Orlando City B
Orlando City B vs. Columbus Crew 2: Final Score 4-3 as OCB Loses First Road Game of 2024
OCB conceded twice in two minutes in the late stages, falling to Columbus Crew 2.
Orlando City B (3-3-3, 13 points) lost its first away game of the season this afternoon, falling 4-3 to Columbus Crew 2 (4-3-2, 15 points) at Lower.com Field. Wilfredo Rivera and Shak Mohammed were the OCB goal scorers, while the third was an own goal by Ty Nero. Jayden Da, Chase Adams, and Gibran Rayo scored for the hosts, with the fourth being an own goal by Imanol Almaguer.
OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg only made one change to the team that earned a 3-1 win over New York Red Bulls II last Wednesday night. Yutaro Tsukada was out of the team after joining the first team on a short-term contract. His spot in the starting lineup went to fellow first-team attacker Favian Loyola.
The back line for the Young Lions in front of goalkeeper Carlos Mercado was Manuel Cocca, Thomas Williams, Nabi Kibunguchy, and Alex Freeman. Almaguer and Colin Guske were the defensive midfielders behind Jhon Solis, Mohammed, and Loyola with Rivera starting up top.
This will be considered three points lost for OCB. The Young Lions took an early lead in both halves and, without three poor minutes, might’ve been able to return home with all three points. They dominated the chances throughout the game and led in every major statistical category at halftime and full time. However, their inability to hold onto the two leads is something that will haunt this team as it takes an extended break.
OCB was the early aggressor, creating an attack in the opening seconds through Rivera and Loyola. However, Loyola lost possession on the right. The Young Lions restarted their attack, resulting in the first shot of the game. Solis lifted the ball into the box and Rivera met it, attempting a volley to the far post. He didn’t hit it well and the ball rolled harmlessly wide of the target.
The Young Lions created their second attack in the third minute when Mohammed made a run down the end line and attempted to send the ball across the face of goal. Crew 2 goalkeeper Stanislav Lapkes did well to get down and knock it out of play with his foot. The first corner was looking for Kibunguchy at the far post, but Adams got to it first, heading the ball over the crossbar. Rivera’s second corner kick was aiming for back-post heads again, but it went all the way across the field and out of play, ending the attack.
Crew 2 had its first chance in the ninth minute when Giogrio De Libera was sent forward to the end line. The midfielder played the ball back for Jacob Greene, who was wide open near the penalty spot. The shot got behind Mercado, but Freeman was there to clear it off the line and over the crossbar. The ensuing corner kick was cleared out without much trouble.
In the 13th minute, Nero took Loyola down hard from behind near midfield, leading to the game’s first goal. The ensuing set piece was a give-and-go between Freeman and Loyola. Sent down the right, Freeman played a great ball in front of goal, where Rivera was making a run. It only took a soft touch from the forward to tap it behind Lapkes and in to give the Young Lions the 1-0 advantage.
OCB had another shot two minutes later, but this one was much less troublesome for the hosts. Solis gained possession well outside the box and tried to find space to create an opportunity. Unfortunately, he couldn’t find anything and shot from distance. The shot was right at Lapkes, creating no problems for the goalkeeper.
The hosts found their equalizer in the 18th minute from a set piece. It started when a mishit by Adams landed at the feet of Greene at the top of the box. The midfielder shot immediately and his attempt was heading inside the post, but Mercado dove to his left to tip it wide. The ensuing corner kick was cleared and ended up with Adrian Gonzalez on the far side. It was a great cross to the opposite post, where Da outjumped Williams and headed it past Mercado to even the game at 1-1.
Da nearly had a second goal in the 22nd minute when he found enough space to take a shot at goal. The attempt took a deflection, sending it into the outside of the net. The ensuing corner kick didn’t result in anything else, keeping the game tied.
Rivera had a chance for his second in the 25th minute when he was sent forward by Loyola. The forward had Greene on his hip, but had a step on the defender. He slowed up slightly to set up his shot, enabling Greene to stick his foot in and clear it out of play.
The ensuing short corner kick fell for a second inside the six-yard box, but it was eventually cleared by Da.
Crew 2 immediately went the other way and created a chance of its own. Owen Presthus was sent down the right and played a dangerous cross into the OCB box, where Da was making a run to the back post. Fortunately, Kibunguchy slid in at the last second to knock the ball away.
