Orlando City won 2-1 over CF Montreal at home in the first match following the parting of ways with longtime head coach Oscar Pareja. A strong first half was enough to see the Lions through against a Montreal side that is having struggles of its own. The Cardiac Cats were true to form though, as some desperate defending was needed right up to the end to secure the result.

The grades below come against less-than-elite competition, but the Lions should still be judged on their efforts regardless of the opposition. So let’s take a look at how the Orlando City players performed individually in this game.

Starters

GK, Javier Otero, 6 — In his first start of the year, due to a Maxime Crepeau red card earned in last week’s match against New York City FC, Otero put in a respectable shift. Montreal was not exactly clinical, but when Otero was tested he was up to he challenge — four out of five times anyway. He was generally aggressive, defending his goal on corners and free kicks suffering two fouls in the match. His distribution was something I cant recall thinking about, which is a good thing. A few of his saves were on ping pong balls that he had to react quickly to, which he managed well. For me, one highlight was a tactical “cramp” he incurred which allowed time for Tyrese Spicer to get on the pitch who was waiting out a delayed entry due to Marco Pasalic taking too long to get off the pitch when he was subbed out. It was a good heads-up play by the keeper. Overall, a respectable bounce back after an abysmal match in New York. His pass accuracy was not great, especially for a goalkeeper at 63% on 28 passes. He completed seven out of 15 long balls. There’s no doubt Crepeau will be back between the sticks next week, but you learn by doing, and nothing beats a real match. Oteror did well this time out and that gives a little hope for the next time he’s called into action.

D, Adrian Marin, 7 — In one of his best, if not the best, performances as an Orlando left back, Marin made several key plays throughout the match and, significantly, did not commit any major mistakes. In fact, he had the most tackles of any Orlando player (4), including an absolute clutch tip of the toe tackle on Hennadii Synchuk and a nice steal off of Prince Owusu when he was threatening from the end line. He also had the most fouls on the team at three, suffering one, but given the defensive nature of much of Orlando’s play, that’s kind of understandable and none were considered card worthy. He had five clearances and a blocked shot. He also had an abysmal 52,2% pass accuracy on 12 attempts and did not connect on any of six long balls. Better but not great.

D, Iago, 6.5 — It’s just one game, but Iago acquitted himself much better this time out than in his previous Orlando City matches. He was proactive and anticipated dangerous situations on a few occasions. He had two interceptions and was second only to David Brekalo for the most clearances (8). He also tallied one block and he committed one foul. He passed at 94.1% and hit on three out of five long balls. Iago appeared much more competent and alert in this match and we can, hopefully, take this as stepping stone along the path to greater things. It was against a struggling side in Montreal, but Iago’s play seemed to justify a little more breathing room on its own merit. He is a young player in an alien land and is showing improvement, which might be all we can hope for at this point.

D, David Brekalo, 6 — Brekalo spent most of his time involved in emergency defending. He did not seem to anticipate a lot, and was mostly invisible. It wasn’t a terrible outing, and maybe his assignment was to hold down his piece of real estate? If that’s the case, then he did pretty well and only committed one foul. He cleared what came his way — a team-high nine clearances — and managed a header on a set piece in the first half. He also recorded a block and hit on three out of four long balls with a passing accuracy of 90.9%.

D, Griffin Dorsey, 6.5 — This match seemed like a slight regression for Dorsey to me, at least in the attacking phases. It was a good match though, and maybe it’s a function of the rest of the team making more of an impact themselves. He did defend well against Prince Owusu and Ivan Jaime, Montreal’s two most effective attackers on the night. Jaime was a handful in the second half and got past Dorsey on at least one occasion, but overall Dorsey did pretty well against he and Owusu. He committed one foul and suffered one foul. He passed at an 88.9% accuracy with one key pass. Defensively, he had one tackle, three clearances, and a block.

MF, Ivan Angulo, 8 (MotM) — Well that’s two weeks in a row that Angulo managed a Man of the Match effort! Pretty low bar this season, but this match was Angulo’s for sure. From my point of view, there’s something not quite intangible, but close to it about the Colombian. He’s absurdly fast, that’s obvious. His effort is off the charts. He does not generally have the greatest touch when he needs it the most. What he has though, is a pretty good ability to snuff out danger and turn it into an attack. His usual downfall is his inability to maintain composure in and around the 18-yard box. Against Montreal though, he was excellent. He was chasing down broken plays, he was anticipating attacks, and he was precise and thoughtful in his buildup play, even in front of Montreal’s goal. He only took one shot, which pinged off the post and rebounded for Duncan McGuire’s goal, but he was a major factor in both Orlando City goals. He finished with three key passes, two dribbles, and passed at an 87.1% accuracy on 32 attempts. He connected on three of four long balls as well. He was dispossessed twice and had three unstable touches, but at least this time those were offset. He suffered one foul and committed two. All things must be taken with a grain of salt in this early, difficult, and unprecedented season, but Angulo has shown some growth in his game and I think he deserves a lot of credit for that. Let’s hope he can sustain it.

