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Orlando City vs. Charlotte FC: Final Score 2-0 as Torres and McGuire Score Second-Half Goals

The Lions earned their third consecutive clean sheet victory and went 3-0-0 on their homestand.

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3 months ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Facundo Torres and Duncan McGuire scored in the second half and Pedro Gallese kept his third consecutive clean sheet as the Lions defeated Charlotte FC 2-0 at Inter&Co Stadium. Orlando City (12-10-7, 43 points) climbed above the .500 mark at home (6-5-4) with the victory, finishing the homestand 3-0-0 without allowing a goal and snapping a four-game winless skid against Charlotte (10-11-8, 38 points) in all competitions.

“Another three points. Important moment,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “And we played against a very difficult rival who played very organized. It’s difficult to break the lines, and one of the teams in Major League Soccer who condenses very well the box. And then it’s difficult to create that affect those spaces. That’s why the value of the game today and the points and scoring two goals against them just makes us feel good, and congratulations to our players as well for such an effort and a great game.”

Pareja’s lineup included Pedro Gallese in goal behind a back line of Rafael Santos, Robin Jansson, Rodrigo Schlegel, and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson. Cesar Araujo and Wilder Cartagena started in central midfield behind an attacking line of Ivan Angulo, Martin Ojeda, and Torres, with Ramiro Enrique up top.

The first chance of the game fell for Orlando in the fourth minute off the recycle of the game’s first corner kick. The ball found Cartagena inside the box on the right and he put a lot of sting into his shot on goal but unfortunately hit it right at Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina, who fought it off. It was Orlando’s only shot on target in the opening half.

The visitors were content to stay organized and not try to play at all, hoping for the Lions to make a mistake on which they could capitalize. It nearly happened a couple of times with a pair of uncharacteristically poor giveaways by Jansson, but there was nothing too threatening to Gallese’s goal.

Meanwhile, Orlando was often unable to connect in the final phase of the attack. Ojeda had a nice cross in the 11th minute after being played down the left by Angulo, but Enrique couldn’t get on the end of it. Santos had a shot blocked off a short corner in the 14th minute on a play similar to the one he scored on Saturday. This time, however, the opposition covered him and Brandt Bronico blocked his attempt.

Santos sent in a good cross in the 19th minute that found Torres, but the Uruguayan sent his header over the bar. A minute later, Angulo stole the ball and ignited the break, finding Ojeda in space, but Enrique’s touch was poor while receiving the pass, spoiling the counterattack.

Jansson’s turnover in the 30th minute provided a chance for Charlotte. Patrick Agyemang got a shot off but sent it straight at Gallese.

Tim Ream headed wide on a long-range Charlotte set piece that was played short and then crossed from the right to the back post in the 40th minute. A minute later, Ream did well to clear a ball away from Ojeda in the Charlotte defensive end when the Argentine’s touch around Adilson Malanda was a bit too heavy.

No one generated anything of note in the final minutes of the first half and the teams went to the lockerroom scoreless.

At the break, Orlando had the advantage in possession (63.7%-36.3%), shots (6-3), corners (4-0), and passing accuracy (88.5%-82%). Charlotte put more shots on frame (2-1).

The second half started as dull as the first, but the Lions finally cracked the Charlotte defense in the 52nd minute. Ojeda got on the end of a ball down the left side of the box, picking up a pass from Angulo. With time and space, he sent a beautiful cross to the far side and Torres one-timed it past Kahlina to make it 1-0. It was Torres’ 12 goal of the regular season.

“We had really worked on that play during the week, just because of how they like to mark,” Torres said. “So, you know, Martin gave me just an incredible center. It was just right on point. It’s really difficult to not score a goal when it’s put on a platter like that. It’s a difficult play to finish off overall, but when he plays it like that, and when we had worked on it throughout the week, it was fantastic.”

Orlando’s energy dropped a bit after the goal and Charlotte started seeing more of the ball and dispossessing the Lions for a spell. The visitors won a couple of corners but weren’t able to pay them off.

“We knew they were going to come and they answered a little bit with some chances, but for me, if I think a lot back, I don’t remember, like, any big, big chance they had,” Thorhallsson said.

Angulo tried to add to Orlando’s lead in the 60th minute, whipping a shot toward goal that deflected out for a corner. Five minutes later, Torres blasted a shot from outside the area that forced Kahlina into a diving save. Second-half sub Nico Lodeiro got to the loose ball first and attempted to tap it home but Ream made a vital block to keep it a one-goal game.