A minute later, the hosts took their first lead of the day. Kibunguchy played the ball back to Mercado, who had plenty of time to find a teammate. However, he inexplicably sent the ball directly to Adams. The Crew 2 forward was calm with possession, slipping the ball past a flat-footed Mercado and giving his team a 2-1 lead.
OCB equalized in the 34th minute with a goal that was similar to the first. Freeman was sent down the right with a long ball. He had Rivera making a run into the box, but sent it to the top of the 18 instead. Mohammed was making a trailing run and did well with it, putting his first touch on target. It was close to Lapkes, but the Crew 2 goalkeeper couldn’t get to it and OCB evened the game at 2-2.
The Young Lions probably should’ve had a third in the 37th minute when Loyola made a run to the end line and sent the ball back for Rivera near the penalty spot. The forward attempted to set up for a shot, but the ball got caught in his feet. As a result, Crew 2 was able to clear.
OCB nearly took the lead in the 41st minute with a long ball down field. Rivera was attempting to run onto it, but it was too far in front of him. Fortunately, Freeman was also making a run and the right back connected with it. His shot appeared to be on target, but Lapkes came off his line and deflected the shot over the crossbar.
Two minutes into first-half stoppage time, Rivera had a chance when he was sent forward by Solis. His first touch was a shot from a tight angle, but hit the outside of the post. The forward came back from an offside position to meet the ball and the referee determined he was too late, ruling him offside.
The Young Lions had one final chance in the first half with the last touch . They were looking for a shot from just outside of the box, but Mohammed’s last touch was cleared out. However, it was a soft clearance right to Almaguer. The OCB captain fired from distance and missed just wide of the near post, resulting in the game entering halftime at 2-2.
After 45 minutes, OCB had more shots (10-5), shots on target (5-4), corner kicks (4-3), and crosses (6-2), and better passing accuracy (88.4%-85.2%). Despite creating more chances than the opposition, the Young Lions only scored twice and went to the break tied.
Crew 2 created the first chance of the second half and it was from a familiar source. Greene entered the OCB box with Freeman on his hip, but got past the right back to shoot from a tight angle. Mercado did well to cover his near post and blocked the shot, enabling Kibunguchy to clear the ball away.
OCB had its first second-half chance in the 50th minute when Loyola lifted the ball behind the Crew 2 defense where Rivera was making a run. The forward raced for the ball, attempting to beat Lapkes to it, but the Crew 2 goalkeeper got to it first.
However, in the 51st minute, OCB took its second lead of the game. Solis sent Almaguer forward and the OCB captain sent a cross into the six-yard box. The pass was behind Freeman, but Nero accidentally knocked the ball into his own net, giving the visitors a 3-2 lead.
Crew 2 quickly went the other way and created a chance off the restart. It was a strong attempt from outside of the box that appeared to be heading inside the near post, but Mercado dove to his right and tipped it wide. The ensuing corner kick was cleared by the Young Lions and they maintained their one-goal lead.
In the 57th minute, Presthus received the ball on the right and sent a dangerous low ball into the box. Williams got to it before anyone else, sending it over the crossbar for a Crew 2 corner kick. The ensuing set piece ended up with Diego Almeida outside of the box. The defender took a long distance shot, but sent it well over the target.
The Young Lions had a good chance in the 61st minute when Cocca found Mohammed making a run behind the back line. He reached the pass before he got to the end line and sent it to Freeman making a trailing run to the top of the six-yard box. The right back’s first touch was a shot with the inside of his foot, but Lapkes was there to make the stop.
OCB looked to strike on the counter attack in the 66th minute when Solis won the ball from Almeida near midfield. Solis sent Mohammed forward and the attacker attempted a shot from a tight angle, but Lapkes blocked it out of play with his leg. The ensuing corner kick by Rivera found the head of Williams, who got over the ball, but his attempt was off the crossbar.
A minute later, Rivera received the ball in the Crew 2 box. The forward dribbled across the face of goal, looking for space for a shot, but was well defended. His eventual attempt was blocked out for a corner kick. The first set piece was met by the head of Williams, but it was deflected out of play. The second corner kick found Mohammed, and he dribbled toward the end line before Almeida cleared it behind the goal. The final attempt resulted in a cross by Solis that Kibunguchy attempted to volley to the far post, but the center back missed wide.
Goldberg made his first change of the game in the 70th minute, replacing Mohammed with Yeiler Valencia.
Crew 2 found another equalizer in the 74th minute. Receiving the ball down the left, Tristan Brown sent the ball in front of goal. Almaguer attempted to clear it, but sent it into his own net instead, evening the game at 3-3.
