Connect with us

Lion Links

2024 Orlando City Season in Review: Duncan McGuire

It was a rollercoaster ride of a season for striker Duncan McGuire.

Published

2 months ago

on

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

Orlando City selected Duncan McGuire with the No. 6 overall selection in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft. He then cemented the starting role in his rookie season, earning a look from Blackburn Rovers in the off-season. He literally flew to England to sign with the club, only to have Rovers mess up the paperwork.

Orlando City welcomed him back with open arms, and McGuire dedicated himself to doing his best for the Lions, earning a new contract through 2027. He was the starter for most of the season until he left for the Olympics with the USMNT. When he returned, Ramiro Enrique had taken over the starting spot. Oscar Pareja sticks with a lineup if it’s working, and McGuire was moved to the bench.

McGuire never let it get to him, as he accepted his role in the second half of the season. He never gave less than 100% effort, including in the playoffs when he earned a penalty in the 97th minute against Charlotte that helped extend Orlando City’s playoff run.

Let’s take a look at how McGuire performed during the 2024 MLS season.

Statistical Breakdown

McGuire made 27 appearances in regular-season matches, starting 18 times and recording 1,599 minutes played. He finished second on the team with 10 goals, adding three assists. McGuire put 20 of his 42 shots on target and completed 239 of his 314 passes (76.1%), including 14 key passes and three successful long balls but no completed crosses. Defensively, McGuire won 30.3% of his 99 aerial duels, and tallied eight tackles, four interceptions, one block, and five clearances. He committed 15 fouls, suffered 18, and was booked seven times in his 27 games (all yellow cards).

The striker also appeared in all five MLS playoff games with all of his appearances off the bench, recording 138 minutes. He did not record a goal contribution, attempting three shots with none on target. The Creighton product completed 31 of his 36 passes (86.1%), including two key passes and one successful cross. Defensively, McGuire contributed an interception, a clearance, and a block. He did not commit a foul, but he suffered two fouls, including the one shown above that led to a late penalty in Game 3 of the Charlotte series, and he was not booked in the postseason. 

McGuire appeared in three of the Lions’ four Concacaf Champions Cup games, starting the first one, and playing 112 minutes. He scored one goal on four shots, with one on target, but did not record an assist. He completed an impressive 91% of his passes, including four key passes, but he did not complete a long ball or a cross. He did not commit a foul, suffered one, and was not booked.

McGuire played in two of the three Leagues Cup games — both as a substitute — and recorded 26 minutes without a goal contribution. He put his lone shot attempt on target and completed seven of his nine passes (77.8%), including one long ball, but he did not log a key pass or a successful cross. Defensively, he chipped in nine tackles and two clearances in the competition. He committed one foul, did not draw one on the competition, and was not booked.

Best Game

McGuire’s best game came early in the season in the Lions’ 3-2 loss to Minnesota United. Big Dunc provided both of Orlando City’s goals, including the fastest goal in Orlando City history, finding the net just seconds after kickoff.

After Orlando City conceded two goals to the Loons, McGuire equalized for the Lions late in the second half. He took an excellent pass from Martin Ojeda and sliced his shot past a defender and the keeper inside the left post.

McGuire stated the match, played 87 minutes, took four shots with three on target, and scored the aforementioned brace. He completed 21 of his 27 passes (77.8%), including one key pass, committed one foul, suffered two fouls, and was not booked. 

2024 Final Grade

The Mane Land staff gave McGuire a composite grade of 7 out of 10 for the 2024 MLS season. It’s a notch below the grade of 7.5 the staff gave him for his 2023 campaign. While it was hardly his fault Enrique seized the starting spot in his absence, McGuire played about 200 more minutes in 2024 and scored fewer goals. It’s fair to say coming off the bench down the stretch may have prevented some opportunities, as he was often part of protecting a late lead or simply wasn’t able to get into the rhythm of the match, and it’s impossible to say how starting may have changed his numbers or the fortunes of the team, but it’s hard to argue with Pareja’s decision, considering the team climbed to fourth place down the stretch with a strong run.

2025 Outlook

We know exactly how McGuire will start the 2025 season — on the injured list. McGuire is out four to five months recovering the shoulder surgery he underwent following his playoff injury. We’re unlikely to see him on the field before the end of April at the earliest, as a four-month timeline would only put him back on the training pitch by mid-April, and he’d have to still get into match shape. His return will most likely be delayed until May or possibly even the beginning of June, depending on his recovery speed. There is plenty of uncertainty with the Orlando City attack as of this writing due to the club’s sale of Facundo Torres to Palmeiras. There are, after all, several options for the club to replace Torres’ attacking numbers, and that could impact things at the top of the formation. Regardless of who the Lions sign, McGuire won’t be guaranteed a starting spot once he’s fit. He has shown he has the tools and the desire to play and to contribute at a high level as a starter, but he’ll have to beat out Enrique and potentially a new striker addition once he returns from injury.

Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 2/28/25

MLS shares Orlando City’s club profile, Orlando Pride reveal new kit, Orlando City B signs Thalles and Riyon Tori, and more.

Published

13 hours ago

on

February 28, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to the final day of February, Mane Landers! This month has flown by for me, and I’m looking forward to a March that will include much more Orlando soccer, thanks to the Orlando Pride and Orlando City B seasons kicking off. I have a fairly busy weekend lined up but am hoping to catch the Lions on Saturday when they host Toronto FC. Let’s jump into today’s links!

Orlando City’s Club Profile

The club profiles for each MLS team were provided, giving the public a nice look at how each team’s roster is built for the 2025 season. Orlando City is one of 14 clubs that opted for the Designated Player model, with Martin Ojeda, Luis Muriel, and Marco Pasalic as its Designated Players. Ramiro Enrique and Nicolas Rodriguez occupy two of the three MLS U22 Initiative Player slots, while seven Lions are Targeted Allocation Money players. Center back Robin Jansson, who was listed as a TAM Player in last year’s profile, is not a TAM Player this time around. These snapshots are a pretty handy way of keeping track of where the club’s roster stands, as it also includes contract lengths, options, and unavailable players.

Orlando Pride Unveil New Kit

For their 10th season in the NWSL, the Orlando Pride revealed the “Decennial Kit” as their new primary jersey heading into the 2025 season. I’m a pretty big fan of the purple pattern, and the blue trim is a nice nod to the club’s past. I also like the iridescence on the badge, even if it feels like the kind of showy thing you can only do after winning the double. While I don’t mind the badge being in the center too much, I hate the Nike logo being right above it, as it creates a sandwiched look. The star representing the club’s first NWSL Championship is obviously a welcome addition though, and the jock tag wordmark is quietly one of the best parts of the kit. All in all, I like it, and there’s a decent chance it’ll wind up on my gift list this year.

Orlando City B Adds Thalles and Riyon Tori

With the MLS NEXT Pro season only a week away, Orlando City B made a pair of moves by adding forward Thalles on loan and signing Riyon Tori to a one-year contract. Thalles joins the club on loan through 2025 from Botafogo-SP in Brazil’s second division. Hopefully the 19-year-old can shine with the Young Lions after doing well in Brazil, and his loan includes an option to buy. As for Tori, he was selected by the Lions over a year ago in the third round of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. The midfielder returned to college at Charlotte after being drafted and received First-Team All-AAC and Second-Team All-East Region honors last year.

Keeping Up With the Americans Abroad

Americans will clash in the EFL Championship on Saturday when former Lion Daryl Dike and West Brom travel to take on Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United. There’s also FA Cup action to look forward to, as Ethan Horvath could start in goal for Cardiff City when it plays Aston Villa today. Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, and Chris Richards are also expected to be in action in the tournament.

Other interesting things to keep an eye on this weekend include Naomi Girma possibly making her Chelsea debut, Giovanni Reyna’s uncertain role with Borussia Dortmund, and whether or not Damion Downs can score when Cologne plays Karlsruher.

Free Kicks

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a great Friday and rest of your weekend!

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 2/27/25

Getting to know Ramiro Enrique, USWNT loses to Japan, Concacaf Champions Cup results, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

February 27, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I haven’t done too much this week beyond working, but I did manage to put together a cat tree that my cat has already sent crashing into a wall twice so far. Pet ownership has been a joy, I must say. Let’s dive right into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Learning More About Ramiro Enrique

Orlando City put a spotlight on forward Ramiro Enrique with a nice video showcasing what he brings to the team for the 2025 season. Along with interviews from Enrique and Head Coach Oscar Pareja, the video includes highlights of his some of his biggest moments as a Lion so far. The 23-year-old spoke on how his father, World Cup winner Hector Enrique, is a major inspiration for him and how he’s both a scorer and Orlando’s first line of defense. Pareja praised both Enrique’s natural talent and his commitment to improving himself moving forward. It’s a pretty well-produced video and I’m looking forward to seeing the profiles for other Lions as well throughout the season.

USWNT Falls to Japan in SheBelieves Cup

The United States Women’s National Team lost its final game of the 2025 SheBelieves Cup, falling 2-1 to Japan in San Diego. Japan took an early lead, but Ally Sentnor tied things up soon after with her second goal of the tournament. Toko Koga then scored for Japan in the 50th minute and the U.S. was unable to find the back of the net again against Japan’s solid defense. Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams did not play in the match despite a strong showing against Australia on Sunday. It’s the USWNT’s first loss under Head Coach Emma Hayes and its first time losing the tournament since England won it in 2019.

In what was effectively the third-place match, Colombia beat Australia 2-1 to finish the tournament on a high note. Australia’s Hayley Raso equalized things in the second half, but Catalina Usme gave Colombia its winner a few minutes later.

