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Orlando City B

Orlando City B vs. Inter Miami II: Final Score 3-1 as Young Lions Fall to 9-Man Rivals

OCB can’t take advantage of its manpower edge in a wasteful loss in Fort Lauderdale.

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9 months ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B

Orlando City B (4-4-3, 16 points) fell 3-1 to in-state rivals Inter Miami II (5-4-2, 17 points) at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale tonight despite having a man advantage for most of the second half and a two-man advantage at the end. Lawson Sunderland gave Miami the lead in the 35th minute, but OCB responded quickly with a 40th-minute goal by Favian Loyola. Ryan Carmichael made 2-1 in the 43rd minute and the Young Lions couldn’t find another response. Coco Jean’s 85th-minute goal saw the game end 3-1 to the hosts.

The lineup for this game was the same as the team that beat Huntsville City FC 5-0 last Sunday in Kissimmee. The back line in front of goalkeeper Javier Otero was Manuel Cocca, Thomas Williams, Nabi Kibunguchy, and Alex Freeman. Colin Gukse and Imanol Almaguer were the defensive midfielders behind Yutaro Tsukada, Shak Mohammed, and Jhon Solis with Wilfredo Rivera as the lone striker.

OCB got off to the more aggressive start in this game, but the hosts turned the tables as the game went on. After multiple chances in the first 10 minutes, the game settled down. However, both teams were able to strike late in the first half, combining for three goals in the final 15 minutes. The second half saw the Young Lions win a penalty and two Miami players were sent off. Despite those advantages, Miami increased its lead by a goal to win by two.

OCB got the first chance of the game in the fourth minute from a foul just outside of the box. The Young Lions immediately played the set piece forward for Mohammed before Inter Miami II defenders were ready. Mohammed shot from a tight angle, but Miami goalkeeper CJ dos Santos knocked it out of play for a corner kick.

A minute later, the Young Lions created their second opportunity. Mohammed sent a ball into the six-yard box, where Rivera was making a run with Nykolas Sessock on his back. It looked like it would be a simple tap-in by Rivera, but Sessock was able to reach it first, sending it out of play for another OCB corner kick. The ball was sent near the top of the six where dos Santos was able to jump on it.

Inter Miami II nearly took the lead in the 12th minute when Noah Allen sent a cross into the box for Carmichael, who was behind the OCB back line. His first touch was a redirection towards goal, but the ball hit the post. The bounce off the woodwork was right into the arms of Otero, enabling the Young Lions to escape without conceding.

In the 15th minute, Cocca attempted a dangerous cross into the box. He had two teammates making runs, but the ball was just over the head of Rivera and a bit too far in front of Mohammed for him to reach it. As a result, the ball went out of play for a goal kick.

Cocca received the ball from Solis in the 20th minute and, after controlling it with his first touch, stepped inside to lose a pair of defenders, creating space for a shot. The left back curled the ball towards the far post from outside of the box, but dos Santos was able to get down and stop it.

Solis and Almaguer nearly combined for a goal in the 22nd minute when Solis chipped the ball over multiple defenders and into the box for Almaguer. The defensive midfielder reached his foot out for the ball, but dos Santos came off his line and was able to get to it first.

In the 28th minute, Sessock and Tsukada collided while going after a ball. Both players went down with Sessock holding his head and Tsukada holding his lower back. After receiving treatment, both players were able to continue. However, Tsukada went down a couple of minutes later, again holding his back. This time he wouldn’t continue and was replaced by Loyola.

Shortly after the restart, the hosts took the lead. Jose Cases chipped the ball into the OCB box where Sessock chested it down with his back to goal. It was well played by the defender, setting up Sunderland to put in the opening goal.

The Young Lions didn’t take long to respond, scoring from a Miami giveaway in the 40th minute. After setting up the opening goal minutes earlier, Sessock played a poor pass for Allen that was intercepted by Rivera. The forward’s second touch was a backheel to Loyola making a run into the box and the substitute took the opportunity well. A first touch to his right lost Tyler Hall and his second touch was a quality strike to even the game at 1-1.

In the 43rd minute, the hosts regained the lead with some nice play between Sessock and Carmichael. After playing the ball wide for Sessock, Carmichael continued his run behind the OCB back line. Sessock played a great ball forward for Carmichael while Williams attempted to get in front to block it, resulting in the players going down. However, Carmichael got his shot off before Williams could arrive, giving Miami a 2-1 lead.

There was some late first-half controversy four minutes into stoppage time when Guske caught up to Leo Afonso, who was making a long run into the OCB box. It was unclear who touched it last and, after initially playing it with his feet, Otero picked up the ball. Miami players wanted a pass back from Guske to Otero, but the referee waved play on.

