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Orlando City vs. Philadelphia Union: Player Grades and Man of the Match

How did your favorite Lions rate in a dramatic 3-2 win over the Union?

Published

2 years ago

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Image of Luis Muriel playing against Philadelphia.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Great googly moogly, that was the dictionary definition of a stressful game! Orlando City conceded yet another early goal, but scored three straight and hung on by the skin of its teeth to run out of Subaru Park 3-2 winners over the Philadelphia Union. Let’s take a look at how each individual Lion performed in a wildly eventful affair on the north bank of the Delaware River.

Starters

GK, Pedro Gallese, 7.5 — Gallese was left largely helpless on Philadelphia’s early goal, as the defenders in front of him allowed the ball to get into the box in a good shooting position. He made an excellent save from open play in each half, with the first keeping Philadelphia from doubling its lead, and the second stopping what would have been the equalizing goal. His best of the night was reserved as the clock ticked down though, as he saved Daniel Gazdag’s late penalty to preserve Orlando’s slim lead, getting revenge for Gazdag’s earlier tally from the spot. His 67% passing accuracy left a little to be desired, but he finished with four saves and ultimately preserved three big points for the good guys.

D, Robin Jansson, 6 — Jansson was his typically steady self during his time on the field. Like the rest of his partners in defense, he probably could have been quicker to close down on the Union’s first goal, but frankly no outfield Lion will want to watch that goal back, given the ease with which the whole team was carved open on the recycled ball in. Jansson’s final numbers include one block, six clearances, one tackle, three completed long balls on 11 attempts, 59% passing accuracy, and one aerial duel won. The big news though, was Jansson’s night ending early after suffering what looked to be a non-contact injury.

D, Wilder Cartagena, 6.5 — Deployed as the middle center back of the 3-5-2, the Peruvian did pretty damn well considering the unfamiliar position in which he found himself. Like Jansson and the rest of the team, he didn’t cover himself in glory on the first goal, but he looked more comfortable afterwards. He recorded six clearances, two tackles, three blocks, two completed long balls on four tries, and a team-best 87% passing accuracy, while committing a foul. He also took two shots, one of which was off target and one that was blocked.

D, David Brekalo, 6.5 — The Slovenian was the only true center back that OCSC finished the game with, and he put in a solid shift during this one. He provided the glue on the back line, and even found himself leading the break at one point in the second half. He totaled two interceptions, five clearances, one shot which was off target, and 68% passing accuracy while drawing one foul.

WB, Ivan Angulo, 6 — Angulo wasn’t as involved as he usually is offensively when the team lines up in a 4-2-3-1, he had to do a lot of tracking back as one of the wide midfielders/wingbacks. Still, he completed two dribbles and passed with 79% accuracy on the night, and committed one foul while not recording any defensive statistics. He was perhaps softly penalized for a foul at the back post that gave Philadelphia a chance to tie the game, but if his marking had been better then he wouldn’t have been in that position to begin with. His biggest contribution on the night was the hustle play that resulted in a steal in the attacking third that led to Luis Muriel’s first goal. Angulo got a secondary assist on the play, finding Nico Lodeiro, who in turn gave the ball to the Colombian for the strike.

MF, Cesar Araujo, 6.5 — Araujo was asked to provide the steel in midfield with Cartagena dropped deeper playing center back. He did just that and finished the game with one interception, one block, three clearances, a foul committed and a foul drawn, a yellow card, a completed dribble, and a passing accuracy of 96%. He didn’t do a lot of sexy things, but a lot of his dirty work went into the Lions getting the result in this one.

MF, Martin Ojeda, 5 — It wasn’t Ojeda’s busiest night in an Orlando City shirt, but he kept the ball moving from his place in the middle of the park. Defensively, he committed two fouls and recorded two clearances, while going forward he took one shot, which was off target, completed two long balls (on two attempts) and two key passes, passed with 80% accuracy, and won an aerial duel. He was the man sacrificed for Dagur Dan Thorhallsson as Oscar Pareja tried to make his team more defensive to protect what was a 3-1 lead at the time.

