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Orlando City B

Orlando City B vs. New York City FC II: Final Score 3-2 as Young Lions Find Rare Win at Home

The Young Lions overcame an early deficit and held off a late rally to win their first home game since May 26.

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6 months ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Orlando City B (6-6-9, 31 points) defeated New York City FC II (9-5-5, 34 points) 3-2 tonight at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, picking up its first home victory since late May. Camil Azzam Ruiz gave the visitors the lead in the 23rd minute after having a penalty saved and putting in the rebound. However, Yutaro Tsuakda and Jhon Solis struck just before halftime to give their team a 2-1 lead and Shak Mohammed made it 3-1 in the 63rd minute. Ronald Arevalo got one back in the 85th minute, but it wasn’t enough as the Young Lions took all three points.

OCB made two changes to the team that played to a scoreless draw with Crown Legacy on Aug. 11. Thomas Williams was suspended after receiving two yellow cards and was replaced in the lineup by Luca Petrasso. Tahir Reid-Brown moved from left back to center back to create room for Petrasso at his natural position. Additionally, Favian Loyola entered the lineup for Wilfredo Rivera.

The back line in front of goalkeeper Carlos Mercado was Petrasso, Reid-Brown, Nabi Kibunguchy, and Alex Freeman. Imanol Almaguer and Colin Guske were the defensive midfielders behind Tsukada, Solis, and Loyola with Mohammed up top.

The Young Lions dominated the majority of this game. A mistake in the back by Reid-Brown resulted in a 23rd-minute penalty, enabling the visitors to take the lead. However, OCB continued to push and scored two goals in two minutes just before halftime to take the lead into the break. The hosts were also the better team in the second half and extended their lead to 3-1 when Mohammed redirected a ball into the box by Tsukada in the 63rd minute. NYCFC II was able to create more chances down two goals and got one back in the 85th minute but OCB held on for a much-needed win.

The visitors created the first shot of the game in the fifth minute when Jonathan Shore dribbled through multiple players to the top of the OCB box. The midfielder looked to beat Mercado, but Reid-Brown did well to get in front of the attempt, enabling the OCB goalkeeper to make an easy save.

The Young Lions got their first chance of the game in the 11th minute when Loyola dribbled towards the left side of the NYCFC II box and found Mohammed, who held up his run just enough to get behind the back line. Receiving the ball with some space, the forward’s second touch was a shot just wide of the near post.

In the 13th minute, Solis played the ball across the field for Freeman, who was sprinting down the right side. The right back kept the ball from exiting play, but Christopher Tiao did well to get back and knocked the ball out of play for the game’s first corner kick.

The ensuing set piece by Loyola went to the opposite side of the field for Tsukada. The midfielder’s cross into the box was headed away, but only to Loyola. Using some nifty footwork to lose his defenders, Loyola found Tsukada. The rookie dribbled inside and shot, but the ball skipped wide.

Tsukada had another chance in the 18th minute when he was played on the left by Solis. The midfielder cut inside to lose his defender and tried to hit the ball hard into the roof of the net. Unfortunately, he got under the ball, sending it over the crossbar.

A mistake by Reid-Brown in the 22nd minute resulted in the opening goal. Receiving a short pass back from Almaguer, the young center back was quickly pressured by Maximo Carrizo. The midfielder was in on goal, forcing Mercado to come out to challenge him. As the attacker went down, referee Mario Maric pointed to the spot, awarding the visitors a penalty. Fortunately, Kibunguchy and Reid-Brown were back, so it was only a yellow card for the OCB goalkeeper.

Azzam Ruiz stepped up to take the penalty with vuvuzelas blaring from the crowd. Mercado dove to his right, blocking the attempt. However, Azzam Ruiz was quick to react and put the rebound in to give NYCFC II a 1-0 lead.

Switching the field in the 24th minute, Loyola received a long pass on the right. The attacker did well to beat his defender before laying it off for Solis at the top of the box. Solis initially got the ball caught in his feet before getting it under control and shooting for the near post. NYCFC II goalkeeper Will Meyer was caught flat-footed, but the ball skipped just wide.

The Young Lions created more chances a minute later when Loyola’s pass down the right for Freeman was knocked out of play by Tiao. The ensuing set piece by Loyola was short to Solis, who gave it right back to Loyola. The attacker sent a low ball towards the near post, but Meyer got down to block it wide.

The second corner by Loyola was into the box and found the head of Solis. The midfielder redirected the ball right into the arms of Meyer, ending the attack.

In the 27th minute, Mohammed was taken down by Matthew Leong just outside the box, resulting in a booking for the NYCFC II center back. Tsukada went for goal on the set piece, but Andrew Baiera deflected it out of play for a corner kick.

