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Orlando City vs. Columbus Crew: Player Grades and Man of the Match

How did your favorite Lions perform in Orlando City’s 4-3 loss to the Columbus Crew?

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2 years ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Despite the opposition making seven changes in preparation for their Campeones Cup game Wednesday night, Orlando City fell in a crucial match, 4-3. The Lions went down 3-0 in the 71st minute and made a valiant attempt to come back, but a late strike by Columbus was too much to get anything from the game.

Let’s have a look at how the team did individually in this disappointing performance.

Starters

GK, Pedro Gallese, 5 — While none of the goals were solely Gallese’s fault, the Lions’ number one faced five shots and conceded four goals, making only one save. He touched the ball 27 times and completed 57.1% of his 21 passes, including four of his 12 long balls. His poor grade comes down to getting beat on nearly every shot Columbus put on target. The first took a deflection after he committed and took an unfortunate angle just inside the far post and out of reach. The second was a powerful, point-blank header. The third was a blast from about eight yards out by a league MVP candidate, and the fourth was another wide-open shot inside from inside the box just inside the post. His save was a good one, as Columbus again got behind the defense late, but he did well to deny Andres Herrera in the 89th minute.

D, Rafael Santos, 4.5 — It was a tough night for Santos, who wasn’t very good offensively or defensively. He had 51 touches and completed 64.7% of his 34 passes, but neither of his two crosses or any of his eight long balls. He had a minor impact defensively, recording a tackle and a clearance, but his most impactful play was getting beat by Christian Ramirez to Max Arfsten’s cross for Columbus’ second goal.

D, Robin Jansson, 5.5 — Jansson was the best defender for the Lions in this game because he was the only one not at fault for a goal. The captain touched the ball a team-high 52 times and completed 86.4% of his 44 passes, including a key pass and three of his seven long balls. He was also active defensively with a tackle, two interceptions, and three clearances. He was unlucky on the first Crew goal, as his attempt to block Diego Rossi’s shot deflected off his leg and the redirection gave Gallese no chance to keep it out.

D, Rodrigo Schlegel, 5 — Schlegel almost gave the Lions the lead in the 13th minute, but his header hit the post. That was the high point offensively for the center back, who had 31 touches and completed 95.2% of his 21 passes. He was strong defensively for most of the night, recording three tackles — all of them vital — and four clearances, but he let Cucho Hernandez get behind him for the third goal and he got caught cheating upfield on the play that resulted in Christian Hernandez’s goal.

D, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson, 5 — Similar to Schlegel, Thorhallsson nearly had a great start to the game and ended up at fault on the defensive end in the loss. The right back had 41 touches and almost gave the Lions the lead in the eighth minute when his shot hit the left post. He went on to complete 88% of his 25 passes but not his cross or long ball attempt. He recorded two tackles, three interceptions, and a clearance that would’ve given him a good grade. However, he missed a tackle attempt on Aziel Jackson on the counter that ended with the Crew’s third goal and he was not ready for a soft layoff from Felipe on the fourth and decisive goal. He was put in a bad spot by Felipe, but it was a combined mistake.

MF, Wilder Cartagena, 6 — With Cesar Araujo suspended for this game, it wasn’t a surprise that Cartagena was the best defensive midfielder on the team. The Peruvian had a good game with 42 touches and completed 89.7% of his 29 passes. He also completed three of his five long balls. Defensively, he won a team-high five tackles before being replaced by Felipe in the 83rd minute, a questionable substitution for one of Orlando City’s best players on the field.

MF, Jeorgio Kocevski, 5 — This was Kocevski’s first start for Orlando City in a competitive game and it was ultimately one to forget, although it started brightly with some good early one-touch passing. The defensive midfielder faded however and had little impact on the game, touching the ball 20 times and completing 73.7% of his 19 passes. That would’ve been fine if he had a strong defensive effort, but he only had one interception. The rookie was replaced by Luis Muriel in the 58th minute.

MF, Ivan Angulo, 5 — Angulo started on the left side of the midfield and touched the ball 38 times in this game. He completed 80% of his 30 passes, but didn’t have a key pass. He was given a brilliant pass by Muriel to send him in alone on goal in the 71st minute, but he missed his shot off the post. Luckily for Orlando, the rebound resulted in a tap-in for Ramiro Enrique. He also drew the foul in the box in the 77th minute by being in the right place, giving the Lions a penalty that Muriel converted. However, he continues to spoil counterattacking opportunities with his heavy touches since league play restarted, doing so twice in this game.

