Orlando City
Orlando City vs. Atlanta United: Final Score 2-0 as Early Season Futility Continues for Lions
Lions remain winless in 2024 after another frustrating result.
It was another frustrating night for Orlando City as the Lions were dumped 2-0 by Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Saba Lobjanidze and Giorgos Giakoumakis did the damage but it could easily have been a far worse final score if not for some big saves from Pedro Gallese and some moments of good emergency defending.
Orlando City (0-3-1, 1 point) has never had a worse start to an MLS season after falling to rival Atlanta (2-1-0, 6 points) on the road.
“Obviously frustrated on not getting a result, but the team that was on the pitch today really had a big effort on the game and a commitment to try to do the best possible way that we planned during the week, so I’m very proud of them,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “Obviously, the frustration at this point is probably bigger, but we are professionals and we have to move on.”
Pareja’s lineup featured Pedro Gallese in goal behind a back line of Rafael Santos, Robin Jansson, David Brekalo, and Kyle Smith. Martin Ojeda, Nico Lodeiro, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson, and Ivan Angulo started in a midfield behind forwards Luis Muriel and Duncan McGuire.
Atlanta pressed and looked to push the pace early, with the Lions coming in on short rest and having traveled to Mexico for a midweek match. Xande Silva fired a shot over the bar early and the Lions struggled to match the hosts’ energy in the game’s early moments.
Muriel managed to free himself for a blast from outside the area in the sixth minute but Brad Guzan tipped it over the bar. Two minutes later, Santos sent in a cross/shot that caught the crossbar. The Lions paid for that near miss seconds later.
Lobjanidze opened the scoring in the ninth minute as Atlanta unlocked the Orlando defense, which was caught out and rotated to the right. Giakoumakis sent a ball in front with the outside of his boot, putting the Lobjanidze behind Santos and in alone on Gallese. The Peruvian kept his near post covered, but Lobjanidze had a lot of net to shoot at on the far side and slotted it in to put the hosts up early.
That was a problem throughout the first half. The defense got caught multiple times with far too much space to defend.
Ojeda tried to get the Lions level in the 19th minute, trying a near-post shot from the left. Guzan was able to get down and keep it out. The Lions played the ensuing corner short and Angulo floated a perfect back-post cross, but none of his teammates made that run.
Brekalo and Jansson each made key defensive plays to deny Atlanta an easy second goal, but the hosts were bypassing the 4-4-2 midfield easily. Giakoumakis sent an off-balance shot well over the bar from the top of the box in the 34th minute as Atlanta kept coming. Jansson made another huge defensive play in the 38th to stop Brooks Lennon.
Atlanta did pretty much what it wanted on set pieces, easily winning free headers in front of goal. Derrick Williams’ free header was tipped over the bar in the 39th minute and another big stop on Williams on the next corner didn’t count as the defender was called for a foul after climbing over Santos to get to the ball.
Muriel had another good look in the 42nd minute but again Guzan got down to make the save. Thorhallsson tried to cross it back into the area but it was blocked behind for a corner. Muriel then tried a shot with his weaker foot a minute later but it was well off target.
The half ended with an enormous double save by Gallese off another corner, as El Pulpo was able to deny Atlanta twice.
The Lions ended up settling in and keeping more possession in the first half (51.5%-48.5%) and even passed more accurately (90.3%-88%), despite some bad wayward back passes in the defensive third. Atlanta attempted more shots (8-5), with each team getting three shots on target and earning three corners.
Giakoumakis went for glory from long distance just after the restart, but it was an easy bouncer for Gallese to handle.
Moments later, Angulo sent a tantalizing ball through the box that was just inches out of McGuire’s reach.
“It’s definitely frustrating when you have the ball in the opponent’s half that much, and especially in the final third, and not being able to put the final touches on the ball is definitely very frustrating for myself as a striker and for the rest of the guys,” McGuire said. “But knowing that we’ve had that much possession in their half is a good sign, I would say.”
The next 15 minutes were mostly controlled by Orlando City, but the final ball just wouldn’t come off due to a heavy touch, a deflection, or simply a failure to shoot in one case — as Thorhallsson opted instead to lay off a weak pass that was taken away.
In the 62nd minute, Gallese did well to deny Silva with a key save. The Lions then squandered a corner kick won by McGuire and Santos was forced to do some emergency defending to prevent Caleb Wiley from getting a breakaway on the counter. Set pieces were an issue on both ends, as the Lions failed to defend them well and practically none of their own crosses fell anywhere near a friendly face.