The ensuing ball into the box was headed out but only to Freeman. The right back quickly put a shot on target, but it was blocked and the visitors were able to clear.

The Young Lions should have found their equalizer in the 34th minute, just after play resumed following a hydration break. Reid-Brown sent a long ball forward that got behind the NYCFC II back line. Mohammed ran onto the ball and touched it around Meyer. It should’ve been an easy finish, but a heavy touch forced him to chase after the ball. By the time he reached it, he had too tight of an angle and hit it off the outside of the near post.

OCB finally found its equalizer in the 45th minute and it came from an excellent individual effort by Tsukada. Receiving the ball on the left sideline from Petrasso, Tsukada used his quick change of pace to beat his defender and open up space. He cut inside and shot between Jonny Lopez and Shore. It was an excellent strike inside the near post that Meyer could do nothing about, tying the game at 1-1.

“When I get the ball out wide, I have strong confidence with one-v-one. So when I get the ball, I try to dribble and threw the meg,” Tsukada said about his goal. “And I saw Shak running behind, so he created space and then I used that space and then just finished it.”

It didn’t take long for the Young Lions to take the lead, doing so a minute into first-half stoppage time. Guske won possession when Tiao sent the ball forward. He played it to Solis who tried to chip the ball into the box for Loyola or Mohammed, who were making identical runs. As the pair of attackers ran into each other, Tiao headed it back out. However, Solis was the quickest to respond. The midfielder touched the ball inside and curled it around Meyer, leaving the NYCFC II goalkeeper frozen. The ball snuck inside the far post and the Young Lions had their first lead of the game.

“Very important,” OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg said about scoring the two goals just before halftime. “We were creating a lot of chances we couldn’t score. We made a mistake and they got a goal, but we kept trying. That was the good thing. We were able fortunately to get those two goals that changed the game for us.”

Despite trailing for most of the half, it was a dominant 45 minutes for the Young Lions. They had more shots (12-3), shots on target (4-2), and corner kicks (4-0). Meanwhile, NYCFC II had more crosses (4-2) and slightly better passing accuracy (90.9%-90.5%).

OCB nearly extended its advantage in the 48th minute when Solis sent the ball forward with the outside of his foot for Petrasso. The left back was making a long run into the NYCFC II half and Meyer came way out of his box to challenge him. Petrasso tapped the ball past the goalkeeper and appeared to be in on goal. Unfortunately, Lopez did well to get back with an excellent slide tackle, winning the ball before Petrasso could reach it.

In the 49th minute, Tsukada made a long run into the NYCFC II half before playing the ball to Loyola. The attacker continued the ball wide for Freeman, whose first touch was into the box for Tsukada. Rather than a strong strike, the midfielder tried to chip the ball over Meyer to the back post. The goalkeeper did well to stay on his line and caught the attempt without much trouble.

Loyola looked to get on the scoresheet in the 51st minute. Dribbling around his defender, he took a long-distance shot. He was aiming for the near post, but Meyer dove to his left and caught the attempt.

NYCFC II finally had another good chance in the 55th minute when quick passing enabled Arevalo to send Nicholas Kapanadze into the box. The halftime substitute got behind Freeman, but his touch was too heavy. Mercado came out to cut down the angle and Reid-Brown cleared it away.

OCB had a set piece chance in the 60th minute when Freeman sent Guske down the right and Tiao blocked the ball out for a corner kick. The ensuing ball by Loyola was to the back post where Kibunguchy was charging in. The center back slid in an attempt to redirect the ball on target but couldn’t get it on frame.

The Young Lions netted a third goal in the 63rd minute. Freeman took on Tiao after receiving a long ball across the field from Guske. Tiao defended Freeman well but was the last to touch the ball before it went out of play. Tsukada’s first touch from Loyola’s corner kick at the top of the box was towards goal. It looked like Meyer was there to catch it, but Mohammed met the ball first, redirecting it in to give OCB a commanding 3-1 lead.

A Reid-Brown mistake in the 65th minute nearly resulted in a second goal for NYCFC II. The center back received a back pass from Tsukada that was nearly identical to the one that resulted in the first-half penalty. Kapanadze pressured the defender and won possession, putting him in on goal. He sent the ball past Mercado and towards the far post but missed wide.

NYCFC II looked to break out in the 72nd minute, resulting in Carrizo sprinting down the field. The midfielder found Shore outside of the box and he took an ambitious shot from long distance. It was a good strike that forced Mercado to push it away, but the OCB goalkeeper handled it well.