MF, Nico Lodeiro, 8 — It was a positively commanding performance from Lodeiro in midfield, as he assisted on all three of Orlando City’s goals. He didn’t have a ton to do with the second goal, but was directly responsible for creating the first and third by way of a great cross and an inch-perfect through ball, respectively. He was unlucky to be called for the handball that got Philly back into the game, as the flick happened from close range and there wasn’t much he could do about it. One of his three shots was off target, while the other two were blocked, and he passed with 87% accuracy, provided a team-high four key passes, had three assists, and completed two crosses, two long balls (on three attempts), and a through ball. On many other nights he would have been Man of the Match, and if he keeps turning in performances like that then he’ll surely have the award coming his way before too long.

WB/MF, Facundo Torres, 6 — As has been the case for much of this season, Facu struggled to really make his mark on the game. He was unlucky that the ball which found him in the fifth minute was just a little too far in front of him, and he could only hit the post while stretching for it. That was his last major involvement though, and while he wasn’t bad, he also wasn’t the talismanic force that we know he can be. Some of that likely had to do with extra defensive responsibilities, as he started the game at left wingback in the 3-5-2, moving into the attack in the 61st minute when Thorhallsson replaced Ojeda. Torres had two clearances and one off-target shot. He also drew three fouls, completed three long balls (out of four attempts), passed with 78% accuracy, and won four aerial duels, which might be the weirdest statistic of the night.

F, Luis Muriel, 8.5 (MotM) — This game was Muriel’s coming-out-party in a big way, and each of his goals were sublimely taken in their own right. The first showcased pure power and elite placement as he hit a howitzer with his left foot into the top corner at the far post from outside the box, while his second was all about the awareness to let the ball run across his body, a great touch to set himself up, and a cool and precise finish low into the side netting with his right foot. His night finished with three shots, two of which were on target, two goals, a game-high five completed dribbles, two tackles, two key passes, and 83% passing accuracy. He wasn’t as heavily involved in the second half as he was in the first, but every time the ball came to him while he was on the field, he was brimming with danger. It’s a well-deserved Man of the Match award, and hopefully the first of many.

F, Duncan McGuire, 6.5 — McGuire got things going for the Lions with a well-taken header, but he also did a ton of dirty work when it came to hold-up play and giving Orlando a physical outlet to clear its lines. Like Muriel, he wasn’t quite as involved in the second half, but he ran his guts out for the full 108-ish minutes of play, and he constantly stretched the Union’s back line. Offensively, he put both of his shots on target, scored the aforementioned goal, completed 71% of his passes, provided two key passes, completed one cross and one long ball (on three attempts), and drew a foul. On defense, he recorded one clearance, one interception, and one foul committed, while winning four aerial duels.

Substitutes

WB, Dagur Dan Thorhallson (61′), 6 — The Icelandic midfielder was brought on for Ojeda and settled into the game nicely at right wingback. He didn’t record any offensive statistics, but finished with three clearances and a block, while committing one foul and accurately delivering 71% of his passes.

D, Kyle Smith (65′), 6.5 — Smith entered the fray for the injured Jansson, and delivered a steady performance in the Swede’s stead. The Accountant completed 75% of his passes, won two aerial duels, made one block, and was the third Lion to record six clearances. Depending on how Pareja decides to line up in the future, Smith is a guy we may be seeing a lot more of going forward.

MF, Felipe (85′), N/A — Brought on in the dying minutes of regulation, Felipe didn’t get enough time to earn a fair grade. He also didn’t stuff the stat sheet, as he completed one long ball on his lone attempt, accurately delivered both of his two passes, and made one clearance. I couldn’t help but laugh at the timing of his substitution, as it came almost immediately after Damion Lowe started to get hot under the collar, and it almost seemed as if Pareja jumped at the chance to send on the Lions’ resident shithouser. He did his job and helped see the game out.

What did you think of the individual performances from this wild win up in Pennsylvania? Be sure to have your say down in the comments, and cast your vote for who should be Man of the Match. Vamos Orlando!

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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. New York City FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

The Lions welcome the Pigeons to Orlando in another big game with playoff implications.

Published

6 hours ago

on

October 24, 2026

By

Image of David Brekalo
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to your match thread and preview for a Saturday night matchup between Orlando City (12-13-5, 41 points) and New York City FC (8-12-10, 34 points) at Inter.co Stadium (7:30 p.m., Apple TV). This is the second of the two scheduled meetings between the Lions and Pigeons this season.

Here is what you need to know ahead of the match.

