Orlando City
Wilder Cartagena Must Be Himself Despite Yellow Card Accumulation
An evaluation of Wilder Cartagena’s propensity for earning yellow cards and how that may influence the upcoming playoff game against Charlotte.
My wife recently went to a Hoobastank concert at EPCOT, and while standing in line, waiting to be allowed to enter the general admission seating area, she asked one of the Disney employees working the event which band had had the longest line queued up in advance of being allowed to enter. The answer, to her great surprise (and later to mine), was Yellowcard. I have nothing against that band, it just would have taken me approximately 15-20 days worth of guesses to even think of them as generating that much demand.
If you were to ask me which current Orlando City player would be most likely to receive a yellow card, however, that would not even take 15-20 seconds. Since joining Orlando City in 2022, Wilder Cartagena averages 0.35 yellow cards per 90 minutes in MLS regular-season play, or about one yellow card per every three games.
Quick trivia question for our diehard Orlando City fans: Cartagena’s 0.35 yellow cards per 90 minutes ranks fourth all time on the Orlando City leaderboard among players who played at least 1,000 MLS minutes. Who are the three players who received yellow cards more frequently?
I’ll show a table shortly that reveals this answer, but before then I will point out that Cartagena has also played in five MLS playoff games, and he is currently on a…hot?…cold?…terrible and please stop doing this?…streak of earning a yellow card in four consecutive postseason matches. His playoff yellow-cards-per-90-minutes average is a ridiculous 0.85, so for all intents and purposes, one yellow card in every game. That is the kind of performance that gets you…suspended.
More on this after I reveal the answer to the trivia question in the chart below. Thanks to the coders at Opta and fbref.com and their Stathead site for tracking yellow cards received. I enjoyed the trip down memory lane this provided, as during some of those early Orlando City years the team was far better at earning yellow cards than the Lions were at things like scoring goals and winning games. Maybe I actually did not enjoy this as much as I thought.
Without further ado, here are your Orlando City players who most frequently received yellow cards in MLS play:
For all of you who correctly identified Cristian Higuita, Brek Shea and Sebas Méndez without doing any research, I suggest bringing this knowledge of arcane Orlando City trivia and joining us at The Mane Land!
Back to Cartagena and suspensions, MLS rules for the playoffs are that if a player receives three yellow cards during the opening round and conference semifinal games, then they must sit out the next game. So, since Cartagena received two yellow cards during the first two opening-round games against Charlotte, if he receives a yellow card in Game 3, he would be suspended for the conference semifinal, if Orlando City defeats Charlotte.
I have shared similar data before, but while Cartagena may not be the player that most fans or pundits think of when thinking about Orlando City, there is the little matter of the fact that he leads the team in plus-minus (goals scored while a player is on the field minus goals given up while a player is on the field) across all competitions this year:
Not only does he lead the team in plus-minus while he is on the field, he is also one of only two Lions (Cesar Araújo is the other) who has a season-long negative on-off value (negative in this case is good, as on-off is calculated by the goals scored when a player is off the field minus the goals given up while a player is off the field). Cartagena is +22 while on the field and the team was -5 while he was not on the field, so he is a net +27 for the season, an outstanding number.
The website fbref.com tracks on-off for MLS regular season games only, and among non-goalkeepers Cartagena ranked 26th in 2024 and and 24th over the 2023 and 2024 seasons combined, with Orlando City being more than one goal worse per 90 minutes in goal differential when the Peruvian midfielder was not playing. Said another way, having Cartagena play a full 90 minutes during the last two seasons was basically tantamount to Orlando City starting the match with a 1-0 lead.
This was not meant to be a Cartagena fawning session, so let me step down from this soapbox (I do not think the crowd could have been any wilder (see what I did there?) while I was speaking though) and walk down to a place off Ocean Avenue to get back to the topic of yellow cards. I do not regret writing that line.
As mentioned earlier, Cartagena is carrying two yellow cards into the upcoming match with Charlotte, so if (when) he receives one, he would be suspended for the semifinal if Orlando City wins. As he is averaging nearly a yellow card per match in his five-game playoff career, it feels very likely that he will receive one at some point in the game. While it would be devastating for him, and the team, to think about having to play a conference semifinal without him on the field, there is a playoff cliché that applies here first, which is that in the playoffs, teams have to survive and advance and think about games one at a time.