MF, Martin Ojeda, 5 — Ojeda got the start again at the 10 for the Lions and the attacking midfielder had 26 touches. He completed 89.5% of his 19 passes, including a key pass, one of his two crosses, and his lone long ball. Unfortunately, his biggest impact on the game was a giveaway in the back in the 30th minute on an unnecessary no-look pass attempt that resulted in Columbus’ first goal. He was replaced by Nico Lodeiro in the 58th minute.

MF, Facundo Torres, 6 — Torres was the best attacking starter in this game, making 35 touches and completing 83.3% of his 24 passes with one key pass. His lone cross was incomplete, but his ball into the box in the 77th minute enabled Angulo to draw a penalty when Yaw Yeboah shoved the Colombian to prevent a header opportunity. He also recorded an assist on Muriel’s second goal, though the goal was mostly an individual effort by the Colombian. Additionally, he had one shot that was too close to Patrick Schulte. The main blemish on Torres’ performance came in the opening minutes when the ball landed at his feet with an open net. Since Torres rarely shoots with his right foot, he allowed defenders and Schulte to get back into position rather than scoring the opening goal. He was also offside on a set piece that would have resulted in an Orlando penalty while the game was still scoreless. Being offside negated a handball seconds later on Malte Amundsen that blocked a Duncan McGuire shot.

F, Duncan McGuire, 5 — McGuire got the start over Enrique after scoring in each of the last two games off the bench. However, he was less effective in this one, only touching the ball 12 times and taking one off-target shot. He completed 55.6% of his nine passes and won an aerial duel before being replaced by Ramiro Enrique in the 58th minute. As mentioned above, he would have drawn a penalty on Amundsen had Torres remained onside.

Substitutes

F, Ramiro Enrique (58’), 7 — Enrique was one of the substitutions in the 58th minute that completely changed the game. Replacing McGuire, the forward touched the ball 14 times and completed 71.4% of his seven passes. He put himself in a great position to get on the end of Angulo’s shot off the post in the 74th minute, getting the Lions on the board. He also had a steal in the attacking third set up Nico Lodeiro for what would have been a tying goal at 3-3, but the Uruguayan’s shot was blocked just wide. He also had another shot in the box blocked late in the match.

F, Luis Muriel (58’), 7.5 (MotM) — Despite only being on the field for 32 minutes, Muriel was the best player for the Lions. He came on for Kocevski in the 58th minute and had arguably his best game in purple. The forward touched the ball 23 times and completed 69.2% of his 13 passes with one key pass. However, he was involved in all three Orlando goals. In the 71st minute, it was his beautiful pass forward for Angulo that set up the first goal. He converted a penalty in the 77th minute to make it 3-2 and scored from long distance in the final minute of stoppage time to make it 4-3. It likely would’ve been a blowout without the attacker, making him my Man of the Match.

MF, Nico Lodeiro (58’), 6 — Lodeiro came on for Ojeda in the 58th minute and did well with his 26 touches. The midfielder completed 95.7% of his 23 passes, including a key pass. His only shot was blocked, so it wasn’t officially on target, although it came off a leg and ended up skipping just wide on what would have been a tying goal, and he had a successful tackle to win the ball back.

D, Kyle Smith (81’), 5 — Smith came on as a defensive change in the 81st minute but wasn’t as impactful as the three previous subs. His first involvement was being too slow when first to a ball, losing it, and then conceding a set piece and drawing a yellow card for it after being on the field for only a few seconds. The defender touched the ball 16 times and completed 72.7% of his 11 passes, including his only long ball. Defensively, he only had one tackle and was otherwise invisible while on the field.

MF, Felipe (83’), 4.5 — Felipe came on for Cartagena in the 83rd minute and had a poor outing. He touched the ball 10 times and completed all eight of his passes, but one of those was a weak ball back to Thorhallsson. While the pass was technically complete, it was too soft and put the fullback in a bad spot, allowing Hernandez to take the ball off the right back and set up the fourth and, ultimately, decisive goal.