The teams played a bit of sloppy soccer down the stretch as both were playing on short rest on a hot, humid night. Araujo gave up a dangerous free kick in the 83rd minute just outside the box and got a booking for it, meaning he’ll miss the next match for card accumulation. The free kick was sent toward the back post but over everyone and out for a goal kick.

After both teams sent some substitutes on for the final minutes, the Lions doubled their lead. The play started with a superb kick by Gallese that picked out sub Luis Muriel, who immediately played a perfectly weighted ball to a streaking McGuire, who carried the ball into the box and chipped Kahlina beautifully to make it 2-0 in the 89th minute, putting the game to bed with his ninth goal of the season.

“It was just these 10 minutes where we, like a little bit, dropped back, but then once we pushed up again, and Duncan finished it with the second goal, then it was just game over,” Thorhallsson said.

Charlotte still had eight minutes of stoppage time to climb back into it but it was Orlando that came closest to adding a goal in the added minutes. Luca Petrasso, who had come on at left wing, sent a perfect back-post cross to McGuire on the right. McGuire sent a powerful header just wide in the 98th minute on the final clear-cut chance of the evening.

The Lions finished with the advantage in possession (58.1%-41.9%), shots (12-4), corners (7-3), and passing accuracy (88.4%-81.1%). Both teams finished with two shots on target.

“It’s a credit as well to the response of the players who came in the second half,” Pareja said. “We felt that what we needed was not combinations but somebody who can run in behind of the central backs and that’s why we included Duncan, knowing that Ramiro was playing well. But Duncan just opened those spaces for us. Also he’s dynamic in the way he presses and those things help us a lot. And then also Luis (Muriel) and Nico (Lodeiro) that give us that creativity, and they know how to play in between the lines too. So, that helped us. It was very difficult to break those lines.”

For the Lions, it was the first time stringing three consecutive shutout wins together since the season finale and two playoff games against Nashville at the end of the 2023 season.

“Defending well as a group with consistency is probably one of the most difficult parts of the game. The back four and those midfielders are sustaining the team in a very good way. We’re solid. And the individual performance has risen as well. It’s better. Individually, they have grown a lot during this period.”

“Most important thing is just we’re all doing it together,” Thorhallsson said. “Me and Rodri and Robin and Rafa, and then Pedro as well behind us, and of course, everybody in the team. But I feel like the defense has been clicking a lot.”

The Lions head out on the road this weekend, visiting the Columbus Crew on Saturday night.

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Orlando City

2024 Orlando City Season in Review: Jack Lynn

The young striker played a career high in minutes for Orlando City and played in all four
competitions.

Published

9 hours ago

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December 11, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Jack Lynn joined Orlando City through the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, when he was selected in the first round by the Lions with the No. 18 overall pick out of Notre Dame. He primarily played with OCB during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, scoring 15 goals in 2022 and 19 in 2023 while earning the MLS NEXT Pro MVP for that season. He was a depth player for most of the 2024 season with Orlando City, but late in the season he returned to playing more frequently with OCB, and quickly found his goal-scoring form once again with the Young Lions.

Let’s take a look back at Lynn’s 2024 season.

Statistical Breakdown

After two seasons of double-digit goal scoring in MLS NEXT Pro, the young forward looked to be a leading candidate to serve as the backup to Duncan McGuire, and in the opening few months he was frequently in the game day squad. However, the signing of Luis Muriel meant that he often was an unused substitute as the Lions used McGuire and Muriel as their strikers. Ramiro Enrique then returned from a prolonged absence and took over the starting spot with McGuire as the primary sub off the bench, and in the second half of the season, Lynn did not dress for Orlando City as frequently. He got some starts for OCB and scored four goals and had one assist in his eight games played with the Young Lions.

For Orlando City, Lynn appeared primarily in MLS regular-season games, making 11 appearances with two starts, playing 253 minutes. He took six shots, putting three on target and scoring two goals. He passed at a 66.7% completion percentage but did not have any key passes or assists. On the defensive side deuces were wild, as he won two tackles, made two blocks and had two clearances. He committed five fouls, drew two on the opposition, and was not booked.

Lynn also made one appearance late in the Lions’ final MLS playoff match, coming in for two minutes and recording just one touch of the ball, with no shots, passes attempted or defensive actions, and he did not receive a booking.

During Concacaf Champions Cup play, the Notre Dame product came off the bench in both games against Cavalry FC, playing 21 total minutes without a goal contribution, recording one shot that was off target, completing all three of his passes, and suffering one foul. He did not contribute any defensive actions or get booked.

Lynn participated in one Leagues Cup match, subbing in against CF Montréal. He played 12 minutes and did not have a goal contribution or take any shots, but he completed both of his passes, with one being a key pass. On the defensive side, he made two recoveries and committed one foul, but he wasn’t booked.