It didn’t take long for the hosts to strike again and take their second lead. Second-half substitute Rayo had the ball in a seemingly innocuous position, with several players between him and the goal. Dribbling inside, the attacker shot from distance. It appeared as though Mercado couldn’t see the shot as he was left flat-footed, watching the ball travel inside his near post to give Crew 2 a 4-3 lead.
In the 82nd minute, Solis played a good ball forward for Valencia with space. The second-half substitute had room shoot, but it was well off target. Immediately after the miss, Goldberg made two more changes. Justin Ellis and Majed Abdullah entered the game for Rivera and Guske.
The Young Lions had a great chance to equalize again in the 86th minute when Almaguer sent a free kick to the back post. Cocca was making a run and found himself wide open. The left back attempted to put the header on goal, but sent it wide.
Before Crew 2 could restart play, Goldberg made his final change of the game, replacing Almaguer with Zakaria Taifi.
Despite being down a goal, the Young Lions weren’t able to create any shots during the four minutes of added time, falling 4-3 to Crew 2.
At full time, OCB had more shots (19-11), shots on target (8-7), corners (9-6), and crosses (9-7), and better passing accuracy (88.1%-85.6%). While they led in all statistical categories, a couple of poor minutes resulted in two goals for the hosts, turning an away win into a loss.
While OCB has already lost twice at home, this is their first loss away from Central Florida. They’re now 2-1-3 on the road and fall to seventh in the MLS NEXT Pro’s Eastern Conference after being jumped by Crew 2.
The Young Lions now have an extended break as they don’t return to the field again until Sunday, May 26. They’ll welcome Huntsville City FC to Osceola County Stadium as they look to get back on the right track.
Orlando City B
MLS NEXT Pro Is a Development League and OCB Is Developing Some Winners
A comparison between Orlando City and OCB’s performances this season and a look at OCB’s player development pipeline.
Last week, I wrote about Orlando as a soccer city, and created a ranking system that looked at where the City Beautiful sits among North American cities that have professional soccer teams. Since that article came out, none of the teams that were used as a the basis of the ranking system have played a game, as all of the top teams remain on hiatus due to all of the international games and the final preparations for the FIFA World Cup.
MLS NEXT Pro, however, continues to channel its inner Young Gunz and can’t stop, won’t stop playing regular-season games. As readers of our weekly membership newsletter (you can subscribe here and unlike with FIFA, zero attorneys general have opened investigations about our pricing policies) already know, Orlando City B (OCB) has won four of its last five games and currently sits in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The Young Lions are averaging 0.99 more points per match than the senior team (1.92 to 0.93), while scoring more and allowing fewer goals per game as well. They are not better players, at least not yet, but they are definitely playing better than Orlando City is relative to their level of competition.
OCB is not the only MLS NEXT Pro team playing much better than its senior team, and considering how poorly Orlando City has performed during MLS play thus far this season, it is not a surprise that the gap between the two in points per match is among the largest for all 27 MLS clubs that have a reserve team in MLS NEXT Pro (D.C., Montreal, and San Diego are the three MLS teams that do not have a team in the lower league). The gap between Orlando teams ranks fifth from the bottom, with only Austin, Atlanta, Houston, and Portland sporting MLS teams with worse points-per-match performances compared to their MLS NEXT pro teams.
On this week’s episode of The Mane Land PawedCast, there was a discussion about how clubs generally view and utilize MLS NEXT Pro, and while the Orlando City front office wants both of its teams to win, what the club really wants to see is player development at the MLS NEXT Pro level and wins and banners at the MLS level. Players who develop well at OCB generally sign Homegrown Player contracts with the senior team, which greatly benefits the team in terms of roster construction because they count differently against the salary cap.
Thus far this season, Orlando City has played five Homegrown Players during MLS games — Justin Ellis, Colin Guske, Javier Otero, Tahir Reid-Brown, and Zakaria Taifi — and their minutes played combine for approximately 10% of Orlando City’s minutes during MLS play. Only Miami and Philadelphia have played more Homegrowns (each has played seven) in games, though 10 teams have played Homegrown Players for a larger share of their minutes than Orlando City’s 10%. The league averages are only 3.1 players and 8.5% of the total minutes, so Orlando City is above average in both.
Of those five Orlando City Homegrowns, only Reid-Brown has played more league minutes with OCB than Orlando City, though by the end of the season it would not be a surprise if that was true for all except for Ellis, as the MLS minutes for the other four dried up during the final games before the World Cup break. A certain Antoine Griezmann will also be joining Orlando City in July and, spoiler alert, he is going to play a lot of minutes, which will push the players at the bottom of the depth chart one rung further away from MLS game time.