The last chance of the half came through a set piece when Carmichael took down Rivera about 30 yards from goal. The forward stepped up to take the kick, putting it on target but right into the arms of dos Santos.

It was a pretty even half, with both teams having five shots, two corner kicks, and three crosses. OCB had a slight advantage in shots on target (4-3) and passing accuracy (88.5%-78.4%). However, the hosts took a one-goal lead into the break.

OCB had a golden opportunity to equalize in the 51st minute when Cocca took the ball from Sunderland just outside of the Miami box and to the left of goal. The left back dribbled down to the end line as Ian Fray came in to challenge him. It looked on replays as though Fray got the ball, clearing it out of play, but Olvin Oliva pointed to the spot.

The Miami players converged on Oliva to argue the call and, after issuing him a yellow card for the foul, the referee gave Fray a straight red card for his language.

While the Miami players argued the call, Mohammed stood over the penalty spot with the ball. Dos Santos clapped his hands while Mohammed waited for the whistle before stepping up to take the kick. It was a poor penalty and dos Santos guessed the right direction, blocking the attempt away.

The Young Lions continued to look for opportunities with the man advantage, but struggled to create chances. Cocca took a shot from outside of the box in the 61st minute and Kibunguchy from a similar spot in the 71st minute, but both attempts were well off target.

In the 72nd minute, OCB got a fortunate bounce that nearly resulted in a goal. Mohammed’s shot from the top of the box was blocked, but the ball went right to Loyola near the six. The forward’s second touch was a shot that dos Santos did well to block.

Loyola looked to score his second of the game in the 79th minute with a shot from outside of the box. Receiving a short clearance, the attacker had Freeman making an overlap. Since a defender went with him, Loyola took a step inside and fired on goal. However, it was right to dos Santos, who didn’t have any trouble with it.

Despite being down a man, Miami found a third goal in the 85th minute. Afonso’s initial shot went to the foot of substitute Shanyder Borgelin, who was taken down by Williams. It probably would’ve been a penalty, but Jean put the loose ball in to give Miami a 3-1 lead.

It looked like the Young Lions had gotten one back in the 88th minute when a give-and-go between Freeman and Loyola resulted in the latter sending a cross into the six. It was looking for Kibunguchy, but the center back fell. The clearance went to Guske just outside of the box and the midfielder snuck it inside the near post. However, Oliva determined that Rivera’s positioning in front of goal blocked dos Santos. Since the forward was in an offside position, the goal was ruled out.

A minute into second-half stoppage time, Miami was issued its second red card of the half. Yannick Bright initially won the ball from Rivera, but inexplicably went in with a second foot, taking down the attacker. He then proceeded to push Guske and Oliva had no choice but to give him a second yellow card.

The Young Lions had a final chance in the third minute of stoppage time when Solis was taken down by Jean. The free kick was sent into the box, but nothing came of it and OCB fell 3-1 to its in-state rivals.

OCB dominated the game statistically, with the edge in shots (17-8), shots on target (8-4), corner kicks (6-3), crosses (13-3), and passing accuracy (89.6%-74.6%). However, the Young Lions were only able to score a goal and conceded while up a man.

It’s perplexing that OCB trailed the entire second half and fell two goals down but didn’t make a single substitution in the final 45 minutes. Goldberg had forward Justin Ellis and attacking midfielder Yeiler Valencia on the bench, but kept defensive players on the field.

The loss sees OCB drop to ninth in the Eastern Conference, tied with NYCFC II on points for the final playoff position. Meanwhile, Inter Miami II moves up to fifth, winning as many games in its first 11 as it did all of last year.

OCB will return home Friday night, hosting Carolina Core FC for the first time at Osceola County Stadium. It’s the start of a three-game homestand, running through June 26.

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Orlando City B

Orlando City B vs. Columbus Crew 2: Final Score 2-1 as Young Lions Win Season Opener

OCB opened its 2025 season with a victory, scoring twice before holding on for dear life in the second half.

Published

4 days ago

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March 9, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Orlando City B (1-0-0, 3 points) opened its 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season with a 2-1 win over Columbus Crew 2 (0-1-0, 0 points) tonight at Osceola County Stadium. Newcomer Dyson Clapier gave the Young Lions the lead in the 10th minute and Zakaria Taifi doubled the advantage just after the break. Crew 2 dominated possession after that and pulled a goal back late through Keesean Ferdinand, but it wasn’t enough, as OCB took all three points.