History

The Lions are 7-12-8 in 26 meetings with NYCFC in the all-time series in MLS play and 7-12-10 on their home grounds in all competitions, including one playoff match and one U.S. Open Cup meeting (remember, games that go to penalty shootouts in knockout competitions officially count as draws). Orlando is 4-3-6 at home in regular-season games in the all-time series, 5-3-6 in all regular-season matches in the greater Orlando area when factoring in the win in the group stage of the MLS is Back Tournament in 2020, and 5-3-8 in home games in all competitions against NYCFC. Things have trended the Pigeons’ way the last few years, as the Lions are 0-6-2 in the last eight meetings between the teams.

The Lions and Pigeons last met at Yankee Stadium on March 7 and it was a nightmare for OCSC fans. Maxime Crepeau was sent off early and New York City FC bludgeoned 10-man Orlando 5-0 in Oscar Pareja’s last match in charge of the Lions. Agustin Ojeda, Nicolas Fernandez Mercau, Maxi Moralez (penalty), and Keaton Parks (two goals) did the offensive damage.

The teams met twice last year and NYCFC swept the season series. Orlando City blew a late 1-0 lead at home on July 16, 2025, through Robin Jansson’s goal. But Rodrigo Schlegel smashed a clearance attempt off Kyle Smith and into his own net just a few minutes before the end of normal time, tying the game. Alonso Martinez scored the winner on a counterattack in stoppage time to end the game 2-1 in favor of the visitors.

In Orlando City’s first road game of the 2025 season, the Lions fell 2-1 at Yankee Stadium on March 8. Martinez opened the scoring in the second half, with Luis Muriel equalizing. However, just two minutes after Muriel’s goal, Hannes Wolf scored what turned out to be the game winner.

In Orlando on July 20, 2024, the two 2015 expansion rivals played to a 1-1 draw. Ramiro Enrique and Wolf traded goals five minutes apart in the second half to account for all the scoring. The Lions and Pigeons met at Yankee Stadium on June 28 of that season, with New York City FC winning 4-2. An early Santiago Rodriguez goal opened the scoring and then things went horribly wrong when an obviously offside Malachi Jones collided hard with Orlando goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar. Both players left the game and both had season-ending surgery to repair broken tibias and fibulas. Javier Otero made his MLS debut in goal off the bench and the Lions allowed two goals in first-half stoppage time to let a close game get out of hand. Orlando pulled two goals back through Dagur Dan Thorhallsson and Duncan McGuire, but Mounsef Bakrar sealed the game late for NYCFC.

The teams met at Citi Field — a different baseball stadium than NYCFC’s usual one — on Sept. 20, 2023. The Pigeons were rude hosts, winning 2-0 on goals by Bakrar and Talles Magno. It snapped Orlando’s five-game unbeaten run but the Lions clinched a playoff spot that day anyway due to other results around the league. These teams also met in Orlando on May 17, and with the Lions poised for a 1-0 win, NYCFC eked out a late 1-1 draw with a Gabriel Segal goal at the end of normal time. Ercan Kara scored for Orlando City.

The teams faced off at Red Bull Arena (one of NYCFC’s many homes away from home) on Oct. 2, 2022, with the Pigeons erasing a 1-0 halftime deficit that Facundo Torres provided. The “hosts” got second-half goals from Alex Callens and Magno to complete the comeback and win 2-1. Earlier in the year at Exploria Stadium, the Lions got a Tesho Akindele goal at the death, stunning NYCFC as Orlando City won 2-1 on Aug. 28, 2022. Junior Urso and Moralez had scored early in the first and second half, respectively.

Orlando City had a five-game unbeaten streak in the series (1-0-4) absolutely demolished on July 25, 2021 in a 5-0 loss at Yankee Stadium. The Lions started a makeshift lineup and it showed, as the Pigeons got goals from Jesus Medina, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi, Moralez, Malte Amundsen, and Valentin Castellanos. Why the makeshift lineup? That match was sandwiched between home games against Philadelphia and Atlanta, with quick turnarounds for each. The strategy was sound, as Orlando won the other two games in that nine-day span.

The teams met in Orlando on May 8, 2021 and drew 1-1. Nani smashed a golazo in the second half to put the Lions on top, but Joao Moutinho fouled Tajouri-Shradi in the box and Castellanos equalized from the spot.