The upshot of this is that OCB is likely to see those Homegrowns dressing and playing in a lot of its games during the back half of the season, making an already strong squad even stronger. If we take a look at all 60 teams between MLS and MLS NEXT Pro, the Young Lions rank sixth in goals scored per game at 2.38, and with a little defensive improvement (like, perhaps, the inclusion of defensive-oriented players Guske, Otero, Reid-Brown, and Taifi in more lineups) they could find themselves in that quadrant of teams that are among the best in both goals scored and goals allowed.
While MLS NEXT Pro teams may not be exclusively focused on Vince Lombardi’s famous quote about winning not being everything, but the only thing, winning is still, like, better than losing (thank you Nuke LaLoosh and Bull Durham), and OCB has been doing a lot of it lately. The club also has five players in the top 89 in FotMob‘s MLS NEXT Pro player rating rankings, including the overall number one Harvey Sarajian, Gustavo Caraballo (12), Pedro Leão (29), Bernardo Rhein (45), and Issah Haruna (89). Sarajian and Haruna are 21 and 22 years old, respectively, but the other three players are all teenagers and are performing at an advanced level in a league where the average player’s age this season is 20.6, according to Transfermarkt.
OCB’s average age across all players is only 18.8, third youngest in the league, so even beyond the top prospects the future continues to look bright for a team full of young players who are already performing at a high level in their league. Hopefully, the gap between their performance and that of Orlando City’s closes when the senior Lions return to play, but only because the MLS club performs more like it did during the last few years instead of how it did during the opening 15 games of MLS play this year. We still have more than a month to go until we will see Orlando City again though, so for now we can just sit back and see how big of a gap OCB can open up, starting with its game Saturday at Huntsville City — a perfect location for some Young Lions to go hunting for another three points.
Vamos Orlando!
Orlando City B
Orlando City B vs. Chattanooga FC: Final Score 5-2 as OCB Dominates Second Half
OCB netted four second-half goals to defeat Chattanooga FC for its second-straight win.
Orlando City B (5-3-4, 22 points) won its second-straight game tonight, defeating Chattanooga FC (6-5-1, 19 points) 5-2 at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee. Ignacio Gomez gave the hosts the lead before goals by Alexander Krehl and Luke Husakiwsky made it 2-1 Chattanooga at halftime. But the Young Lions dominated the second half with goals by Harvey Sarajian and Justin Hylton and a brace by Pedro Leao, sealing all three points.
OCB Head Coach Eddie Wilding made four changes to the team that gave Inter Miami II a 4-1 beatdown on May 24. Parker Amoo-Mensah, Titus Sandy, Jr., Albright Chikamso, and Hylton entered the lineup for Zakaria Taifi, Nolan Miller, Clovis Archange, and Tahir Reid-Brown.
The back line in front of goalkeeper Tristan Himes included Rhein, Chikamso, Sandy, and Amoo-Mensah. Colin Guske and Gomez were the defensive midfielders behind Sarajian, Hylton, and Issah Haruna with Leao up top.
This was the back-and-forth type of game that OCB has become known for. The Young Lions got off to a great start, creating early chances and taking the lead in the sixth minute. They nearly had a second in the 21st minute, but lost control of the game after that. Chattanooga was the better team in the final 25 minutes of the first half, taking a 2-1 lead into the break.
The Young Lions came out strong in the second half, putting a stranglehold on the contest. They broke quick and often, putting Chattanooga under immense pressure. It resulted in a dominant half that saw them outscore the visitors 4-0.
OCB employed a high press from the start, which created the first opportunity at goal in the third minute. Receiving a pass back from Damien Barker John in his own third, Husakiwsky played it straight to Leao. The striker took a couple of touches into the Chattanooga box before sending a curling shot over the crossbar.
The Young Lions’ second chance came in the sixth minute and resulted in the game’s first goal. Gomez carried the ball into the Chattanooga third of the field before playing a give-and-go with Hylton. As Gomez neared the end line, it looked like he would cross it into the six. However, he curled the ball around Griffin Huff and inside the far post to give the hosts the early 1-0 lead.
Chattanooga earned its first chance of the game in the 10th minute when a long throw-in by Anton Sorenson was flicked on for Barker John behind. The midfielder’s first touch was a shot on goal, but it was right at Himes.