The first starting lineup of the season for the Young Lions consisted of Carlos Mercado in goal behind a back line of Tahir Reid-Brown, Thomas Williams, Jackson Platts, and Taifi. Dylan Judelson and Colin Guske were the defensive midfielders behind Clapier, Jhon Solis, and Shak Mohammed, with Justin Ellis up top.

OCB got off to an attacking start, trying to send Taifi down the right multiple times. But it was a Crew 2 throw-in that opened the scoring. In the 10th minute, Chase Adams received the throw and played a soft pass to Ferdinand in the Columbus box. Ellis jumped on the play, tipping the ball off of Ferdinand’s foot to Clapier, whose first touch was a rocket past Luke Pruter for the opening goal.

Columbus had its first decent attack in the 14th minute when Owen Presthus made a long run down the right. He sent a hard cross through the box looking for Tristan Brown, but it went all the way through.

It looked like OCB had a penalty in the 18th minute when Taifi did well to control a long pass and was taken down at the edge of the box. The referee initially pointed to the spot but ended up changing it to a free kick just outside of the 18, which was the correct decision.

Solis hit the free kick into the wall, and the ball bounced back to Taifi, who had been standing over it as well. His first touch was another shot, but it too was blocked.

A minute later, Solis found Taifi on the right and the defender sent a dangerous cross into the box. Clapier ran onto it and tried to turn it on goal with his first touch. However, he mishit the ball, ending the threat.

The visitors finally got their first shot of the game in the 27th minute when Austin Su  sent a hard, low shot towards goal. Fortunately, he sent it straight to Mercado, who had no trouble collecting it.

The Young Lions created a good buildup in the 37th minute when Ellis received the ball near midfield and sent it down the left for Reid-Brown. The left back found Clapier in the middle, who laid it back for Ellis making the trailing run. The striker’s first touch was a shot, but he didn’t hit it well, and it skipped wide.

It looked like Crew 2 might find an equalizer in the second minute of first-half stoppage time when Presthus sent Brent Adu-Gyamfi behind the back line and into the OCB box. His second touch was a shot, but Mercado did well to get down and block it, making a vital save.

After 45 minutes, OCB had more shots (5-4). However, Crew 2 had the advantage in attempts on target (2-1), corner kicks (2-0), crosses (5-2), and passing accuracy (89.2%-84.7%).

OCB made one change at halftime as Brazilian forward Thalles made his debut in purple, coming in for Clapier.

It didn’t take long for Thalles to get involved, as he nearly scored inside the first minute of the second half. The Brazilian was sent into the Crew 2 box and it looked like he had an open chance, but 15-year-old center back Gianmarco Di Noto came in from behind to knock it away.

The Young Lions went on another attack in the 48th minute, doubling their lead. Solis sent a long ball across the field to Taifi, who was making a run on the right. The right back chested the ball down and recontrolled it after the defender tried to tap it away. His third touch was a strong shot inside the near post, giving his team a 2-0 lead.

“I scored and I didn’t even see anything. All I did was point to my parents,” Taifi said. “My dad was working all day and he came from like two hours away to come. And I just wanted to give them all the thanks for the goal. And it feels amazing to win the game from that.”

“We talked a lot during the week about bringing out their individual best,” OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg said about Clapier’s and Taifi’s goals. “About everything. Technically, tactically. So this is the stuff we need. They have that ambition, that desire, and that helped them with the goals.”

Crew 2 nearly pulled one back in the 54th minute when Brown received the ball on the left side of the box. The midfielder tried to hit it into the roof of the net, but hit the woodwork.

Four minutes later, the Young Lions had trouble clearing the ball and Nicolas Rincon stuck his leg out to send the ball towards goal. Mercado did very well to dive to his left and make a one-handed save. The OCB starting goalkeeper was down briefly but was able to continue.

Solis tried to make it 3-0 in the 60th minute when Crew 2 goalkeeper Luke Pruter came well off his line. The ball was cleared before it reached the goal line, but only to Thalles not far away. The Brazilian attempted a bicycle kick, sending it wide.

Reid-Brown made a good run down the left in the 70th minute before cutting it back and finding Ellis at the top of the box. The striker took a touch inside before taking a hard right-footed shot. However, Su got in front of the attempt, blocking it wide.

As the ensuing corner kick was sent into the box, the referee called a foul on OCB. As a result, the Young Lions didn’t even get a chance from the set piece.

Goldberg made his second change in the 83rd minute as Clovis Archange came on for Reid-Brown.

A Taifi corner in the 85th minute found a head near the back post and was past Pruter, but cleared off the line. The follow-up attempt was right at Pruter, who made the save to end the threat.