That’s how I saw Orlando City’s individual performances against the Columbus Crew. Let us know what you thought of the game in the comments below and don’t forget to vote on your Man of the Match.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/14/26

Marco Pasalic transfer rumor, Marta up for weekly award, MLS transfer roundup, and more.

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27 minutes ago

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July 14, 2026

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Image of Marta looking for an outlet in action against Kansas City.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone. I write to you from Texas, specifically Dallas, as I was in Austin to see friends over the weekend and decided to pop up the road to take in the energy of the World Cup semifinal that will be played in the city later today. I won’t be attending the game, since I don’t wish to sell one of my kidneys but am looking forward to mingling with some of the fans who have traveled here for it. We’ve got a lot to talk about this morning, so let’s get into the links.

Marco Pasalic Transfer Rumor

There have been some quiet rumblings for awhile now that Marco Pasalic may leave Orlando City during the summer transfer window. We now have a more concrete report regarding a potential departure, as the streets are saying that the winger is set to sign for newly promoted Hull City, with a price tag of at least €7 million.

If the move does come to pass, it would reunite him with manager Sergej Jakirovic, who he briefly played for during his time at HNK Rijeka. Jakirovic also stated in a recent interview that he wants to sign Pasalic, so this is a rumor that could have some legs.

Marta Up for Weekly Honors

The Orlando Pride picked up an excellent win on Friday by knocking off the Kansas City Current 3-0, and Marta has been rewarded for her efforts in the victory with a nomination for the NWSL Player of the Week. The Brazilian legend bagged the team’s first goal shortly after halftime, when she found herself in space well outside the box and unleashed a low left-footed drive into the bottom corner for her 50th goal as a Pride player. For some reason, she was snubbed in the Goal of the Week voting despite her impressive strike, so make sure you go vote for her for Player of the Week!

MLS Transfer Roundup

With the MLS summer transfer window opening on Monday, we’ve got a slew of moves to get caught up on. We begin with confirmation of an item that we covered in Monday’s Links, as Nathan Ordaz has officially moved to D.C. United in exchange for up to $2.875 million. The New England Revolution have extended Matt Turner’s loan from Lyon, with the new deal lasting through December. It also has an option to extend the loan again until December 2027, after which the Revs have a purchase option. Atlanta United has signed Paraguayan center back Junior Alonso on a free transfer, with his deal running through the 2028-2029 season. Finally, Charlotte FC has announced the signing of forward Allan Saint-Maximin as a Designated Player. He will occupy the DP slot vacated by Wilfried Zaha.

USWNT Announces Fall Friendlies

The United States Women’s National Team has announced that it will play a pair of October friendlies against Spain in a matchup of the reigning World Cup champions against the reigning Olympic champions. The USWNT will face the top-ranked team in the world on Oct. 10 at Audi Field in Washington D.C., and again on Oct. 13 at Subaru Park in Chester, PA. The Oct. 10 match will also have a pregame retirement celebration for USWNT defender Crystal Dunn. This will be just the fourth time that the two teams have faced each other, with the U.S. winning two of the three previous meetings. The two friendlies will be the last games that the USWNT plays before beginning World Cup qualifying.

Previewing France vs. Spain

The World Cup semifinals begin today, with France and Spain set to throw down in Dallas. For France, the stars are too many to count, with Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise all taking turns lighting up both the field and the scoreboard for the team that has made back-to-back appearances in the final. As far as Spain goes, all the focus is on Lamine Yamal, as the young winger has been key to Spain’s success despite scoring just one goal. If Nico Williams is able to start on the opposite wing, the French won’t be able to key so heavily on Yamal, and it could open up more space for him in which to operate. The matchup between the youngster and Lucas Digne will be key, as will the ability of either Mikel Oyarzabal or Ferran Torres to be effective up top for Spain.

Free Kicks

  • Former Lion Daryl Dike is leaving West Bromwich Albion. We know a team that just traded a striker.

That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/13/26

Pride and OCB win, Maxime Crepeau to compete in MLS All-Star Skills Challenge, Latest MLS transfer roundup, and more.