OCB nearly doubled its advantage in the 21st minute when Amoo-Mensah’s cross for Leao was headed over the end line by Mattias Hanchard. The Young Lions played the ensuing set piece short, ending up with Haruna. The midfielder fired from distance, rattling the crossbar. The ball ended up with Guske on the left and the Homegrown Player sent a cross into the box for a charging Sandy. The center back got a head to the ball, sending his attempt just over the target.
Two minutes later, Guske sent a ball forward for Amoo-Mensah making an overlapping run on the right. The right back sent a low shot towards the far post that Huff tipped wide of the target. The Chattanooga goalkeeper caught the ensuing set piece delivery, ending the threat.
Another long throw-in by Chattanooga in the 28th minute was flicked on to Krehl, who couldn’t get much on the header, allowing Himes to collect. OCB tried to play it out of the back as Himes rolled the ball out to Sandy, who played it right back to his goalkeeper.
Himes tried to pass to Rhein at the top left corner of the box, but he sent his pass right to Barker John. As the OCB goalkeeper came out, Barker John lifted the ball for Yuval Cohen. The attacker tried to guide the ball in but couldn’t connect. It went to Sandy, whose weak clearance found Krehl’s foot. The forward tucked it away to even the game at 1-1.
The Young Lions gave the ball away in their own end in the 32nd minute when Guske’s touch went right to a Chattanooga player. The ball ended up with Daniel Mangarov on the counter and the attacker’s shot to the far post was just wide.
A minute later, Tate Robertson sent a dangerous cross toward the near post where Krehl was making a run. The forward volleyed the ball toward goal — looking for a quick brace — but the redirection bounced wide.
Long throw-ins by Chattanooga were a thorn in OCB’s side in the first half and it came back to haunt the team again in the 38th minute. Chikamso headed away a flick-on, but the clearance fell right to Husakiwsky. The attacker volleyed the ball past Himes and in to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.
Down a goal, the Young Lions tried to get back on even terms with a pair of chances as the game neared halftime. In the 41st minute, Guske got on the end of a corner kick, but his volley was off target. Chattanooga immediately went the other way and Barker John went down, appealing for a penalty. Referee Erik Lezama Pavon waved play on and OCB went on the counterattack. Sarajian laid the ball back for Gomez near midfield, who sent it forward for Leao. The OCB striker fired from just outside the box, sending his shot wide.
A long punt by Huff out of the back in the 44th minute gave Chattanooga a chance when Sandy mishit the clearance. Barker John took possession and played it square for Krehl at the top of the box. The forward played it back to Barker John, who spotted Cohen behind Rhein on the right side of the OCB box. The forward’s first touch was a near-post shot that hit the outside of the net.
The final chance of the half came in the first minute of stoppage time. OCB broke on a four-on four counterattack with Leao playing Sarajian down the left. Sarajian played it back for Leao, and it looked like the striker would guide it into the net. However, Nathan Koehler slid in front of the attempt, blocking the shot with his back.
OCB got the second half off to a flying start, evening the game in the 48th minute. Receiving a pass from Gomez, Rhein used a nifty touch to get by his defender and sent a quality ball into the six. It looked like a defender or Huff would clear it, but it slipped through for Leao, who touched it in to even the game at 2-2.
The Young Lions stayed on the attack, creating another chance in the 50th minute. Gomez danced through the Chattanooga defense before losing control at the top of the box. The ball went through the defender to Hylton, whose first touch was a shot wide of the near post.
OCB’s high press created problems for Chattanooga as the visitors tried to play the ball out of the back. Koehler lost the ball to Haruna, and the midfielder quickly sent a pass forward for Leao, whose shot was blocked away by Huff. Koehler tried to clear the ball, but it was a poor attempt, going right to Sarajian. The rookie volleyed the ball past Huff to give his team the 3-2 lead.
In the 54th minute, Haruna made a strong run into the Chattanooga third of the field. The midfielder had Gomez making an overlapping run but cut inside to shoot himself. The attacker fired — looking for his second long-distance goal of the night — but sent the attempt right to Huff.
A Gomez foul in the 56th minute gave Chattanooga a free kick that provided an opportunity for another equalizer. Himes punched away the set piece by Mangarov over a group of players. It went to Barker John, who forced Himes into a quick reaction save, diving to make the stop. The block went to Cohen on the far side, whose shot was blocked by Leao. Rhein headed away the ensuing free kick to the near post.