Orlando City cannot play Atlanta or Inter Miami before it plays Charlotte, so the Lions need to play the style that they believe will bring them the best chance of winning. That means Cartagena needs to be a midfield destroyer and not be constantly on edge and trying to avoid a card. During the 2024 season he averaged 2.0 fouls committed per 90 minutes, which is 36th in MLS and 19th among MLS midfielders, and he needs to be the same aggressive player he has been all season. If he is thinking about yellow cards, he is not fully focused on winning, and that will not benefit the Lions.
If Cartagena does receive a yellow card, and as a reminder, he averages 0.85 yellow cards per match in MLS playoff games, so this is quite likely, then I believe it would be most beneficial if it were to happen in the middle third of the match. All cards in the opening third of an elimination match are brutal, as those players are now on the referee’s radar and have to consider the risk of a second yellow on any play they make for the rest of the match. It would be doubly brutal for Cartagena, as he would then also have the extra mental strain of knowing that he is definitely missing the next match if the Lions win, and in an elimination game, one moment of distraction or loss of focus can mean the difference. By the way, Tim Ream, feel free to be distracted for many moments.
Elite athletes like Cartagena are usually far better at compartmentalizing than we normal humans are, so perhaps an early yellow card would not impact him that much, but it would be better for Orlando City if it does not happen, so there is not the additional concern around if Oscar Pareja needs to sub him off to avoid going down to 10 players. Just as an early yellow card would be brutal, I also believe that a yellow card in the final third of the game would be brutal, because that would mean that the game was still competitive enough that Cartagena had to be on the field and taking risks to make plays, and then there would be the immediate letdown of a yellow card and the knowledge that if Orlando City advances, he would not be available.
An early card changes the game for Cartagena and the coaching staff, and a late card means a close game and a risk of short-term loss of focus late in the match, so therefore I am going to go with a yellow card in the middle of the match being the best scenario, even though none of these are actually good options. I do not want to disrespect any of the other central midfield candidates, but there is not really another good option aside from a midfield pairing of Araújo and Cartagena for as long as Orlando City can have them on the field. If this was Inter Miami, I’m sure Darth…sorry, Don…Garber would find a way for an emergency one-game contract signing of someone like Arsenal’s Declan Rice, but this is Orlando City, so no such luck for the Lions.
Make no mistake, the best outcome for Orlando City is a clean game from Cartagena, and while his playoff booking numbers are not ideal, he played 20 card-free MLS regular-season games this year, so he certainly can do it. My hope is that he does not allow the yellow card accumulation to influence his play at all and just plays with the same vim and vigor that made him the most valuable player for Orlando City in terms of goal differential.
If it helps at all, I am happy to write this message up in big bold letters and display it inside Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday night, though I will definitely not write it on a yellow card.
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/4/25
Haley Carter joins the Washington Spirit, Celtic hires Wilfried Nancy, Philadelphia Union sign Ezekiel Allodah, and more.
How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s been a bit of a hectic week for me, but I’ve at least been able to get quite enough done that should take out some of the stress that usually comes around this time of the year.
Haley Carter Joins the Enemy
Haley Carter, who departed the Pride on Nov. 18 to pursue new career opportunities, was announced as the Washington Spirit’s president of soccer operations. She joins an organization that’s come up short in the past two NWSL Championship and one of Carter’s top priorities will be retaining American forward Trinity Rodman. Helping the Spirit get over the hump will be a different kind of task than the rebuild she orchestrated with the Pride, so it will be interesting to see how she does.
Celtic Hires Wilfried Nancy
Wilfried Nancy is officially headed to Europe, with Celtic hiring him as its next manager. The Scottish club signed him to a two-and-a-half year contract and he’ll start today. Nancy leaves MLS after success with CF Montreal and the Columbus Crew, winning the MLS Coach of the Year award with the Crew in 2024. Celtic has won its past five games across all competitions and is currently tied on points with Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership. It will be Nancy’s first time coaching in Europe and we’ll see if he can help Celtic secure a spot in the next round of the Europa League.