Published

1 day ago

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July 13, 2026

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Image of Marta blasting a goal from long range against Kansas City.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been very busy at work, but I look forward to watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals and final this week. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Pride Shut Out Kansas City Current at Home

The Orlando Pride defeated the Kansas City Current 3-0 at Inter&Co Stadium Friday night, bouncing back from a tough outing at Angel City the previous week. After a scoreless first half, Marta scored the opener from long distance to give Orlando the lead. Hannah Anderson and Barbra Banda added a goal apiece as the Pride have won three out of their last four league matches. Goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse earned a clean sheet in her 100th appearance for the club. Orlando remains eighth in the NWSL table with 20 points. The Pride will be back in action at home Wednesday, taking on Boston Legacy at Inter&Co Stadium.

OCB Wins at FC Cincinnati 2

Orlando City B beat FC Cincinnati 2 by a 2-1 scoreline at NKU Soccer Stadium in Highland Heights, KY on Sunday. Issah Haruna’s goal gave the Young Lions the lead in the first half. In the second half, Cincinnati leveled the match, but Matthew Belgodere scored the winner on the road. That result pulls the Young Lions into third in the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference standings with 33 points, just one point off leaders Chattanooga FC. OCB will be away for another road test Saturday against Chattanooga FC at Finley Stadium.

Orlando City Reportedly Submits Transfer Offer for Alex Moreno

Orlando City has reportedly submitted a transfer offer to sign Girona defender Alex Moreno. No agreement has been reached between the two sides, and conversations remain ongoing, according to reports. Moreno made 31 appearances for Girona last season in La Liga and recorded three assists. The 33-year-old left back remains under contract with Girona through 2027, but the club was relegated from La Liga to La Liga 2 last season. Several European clubs have also expressed interest in signing Moreno, including La Liga sides Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano.

Crepeau to Compete in MLS All-Star Skills Challenge

Orlando City goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau will compete in the 2026 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge at Truist Field in Charlotte on July 28, the club announced Friday. The competition will feature top players from Major League Soccer and Liga MX competing to test their soccer skills on the pitch. Five skills challenge competitions are featured, including the All-Star Goalie Wars, All-Star Crossbar Challenge, and the MLS vs. Liga MX Relay Challenge. Each competition will crown its own champion this year, switching from the traditional MLS-versus-opponent format used in previous years.

Latest MLS Transfer Roundup

According to Tom Bogert of The Athletic, Sporting Kansas City has emerged as a potential option to sign former Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah.

🚨🇪🇬 Sources: Sporting KC has emerged as top MLS suitor for Liverpool legend Mo Salah.Still a longshot of course, as sources believe he prefers Europe + Saudi very interested, but SKC the top MLS option now.More here with @paultenorio.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/743…

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2026-07-10T19:35:14.046Z

D.C. United has reportedly acquired forward Nathan Ordaz from LAFC.

🇸🇻 BREAKING: D.C. United to acquire El Salvador international forward Nathan Ordaz from LAFC, per sources.Ordaz, 22, is a product of LAFC's academy. Made 98 first team apps. 9g/4a in 2,163 mins over last two years.Gets chance to earn more mins at D.C.

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2026-07-12T13:55:49.973Z

Meanwhile, the Seattle Sounders have reportedly traded defender Cody Baker to the New England Revolution.

Free Kicks

  • Former Lion Silvester van der Water has signed with Cambodian Premier League side Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC.
  • Ted Lasso actor Cristo Fernandez, who plays Dani Rojas in the show, made his professional debut for USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive over the weekend.

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

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Orlando City

Orlando City Trades Duncan McGuire to Houston Dynamo

The Lions send the 2023 first-round pick to Houston for a pile of Garberbucks.

Published

4 days ago

on

July 10, 2026

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Image of Duncan McGuire playing the ball against New York City FC.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando no longer runs on Duncan as Orlando City has traded 2023 first-round draft pick Duncan McGuire to the Houston Dynamo. The big striker with the even bigger smile and the back flips joins the Dynamo, with the Lions receiving $600,000 in 2026 General Allocation Money (GAM), $400,000 in 2027 GAM, and $250,000 in 2027-2028 GAM. The return could also include up to $1.15 million in GAM add-ons if certain performance metrics are met. OCSC will retain a percentage of any sell-on by Houston.

It became clear that something was up with McGuire, as he did not dress for Orlando City’s friendly against Tampa Bay on Wednesday.