The visitors finally got a goal back in the 88th minute when some quick passing sent Anthony Alaouieh down the left. The midfielder sent his pass back and diagonally through the box to a wide open Ferdinand, as the entire OCB defense had shifted to the other side. With nobody closing him down, it was an easy goal for the defender, sending the ball inside the far post.

The Young Lions immediately went the other way, looking to increase their lead back to two goals. Solis took a shot in the 89th minute from just outside the box that forced Pruter to dive and knock it wide.

The ensuing corner kick found Platts, who put his attempt on goal. But it was cleared off the line. The clearance went to Solis near the top of the box and the midfielder sent the follow-up attempt high and wide.

Crew 2 had another chance in the first minute of stoppage time when Guske was unable to clear a Columbus throw-in and Su took possession. The midfielder carried the ball to the end line and played it to the top of the six-yard box where Ferdinand was waiting. However, Mercado did well to get down to collect it.

Both teams attacked in the six minutes of second-half stoppage time, but the missed opportunity by Su was the final chance and OCB held on for the 2-1 win.

While Crew 2 had much more possession in the second half, it was OCB that created most of the chances. The Young Lions ended up with more shots (15-12), shots on target (7-5), and corner kicks (7-2). Meanwhile, the visitors had the advantage in crosses (8-3) and passing accuracy (89.6%-83%).

“Of course, first of all, very happy for the guys that we could get a win. It’s not easy to start off and starting off always like this is positive,” Goldberg said about the game. “The things we propose ourselves to do this match, we did. So we’re happy about that.”

“I feel like it was a great team performance. We really held it down,” Taifi said. “Had a little lapse of concentration at the end, but it doesn’t matter. We got the three points. So, it feels great to start with a win. Let’s go!”

The Young Lions continue their streak of season-opening wins, which dates back to the start of MLS NEXT Pro in 2022, making it four in a row. That matches the streak of four straight campaigns in which they opened the season with losses, dating back to the team’s inaugural season in 2016.

OCB will continue its season-opening homestand next Sunday night when the Young Lions host rival Atlanta United 2 at Osceola County Stadium.

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Orlando City B

Orlando City B Signs Two More Players Ahead of 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Season

OCB has signed teenage midfielder Noah Levis and Algerian center back Noham Abdellaoui to one-year deals.

Published

1 week ago

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March 5, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City B continues to build its 2025 MLS NEXT Pro roster, adding two more players to the squad. The club announced the signing of midfielder Noah Levis and defender Noham Abdellaoui to MLS NEXT Pro contracts this afternoon. Both deals are through the 2025 season with club options for 2026.

“Noah is an exciting young player that already brings a wealth of experience from Finland and Portugal,” Orlando City Vice President of Soccer Operations and Technical Director Ricardo Moreira said in a club press release. “He brings a lot of energy to the group both on and off the pitch and brings a ton of upside for us in having so much experience at his young age and still being at a point where he can develop his game further here in Orlando with us. We’re excited to have him here and look forward to starting the 2025 season.”

The Boston native joins OCB after playing in Greece, Finland, and Portugal. He initially joined the academy of Portuguese first-division side G.D. Estoril Praia before moving to Greece. He played for the Olympiacos academy and joined the AEK Athens academy in January 2022.

The 18-year-old midfielder moved to Finland in February 2024, joining Finnish second division side Mikkelin Palloilijat. He made 25 appearances for the side last year, recording two assists. The teenager has also appeared for the Finnish youth national team, making two friendly appearances for the U-17 side.

There were rumors back in December that the Lions would sign Levis to an MLS NEXT Pro deal. This announcement makes it official that the dual national has joined the club.

Abdellaoui, a 20-year-old Algerian, joins OCB after spending time in the youth setups of several European clubs, including French side Saint-Etienne and Italian Serie A sides U.S. Lecce and Genoa CFC. The center back has made 50 appearances at the academy level, scoring three goals and adding an assist for those clubs. Additionally, he won the Italian Primavera Championship with Lecce Primavera in the 2022-2023 season.

“Noham comes to us from some great academies in Europe that have a proven track record of developing great players — Genoa and Saint-Étienne — and we’re happy to have him with us now,” Moreira said in the club’s press release. “We’re expecting him to bring both leadership and experience to the group, despite his young age, and he’ll also provide great depth for us at his position.”

Abdellaoui has represented Algeria at the U-18 level internationally, appearing twice in international friendlies.

What It Means for Orlando City B

Levis is a central midfielder with some time playing on the right. He probably won’t start in the middle because that’s Jhon Solis’ spot, who appeared for the first team during preseason.

Favian Loyola and Shak Mohammed played on the right for OCB last season and both are still with the club. So one of those will probably be in that position to start the 2025 campaign, although Loyola has dealt with a thigh injury that has kept him on the availability report the first two weeks of the MLS season. However, Yutaro Tsukada was on the left last year and is out for the season with a knee injury. So there are opportunities for players to get into the team.