Philadelphia Union Sign Ezekiel Allodah
The Philadelphia Union didn’t waste much time adding some firepower to the club’s roster for the 2026 season, signing Ezekiel Allodah from IF Brommapojkarna for a club record fee. The 20-year-old forward joins on a contract through 2028 with options for 2029 and 2030. Allodah has recorded eight goals and added an assist in 32 appearances with Brommapojkarna, which plays in Sweden’s top flight. Although I’m not looking forward to Orlando City having to deal with him on the field, it’s nice to see more young talent coming to the league.
Preparing for the World Cup Draw
The draw for next summer’s World Cup is on Friday and we’ll get to see just how unlucky the United States Men’s National Team is when the groups are revealed. The U.S., like Canada and Mexico, is in the first pot and gets to avoid some of the biggest contenders, but dangerous teams like Croatia, Morocco, and Norway are possible opponents. Drawing Ghana from the fourth pot seems inevitable to me. The lack of clarity in who will advance out of the playoffs adds some mystery and worry to it all as well. Fingers crossed!
Free Kicks
- Jordi Alba was fined an undisclosed amount by the MLS Disciplinary Committee for violating the league’s policy regarding hands to the face, head, and neck in Inter Miami’s game against New York City FC.
- American forward Cade Cowell is reportedly set to join the New York Red Bulls on loan from Chivas.
- Harry Kane scored twice in Bayern Munich’s 3-2 win over Union Berlin to help his side reach the quarterfinals of the German Cup.
- Germany was selected as the host for the 2029 UEFA European Women’s Championship, beating a bid by Poland and a joint bid by Sweden and Denmark.
That’s all I have for you all this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/3/25
The Orlando Pride sign Hailie Mace, USMNT announces 2026 friendlies, USWNT news, and more.
Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s a little hard to believe it’s already December, but hopefully the weather will cool off a bit so at least it feels like winter — or as close as we get to it in Florida. We want to wish Orlando City defender David Brekalo a very happy birthday. It might be the off-season, but that doesn’t keep the news from happening, so let’s get to the links.
Pride Sign Hailie Mace
The Orlando Pride signed USWNT and former Kansas City Current defender Hailie Mace to a three-year deal through 2028. Mace brings a ton of experience both internationally and in the NWSL to an already good Pride defensive unit. In her career Mace has played right back, some center back and even forward in college. She is the type of versatile player that Seb Hines loves to have on his roster. Welcome to the Pride, Hailie.
USMNT Friendlies Announced
The USMNT will play four friendlies ahead of the World Cup, facing Belgium, Portugal, Germany, and one opponent yet to be determined. The first two matches will take place in Atlanta against Belgium and Portugal on March 28 and March 30, respectively. Then the team heads to Charlotte for a match on May 31 and finishes the slate against Germany at Soldier Field in Chicago on June 6. Those are some pretty good tests ahead of the World Cup.
USWNT Notes
It’s been quite a year for the Emma Hayes and the USWNT. Hayes has worked on building a deep pool of players for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. She has given so many young players their first caps, including the Orlando Pride’s Emily Sams. Several players made a case for a spot in the friendly against Italy. Hayes is also trying to bolster the U-23 squad so she can build long-term stability in the team.
MLS Technical Staff News
There have been a lot of front office moves in MLS recently. New York City FC hired Todd Dunivant as the club’s new sporting director. Elsewhere, Sporting Kansas City announced that the club “mutually agreed to part ways” with interim coach Kerry Zavagnin.
Free Kicks
- Chicago Fire FC acquired defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi from South African Premiership side Orlando Pirates.
- Spain defeated Germany 3-0 on aggregate to win the 2025 Women’s Nations League for the second year in a row.
- The Canadian Women’s National Team has been having a rough time of it, losing 3-0 to Japan and ending the season on a five-match losing streak.
- Erling Haaland became the fastest player in EPL history to score 100 goals, breaking Alan Shearer’s old record in Manchester City’s wild 5-4 win Tuesday over Fulham. Shearer’s record of 100 goals in 124 games stood for 30 years before Haaland netted No. 100 in his 111th match.
That will do it for today. It might be the off-season, but we’ll keep bringing you all the soccer-related news in the City Beautiful. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 12/2/25
Robin Jansson signs new contract, Orlando Pride roster update, Alex Freeman earns impressive nomination, and more.