Goldberg made his first changes in the 71st minute as Manuel Cocca and Justin Ellis entered the game for Reid-Brown and Mohammed. Two minutes later, Jackson Platts came on for Tsukada, who left with a goal and an assist.

The visitors got a goal back in the 85th minute when Pietro Elias made a strong run and played it forward for Kapanadze. The forward chested the ball down and laid it off for Arevalo, whose right-footed shot got behind Mercado and inside the post to make it 3-2.

In the first minute of second-half injury time, Shore received the ball on the right top corner of the box and took a shot at goal. Solis got in front of the attempt, deflecting it into the arms of Mercado. The OCB goalkeeper stayed down as the medical team came out to look at him. Goldberg took the stoppage to make his final change as Bernardo Goncalves came on for Petrasso.

In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Meyer sent a long ball into the OCB box that was headed out by Kibunguchy. Stevo Bednarsky took possession and Solis took him down from behind, giving the visitors a free kick just outside of the OCB box. Arevalo took the set piece but couldn’t get over it, sending the attempt over the top.

Tempers flared in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time after Platts flew in with a hard challenge on Lopez. Klevis Haxhari immediately took exception to the challenge, bumping Platts with his chest. Kapanadze came running in from the other side of the field and gave Platts a forearm to the face, receiving a straight red card for the action. Kapanadze didn’t help himself by kicking the ball at a group of OCB players while being escorted away by Bednarsky. Pushing and shoving continued, but the situation eventually calmed down.

The free kick by Arevalo into the box was headed away by Solis, ending the last chance for the visitors. After nearly nine minutes of stoppage time, Maric blew the final whistle and the Young Lions held on for the 3-2 win.

It was a deserved result for OCB, which had more shots (17-13), shots on target (7-5), and corner kicks (6-2). NYCFC II had more crosses (9-4) and better passing accuracy (88.8%-86%). The visitors made the game look much closer statistically once OCB went up 3-1 as they pushed to get back into the game.

“Of course, we are really happy that we were able to get the result. For us, this moment of the season is crucial,” Goldberg said about the performance. “So, very happy for that. And at the same time, we have a little bit of feeling of control in the game a little bit more and being able to do that.”

It’s been a struggle for the Young Lions since their best game of the season, a 5-0 win over Huntsville City FC on May 26. Tonight’s victory is just their second win and first home win since that game.

The Young Lions remain in 10th in MLS NEXT Pro’s Eastern Conference. However, they’re only two points behind New York Red Bulls II and Inter Miami II, which sit in the eighth and final playoff spot. They also have a game in hand on Red Bulls II.

OCB will look to build on this win in its next game when the Young Lions face Atlanta United 2 Friday night in Kennesaw, GA.

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Orlando City B

Orlando City B Signs Bernardo Rhein, Justin Ellis to MLS NEXT Pro Deals

OCB adds two signees ahead of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season.

Published

1 week ago

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February 13, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Orlando City B announced this morning that the club has signed two Orlando City Academy players — midfielder Bernardo Rhein and forward Justin Ellis — to MLS NEXT Pro contracts. Rhein signed through 2025 with a club option for 2026, with Ellis’ deal running through 2026. Both players featured Saturday night in Orlando City’s preseason scrimmage against CF Montreal.

“Bernardo and Justin are two more great examples of young players that have shown belief and trust in the development pathway we have set up here at Orlando City,” Orlando City SC Vice President of Soccer Operations and Technical Director Ricardo Moreira said in a club press release. “By signing with OCB, Justin and Bernardo have shown trust in us, the pathway, and in Head Coach Manuel Goldberg. They both put in the work since their early academy days; took the opportunities that they were given to continue developing their skill sets; and have shown us that they’re ready to take the next step along that pathway, and we’re excited to see how they both continue to progress these next few years.”

The 17-year-old Rhein (known as Bernardo Goncalves in 2024), appeared in six matches with OCB a year ago, coming off the bench each time and playing a total of 33 minutes. The Windermere native and Brazilian national did not record a goal contribution, attempting one shot, which he put on target, and completing 81.8% of his 22 pass attempts. Rhein subbed on for the latter stages of Saturday’s preseason scrimmage against Montreal and looked good, getting himself into scoring position but firing just over the bar in the extra 30-minute sesson.

Ellis, also 17, appeared in 18 matches with OCB in 2024 (three starts), scoring two goals and putting eight of his 13 shots on target. He did not record an assist, but passed well from the forward position, logging three key passes and completing 76.7% of his total pass attempts. The Wellington native traveled with the MLS squad to Mexico for the team’s week-long camp in Cancun. On the international stage, Ellis was called up to the U-18 USMNT in September, scoring two goals in two appearances.