Best Game

The 24-year-old striker earned his first-ever starting nod for Orlando City on March 23 against Austin FC, and in the 42nd minute, he scored his first MLS goal. He timed his run perfectly to get wide open at the back post and finished with a powerful header off a cross from Dagur Dan Thórhallsson to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.

Lynn went on to play 73 minutes, completing 10 of his 13 passes (76.9%) and adding one additional off-target shot. He contributed a tackle and a clearance on defense. Orlando City won the game 2-0, making Lynn’s goal in the opening half the game-winner. Head Coach Óscar Pareja said he was pleased with Lynn’s performance, praising him in the post-game press conference:

“(Jack) is a player who patiently has been waiting (for) his opportunity,” Pareja said. “I could say that maybe he should have more games at this point with the way he has performed in the second group and what he has achieved as an individual. He’s very lethal and he has goals. Today, he opened the game. Jack’s discipline and constant effort has paid off and we’re happy.”

2024 Final Grade

With only 288 minutes on the field across all competitions in 2024, Lynn did not play enough minutes to get a grade for the season, receiving an incomplete from The Mane Land staff. Still, he showed that he was capable of contributing when called upon to play first-team minutes.

2025 Outlook

After watching how prolific Lynn was in MLS NEXT Pro in 2023, and then once again this season when he returned to play a few matches with OCB, Lynn has clearly proven that he is above the level of play in that league. In limited minutes at the MLS level, he has shown flashes, but based on the substitution patterns as the season went along, it was clear that he was at best the third option at striker. Orlando City appears to be bringing back both Enrique and McGuire, so while they picked up Lynn’s option for 2025 season, I expect that it will be another season similar to 2024, where he is a depth player who primarily comes in off the bench, if he comes in at all.

I believe that Lynn is an MLS-caliber player, as he is an excellent finisher of the “fox in the box” ilk, but my projection is that 2025 will look similar to 2024 and he will be fighting for minutes off the bench at the MLS level.

Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 12/11/24

Orlando City’s protected players, Orlando Pride roster update, the USMNT is returning to Inter&Co Stadium, and more.

Published

13 hours ago

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December 11, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. The season might be over, but there’s still plenty of news to be found. I’m glad that we have all the movies and specials to watch since there are no MLS or NWSL matches. There are quite a few that my family watch each year including Elf, Scrooged, and of course, Die Hard. Let me know your favorites in the comments below. Let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Protected List Released

The addition of San Diego SC to MLS means another expansion draft this off-season. Yesterday, Orlando City released its protected players list. There are a total of 19 players on the list, though seven of those are automatically protected due to either Homegrown or Generation Adidas status. San Diego will be able to pick up to five players from across the league, but only one from any given club. There aren’t many surprises in which players Orlando City chose to protect.

Pride End-of-Season Roster Update

Following a historic season that saw the club win both the NWSL Shield and the 2024 NWSL Cup, the Pride have released their end of season roster update. We already knew that Celia, Carrie Lawrence, and Megan Montefusco retired. Given how the club works its contracts, often re-signing players during the season, there weren’t a lot of surprises. Marta and Evelina Duljan were the two players out of contract, and we now know that Duljan won’t be returning, while the club is negotiating a deal that would keep Marta in Orlando.

USMNT Returning to Inter&Co Stadium

The USMNT is heading back to the City Beautiful, as the team will play Costa Rica Jan. 22 at Inter&Co Stadium. Kickoff for the match will be 7 p.m., allowing fans in the Orlando area to make it after work. It will be the second match in Florida, as the Americans will take on Venezuela Jan. 18 at Chase Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale. Pre-sale tickets went on sale Tuesday, and ticket sales for the general public start Friday.

USWNT vs. Brazil

If you were hoping for a rematch of the 2024 Women’s World Cup final between the USWNT and the Brazilian Women’s National Team, you are in luck. The two teams will square off on April 5 and April 8, 2025 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and at PayPal Park in San Jose, respectively. The match at SoFi Stadium will be the first soccer match played in the venue, which will also host matches for the 2026 World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • It’s no surprise to those of us who work with the Pride regularly that Jackie Maynard, Lucas Medeiros, and the rest of Orlando’s comms staff was named the first-ever NWSL Communications Team of the Year winner. We congratulate Jackie and her team and look forward to continuing to work with a great group of professionals.
  • Take a trip down memory lane with this compilation of Facundo Torres’ goals from 2024.
  • Today, FIFA will award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia. The circumstances leading up to this “decision” are exactly as forthright, transparent, and without any hint of shenanigans as one expects from FIFA. Give me a minute, my eyes got stuck in the back of my head because of how hard I rolled them.
  • In related news, Norway plans to protest the decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia and will abstain on the basis that not enough has been done to protect human rights at the event.
  • Orlando City wasn’t the only team to drop its list of protected rosters. Here are the lists for every MLS club.
  • Plenty of teams were in action in the UEFA Champions League Tuesday. Liverpool won its sixth consecutive first round match 1-0 over Girona, and Mbappe scored and got injured in Real Madrid’s 3-2 victory over Atalanta.