Good morning, everyone. I don’t know how we’re in the month of December, and the fact that we are is, quite frankly, a little terrifying. Regardless, we have no time to slow down and smell the roses, because there’s still plenty of things happening. We’ve got some important Orlando City and Orlando Pride news to cover today, so let’s get into the links.
Robin Jansson Returns
Orlando City announced on Monday morning that the team has re-signed captain Robin Jansson. The center back inked a deal that will keep him in an Orlando jersey through 2027 after the team declined his 2026 option at the end of this season. His return handles one piece of pending business for the Lions, with the team now only needing to wrap up negotiations with Kyle Smith over a new contract, before it can fully turn its attention to other areas of the roster. That being said, while Jansson remains a capable MLS starting center back, other positions around him need to be strengthened. OCSC’s spine needs reinforcing after the departure of Cesar Araujo, and Jansson could use a quick and athletic partner next to him in central defense as he climbs into his mid-30s. For now though, it’s simply good to see him back.
Orlando Pride Postseason Roster Update
Continuing the theme of a busy news day, on Monday afternoon the Orlando Pride announced the club’s roster update following the conclusion of the NWSL season. A lot of contract negotiations were completed during the season, as Zara Chavoshi, Ally Lemos, Luana, Haley McCutcheon, Anna Moorhouse, and Rafaelle all had their contract situations handled over the course of the season. Meanwhile, Amanda Allen, Simone Charley, Elyse Bennett, Mariana Larroquette, Aryssa Mahrt, Morgan Gautrat, Carson Pickett, and Bri Martinez are all out of contract, while Ally Watt is joining the Denver Summit. The Pride did not announce that negotiations are happening with any players who are out of contract with regards to a new deal.
Alex Freeman Garners Big Nomination
The year of Alex Freeman continues, as Orlando City’s young fullback has been nominated for the U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year! The right back seized his chance with both hands in OCSC’s season opener all the way back in February and never looked back, as he locked down a starting spot with the Lions, earned a first United States Men’s National Team call-up, continued to earn more, and capped his year off by scoring his first two goals with the national team. The other nominees for the honor are Max Arfsten, Matt Freese, Chris Richards, and Malik Tillman, so Freeman is up against some stiff competition (particularly from Arfsten and Richards, in my opinion). Regardless, it’s damn good to see him getting more of the recognition he so rightly earned this year.
USWNT Completes Sweep of Italy Friendlies
After blanking the Italians 3-0 in Orlando on Friday, the United States Women’s National Team completed the sweep with a 2-0 win over Italy in Fort Lauderdale Monday night. Cat Macario and Jaedyn Shaw scored the goals in the first half, and the U.S. hit the crossbar twice. Lily Yohannes put the ball in the net but was correctly deemed offside on the play, and Macario should have had a second if not for a dubious whistle chalking off what would have been a second brace in the window. It was a dominant final window of 2025 for the U.S. women, as Emma Hayes got looks at a lot of young players.
Americans in Midweek Action
As usual, there are a number of American players who will be playing games during the working week, with league and domestic cup action being the overarching theme. Things get started later today when Johnny Cardoso and Atletico Madrid travel to Barcelona for a big La Liga match, while Weston McKennie and Juventus host Udinese in the Coppa Italia. Chris Richards and Crystal Palace have a Premier League road match against Burnley on Wednesday, Christian Pulisic and AC Milan square off against Lazio in the Coppa Italia on Thursday, and things finish up on Friday with Folarin Balogun and Monaco taking on Brest in Ligue 1 on Friday.
Free Kicks
- Christian Benteke has announced he’s leaving D.C. United, although Tom Bogert says D.C. hopes to pull a Jansson and re-sign him after declining his option.
- Mr. Scoops also reports that CF Montreal is finalizing a deal to sign defender Brayan Vera from Real Salt Lake for a hefty sum of General Allocation Money.
- Bogert also reports that Michael Bradley is the favored candidate for the New York Red Bulls’ vacant head coaching position.
- The Chicago Stars have signed midfielder Brianna Pinto to a two-year deal.
- Garth Lagerway will reportedly not return as CEO of Atlanta United next season.
That does it for me today. Vamos Orlando!
2025 Orlando Pride Season In Review: Haley McCutcheon
2025 Orlando Pride Season In Review: Kerry Abello
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