Despite there being plenty of time left, Giakoumakis basically put the game away in the 71st minute. Another scramble in the defensive end in transition started with Santos getting beaten by Lobjanidze. Santos then compounded the issue by slipping and leaving too much space for his teammates to cover. Giakoumakis stayed near the top of the box and the ball found him. He fired a shot off the crossbar and in to make it 2-0.
Maybe the only nice moment of the match for Orlando fans came in the 81st minute when Jeorgio Kocevski made his MLS debut. That good feeling was short-lived, however, as Giakoumakis fired over the bar on a dangerous chance seconds later.
Lodeiro had a good look at goal in the 83rd minute off a give-and-go, but he fired his shot over the bar. After another overcooked cross from Angulo — from the right side this time — Kocevski nearly caught a break in the 87th minute, when a ball into the box caromed to him with Guzan out of position. The rookie had to swing high for the ball and caught an Atlanta defender, ending the play in a foul given instead of a debut goal.
Orlando finally found a purple shirt on a corner kick early in stoppage time, but the ball hit off of Smith and bundled wide. Moments later, substitute Michael Halliday had a free run at a back-post cross but he muffed the chance badly and sent it well wide. Angulo sent a late shot into the outside netting from the right and that was that.
The Lions finished with the advantage in possession (54.1%-45.9%), passing accuracy (90.3%-87.9%), and corners (8-5), while Atlanta had more shots (12-11) and shots on target (6-3).
“I’d say we’re obviously disappointed,” McGuire said. “And I feel like it hurts the most, because I feel like we can see ourselves playing the way that we want to play, and just the results aren’t falling our way.”
“There is a bunch of things that we saw today that just left us with the taste that we can bounce back,” Pareja said. “The boys gave 110 percent effort. I saw a lot of good things today. At this point we’re not getting results but what I saw today on the pitch is way different and I’m very optimistic.”
The Lions get their first normal work week in a while as they will prepare to host Austin FC on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. to start a two-game homestand.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 1/14/25
Orlando City begins preseason, Orlando Pride sign defender Zara Chavoshi, MLS transfer roundup, and more.
Happy Tuesday, everyone! It’s been a busy few days for me and sadly I won’t be getting much of a break as my work schedule continues to be packed this week. As is always the case, we have plenty of things to talk through this morning, so let’s jump into today’s links.
Orlando City Opens Preseason
It seems like the 2024 season just came to a close, but Orlando City had its first day of preseason training on Monday. The Lions didn’t quite have everyone in attendance, as Shak Mohammed, Jack Lynn, and Ivan Angulo were not present, while Duncan McGuire and Mason Stajduhar trained off to the side. It was a good first day back though, as the team got its first taste of life without Facundo Torres. One of the big talking points of this preseason will be how the team replaces Facu, with the upcoming preseason games set to evaluate where the team stands.
Orlando Pride Sign Zara Chavoshi
The Orlando Pride announced Monday that the team has signed defender Zara Chavoshi to a one-year contract. The 22-year-old spent the last four years with Wake Forest, where she played both center back and right back for the Demon Deacons. She helped the team advance to the championship of the NCAA College Cup, where the team fell to North Carolina. While she may not play too much during the 2025 season, this is a signing that should provide solid defensive depth while the team evaluates whether or not to award her a longer deal in the future.
MLS Transfer Roundup
Monday saw a slew of MLS teams not named Orlando City making transfer moves, and that means we have a lot to catch up on. We start with confirmation that the San Jose Earthquakes have signed Josef Martinez. Sporting Kansas City decided to continue the trend of signing forwards, as it announced the acquisition of free agent striker Mason Toye, who most recently played for the Portland Timbers. San Diego FC has signed midfielder Onni Valakari on loan from Pafos FC of the Cypriot first division. LAFC has announced the signing of midfielder Odin Thiago Holm on loan from Celtic. Finally, Toronto FC has sold winger Thiago Andrade to Cerezo Osaka of the J1 League.
Americans in Midweek Action
There are a ton of American players who will be taking part in games this week, and there are some good matchups to look forward to. Things get going today as Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah and AC Milan face Como in Serie A play, while Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Juventus travel to take on a strong Atalanta side. Tomorrow has Chris Richards, Matt Turner, and Crystal Palace taking on Leicester City in the Premier League, while Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis have a tough Copa del Rey test against Barcelona. Luca de la Torre and Celta Vigo will then have a similarly tough task on Thursday when they face Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey. Things wrap up on Friday when Gio Reyna, Cole Campbell, and Borussia Dortmund hit the road to play Nathaniel Brown and Eintracht Frankfurt in Bundesliga play.