MF, Eduard Atuesta, 5.5 — I’m typically a fan of Atuesta. He was not on LAFC’s cup-winning roster for nothing, but Atuesta gave a lot away in his minutes on the pitch in this one. This was his first start of the season and there has been a lot of change on this roster, which should not be underestimated. However, he had a couple of pretty gnarly give aways and some tortoise-like slowness at times even though he did not lack for overall effort. He had only one interception on the night, committed one foul, and had no other defensive contributions. He passed with 81.8% accuracy on 22 attempts and connected on one long ball in three attempts. He picked up the game’s only yellow card with a late and clumsy challenge. Atuesta just did not seem to be up to the speed of the match this time out and tired notably in the second half, but I expect him to return to form soon after kicking some rust off.

MF, Braian Ojeda, 7 — Defensive Ojeda did a great job…especially on offense! He had three key passes and two successful dribbles, and he was fouled four times to slow him down. I really liked his play in this match, and he did a lot to facilitate the success of Angulo, Martin Ojeda, and McGuire. He committed one foul, passed at 92.1% on 38 attempts, and had one long-ball attempt that did not connect. Stats are essential, but they only tell you what they can tell you. The midfielder showed an aptitude for positive passes. That’s what impressed me, not just the success or otherwise of the execution, nor defensive stats, but that he could see what needed to be done in the moment to facilitate the attack. This could just be a one-off case, but he picked out multiple passes that looked to unlock the defense from deep lying areas, and that’s fairly rare. Defensively, he finished with one interception, two clearances, and two blocks. I liked what I saw on this one, so I’m rating him pretty high.

MF, Marco Pasalic, 6 — Pasalic had two early misses, the second of which he had a half second more or so to settle than he seemed to think. He had four shots on the night, but they weren’t on target, and he got dispossessed three times, had two unstable touches, and suffered one foul. His passing was very good at 91.7% although his one long ball did not connect. Importantly, he played a major role in both goals. His blast from outside the area pinged off mutliple defenders before finding Angulo in front on McGuire’s goal. On the second, it was his give-and-go with Angulo that resulted in Martin Ojeda’s game-winner, with Pasalic picking up a secondary assist.

F, Duncan McGuire, 7 — McGuire had a good night. He only had two shots, but both were on target and one was an opportunistic goal off of an Angulo rebound that hit the post. It was his first goal of the season, and it must be good to get on the scoresheet. He helped out in defense, as usual, with a couple tackles, a clearance, and a block. But he also made some nice flicks to help build up the attack. I think he showed some real vision in this one and he executed it well. He passed at a 58.8% rate, not great but he is a striker, and suffered one foul and committed none. This was a good outing for Duncan in my opinion and it was mostly his help in the build up that impressed me in this one.

F, Martin Ojeda, 7.5 — Offensive Ojeda was his typical effective-attacker self against Montreal. He was all over the pitch facilitating and getting results on his own. He took two shots, both on target, including scoring the winning goal. He recorded two key passes and was fouled once. He passed at a 62.5% rate on 22 attempts, three of his six crosses found a target, and he connected on his lone long ball as well.

Substitutes

D, Zakaria Taifi (61′), 6 — I’ll give Taifi some credit for his efforts in his second appearance this year. He was getting involved and clearly put in some hard work in his limited time in this match. He even managed to put his lone shot on target, although Montreal goalkeeper Thomas Gillier saved it easily and a pass to Dorsey or back to Angulo may have been the better decision. Going for goal was understandable though, given the limited opportunities for the substitute. Taifi did pretty well in defense as well contributing two clearances and a vital block late in the match on Jaime, committing one foul. He attempted seven passes with 57.1% accuracy.

MF, Colin Guske (61′), 6.5 — Guske did well in his minutes, helping to snuff out Montreal’s efforts in what had become a pretty defensive posture for Orlando. On the offensive side of things, he took one shot in the 90th minute that was blocked and he was fouled once. He connected on his one long ball attempt and completed all eight of his pass attempts. Defensively he managed one tackle and four clearances, and he committed one foul.