That will do it for today. Keep checking in for our Season in Review pieces for both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 12/10/24

Facundo Torres linked with move to Palmeiras, Pride players in FIFPRO Women’s World 11, Amanda Allen suffers injury, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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December 10, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Tuesday, everyone. I hope your week is getting off to a good start and that you’re on top of any Christmas shopping that you still need to do, because I’m just now realizing that I’ve done exactly zero of mine. Alas, the only way out is through. As usual, we have a lot to talk through this morning, so let’s get into the links.

Facundo Torres Linked With Palmeiras

Tom Bogert reported on Monday evening that Orlando City has agreed to a deal with Brazilian club Palmeiras for the transfer of Facundo Torres. While Bogert says the two clubs have reached an agreement, the transfer is still pending as Torres and Palmeiras still need to agree on personal terms. While no price tag was given, the fee would reportedly eclipse the $9.5 million fee that West Bromwich Albion paid for Daryl Dike, which is OCSC’s current outbound transfer record. Torres is the club’s record signing, as he joined from Penarol for roughly $7.5 million, and has been central to the team’s success ever since. We will bring you more from this story as it develops.

Familiar Faces in FIFPRO Women’s World 11

FIFA announced the 2024 FIFPRO Women’s World 11 on Monday and there are two familiar faces in the lineup, as Marta and Barbra Banda were named to the team. This is the third time in Marta’s career that she has been chosen for the award, which is the only global player award decided exclusively by the players themselves. Banda is included in the team for the first time, with this also being the very first time that an African player has made the team. Both players had incredible seasons for the Orlando Pride and were instrumental in the team winning its first two pieces of silverware. Congratulations to both for all their hard work and justified recognition!

Amanda Allen Suffers Injury

The Orlando Pride announced on Monday that forward Amanda Allen has suffered a torn labrum in her right shoulder and will undergo surgery to repair it. As a result, Allen’s loan with USL Super League team Lexington Sporting Club has been terminated, and she has been placed on the season-ending injury list. It’s a tough break for Allen, who became the youngest player to debut for the team back during the 2023 season, as she was getting good minutes and experience on loan. We wish her all the best and hope to see her back on the field soon!

Christian Pulisic Injury News

AC Milan announced on Monday that United States Men’s National Team forward Christian Pulisic has torn a muscle in his right calf, and will spend time on the sideline. The winger went off injured during the team’s game on Friday, and Milan has said that he could be on the shelf until January. While the USMNT won’t play a competitive game until March’s Concacaf Nations League semifinals, the timing is a tough blow for Pulisic, who has had an excellent start to the season with eight goal contributions in Serie A and three UEFA Champions League goals. Here’s hoping that he makes a speedy recovery.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans who will take part in games this week, so make sure you get everything marked down on your calendar. Things get started later today as Auston Trusty, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Celtic take on Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League, while Ricardo Pepi, Richy Ledezma, Malik Tillman, and PSV Eindhoven face Brest in the same competition. Tomorrow has Yunus Musah and AC Milan hosting Crvena Zvezda in the Champions League, while Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Juventus welcome Manchester City to Allianz Stadium. Things then finish up on Friday as Mark McKenzie and Toulouse host St-Etienne in Ligue 1 play.

MLS Transfer Happenings

We have a lot of MLS transfer moves and roster changes to cover this morning. Cruzeiro has declined the purchase option on FC Cincinnati winger Alvaro Barreal, meaning he has returned to the club following the conclusion of his loan. Expansion side San Diego FC has acquired Tomas Angel and a second-round pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft from LAFC in exchange for $200,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money (GAM). Austin FC also bought out Gyasi Zardes’ contract, making the 10th-highest scorer in MLS history a free agent.

The Colorado Rapids signed center backs Ian Murphy and Chidozie Awaziem from FC Cincinnati in exchange for $1 million in General Allocation Money. Tom Bogert is also reporting that Bournemouth is finalizing a deal to sign American center back Matai Akinmboni from D.C. United in a deal worth up to $2.5 million. Finally, in the wildest piece of MLS transfer news I’ve seen in awhile, I simply present the following tweet.

Free Kicks

That’s all I have for this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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