OCB quickly went on the counterattack as Guske tapped the ball forward. Huff blocked a shot by Leao from the top of the box, but it went right to Haruna. The midfielder attempted to dribble around Huff, allowing the goalkeeper to knock it off his foot. The Young Lions maintained possession, with Guske sending a cross to the far post, where Hylton was making a run. The teenager volleyed the ball past Huff and inside the far post to give the hosts a 4-2 lead.
Both teams made three changes immediately after the goal. Wilding replaced Haruna, Guske, and Sandy with Nicolas Bobea Torres, Jacob Ramirez, and Landon Okonski.
Now chasing the game, Chattanooga went on the offensive. In the 66th minute, Cohen lifted the ball into the box. Amoo-Mensah attempted to head it away but sent it to Anthony Garcia at the top of the 18. Despite a deflection, Himes was able to collect the second-half substitute’s shot.
Leao sent a good ball forward for Bobea Torres in the 69th minute and the substitute quickly played the ball central for Hylton. The goal scorer initially lost possession before shooting. Huff came off of his line to cut down Hylton’s angle, blocking the attempt with his legs.
Ramirez’s ensuing corner kick found Okonski’s head, but the center back’s redirection was wide, ending the threat.
Wilding made his fourth change in the 78th minute, replacing Rhein with Matthew Belgodere.
Shortly after coming on, Belgodere made his presence felt. He received a pass on the left in the 80th minute and immediately took on his defender. As the substitute beat Garcia and entered the box, he went down from a sliding challenge. Pavon pointed to the spot, giving OCB a chance to put the game away.
Leao stepped up to the spot for the penalty, sending Huff the wrong way to give his team a commanding 5-2 lead.
Barker John went on a run off the restart before Chikamso tripped him near the top of the OCB box. Robertson stepped up to take the free kick, sending his delivery around the five-man wall and just wide.
Wilding made his fifth and final change before the goal kick could be taken, replacing Amoo-Mensah with Nicolas Lasheras.
The Young Lions nearly scored a sixth in the 86th minute when a poor pass out of the back was blocked. Leao sent the ball forward for Sarajian with Hylton making a run on the right. Sarajian took the shot himself from the top of the box, sending his attempt wide.
Cohen dribbled into the OCB box in the 89th minute before Lasheras slid in and knocked the ball over the end line. The short corner resulted in a give-and-go between Cohen and Sorenson, sending Cohen behind Lasheras. The attacker could’ve gone down as Lasheras challenged him, but stayed on his feet and forced Himes into a one-handed save. The block went right back to Cohen, whose first touch was a second shot. But Himes got down to block the ball over the end line with his right leg.
The second corner kick was cleared, allowing OCB to retain its three-goal lead.
The Young Lions went the other way with Leao playing a ball to Sarajian as he entered the Chattanooga third of the field. The midfielder took an ambitious shot from outside the box that forced Huff to block the ball rather than catch it.
Chattanooga was unable to clear the ball, with Lasheras winning it back. The defender laid it off for Ramirez, who was unhappy with his ball forward for Leao. However, it went through several players for Hylton behind the back line. Unfortunately, Hylton wasn’t expecting the ball, resulting in a poor touch that allowed Huff to come out and collect.
In the third minute of stoppage time, Barker John found Alex McGrath in the box. The substitute shot from short distance that Bobea Torres was able to block. Himes caught the ensuing set piece, ending the attack.
The final chance of the game came in the sixth minute of stoppage time when Cohen received a pass on the left. The attacker cut inside, looking to end the game on a high, and took a shot from distance. However, he wasn’t able to curl the ball as he wanted, sending his attempt well wide of the far post.
Chattanooga took more shots (20-19) in this game, but OCB put more chances on target (11-8). The Young Lions also had better passing accuracy (86.5%-83.7%) with both teams winning six corner kicks on the night.
The win lifts OCB into fourth place in MLS NEXT Pro’s Eastern Conference, just a point behind Columbus Crew 2 for third and two points behind New York Red Bulls II for second. Having won three of their last four games, the Young Lions are now just five points behind Crown Legacy FC, which tops the conference with 27 points.
The Young Lions will look to extend their winning streak as they welcome Carolina Core FC to Kissimmee on June 7.
Orlando City B
Orlando City B vs. New England Revolution II: Final Score 1-0 as Young Lions Fall On Late Goal
A last-minute goal helped by two Young Lions taking each other out of the play led to OCB’s loss to New England Revolution II in Rhode Island.