“Duncan has meant a great deal to this club since the day he arrived in Orlando,” Orlando City General Manager and Sporting Director Ricardo Moreira said in a club press release. “His resilience, determination, and willingness to fight through challenges both on and off the field have earned the respect of everyone throughout our organization. He has played a major role in our success over the last several years, and when the opportunity arose, we wanted to ensure it was a move that made sense for both Duncan and the club. We’re grateful for everything he has given to Orlando City and wish him and his family nothing but success in this next chapter.”

The Lions selected McGuire out of Creighton with the No. 6 overall selection in the first round of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft. Although he was not a Generation Adidas player, the striker had signed a pre-draft contract with the league, meaning Orlando City didn’t need to spend time agreeing to a contract. The 6-foot-1 forward quickly became a starter for the Lions during his rookie year, and put together back-to-back, double-digit goal-scoring seasons in his first two professional seasons. Now in his fourth pro year, McGuire has appeared in 85 MLS matches (45 starts) for the Lions, scoring 29 goals and adding eight assists. In all competitions, McGuire has contributed 32 goals and nine assists in 109 appearances (55 starts).

Once one of the most promising up-and-coming American strikers in any league after his 24 goals across his first two MLS campaign, Mcguire underwent surgery on both shoulders in separate procedures after the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs, which have restricted his availability, affected his form, and have limited him to just five goals and three assists in his last 29 matches. He has sat behind various other strikers starting in his place the last couple of seasons, including Ramiro Enrique, Luis Muriel, and Justin Ellis.

After his breakout rookie campaign, in which the Omaha, NE native scored 14 goals, he was courted by several teams in Europe. He signed with Blackburn Rovers in 2024, only to see the transfer rejected by the English Football League due to an administrative error by the EFL Championship club. Upon his return, the Creighton product signed his most recent contract on Aug. 22, 2024, locking him down through 2027 with a club option for 2028. That deal now belongs to the Dynamo.

McGuire’s hot start to his professional career had him climbing the U.S. Men’s National Team player pool. Gregg Berhalter called him up to the USMNT for the first time in January 2024 ahead of the team’s friendly against Slovenia. The striker made his first USMNT appearance in that match, coming off the bench to replace Brian White on Jan. 20, 2024, in a 1-0 loss. That is his only cap to date, although he had previously appeared nine times and scored one goal for the U.S. U-23 side.

The 2022 Hermann Trophy winner spent three seasons at Creighton, where he appeared in 24 games (23 starts) in his final (junior) season, logging 1,591 college minutes. McGuire scored 23 goals and added three assists in 2022.

What It Means for Orlando City

It makes sense to deal a striker making a base salary of $600,000 ($921,000 in total guaranteed compensation) if he can’t crack the starting lineup. While some of that comes down to coaching decisions and other players emerging, it didn’t help McGuire that he struggled to regain the consistent form he showed in his first two years in Orlando. In the end, this is a bit of a blow financially to the club, as the initial agreement with Blackburn was for a reported $4 million. He now departs for considerably less money, but his value understandably dropped with his production and the two shoulder surgeries.

McGuire is still just 25 years old, and sitting out after two surgeries means he has fewer miles on his legs than many players his age. He could still regain the form that saw him score 14 times in 2023 and 10 more times in 2024 and had the USMNT and European clubs paying attention. Orlando City will hope that he returns to form, because that will influence how much GAM the club eventually receives for this transaction.

A fan favorite since his arrival, McGuire will be missed, and while the Lions could perhaps have benefitted from getting a player back in return to bolster an area of need, the influx of GAM can help accomplish the same goal.

McGuire’s departure appears to solidify Justin Ellis’ position on the first team, although his play in the first half of the season likely already did that. It may also open up more minutes for Tiago. But the trade also tells us that unless a new striker is brought in, the Lions will play without a traditional target striker for the time being, allowing players who have typically either played as wingers, attacking midfielders, or false nines to have the freedom to fluidly change positions and force defenders out of their comfort zones when it comes to coverage. Martin Ojeda, Antoine Griezmann, Ellis, Ivan Angulo, Marco Pasalic, and the team’s fullbacks will be harder to keep tabs on under such a system.

Whether it will work or if it will further stress the team’s shoddy transition defense (or both) remains to be seen.

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