What It Means for OCB

This is positive news for both OCB and the Orlando City Academy. Ellis was a regular contributor last season at a young age, while Rhein got his feet wet with a few appearances at the MLS NEXT Pro level. At just 17, both have shown a lot of potential upside already. Ellis will turn 18 in May, while Rhein won’t reach his 18th birthday until Sept. 21. Both will get a chance to further their development with OCB.

While neither player will be expected to make an impact with the first team in 2025, Duncan McGuire’s injury absence may require Shak Mohammed to spend more time with the first team, meaning Ellis would be in line to get more minutes with the Young Lions in the early part of the season.

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Orlando City B

Orlando City Signs Goalkeeper Carlos Mercado to a New Contract

Carlos Mercado signs a new contract to remain Orlando City’s third-choice goalkeeper.

Published

3 weeks ago

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January 30, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City announced this morning that the club has signed goalkeeper Carlos Mercado to a new contract. The deal is through the 2025 season with club options for 2026 and 2027.

“Carlos did a great job for us last year with Orlando City B and continued to provide a positive work ethic and atmosphere every day in training up with the first team and showed his skill and ability to compete every chance he got,” Orlando City Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi said in a club press release. “He’s part of a strong goalkeeping unit here at the club and we feel confident in the future of that entire position group moving forward.”

Mercado originally joined Orlando City prior to the 2024 season to back up Javier Otero. However, when Mason Stajduhar broke his tibia and fibula in a June 28 game against New York City FC, Otero became the primary backup to Pedro Gallese and Mercado was the starter for the Young Lions.

In his debut season in purple, Mercado started 20 games — including a playoff game in Chicago — playing 1,830 minutes. He conceded 30 goals for a goals-against average of 1.48 and saved 81 of 111 shots faced for a save percentage of 73%. He kept three clean sheets and compiled a record of 9-5-6 (W-L-D) while saving two of the four penalties he faced in regular play.

The 25-year-old signed a short-term deal following Stajduhar’s injury with his lone game on the team sheet being on the bench for a July 3 game against Toronto FC. He went on to sign a first-team contract on Sept. 20 through the 2024 season with options for 2025, 2026, and 2027. However, his 2025 option was declined following the season.

Mercado played for the FC Dallas academy in his youth, earning call-ups to the United States U-16 National Team and Mexico U-18 National Team. He played collegiately at the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX, before joining San Antonio FC of the USL Championship.

The goalkeeper made his professional debut in 2021, coming on for the final 29 minutes in a 3-0 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. He stayed with San Antonio FC through the 2023 season before joining OCB.

What It Means for Orlando City

As previously mentioned, Mercado’s option for 2025 was declined following the 2024 MLS season since the club already had three other goalkeepers. However, signing another goalkeeper became necessary when Orlando City traded Stajduhar to Real Salt Lake on Jan. 15, leaving the club with two under contract.

Mercado will likely continue to be the club’s third goalkeeper and is the presumed starter for Orlando City B when the MLS NEXT Pro season starts in March. He’ll have to join the first team if Gallese goes away on international duty with Peru and Otero enters the starting lineup. Barring unavailability of Gallese and Otero, it’s unlikely he’ll see any MLS action.

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Orlando City B

Orlando City B Announces Schedule for 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Season

Find out where, when, and who the Young Lions of OCB will play in 2025.

Published

4 weeks ago

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January 27, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

The 2025 MLS NEXT Pro schedule was released this afternoon, telling us where, when, and who Orlando City B will play in the team’s fourth year in the league. The league will again feature 29 teams in 2025, with three teams set to enter the league next year. There are 27 MLS affiliated clubs in the league and two independents — Carolina Core FC and Chattanooga FC.

The schedule remains at 28 games, with Orlando City B playing 14 at home, 13 away, and one at a neutral site at IMG Academy in Bradenton. OCB home games will take place at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee again this season.

OCB will start the 2024 season with a two-game home stand, opening the season on Sunday, March 9 against Columbus Crew 2 at 7 p.m. A week later, Atlanta United 2 will visit Osceola County Stadium. The Young Lions will then hit the road for the team’s first two away games starting Wednesday, March 26 at Crown Legacy FC and following with a match at Chattanooga FC on Saturday, April 5.

In addition to opening the season at home, OCB will close the regular season by hosting FC Cincinnati 2 at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5. Last year, the Young Lions opened and closed the season on the road. All Decision Day games in the Eastern Conference will start at 1 p.m. and all Western Conference matches will kick off at 4 p.m. (ET).

