concacaf Champions League (now known as Concacaf Champions Cup). The Lions qualified for the competition by virtue of becoming the 2022 U.S. Open Cup champions, earning their spot in the continental competition. But when the draw handed the team a meeting with Liga MX giants Tigres UANL, the Lions’ path to advancement was about as tough as possible.

Liga MX teams have historically had an advantage in two-legged ties against MLS sides, because their seasons kick off earlier, allowing them to get into rhythm and better form before playing Major League Soccer clubs that have only just opened their own seasons. But Tigres is particularly difficult. The club had reached the final of the competition four previous times — all within the last eight years — winning it in 2020 and finishing as runners-up in 2016, 2017, and 2019. This year’s Tigres side entered the competition just a few points out of first place behind Monterrey in Liga MX and with lethal attacking players such as André-Pierre Gignac, Uruguayan international Fernando Gorriarán, promising Mexican attacker Sebastián Córdova, striker Nicolás Ibáñez, and Nahuel “Patón” Guzmán, one of the best goalkeepers in Liga MX.

Making the task more difficult, the Lions had to go on the road first in the two-legged tie, playing in the crazy atmosphere of Estadio Universitario (a.k.a. El Volcán) at 10 p.m. Eastern and on one fewer day of rest than their opponents. This match was supposed to set the tone for the series and Orlando needed to overcome all of that to get a result.

And that’s what happened.

The Mexican club was as good as advertised at both ends of the pitch, but Orlando City was able to grind out a 0-0 road draw. The Lions even had a few opportunities in the second half to take the lead, but they couldn’t find that final bit of quality — a common problem early in the season for this year’s squad and typical of an MLS team playing Liga MX competition early in the tournament. Orlando City got a weak effort by Ivan Angulo on frame and that was the team’s only shot on goal in the first half. Tigres attempted eight shots and put half of them on target, but Pedro Gallese was able to keep the hosts off the board.

Gallese came up huge early in the second half, denying Gignac on a half-volley shot through Rodrigo Schlegel’s legs and then deflecting a Gorriaran corner kick off the crossbar before fighting off a point-blank header from Samir.

Orlando had a decent spell around the hour mark, with Martin Ojeda forcing a Guzman save and the Lions sent in a long-distance attempt moments later that Guzman was able to save. Gaston Gonzalez had a chance to give Orlando the lead in the 62nd minute but opted to shoot rather than cross for Facundo Torres and his shot fizzed over the crossbar.

Gignac headed over the bar in the 68th minute and then Gallese made a good stop to deny Sebastián Córdova seconds later.

Ojeda failed to take advantage of a mistake by Guzman, who turned the ball over to the Orlando City Designated Player in the 87th minute. With the net empty, Ojeda tried to chip a shot back toward goal while his momentum was carrying him toward the touch line, but he couldn’t direct his effort on target. That nearly proved costly a minute later when Guido Pizarro’s header off a corner kick crashed off the right post. Samir then headed wide in the 90th minute.

That was it for the scoring chances and Orlando City held on for a road result in Mexico — a rarity for MLS sides in the competition’s history — despite the fact that Tigres dominated the stat sheet.

However, without a crucial road goal, the Lions needed to either win at home in the second leg or hold Tigres to another scoreless draw and win the ensuing penalty shootout. Although the Mexican giants failed to beat Orlando City, they advanced in the competition after fighting to a 1-1 draw at Exploria Stadium on March 15.

Despite not having Gignac available in the second leg, Tigres was dangerous again throughout the second matchup. Gallese was brilliant once again to keep his team in the game, but his attacking teammates struggled to proved much of anything at the other end with their final ball, wasting some good scoring chances.

Luis Quinones nearly opened the scoring in the ninth minute off a turnover on an attempted Orlando switch. Gallese made a diving effort to keep the game scoreless.

Gallese then bailed out his team in the 15th minute by denying Nicolas Ibanez’s header in front. Fernando Gorriaran fired just wide on the rebound off the save.

Luca Petrasso set up Orlando’s first clear-cut look in the 19th minute but Angulo sent his shot inches wide of the right post. That was an unfortunate miss, as the visitors broke through moments later.

Petrasso got caught ball watching, allowing Sebastian Cordova to drift away behind him. The Tigres attacker chested the ball down to himself and fired past Gallese from close range, giving the visitors a 1-0 advantage in the 21st minute. With a road goal in their pocket, it made the uphill climb for Orlando that much harder.