The last meeting of the 2020 season happened in the postseason and things got weird. Orlando City ultimately prevailed in penalties after a 1-1 postseason draw on Nov. 21, 2020. Nani put Orlando ahead from the penalty spot, only to see Maxime Chanot equalize on a set piece. Extra time couldn’t settle it, so to penalties we went, and the Lions advanced thanks to a save by Schlegel — after goalkeeper Pedro Gallese was sent off with a second yellow for coming off his line early. Benji Michel’s blast was the difference in the shootout. (Seriously, just click the above link in this paragraph and relive that madness.)

The Lions and Pigeons wrapped the 2020 season series on Oct. 14 at Exploria Stadium, playing to a 1-1 draw. Chris Mueller opened the scoring but Parks equalized just before halftime. The first meeting of 2020 also took place in Central Florida in the MLS is Back Tournament on July 14, when Mueller’s brace and a late Akindele insurance goal led Orlando to a 3-1 win. Medina scored for NYCFC. That win snapped Orlando City’s 0-4-3 streak in the previous seven competitive meetings with the Pigeons. The last match in that winless streak against NYCFC was a 1-1 draw, with the Lions then dispatching NYCFC from the U.S. Open Cup in a penalty shootout on July 10, 2019. That night has been immortalized for the running of The Wall and Adam Grinwis’ heroics in goal.

The teams drew both regular-season meetings in 2019, 1-1 on April 27 at Yankee Stadium, and 2-2 on opening day at Exploria Stadium. NYCFC took all three meetings in a dismal 2018 season series. The Lions went 2-1-0 against New York City FC in 2017, including a win to christen the stadium now known as Exploria with Cyle Larin scoring the only goal in a 1-0 OCSC win. Orlando was 3-1-2 in 2015 and 2016 in the first six meetings with NYCFC.

Overview

Orlando City is coming off a 4-1 demolition of D.C. United a week ago, with Antoine Griezmann leading the way with two goals and an assist. Martin Ojeda scored that goal and also picked up an assist, with Marco Pasalic giving Orlando a hat trick of Designated Player goal scorers on the night. Despite the Lions’ being just four goals from tying the club’s single-season record for goals conceded (74 in 2018), they find themselves above the playoff line in seventh place with just four matches remaining. That is the final guaranteed first-round spot, with eighth and ninth places going to a single-elimination Wild Card match. Orlando can greatly improve its chances of finishing in the postseason places with a win tonight, as a difficult two-game road trip lies ahead next. Orlando is 9-4-2 at home this season and has won five consecutive matches in the purple palace.

New York City FC is coming off a 1-1 home draw against LAFC last weekend, but the Pigeons are winless in five (0-3-2), owing some of that to key injuries. Orlando’s 2015 expansion rivals will come in desperate to get a result to improve on a decent 4-6-5 road record in 2026. The team has the same exact record at home despite clobbering the Lions back in March, but every point is precious and the Pigeons are getting some bodies back.

The Lions must try to keep Fernandez Mercau under wraps. The Argentine midfielder paces the Pigeons with 15 goals and nine assists on the year, but Wolf and Agustin Ojeda have given Orlando fits in previous meetings as well. Wolf is second on NYCFC in goals (6) and has added three assists, while New York’s Ojeda has scored five times and leads the team in assists (11). Meanwhile, NYCFC has a stout defense that has allowed just 41 goals this season, which is tied with New England for second fewest allowed in the Eastern Conference. USMNT goalkeeper Matt Freese is one of the reasons for that, but NYCFC has a good group at the back in front of him.

Orlando City will be without Griffin Dorsey (back), Jansson (foot), Tyrese Spicer (foot), and Luis Otavio (suspension), while Vinicius Nogueira (shoulder) and Bernardo Rhein (lower leg) are listed as questionable. NYCFC will be without Moralez (leg), Parks (leg), Drew Baiera (leg), Arnau Farnos (leg), and Kai Trewin (yep, leg).

Match Content

Projected Lineups

Orlando City (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Maxime Crepeau.

Defenders: Ivan Angulo, Iago, David Brekalo, Zakaria Taifi.

Midfielders: Martin Ojeda, Wilder Cartagena, Joran Gerbet, Eduard Atuesta.

Forwards: Daryl Dike, Antoine Griezmann.

New York City FC (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Matt Freese.

Defenders: Kevin O’Toole, James Sands, Thiago Martins, Tayvon Gray.

Defensive Midfielders: Andres Perea, Aiden O’Neill.

Attacking Midfielders: Hannes Wolf, Nicolas Fernández Mercau, Agustin Ojeda.

Forward: Alonso Martinez.