It’s still unknown what the full OCB roster will look like when the Young Lions take the field Sunday night at Osceola County Stadium. But Levis will probably be available off the bench for the Young Lions. Regardless, there will be chances for him to play this season and see if he’s a possibility for the first team in the future.

As for Abdellaoui, he has more of an opportunity to slide into the starting lineup. The primary center back pairing for OCB last season was Nabi Kibunguchy and Thomas Williams. While Williams remains with the club as a Homegrown, Kibunguchy’s contract ended following the 2024 season.

If Abdellaoui wants to start for the Young Lions this season, he’ll likely be competing with another Homegrown in Tahir Reid-Brown. While the 18-year-old didn’t get as much playing time as Williams last year, it’s expected he’ll see more this season.

An injury has kept Orlando City captain Robin Jansson out of the first two MLS games, forcing Williams to join the bench. With the Lions playing Saturday night in New York and the younger version at home Sunday night, Abdellaoui could make his debut if Williams stays with the senior team.

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Orlando City B

Orlando City B Signs Two Players Ahead of 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Season

OCB adds Brazilian forward Thalles on loan and signs 2024 SuperDraft selection Riyon Tori.

Published

2 weeks ago

on

February 27, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B

Orlando City B had a busy Thursday, signing two players ahead of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season. The Young Lions acquired Brazilian forward Thalles on loan from Serie B side Botafogo-SP and signed Japanese midfielder Riyon Tori, a 2024 OCSC SuperDraft selection out of the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

OCB has an option to buy Thalles from Botafogo at the conclusion of the player’s loan.

“Thalles is a young player that we were able to see play live in several U-20 tournaments in Brazil last year, and he made an impression on us as a goal scorer during his opportunities,” Orlando City Vice President of Soccer Operations and Technical Director Ricardo Moreira said in a club press release. “He’s very energetic as a player and is a versatile striker that can play over as a winger and create movement across the front of the attack. We’re excited to have him with us this year competing in Orlando.”

The 19-year-old Thalles is a native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He has scored nine goals and added an assist in 20 combined appearances with Botafogo’s first team and U-20 squad. The youngster should add firepower to an OCB attack that may be without Shak Mohammed at least until Duncan McGuire returns to the game day squad.

Tori, 23, was selected with the No. 83 overall selection in the third round of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. The Lions took midfielders Jeorgio Kocevski and Yutaro Tsukada in that same draft — both of whom have gotten first-team minutes — as well as Pittsburgh midfielder Filip Mirkovic, who was never signed. Tori’s deal with OCB runs through the 2025 season.

“Riyon is a dynamic midfielder that we selected in the draft as an underclassman following our detailed scouting and analytics process and then brought into training with the group last summer,” Moreira said in a club press release. “His play style provides both bite and energy in the midfield, and he proved in his training stint last year that he has a good competitive drive and is ready to take that next step.”

Tori began his collegiate career at St. John’s University, playing sparingly over two seasons with the Red Storm. He only made eight appearances and five starts for a total of 505 minutes. He didn’t score any goals or record any assists, but took four shots in those two seasons. However, all four attempts were off target.

The Osaka, Japan native transferred to Charlotte for more playing time, playing the 2023 season in the American Athletic Conference. In his final collegiate season, Tori played and started 18 games, recording 1,328 minutes. The junior scored one goal and added two assists for four points and put one of his two shots on target.

The only Charlotte player to start all 18 games for the team that season, Tori was named United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-East Region and first-team all-conference. The possession-minded midfielder played at least 60 minutes in each game, helping his team to a conference championship.

Tori returned to college rather than sign a professional contract after being drafted as an underclassmen. Having sustained an injury training with Orlando City, he missed the first eight matches of the 49ers’ 2024 season, appearing in 10 games (seven starts). In his 536 minutes, he did not provide a goal contribution, attempting just one shot. Still, he was a First-Team All-AAC selection and a Second-Team All-East Region selection.

Prior to arriving in the United States, Tori captained Cerezo Osaka’s U-18 team and played for the club’s U-23 J. League team. Considered one of the top U-18 players in Japan, he toured England in 2019 with the Nike Next Hero project.

Along with OCB’s acquisition of winger Dyson Clapier on Tuesday, and the previous signings of Justin Ellis and Bernardo Rhein to MLS NEXT Pro contracts two weeks ago, it’s been a good month of roster building for the Young Lions as they solidify their squad ahead of the 2025 season as they bid for a third straight playoff appearance.

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