Orlando City B (3-3-4, 16 points) fell 1-0 today to New England Revolution II (5-2-3, 20 points) at Beirne Stadium in Smithfield, RI. Both teams struggled to hit the target throughout the game, allowing Judah Siqueira to score the game winner in the dying moments.
OCB Head Coach Eddie Wilding made two changes from the team that won 2-0 over Atlanta United 2 on May 10. Titus Sandy, Jr., Landon Okonski, Jacob Ramirez, and Matthew Belgodere entered the lineup, replacing Colin Guske, Tahir Reid-Brown, Gustavo Caraballo, and Harvey Sarajian.
Goalkeeper Luca Maxim started behind a back line of Bernardo Rhein, Sandy, Okonski, and Parker Amoo-Mensah. Ramirez and Dylan Judelson were in the defensive midfield behind Belgodere, Ignacio Gomez, and Issah Haruna with Pedro Leao up top.
This was a game of missed chances for both teams. They only put a combined four shots on target, but it was worse for OCB. Gomez sent a weak shot to New England goalkeeper Donovan Parisian less than a minute into the game and the Young Lions didn’t have another shot on target for the remainder of the day. It looked like the game would go to penalties before a bad turnover near midfield gave Siqueira a chance to claim all three points for the hosts.
The Young Lions kicked off, sending the ball long and out of play. Their high press caused a turnover and the first chance inside the first minute. It started when Okonski sent the ball forward for Haruna, who laid it off for Gomez at the top of the New England box. The young attacker’s second touch was a shot that went straight to Parisian.
A turnover near midfield in the 17th minute gave the hosts their first chance of the game. Damario McIntosh carried the ball near the top of the OCB box before playing it forward for Malcolm Fry. With Rhein closing down on him, Fry fired for the near post where Maxim made the stop.
As the Young Lions looked to play the ball out of the back, they nearly gave away a goal when Ramirez played a weak pass back for Maxim. Javaun Mussenden raced Maxim to the free ball with the OCB goalkeeper getting there just in time to clear it.
In the 27th minute, OCB attempted a quick counterattack off a New England corner kick, which ended when a long ball forward by Haruna was too far ahead of Belgodere and went out of play. Revs II tried to play the ball out of the back, but Jake Shannon lost possession to Haruna in his own third. The attacker shot from just outside the box, with the low attempt rolling wide.
Revs II created an attack that resulted in a shot in the 38th minute when Fry found Shuma Sasaki at the top of the OCB box. The forward dribbled inside before shooting, but Amoo-Mensah blocked the attempt. New England’s appeal for a handball fell on deaf ears as referee Amin Hadzic said it hit his chest.
In the 42nd minute, Fry sent McIntosh into the OCB box on an overlap. The midfielder played a low cross that Rhein blocked out for a corner kick. Shannon headed down the ensuing set piece by Sasaki with Amoo-Mensah getting in the way. The ball fell for Cristiano Oliveira near the end line and the midfielder laid it back for Myles Morgan, but Ramirez blocked his shot, allowing OCB to clear it.
On the other end, Ramirez sent Belgodere down the left and into the Revs II box. Belgodere took on Gabriel Dahlin one-on-one, cutting inside to find space for a shot. However, his touch was a little too strong and Amoo-Mensah took possession. The right back fired from close range, but Shannon was there for the block.
That was the last first-half chance for either team as the game went into the break scoreless. It was an even first half with both teams taking four shots and putting one on target. The Young Lions had more crosses (4-0) and Revs II had the only two corner kicks. While OCB had nearly twice as many passes (341-188) as the opposition and better passing percentage (92.4%-86.2%), they were mostly played short and near midfield with neither team really threatening.
The hosts were on the front foot to start the second half. After taking 17 minutes to get their first shot of the game, they created one just two minutes into the second period of play. Oliveira received a pass entering the OCB third before playing it forward for Morgan. The attacker took a shot with space at the top of the box, sending his attempt well over the target.
Fry made a run to the end line in the 47th minute, playing a ball across that Okonski blocked out of play for a corner kick. Allan Oyirwoth flicked on the set piece delivery, which landed at Oliveira’s feet. The midfielder turned to shoot, but Okonski was there to block it.
OCB earned its first second-half chance in the 50th minute when Oyirwoth fouled Amoo-Mensah. The Young Lions took the set piece, with the ball eventually ending up with Haruna 25 yards away from the goal. The attacker took a shot from distance that just missed wide, though Parisian appeared to have it covered.