Referees:

REF: Elijio Arreguin.
AR1: Cory Richardson.
AR2: Adam Wienckowski.
4TH: Igor Bych.
VAR: Kevin Stott.
AVAR: Robert Schaap.

How to Watch

Match Time: 7:30 p.m.

Venue: Inter.co Stadium — Orlando.

TV/Live Stream: Apple TV.

Radio: AM 810 FOX Sports Radio Orlando (English), Mega 97.1 FM (Spanish), Nossa Rádio 1160 AM-WRLZ (Portuguese).

Social: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow us on Bluesky Social at @themaneland.bsky.social or follow Orlando City’s official Twitter (@OrlandoCitySC) or Bluesky (@OrlandoCitySC) feed.

Enjoy the match. Go City!

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Intelligence Report: Orlando City vs. New York City FC

Get up to speed on the Pigeons ahead of Saturday’s game, courtesy of someone who knows them best.

Published

1 day ago

on

October 23, 2026

By

Image of Braian Ojeda playing against New York City FC.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday, everyone. Orlando City got a week of rest after taking care of business against D.C. United at home, and it returns to the purple palace Saturday night to face a New York City FC team with its back against the wall in the race for a playoff place.

A showdown with the Pigeons means I caught up with Matthew Mangam of New York Soccer Journal. As always, he was helpful in getting us up to speed on NYCFC, and we appreciate his help. I also answered some of his questions about Orlando City, so make sure you check them out over at their place!

Talk me through NYCFC’s summer transfer business. Who’s out, who’s in to replace them, and how have they performed?

Matthew Mangam: NYCFC’s summer business wasn’t anything groundbreaking. The club brought in striker Luighi on loan from SE Palmeiras and got back midfielder/defender James Sands, whose loan with St. Pauli ended. 

Luighi started off well, bagging four goals in his first seven league appearances. But since then, the 20-year-old is on a five-game drought. To his credit, Luighi started only two of his last five games. As for Sands, this is his third stint at NYCFC, so the versatile 26-year-old was welcomed back with open arms. 

The biggest acquisition this summer, though, was Bénie Traoré. The winger joined the club as a Designated Player from FC Basel in Switzerland, but it hasn’t gone well. In 15 league appearances, Traoré has one goal — a penalty kick that hit off the post and went in — and no assists. 

The club’s last move that didn’t happen in the summer surprised everyone: adding free agent Matt Miazga. The veteran defender hasn’t made his debut yet, and I’m honestly not sure when he will. 

New York City has been a wildly different team since the league restarted after the World Cup. What’s happened to cause the change in form?

MM: I honestly don’t know where to start with this one. There’s so much I could say, but if I did then I’d be here all day. I’ll narrow it down to this: NYCFC can’t play a complete 90 minutes. 

NYCFC has conceded six goals in stoppage time this season, is 0-4-12 after falling behind 16 times, and is 4-5-6 at home. So, they can’t hang onto leads — they’ve lost seven points after the 75th minute — they have no come-from-behind wins, and they’re poor at home. 

There are other smaller factors, like injuries, individual mistakes from usually solid players (Matt Freese and Sands), and players struggling, but, as I said, it’s a lot.

The playoffs are still in reach, as NYCFC is just two points out of eighth. What needs to happen in order to get above the line and stay there?

MM: Simply put, NYCFC needs to win all four remaining games, or, at the very least, go 3-1-0. Teams around them, like Toronto, Columbus, and Cincinnati, are picking up wins and building separation, so NYCFC is in a do-or-die situation. 

Getting Alonso Martínez back and starting again is huge, but you can’t expect him to return from a brutal injury and save the team immediately; it’s not fair. Traoré has to step up and show why the club paid DP money for him — one lone goal that, in my opinion, fortunately went in, and no goals from open play is extremely concerning. 

Also, Nico Fernández Mercau hasn’t scored in five matches. He’s getting double- and triple-marked because teams are now well aware of how talented the Argentine is, but he has to find a way back on the scoresheet in this stretch. NYCFC needs him to. So, so badly. 

Will any players be unavailable due to injury, suspension, etc.? What is your projected starting lineup and score prediction?

MM: The only players out are the ones with long-term injuries: Keaton Parks, Kai Trewin, Maxi Moralez, Arnau Farnós, and Drew Baiera. 