F, Tyrese Spicer (71′), 4.5 — Spicer came on for Pasalic and brought his usual energy but did not produce much. He only attempted three passes and did not connect on any of them, nor his lone long ball attempt. He attempted two shots with one on target, but it was on a breakaway after a bad Montreal giveaway. He should have done better with his 1-v-1 opportunity against the goalkeeper to put the game out of reach. His other was a free kick right into the wall. He was dispossessed once as well. He managed two tackles and a clearance with his defensive efforts.

D, Tahir Reid-Brown (84′) N/A — Reid-Brown did a decent job in this one given his limited minutes. He made three pass attempts completing two (66.7% accuracy) and attempted one cross and one long ball, neither of which found a target. He had no defensive contributions to speak of and wasn’t on long enough to fairly earn a grade.

F, Pedro Leao (84′) N/A — In a bit of a surprise substitution, Orlando City B’s Pedro Leao got his first minutes for the first team. He hit the ground running immediately, getting involved in the attack and earning a free kick just outside the 18-yard box. Not much else came from his efforts though, and he suffered two fouls and was dispossessed twice and he attempted two passes with one complete. He also had no defensive contributions.

That’s how i saw the individual performances in a much-needed Orlando win. Let us know how you saw the game in the comments below, and don’t forget to vote for your Man of the Match.

Sometimes confidence is everything for a goalkeeper. After a poor performance, they can go one of two ways. Either they can continue to slide, or they can bounce back and show resilience.

Javier Otero was put in just that position Saturday night. Maxime Crepeau’s red card for handling the ball outside the box against New York City FC forced the 23-year-old Homegrown shot stopper between the sticks. It was a nightmare that seemed to keep getting worse as the game went on.

Taking over in a scoreless contest but down a man, Otero conceded in the 22nd and 42nd minutes before giving up a third in first-half stoppage time. It didn’t get much better early in the second half as he conceded two more inside the first 10 minutes after the resumption of play.

In addition to the five goals conceded, Otero didn’t make a single save.

The embarrassing 5-0 loss could’ve been the downfall of the young goalkeeper. Crepeau’s red card meant the veteran would miss Saturday night’s game against CF Montreal, forcing Otero into his fifth appearance and third start for the senior team.

Fortunately, Otero didn’t have a lot to do for most of the game. The opposition only put five shots on frame in the 90 minutes and the Lions had the best chances. But when the young goalkeeper was asked to step up, he did.

The only concession came in the 24th minute, five minutes after Orlando City took the lead. Prince Osei Owusu outjumped center back Iago to win a ball and head it past Otero. There was little he could do to prevent the goal with most of the blame falling on the defender.

Apart from that, Otero was solid throughout the game. He showed some indecisiveness in the early minutes, especially when looking to distribute the ball from inside his own box. But that’s to be expected by a young goalkeeper who has seen minimal MLS action.

As the game went on, Otero was a stronger presence in his own box. After the goal, the Venezuelan international came out on set pieces to collect, climbing over attackers and defenders alike with little care about who he took out in the process.

It’s a necessary trait for quality goalkeeping, especially at the professional level.

After only needing to make one save in the first 67 minutes, he was forced into three in the final 22 minutes. And they weren’t all easy to deal with.

Despite only leading by a goal, Lions interim head coach Martin Perelman went defensive in the 61st minute by replacing Duncan McGuire with Zakaria Taifi. While Taifi played forward initially, he’s a natural right back and eventually dropped further to create a back five with about 15 minutes to go.

Otero’s first crucial moment came in the 68th minute when Ivan Jaime cut inside and fired between Braian Ojeda and Colin Guske. The shot had some action and Otero had multiple players in front of him. He pushed the ball to his left and away from danger.

While it might not have been the most aesthetically pleasing stop, his ability to push the ball wide instead of in front of him was essential. Orlando City’s first goal illustrates how rebound direction can impact things, as Ivan Angulo’s shot off the left post rebounded to McGuire in the middle for an easy tap-in.

Otero was called into action again in the 83rd minute when Efrain Morales got his head to a Jaime corner kick. While Otero didn’t catch the ball, he kept it under his control and pounced on it before Samuel Piette could knock it in. Piette was whistled for fouling the goalkeeper on the play, but Otero still did well to collect it.

The final stop came in the 87th minute when Olger Escobar sent a knuckling ball towards goal. Otero got down and blocked it to his right, getting it away from danger rather than knocking it in front of the goal where it could end up behind him.

Otero could’ve done better with some of those shots, and the young goalkeeper will continue to improve with experience. But after a game in which he gave up five goals, he kept his composure and didn’t let the ghosts of his previous performance come back to haunt him. Instead, when his team needed him to keep the ball out of his net late with a one-goal lead, he did just that.