The goal unsettled the Lions for the next several minutes, leading to a couple of yellow cards and a poor pass from Michael Halliday that failed to beat the first defender on an attempted entry ball into the area with numbers forward in the attack. Ramiro Enrique had a chance to equalize late in the first half but sent his shot into Guzman’s chest from just a few yards out in front of goal.

Orlando started the second half more brightly and Enrique got the first chance after the break, only to see it blocked behind for a corner. As Orlando City pushed more numbers into the attack, the Lions became susceptible to dangerous counterattacks, forcing Gallese to do things like this:

El Pulpo made huge saves in the 67th, 73rd, and 83rd minutes to keep the Lions’ hopes alive.

Torres nearly equalized in the 80th minute, running onto a backheel from Ercan Kara and toe poking a shot toward the goal. Tigres defender Igor Lichnovsky got a touch to it, however, and deflected it up into Guzman’s belly for an easy save. Guzman then got a touch to a Dagur Dan Thorhallsson free kick in the 89th minute, tipping it over the bar for a corner.

Orlando City finally broke through on the ensuing set piece. Torres’ corner kick found Duncan McGuire at the near post and the rookie sent a header on goal. Tigres cleared the shot off the line but Kara tracked the ball in the air, turning and sending an overhead kick back toward goal and in, tying the match in the 90th minute with one of Orlando City’s best goals of 2023.

Tigres did well to see out the five minutes of stoppage time, keepin the ball and using the dark arts to waste time. Kara attempted a second bicycle kick in stoppage time and the Lions shouted for handball on the block but there was no call for a review of the play. Orlando City won a few set pieces late but couldn’t pick out a teammate with the delivery. Samir was sent off deep in stoppage time with a second yellow card, helping the Lions’ cause.

The final set piece nearly provided the moment of magic that Orlando City fans craved. Guzman came off his line to try to catch the cross into the area but could only get one hand on it in the traffic out front. McGuire got to the loose ball first and smashed a shot toward goal but his blast was always rising and missed the target with the goalkeeper well off his line. The whistle blew right after the play to end the game and Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja ran onto the pitch to argue that more stoppage time should have been given for time wasting after normal time. The coach got a red card for his troubles.

In the end, it wasn’t quite the result Orlando City and its fans wanted, but facing one of the tougest teams in Liga MX and not being bested by them across two matches in the Lions’ first trip to the competition was a moment of which to be proud. That was the message from the team afterwards as well.

“We are proud of the effort we showed during the game,” Pareja said after the match, discussing what he said to his players in the locker room. “They played against a good rival and we were there. So, we will move on, but we were upset as well.”

Tigres needed one lousy away goal to advance even though the Mexican side couldn’t notch a win across the two legs. Orlando City stood strong but simply couldn’t finish chances. Had the team found its best lineup by then, things could have been a bit different.

As it was, that two-legged affair against Tigres was an important step in Orlando City’s growth as a club and it was certainly worthy of a spot on our list of top moments of 2023.

Come back through New Year’s Eve as we count down the remainder of Orlando City’s top 10 moments of 2023.

Previous Top Moments of 2023

10. The Orlando Pride select breakout stars Emily Madril and Messiah Bright in the 2023 NWSL Draft.
9. OCB draws at Chicago and then wins a shootout, clinching its first playoff spot since 2016.

8. Orlando Pride dump Portland Thorns 3-1 in June, kick-starting the team’s push for the playoffs.

7. Orlando City gets a late goal to defeat Santos Laguna 3-2 in Leagues Cup play, earning its first win over Liga MX competition.

6. Orlando Pride sign Brazilian international Adriana.

5. OCB forward Jack Lynn named MLS NEXT Pro MVP.

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Orlando City

Orlando City Experiencing Its Golden Age of Offense

Facundo Torres and Duncan McGuire are leading Orlando City to its best offensive seasons.

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4 hours ago

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October 14, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

For most of Orlando City’s MLS history, finding multiple reliable goal scorers has been a struggle. As a result, the team has often been further down the league in goals scored, decreasing its goal difference. However, the duo of Facundo Torres and Duncan McGuire has changed that trend and provided the Lions with their best offensive seasons.