OCB will compete in the 15-team Eastern Conference as part of the Southeast Division. The other teams in the division are Atlanta, Carolina Core, Chattanooga, Crown Legacy, Huntsville City, and rival Inter Miami II. The reserve version of the Tropic Thunder rivalry will play out over three meetings in 2025. The Young Lions will travel IMG Academy to face the Baby Herons on April 15, with the home match in Kissimmee coming May 17. The teams will meet again in Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 14.

MLS NEXT Pro teams will again only play opponents from their own conference, limiting travel. The Young Lions will play each team in the Southeast Division three times, including Atlanta United 2, and Chattanooga twice at home and once away, and Carolina Core, Crown Legacy, and Huntsville City once each at home and twice away. OCB will play the teams from the Northeast Division once, except Columbus and New England, which the Young Lions will face both at home and away. Orlando City B will face FC Cincinnati 2, New York City FC II, New York Red Bulls II, and Toronto FC II only at home in the regular season, while facing Chicago Fire II and Philadelphia Union II only on the road.

The busiest months for OCB this season will be June and August, when the Young Lions will play five matches. They’ll play four times in April and July, three times in March, May, and September, and once in October. The most common day the Young Lions will play is on Sunday (13 games). Additionally, they have five games on Saturday, four games each on Wednesday and Friday, and one game each on Monday and Tuesday. The most common kickoff time is 7 p.m.. The Young Lions will play 18 games with that start time, three times each at 3 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 8 p.m., and once at 1 p.m. (Decision Day).

Once again, the postseason will include 15 games this year, concluding with the MLS NEXT Pro Cup. The higher playoff seeds will again select their opponents for the matchups in the first two rounds.

The majority of regular season games and all playoff games will again air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. The remaining games will be streamed live on mlsnextpro.com.

As far as viewing conflicts go for Orlando City and Pride fans, there are a few overlaps in 2025. OCB plays at 7 p.m. on April 5 at Chattanooga with the MLS Lions playing at 7:30 p.m. at Philadelphia that night. On May 23, OCB plays at Atlanta United 2 at 7:30 p.m. and the Pride and Royals kick off in Utah at 9:30 p.m. just as that game is concluding. On June 25, OCB plays at home at 7 p.m. against Toronto FC II, with Orlando City at St. Louis City at 8:30 p.m. OCB’s game July 25 at Huntsville City will kick off 30 minutes after the senior side begins playing at Columbus. The Young Lions start at home on Aug. 3 against NYCFCII an hour after the Pride and Utah Royals kick off at Inter&Co Stadium. OCB and the Pride are both home on Aug. 9 as well, with the Young Lions and Chattanooga getting underway at 7 p.m. at Osceola County Stadium, just 30 minutes before the Pride and Racing Louisville battle at Inter&Co Stadium. On Aug. 23, OCB will play at 7 p.m. at home against Atlanta United 2, with the senior Lions and Nashville SC kicking off at 8:30 p.m.

Orlando City B’s 2025 Schedule

  • Sunday, March 9 — vs. Columbus Crew 2, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, March 16 — vs. Atlanta United 2, 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, March 26 — at Crown Legacy FC, 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 5 — at Chattanooga FC, 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, April 9 — vs. New England Revolution II, 7 p.m.
  • Tuesday, April 15 — vs. Inter Miami II (at IMG Academy in Bradenton), 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, April 27 — vs. New York Red Bulls II, 7 p.m.
  • Friday, May 2 — at Chicago Fire FC II, 8 p.m.
  • Saturday, May 17 — vs. Inter Miami II, 7 p.m.
  • Friday, May 23 — at Atlanta United 2, 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, June 1 — vs. Chattanooga FC, 7 p.m.
  • Friday, June 6 — at Huntsville City FC, 8 p.m.
  • Wednesday, June 11 — at Carolina Core FC, 7:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, June 25 — vs. Toronto FC, 7 p.m.
  • Monday, June 30 — at Philadelphia Union II, 3 p.m.
  • Sunday, July 6 — at Crown Legacy FC, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, July 13 — vs. Carolina Core FC, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, July 20 — at New England Revolution II, 3 p.m.
  • Friday, July 25 — at Huntsville City FC, 8 p.m.
  • Sunday, Aug. 3 — vs. New York City FC II, 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, Aug. 9 — vs. Chattanooga FC, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, Aug. 17 — at Columbus Crew 2, 3 p.m.
  • Saturday, Aug. 23 — vs. Atlanta United 2, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, Aug. 31 — vs. Crown Legacy FC, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, Sept. 14 — at Inter Miami II, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, Sept. 21 — vs. Huntsville City FC, 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, Sept. 27 — at Carolina Core FC, 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, Oct. 5 — vs. FC Cincinnati 2, 1 p.m.
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