This game showed that Otero is able to do one of the most important things for successful goalkeeping: forget the past. Rather than letting the goals continue to accumulate, he kept his head down and made some big saves, getting better as the game went along.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that Otero will become the starter. With Crepeau’s suspension behind him, the Canadian will once again take his starting spot back. But if he’s suspended, injured, or away on international duty, Orlando City can rest assured that the team has a backup that can come through when needed.

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been busy at work covering high school water polo, soccer, and softball over the past week. Our Lions, Pride, and OCB were all in action over the weekend. Let’s wish a happy belated birthday to Orlando City B midfielder Issah Haruna, who turned 22 Saturday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Pick Up First Win of 2026 Against CF Montreal

Orlando City defeated CF Montreal 2-1 Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium to secure its first win of the 2026 season. In the first half, Duncan McGuire pounced on a rebound and slotted home his first goal of the season to give Orlando the lead. However, Montreal quickly equalized before Martin Ojeda drilled a shot past goalkeeper Thomas Gillier to give Orlando a 2-1 lead. Montreal almost scored an equalizer in stoppage time late in the second half, but the Lions held their ground and cleared the ball away. After the departure of head coach Oscar Pareja midweek, the Lions responded, securing a much-needed win under interim head coach Martin Perelman. Orlando City will be on the road Saturday to take on Nashville SC at Geodis Park. Before the match, Orlando City announced it had signed goalkeeper Tristan Himes and forward Pedro Leao to short-term contracts. Leao made his MLS debut as a sub on Saturday night.

Orlando Pride Fall to Seattle Reign in Season Opener

The Orlando Pride fell 2-1 to the Seattle Reign Sunday in their opening match to kick off the 2026 NWSL season. Seattle struck first to take a 1-0 lead and held on through halftime due to a controversial foul that prevented Rafaelle from equalizing. After a two-and-a-half-hour weather delay, Barbra Banda scored the equalizer for the Pride early in the second half. However, Brittany Ratcliffe scored to give Seattle the lead late in the match and the Reign held on for all three points. Orlando dominated most of the match but wasted many scoring chances by firing shots off target or at the goalkeeper. The Pride will look to bounce back with another home match Friday, taking on the Denver Summit at Inter&Co Stadium.

OCB Defeats Carolina Core FC on the Road with Wild Comeback

Orlando City B beat Carolina Core 3-2 Saturday at Truist Point Stadium to secure its second consecutive win and first road victory of the season. The Young Lions trailed 2-0 at halftime but responded with a late rally in the second half. Harvey Sarajian pulled one back for OCB and a few minutes later, Justin Ellis buried the equalizer off a Sarajian assist. In stoppage time, Caleb Trombino scored a late winner off a set piece to lift the Young Lions to victory on the road. OCB returns home Sunday to face Inter Miami II at Inter&Co Stadium rather than the Young Lions’ usual home in Osceola County.

NWSL Season Opener Recap

The National Women’s Soccer League’s opening matches to kick off the 2026 season are in the books. Olivia Moultrie scored the lone goal as the Portland Thorns beat the Washington Spirit 1-0 Friday night. On Saturday, the Boston Legacy fell 1-0 to NJ/NY Gotham FC, while the Denver Summit fell 2-1 to Bay FC. The Kansas City Current overcame a 1-0 deficit in the first half to beat the Utah Royals 2-1. Ashley Sanchez scored twice as the North Carolina Courage defeated Racing Louisville by the same scoreline, while the Houston Dash beat the San Diego Wave 1-0. Angel City FC defeated the Chicago Stars 4-0 Sunday, and Savy King came off the bench to replace former Pride defender Emily Sams in the second half to make her first appearance after she collapsed on the field due to a heart condition last year.

Free Kicks

• Forbes.com summarizes former Orlando City head coach Oscar Pareja’s legacy in Major League Soccer after he and the club mutually parted ways last week.
• The New England Revolution are bringing back Diego Fagundez and have signed the 31-year-old to a contract through the 2026 MLS season with an option for 2027. 
• Sporting Kansas City has signed forward Capita Capemba to a contract through the 2028-2029 season with an option for 2029-2030. The 24-year-old spent two seasons with Radomiak Radom in the Polish Ekstraklasa.
• Former England and Chelsea defender Ashley Cole has landed his first managerial role, being appointed manager of Serie B side Cesena through the end of the season with an option to stay on.
• In case you missed it, this is how Esporte Clube Vitoria showed its support for actor Wagner Moura’s bid to win an Oscar.

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