The Young Lions created a chance in the 57th minute as they worked the ball through the midfield. Haruna received a pass at the top of the box and laid it off for Gomez behind him. The attacking midfielder took a shot that was never going anywhere near the target, sailing well wide. However, it was the team’s best buildup in the early stages of the second half.
The attempt seemed to briefly unlock OCB’s attack. In the 59th minute, Oyirwoth’s heavy touch allowed Judelson to take possession. The defensive midfielder played it forward for Leao, who quickly sent the ball to his left for Belgodere. After dribbling inside, the midfielder unleashed a shot that went just over the crossbar.
New England tried to play out of the back, but was unsuccessful as Rhein intercepted McIntosh’s pass. The left back was initially looking to pass, but had so much space that he continued to carry it forward. Rhein ended up getting all the way into the box and let go a shot that bounced off the far post, the closest either team came to scoring before the 90th minute.
Wilding made his first change of the game in the 67th minute, replacing Ramirez with Caleb Trombino.
Jayden Da intercepted a poor pass by Amoo-Mensah in the 69th minute and found Carlos Zambrano near the top of the box, who played it inside for Morgan. The midfielder turned to shoot with a defender on his hip, sending the attempt wide of the target.
Wilding made his second and third changes in the 72nd minute, replacing Sandy and Leao with Clovis Archange and Logan Tsopanoglou.
OCB won the ball in its own box off a New England throw-in in the 74th minute, but Trombino lost it right back to Da. Zambrano took possession and shot from the top of the box, forcing Maxim into a rare save. The rebound fell to Morgan, whose shot from the same spot went wide of the target.
A New England clearance in the 76th minute off a Rhein cross fell to Haruna, whose shot went right to Trombino. A heavy touch by the substitute resulted in a race between Trombino and Parisian that the Revs II goalkeeper got to first.
Wilding made his final two changes in the 83rd minute, replacing Haruna and Amoo-Mensah with Jaylen Yearwood and Justin Hylton.
OCB appeared to have a chance in the 88th minute when Rhein blocked a McIntosh pass and went the other way. The left back played it forward for Hylton, who found Gomez at the top of the New England box. But the young attacker lost control of the ball before he could get a shot off.
As the game entered stoppage time, the hosts found the winning goal. Yearwood tried to lay the ball off for Okonski, but it was too soft and Siqueira took possession. Chasing the opponent, Yearwood and Okonski ran into each other, taking each other out of the play and igniting the New England counter.
Siqueira made a long run into the OCB box. The teenager did well to shoot before Judelson could reach him, putting it past Maxim to give Revs II the late 1-0 lead.
The Young Lions desperately pushed forward, looking to find an equalizer. Belgodere won a corner kick in the third minute of stoppage time and Maxim came forward. Revs II cleared and it looked like the hosts would have a free shot on an empty goal, but Hazdic said the corner kick went out of play and awarded a goal kick instead.
OCB had a late minute of possession around the New England area but turned down numerous opportunities to send in a cross. Eventually, the Young Lions lost possession without even making a cross attempt.
At full time, Revs II had tallied more shots (12-10), shots on target (3-1), and corner kicks (5-4). The Young Lions attempted more crosses (5-2) and passed more accurately (89.7%-85.2%), but it wasn’t enough as they dropped all three points.
The loss ends a four-game points streak that dates back to the team’s 3-1 loss to Chattanooga FC on April 11. The result sees OCB sit in seventh in MLS NEXT Pro’s Eastern Conference, two points out of fifth and three points out of fourth.
The Young Lions will look to bounce back on May 24 when they return home to face Inter Miami II at Osceola County Stadium.
Lion Links: 6/12/26
MLS NEXT Pro Is a Development League and OCB Is Developing Some Winners
Orlando Pride So Far in 2026: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
-
Orlando Pride2 weeks agoOrlando Pride vs. Bay FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
-
Orlando City2 weeks agoOrlando Has Been The Goal-Happiest Place On Earth in 2026
-
Orlando Pride2 weeks agoOrlando Pride vs. Bay FC: Three Keys to Victory
-
Orlando City2 weeks agoAn Early Look at Orlando City’s Contract Decisions
-
Lion Links1 week agoLion Links: 6/3/26
-
Lion Links2 weeks agoLion Links: 6/1/26
-
Orlando Pride2 weeks agoOrlando Pride vs. Bay FC: Final Score 3-1 as Banda Brace Leads Pride to Victory
-
Orlando City2 weeks agoFlashback Friday: May 31, 2017 vs. D.C. United