Bay FC Scouting Director Resigns Amid Backlash

Graeme Abel, who was hired as Bay FC’s director of domestic scouting last week, has resigned from his position. This decision comes after backlash from his hiring due to reported allegations of abuse by former players from his time as the University of Oregon’s women’s soccer coach. A report last April detailed allegations of verbal abuse that included threatening to revoke scholarships, having players kicked off the team, and throwing objects, with players stating that they dealt with suicidal ideation while playing there.

Concacaf Champions Cup Results

Real Salt Lake was eliminated from the Concacaf Champions Cup after losing 2-1 at home to Costa Rican club Herediano. The MLS side took the lead in the first half, but Herediano leveled things in the second half and sealed victory with a late penalty kick. FC Cincinnati took care of business at home in a 1-1 draw against Honduran club Motagua, with Kevin Denkey scoring in his third straight game for his new team. The Seattle Sounders also reached the next round, beating Guatemala’s Antigua GFC 3-1. Cincinnati will face Tigres in the round of 16, while the Sounders will take on Cruz Azul. The first round wraps up tonight when the Vancouver Whitecaps host Saprissa for the final spot in the round of 16, which kicks off on Tuesday.

Free Kicks

  • The Orlando Pride will unveil their new home jersey for the 2025 season today and I’m pretty excited to see what they’ve come up with. I’m also looking forward to seeing the team sport a shiny new star after winning last year, as teased by Marta.

— Orlando Pride (@orlpride.com) 2025-02-27T00:07:45.048Z

A very ✨ golden ✨ addition

— Orlando Pride (@orlpride.com) 2025-02-26T00:03:16.959Z
  • The Pride gave a shoutout to coaches Seb Hines, Giles Barnes, and Yolanda Thomas this Black History Month.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Thursday and rest of your week!

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 2/26/25

Tsukada out for the season, OCB adds a striker, the SheBelieves Cup finishes tonight, and more.

Published

3 days ago

on

February 26, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. I hope you’re recovering from the season opener. I find it best to look for the positives or just pretend none of it ever happened. I’m certain one of those two is a healthy way to process your feelings. The good news is that the season is underway, the Orlando Pride are close to starting their new campaign, and we get to watch the USWNT play tonight. See? It isn’t all bad. Let’s get to the links, but first, let’s wish Pride midfielder Morgan Gautrat a happy birthday.

Tsukada Out for the Season

Yutaro Tsukada has been placed on the Season-Ending Injury list for Orlando City following successful surgery on his left ACL. The young midfielder sustained the injury in the preseason match against CF Montreal. While we expected this news, it doesn’t make it any easier for Tsukada, the club, or any of us. It’s another blow to the depth of Orlando City in a season that has only just begun. We wish Tsukada a full and speedy recovery.

OCB Striker Signing

When I said I wanted Orlando City to sign a new striker, I should have been more specific. The club acquired the SuperDraft Priority to forward Dyson Clapier from Sporting Kansas City. In return, Sporting Kansas City gets Orlando City’s natural second-round pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft. Following the acquisition, Clapier was signed to an MLS NEXT Pro contract through 2025, with a club option in 2026.

SheBelieves Cup Finishes Tonight

The USWNT will need a victory against Japan tonight to win the 2025 SheBelieves Cup. Japan holds the advantage thanks to a plus-seven goal differential as compared to the plus-three goal differential of the U.S. The match is set for 7:30 p.m. at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. There are on air and streaming options available to watch the match. If the USWNT can pull out the victory, it will be the sixth SheBelieves title in a row. Emily Sams got the start and went the full 90 minutes against Australia on Sunday. Hopefully, the Orlando Pride defender will see more action this evening.

Ream is a Believer

With the 2026 World Cup coming up next year, the USMNT wants to make a big splash. Longtime U.S. defender Tim Ream says that Mauricio Pochettino is the right man to do the job. Ream will certainly be an integral part of the next World Cup squad, and he asserts that Pochettino will evolve the USMNT to the next level.

Free Kicks

  • Casey Krueger’s time with the USWNT appears to be done. Emma Hayes is going younger.
  • The MLS Disciplinary Committee suspended and fined Chicago Fire midfielder Brian Gutiérrez for one match.

MLS Disciplinary Committee suspends Chicago Fire midfielder Brian Gutiérrez for one match and issued an undisclosed fine for violent conduct at Columbus on Saturday. He will miss this weekend’s match vs D.C. United.

— Steven Goff (@stevengoff.bsky.social) 2025-02-25T21:11:38.395Z
  • Gutierrez wasn’t the only player fined by DisCo. The only thing I’m certain of is that the fine wasn’t big enough.
  • Congratulations to Chris and Alyssa Mueller on the birth of their new baby.

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the match this weekend. As for today, go USA!

Continue Reading

Trending