Orlando City drafted Cyle Larin with the first pick of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft and he quickly became a reliable source of goals. The Canadian international scored a team-record 18 goals across all competitions in his rookie year, and then scored 14 in the following season.

Larin’s production dipped slightly in 2017, scoring 12 goals, and the striker departed following that season. Orlando City has struggled to find someone that can provide the same scoring threat since. Over the next five years, only Nani and Chris Mueller scored double-digit goals in multiple seasons, each doing so twice. Prior to 2023, four other players scored double-digit goals in one season, as Dom Dwyer did it in 2018, Tesho Akindele in 2019, Daryl Dike in 2021, and Ercan Kara in 2022.

The lack of consistent goal production changed in 2022 when the club signed Facundo Torres from Uruguayan side Penarol. The young Designated Player made an immediate impact for his new team, scoring 13 goals in all competitions, including a brace in the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final to lift the Lions to their first major trophy.

Torres and Kara combined for an impressive 25 goals that season. Unfortunately, the pair didn’t have much support and the Lions only scored 44 goals in 2022. However, that changed the following year when Orlando City drafted former Creighton striker and Hermann Trophy winner Duncan McGuire.

Torres increased his goal tally to 14 in his second season in Orlando and McGuire netted a team-high 15 in his rookie campaign. The 29 goals scored by the pair were the most by two Orlando City players in an MLS season, topping the 28 goals scored by Larin and Kaká in 2015.

The goal tally has increased in 2024, with Torres scoring a career-high 18 goals, McGuire adding 11, and Ramiro Enrique chipping in with 11 of his own across all competitions. It’s the first time an Orlando City team — including the USL Pro era — has had three players score double-digit goals in one year. It’s also the first time in club history Orlando has had multiple double-digit goal scorers in three consecutive years.

The production by multiple players has seen a significant increase in goals scored by the Lions over the past two seasons. After netting only 44 league goals in 2022, Orlando City scored 55 times in 2023, tying the team’s MLS record previously set in 2016. The Lions surpassed that number this year by scoring 58 goals with one game remaining in the regular season.

The club’s record-setting scoring output comes at a time when Orlando City is playing some of its best defense in its MLS history. The 2023 squad only conceded 39 goals, the fewest in a 34-game season. While it has conceded nine more this year, it’s the second-fewest goals conceded in a season, tying the 2021 team.

The past two seasons have seen Orlando City set new club records in the MLS era for highest goal difference in a 34-game season. The only two years in which the Lions had a positive goal difference prior to 2023 was in a shortened 2020 season, when they were +15 and in 2021 when they were +2. They set a new record in 2023 by finishing +16 and are +10 this year.

The increase in goals and goal difference has resulted in better performances throughout the season. The team set a new club record with 63 points last season, placing second in the Supporters’ Shield standings. Orlando has amassed 52 points so far this season, the club’s second-highest point total since joining MLS.

While the play of the back line has contributed to the team’s recent success, goal production has been the catalyst. For the first time in its history, Orlando City has two reliable goal scorers who have produced in back-to-back seasons. The result is the best back-to-back seasons in the club’s MLS history.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/14/24

Getting to know Martin Ojeda, Orlando Pride unbeaten run ends, USMNT beats Panama, and more.

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8 hours ago

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October 14, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you over the holiday weekend. I’ve been busy working at Under Armour and finishing up stream monitoring for an NISA Playoff semifinal match in California. Let’s also wish a happy birthday to Orlando City B forward Wilfredo Rivera. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links. 

Getting to Know Martin Ojeda

Orlando City midfielder Martin Ojeda was featured as part of the club’s video series to learn more about the players. In the video, Ojeda gave insight into his beginnings playing soccer when he was three years old and playing for his neighborhood club in South America. He also discussed his style of play, focusing on the attack, creating opportunities, and stating that there is always room to improve. You can check out the rest of the video below.

Pride Unbeaten Run Ends in Loss to Thorns

The Orlando Pride suffered their first loss of the NWSL season on Friday, falling 2-0 to the Portland Thorns. Morgan Weaver and Christine Sinclair scored for the Thorns to seal the win and end Orlando’s 24-match unbeaten streak dating back to Oct. 6 of last season. Despite the loss, the Pride remain in first place in the NWSL table with 57 points after winning the NWSL Shield a week ago. The next match for the Pride will be on Sunday on the road against NJ/NY Gotham FC.