Philadelphia Union Hit with Transfer Ban
The Philadelphia Union are currently on FIFA’s transfer ban list (paywall) handed down from FIFA — with the club currently unable to register new players for the next three transfer windows. The issue is reportedly linked to the 2022 signing of Venezuelan striker Jose Riasco. The Union owed $700 to Mineros de Guayana — Riasco’s boyhood club, as part of the sell-on percentage it was owed due to developing him. The Union had a difficult time finding a way to pay the club, and the missing money was reported to FIFA. While the Union have been trying to get the issue cleared up since December, they are not the only team dealing with a ban, so it’s uncertain how long it will take to resolve.
Free Kicks
- Check out some of the views from Orlando City’s first day of preseason training.
- MLS has reportedly instituted a cash-based internal trade system which will start immediately.
- Casey Stoney has been named the new head coach of the Canadian women’s national team.
- Kai Havertz’s wife has shared abusive messages she received on social media after Arsenal lost to Manchester United in the FA Cup.
That’s all I have for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!
Orlando City
Martin Ojeda Could Become a Star for Orlando City in 2025
Will Martin Ojeda replace Facundo Torres’ goal production in 2025?
Orlando City signed Martin Ojeda on Jan. 9, 2023, using the Designated Player slot formerly occupied by club captain Mauricio Pereyra. The signing came with quite a bit of hype as it seemed the Argentinian midfielder would line up alongside Ivan Angulo and Facundo Torres to bolster the attack. It’s been an up-and-down first two seasons for the attacker, but 2025 could be his breakout campaign.
Ojeda began his career in Orlando as a regular in the starting lineup before being relegated to the bench for most of the second half of the 2023 MLS season. He spent more time in the starting lineup in 2024, eventually winning a spot in the starting XI. From June 28, 2024, to the end of the season, Ojeda started all but one game for the Lions, including every game in the team’s playoff run to the Eastern Conference final.
Orlando City is beginning a new era after the departure of the club’s all-time top goal scorer Facundo Torres earlier this off-season. The Uruguayan left a lasting mark on the club in just three years, including lifting the club to its first major trophy — the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. In his three years in purple, Torres tallied 47 goals and 72 total goal contributions — both the most in club history, even if you include the USL era. He was the focal point of the offense, especially when the strikers weren’t scoring. His 20 goals in all competitions last year led the team and helped the Lions reach the Eastern Conference final for the first time.
It’s fair to expect the club’s strikers to pick up for the goals departing with Torres. However, the current striker group is unlikely to do so. Duncan McGuire netted 15 goals in 2023 before missing a chunk of 2024 while at the Summer Olympics. Ramiro Enrique started in his place, scoring 12 times, a significant increase from his four goals a year earlier. But the diminutive forward hasn’t shown that he can lead the team in scoring.
Making matters worse, the Lions will be without McGuire for a considerable part of next season. The striker was injured during the playoffs and required surgery on his shoulder this off-season. It will likely take time for him to return to action, resulting in Oscar Pareja depending on Enrique in the starting lineup unless another forward is signed.
Torres made up for the lack of goals from the striker position last year and that production has been tough for Ojeda to match. However, while some might consider the Designated Player disappointing in most of his first two seasons, he created plenty of opportunities in 2024. Torres played 858 more minutes than Ojeda last season and only had 12 more shots. While Ojeda didn’t get on the scoresheet as often as Torres, he created chances for others, racking up a team-leading 13 assists.
When it comes to goal scoring, Torres’ production largely has to do with his shooting accuracy. The Uruguayan put 41 of his 88 shots (46.6%) on frame. Meanwhile, Ojeda only put 30 of his 76 shots on goal (39.5%). This is a major reason why Torres netted 20 goals in all competitions and Ojeda only scored seven times.
Especially considering that Ojeda started 34 games last season, the midfielder is almost guaranteed a spot in the starting lineup. And with Torres now playing in Brazil, Ojeda will likely be a focal point of the Lions’ attack. This gives the attacker a chance to fill the hole left by Torres and live up to his Designated Player status.
Torres leaves Orlando with an impeccable reputation, and the way Ojeda is viewed as a Designated Player signing will largely depend on if he can replace Torres’ goal contributions. If he can increase his production and replace the goals scored by Torres, Orlando City fans will think much more highly of the attacker. However, his failure to produce similar numbers as the departed star could hurt his legacy as a Lion.