Given that NYCFC needs to win or the season is practically over, I expect Head Coach Pascal Jansen to leave it all out there with his best possible lineup:

Matt Freese; Kevin O’Toole, James Sands, Thiago Martins, Tayvon Gray; Andres Perea, Aiden O’Neill; Hannes Wolf, Nico Fernández Mercau, Agustin Ojeda; Alonso Martínez.

I think Nico Fernández Mercau and Alonso Martínez score, but it won’t be enough, as Antoine Griezmann gets a brace and both teams settle for a 2-2 draw. 

Thank you to Matt for his excellent refresher on NYCFC. Vamos Orlando!

Image of the famous "The more you know" graphic from TV.
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Lion Links: 10/23/26

Orlando City prepares for New York City FC, Antoine Griezmann’s impact in Orlando, U.S. will host FIFA Women’s Club World Cup, and more.

Published

1 day ago

on

October 23, 2026

By

Image of Antoine Griezmann taking a set piece against Monterrey in Leagues Cup action.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! It’s been a pretty nice week for me, as I was able to watch all of Slow Horses and finish reading Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson, both of which were brilliant. Attention now turns to this weekend’s soccer, with both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride playing at home over the next couple of days. Let’s get to the links!

Orlando City Prepares for New York City FC

The Lions host New York City FC on Saturday in one of the marquee matchups in MLS as the regular season nears its conclusion. Plenty has changed since Orlando’s 5-0 loss to NYCFC on March 7. The Lions have clawed their way up the table while the Pigeons have only won once in their past 13 league games. NYCFC enters this match after a 1-1 draw with LAFC that included an equalizer by former Lion Andres Perea to give the team a valuable point amid the playoff race. Nicolas Fernandez Mercau, Luighi, and Benie Traore are all NYCFC players the Lions will need to keep in check, or else it could end up being another high-scoring affair in the City Beautiful.

Antoine Griezmann’s Impact on Orlando’s Offense

Orlando’s wait for Antoine Griezmann to join in the summer has proven to be well worth it, as he’s transformed Orlando’s attack into a force to be reckoned with just as the playoffs near. Although Griezmann wasn’t able to enjoy a fairytale ending with Atletico Madrid by lifting the Copa del Rey or Champions League trophies this year, he’s breathed life into an Orlando side that struggled mightily prior to his arrival. The 35-year-old has recorded 12 goals and seven assists in just 14 appearances this season. Not only has he excelled when it comes to getting the ball in the net, but he’s done well in terms of defensive metrics and intangibles as well.

U.S. Will Host Women’s Club World Cup

The inaugural FIFA Women’s Club World Cup will be held in the U.S. in January of 2028 with the host cities still to be determined. There will be 19 clubs taking part, with Gotham, Arsenal, Barcelona, and Club America having already qualified along with three other teams so far. This tournament is sandwiched between the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, so there’s plenty of exciting women’s soccer to look forward to in the coming years.

U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team Wins at World Cup

The United States U-17 Women’s National Team won 6-1 against Kenya in the group stage of the FIA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, clinching a spot in the round of 16. Maggie DiMaria scored four goals to bring her total to 10 across just two games. The U.S. will play its final group game on Sunday against China PR, which also won both of its games against Kenya and Samoa to secure a spot in the knockout stage. The winner of this group will get to avoid a match with Spain in the round of 16, so there’s still plenty to play for before the next round gets underway.

Free Kicks

  • The first leg of the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal between the United States Men’s National Team and Haiti has been moved from Kingston to Miami. Haiti has had to play games outside of the country due to unrest and submitted a request to Concacaf to play in the country of its opponent.
  • American center back Naomi Girma is now dealing with a calf injury that may sideline her for a few weeks according to Chelsea Head Coach Sonia Bompastor. She missed out on the team’s recent friendlies against Spain and may be absent for the Concacaf W Championship quarterfinal against El Salvador next month too.
  • The United States Women’s Cerebral Palsy National Team beat Ireland 15-0 to advance to the IFCPF Women’s World Cup final, which takes place today against Australia. Annie Wickett scored five goals with four other players scoring braces.
  • The San Diego Wave signed defender Mimi Van Zanten to a contract extension through the 2029 season. She’s made 27 appearances for San Diego during her rookie season, helping the club keep pace in the NWSL Shield race.
  • After being stretchered off the field due to a head injury in the U.S. Open Cup final, St. Louis City goalkeeper Roman Burki is alert and in good spirits, according to the club.

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

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