Keys to Success in Orlando Pride Turnaround

The Athletic ($) took a deep dive into the process that led to the Orlando Pride turnaround this season. The article begins with the Pride joining the NWSL in 2016, their up-and-down seasons, and how recent changes in the last couple of years have set the foundation for the club’s success in 2024. It also shared some unique insights from interviews with staff and players and how the club was eager to make changes after finishing in the bottom half of the table for the last five seasons. The most interesting takeaway for me from reading the article was Head Coach Seb Hines speaking on the process of changing the culture of the club, building that underdog mindset, and how he keeps his players motivated. Although the 24-match unbeaten streak is over, the Pride are breaking records this season and won their first trophy. There’s been plenty to be excited about for the Pride this season, and hopefully they will carry this momentum into the playoffs and make a deep run.

USMNT Defeats Panama in Mauricio Pochettino’s Coaching Debut

The U.S. Men’s National Team defeated Panama 2-0 on Saturday at Q2 Stadium, securing the first win in Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino’s debut in a friendly. Yunus Musah and Ricardo Pepi scored the USMNT’s goals in the second half to secure the victory. Matt Turner started in goal, and Christian Pulisic added an assist to set up Musah’s goal. The USMNT will face Mexico in Guadalajara on Tuesday. Pulisic, Pepi, and Weston McKennie will miss the match to return to their respective European clubs. Marlon Fossey and Zack Steffen will also return to their clubs.

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  • Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese earned a clean sheet on international duty as his Peru side defeated Uruguay 1-0 in a CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying match on Friday. Wilder Cartagena and Facundo Torres did not play in the match.
  • Orlando Pride midfielder Angelina and forward Adriana were called up to the Brazil Women’s National Team for friendlies against Colombia on Oct. 26 and Oct. 29.
  • Sports Illustrated listed five MLS players that could move abroad this off-season, mentioning Orlando City’s Facundo Torres and Duncan McGuire as potential targets.
  • Angel City FC forward Christen Press scored her first goal in 28 months over the weekend in a 1-1 draw against the North Carolina Courage. Press had been sidelined due to an ACL injury requiring four surgeries before returning to action.
  • Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga broke an NWSL record after scoring her 19th goal of the season in a 1-0 win over Bay FC over the weekend.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/11/24

Orlando Pride in Portland, U.S. men and women news, international upsets, and more.

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3 days ago

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October 11, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Milton has finally made its way out of Florida, though many of us will be dealing with the aftermath for a while. We hope that you and yours are safe and that the damage is minimal. I know that many are still without power — which is why I’m writing Lion Links today instead of Marcus Mitchell. Fortunately, the Orlando Pride play in Portland tonight, although it will be a late one. Let’s get to the links.

Pride in Portland

The Orlando Pride may be the NWSL Shield winners, but with three matches left in the regular season, the job is not done. Now, the club will take on the Portland Thorns. The Thorns haven’t been great as of late, but Providence Park is a tough place to play. While the club is focused on the upcoming playoffs, the Pride still want to finish undefeated in the regular season. Portland, like many clubs, are fighting for a playoff spot.

USWNT Players in the News

Lindsey Horan didn’t have the best Olympics in my opinion, but she is doing very well in her start to Lyon’s season. She’s scored five goals in four matches to help Lyon top the table. Back home, Crystal Dunn is being honored by Empowerment on the East River hosted by Black Players for Change.

USMNT in Action

The USMNT plays its first match under Mauricio Pochettino Saturday night against Panama, and you can watch it on multiple platforms. There are no conflicts of interest this go-around, but next year, some players will need to choose between playing in the Club World Cup or the Gold Cup.

International Results

Orlando City, and all the other teams and leagues, aren’t playing right now due to an international break. The matches have already begun. Perhaps the biggest news was Greece’s stunning 2-1 win over England. The victory puts Greece atop Group B2 in the UEFA Nations League competition.

Over in Group A2, Italy blew a two-goal lead to draw Belgium 2-2. There were plenty of other results, including Erling Haaland becoming his country’s all-time top scorer after scoring a brace in Norway’s 3-0 win over Slovenia. If you want to catch more matches, here’s where you can watch.

Free Kicks

That will do it for today. Check back tonight for our Pride match recap, and follow The Mane Land on Twitter during the match. Vamos Orlando!

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