Expectations will be high for Orlando City in 2025. The Lions were widely expected to contend for the Supporters’ Shield and/or MLS Cup, and while they didn’t meet those lofty goals, they made it farther than any previous MLS incarnation of the team. To make it one step further in 2025, they’ll need Ojeda to step up and help to replace the star they lost in December.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 1/13/25
Orlando City preseason training starts today, Jaedyn Shaw reportedly set to join the North Carolina Courage, MLS transfer news, and more.
Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. It’s just been another busy week for me working at Under Armour, and I covered some high school basketball. Later this week, I’ll be working at the Chicago Cubs Convention. Let’s all wish Orlando City goalkeeper coach Cesar Baena a happy birthday, and also a happy belated birthday to Orlando City forward Jack Lynn, who turned 25 on Sunday. There’s plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Orlando City Preseason Training Camp Starts Today
Orlando City players completed their medicals over the weekend to get ready to kick off their 2025 preseason camp.
Robin Jansson and Ramiro Enrique discussed the benefit of working with Orlando Health and the team’s athletic trainers and medical staff to ensure the players are fit and ready to play. The Lions also had their sports science and performance testing on Sunday.
Jaedyn Shaw Will Reportedly Join the North Carolina Courage
The San Diego Wave are reportedly trading forward Jaedyn Shaw to the North Carolina Courage for an undisclosed amount of Allocation Money. Shaw had reportedly been seeking a trade from the Wave for the past year. For the Courage, this move would bolster their attack after they only scored 34 goals last season. Shaw spent three seasons in San Diego, recording 14 goals in 61 appearances across all competitions. She has also made 21 appearances for the United States Women’s National Team, scoring eight goals, and was part of the squad that won a gold medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
MLS Transfer Roundup
Major League Soccer had another busy weekend with some notable transfer moves. The San Jose Earthquakes acquired forward Cristian Arango from Real Salt Lake in exchange for $700,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money (GAM), $700,000 in 2026 GAM, and a 2026 international roster slot. Arango will be a Designated Player in San Jose. The Quakes appear not to be done yet, as the club is reportedly close to a deal to add forward Josef Martinez.
The Seattle Sounders have re-signed midfielder Joao Paulo through 2025, with an option for the 2026 season. Lastly, Atlanta United has reportedly submitted a bid to EFL Championship side Middlesbrough for forward Emmanuel Latte Lath.
English FA Cup Weekend Recap
The third round of the FA Cup continued over the weekend in England with some notable results and plenty of drama. On Sunday, Tottenham Hotspur needed to go to extra time to defeat National League side Tamworth 3-0. Despite playing the second half with 10 men, Manchester United defeated Arsenal 5-3 on penalties following a thrilling 1-1 draw. Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir stopped a penalty in the second half and made a clutch save on Arsenal’s Kai Havertz in the penalty shootout, while Joshua Zirkzee scored the winning penalty for Manchester United to advance.
On Saturday, Liverpool shut out Accrington Stanley 4-0, Manchester City defeated Salford City 8-0, and Wolverhampton edged Bristol City 2-1. We did get one upset, as Plymouth Argyle defeated Brentford 1-0.
The draw results for the fourth round were announced and there are some intriguing matchups. Manchester United faces Leicester City, Plymouth Argyle hosts Liverpool, and Aston Villa takes on Tottenham.
Free Kicks
- Former Orlando Pride defender Ali Riley lost her home in the Los Angeles wildfires. We here at The Mane Land extend our thoughts and best wishes to all those affected by the wildfires in Southern California.
- Former Orlando Pride goalkeeper Carly Nelson spoke up about her experience dealing with physical and emotional abuse with the Utah Royals on social media .
- The USWNT’s January training camp has been moved to Florida due to the Los Angeles wildfires. The USWNT will train at Inter Miami’s Florida Blue Training Center in Ft. Lauderdale.
- Forward Matthew Hoppe and Middlesbrough have reached a mutual agreement to terminate his contract, and he will leave the club as a free agent.
- Toronto FC named Robin Fraser as its next head coach. Fraser was previously the head coach for the Colorado Rapids and returns to Toronto after serving as an assistant coach under Greg Vanney from 2015 through 2019.
- After informing the club he wants to leave, Manchester City defender Kyle Walker has reportedly been linked to a move to Italy as AC Milan has expressed interest.
- Everton named David Moyes as its new manager over the weekend. Moyes returns to his former club for a second stint as manager. Everton is 16th in the Premier League, just one point above the relegation zone.
- Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 5-2 to win the Spanish Super Cup.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.
SkoPurp Soccer Episode 73: Marta Returns and an Interview with Director of Communications Jackie Maynard
Pride Transfer Goalkeeper Sofia Manner to AFC Toronto
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