Orlando City B
Orlando City B vs. Columbus Crew 2: Final Score 2-1 as Young Lions Win Season Opener
OCB opened its 2025 season with a victory, scoring twice before holding on for dear life in the second half.
Orlando City B (1-0-0, 3 points) opened its 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season with a 2-1 win over Columbus Crew 2 (0-1-0, 0 points) tonight at Osceola County Stadium. Newcomer Dyson Clapier gave the Young Lions the lead in the 10th minute and Zakaria Taifi doubled the advantage just after the break. Crew 2 dominated possession after that and pulled a goal back late through Keesean Ferdinand, but it wasn’t enough, as OCB took all three points.
The first starting lineup of the season for the Young Lions consisted of Carlos Mercado in goal behind a back line of Tahir Reid-Brown, Thomas Williams, Jackson Platts, and Taifi. Dylan Judelson and Colin Guske were the defensive midfielders behind Clapier, Jhon Solis, and Shak Mohammed, with Justin Ellis up top.
OCB got off to an attacking start, trying to send Taifi down the right multiple times. But it was a Crew 2 throw-in that opened the scoring. In the 10th minute, Chase Adams received the throw and played a soft pass to Ferdinand in the Columbus box. Ellis jumped on the play, tipping the ball off of Ferdinand’s foot to Clapier, whose first touch was a rocket past Luke Pruter for the opening goal.
Columbus had its first decent attack in the 14th minute when Owen Presthus made a long run down the right. He sent a hard cross through the box looking for Tristan Brown, but it went all the way through.
It looked like OCB had a penalty in the 18th minute when Taifi did well to control a long pass and was taken down at the edge of the box. The referee initially pointed to the spot but ended up changing it to a free kick just outside of the 18, which was the correct decision.
Solis hit the free kick into the wall, and the ball bounced back to Taifi, who had been standing over it as well. His first touch was another shot, but it too was blocked.
A minute later, Solis found Taifi on the right and the defender sent a dangerous cross into the box. Clapier ran onto it and tried to turn it on goal with his first touch. However, he mishit the ball, ending the threat.
The visitors finally got their first shot of the game in the 27th minute when Austin Su sent a hard, low shot towards goal. Fortunately, he sent it straight to Mercado, who had no trouble collecting it.
The Young Lions created a good buildup in the 37th minute when Ellis received the ball near midfield and sent it down the left for Reid-Brown. The left back found Clapier in the middle, who laid it back for Ellis making the trailing run. The striker’s first touch was a shot, but he didn’t hit it well, and it skipped wide.
It looked like Crew 2 might find an equalizer in the second minute of first-half stoppage time when Presthus sent Brent Adu-Gyamfi behind the back line and into the OCB box. His second touch was a shot, but Mercado did well to get down and block it, making a vital save.
After 45 minutes, OCB had more shots (5-4). However, Crew 2 had the advantage in attempts on target (2-1), corner kicks (2-0), crosses (5-2), and passing accuracy (89.2%-84.7%).
OCB made one change at halftime as Brazilian forward Thalles made his debut in purple, coming in for Clapier.
It didn’t take long for Thalles to get involved, as he nearly scored inside the first minute of the second half. The Brazilian was sent into the Crew 2 box and it looked like he had an open chance, but 15-year-old center back Gianmarco Di Noto came in from behind to knock it away.
The Young Lions went on another attack in the 48th minute, doubling their lead. Solis sent a long ball across the field to Taifi, who was making a run on the right. The right back chested the ball down and recontrolled it after the defender tried to tap it away. His third touch was a strong shot inside the near post, giving his team a 2-0 lead.
“I scored and I didn’t even see anything. All I did was point to my parents,” Taifi said. “My dad was working all day and he came from like two hours away to come. And I just wanted to give them all the thanks for the goal. And it feels amazing to win the game from that.”
“We talked a lot during the week about bringing out their individual best,” OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg said about Clapier’s and Taifi’s goals. “About everything. Technically, tactically. So this is the stuff we need. They have that ambition, that desire, and that helped them with the goals.”
Crew 2 nearly pulled one back in the 54th minute when Brown received the ball on the left side of the box. The midfielder tried to hit it into the roof of the net, but hit the woodwork.
Four minutes later, the Young Lions had trouble clearing the ball and Nicolas Rincon stuck his leg out to send the ball towards goal. Mercado did very well to dive to his left and make a one-handed save. The OCB starting goalkeeper was down briefly but was able to continue.
Solis tried to make it 3-0 in the 60th minute when Crew 2 goalkeeper Luke Pruter came well off his line. The ball was cleared before it reached the goal line, but only to Thalles not far away. The Brazilian attempted a bicycle kick, sending it wide.
Reid-Brown made a good run down the left in the 70th minute before cutting it back and finding Ellis at the top of the box. The striker took a touch inside before taking a hard right-footed shot. However, Su got in front of the attempt, blocking it wide.
As the ensuing corner kick was sent into the box, the referee called a foul on OCB. As a result, the Young Lions didn’t even get a chance from the set piece.
Goldberg made his second change in the 83rd minute as Clovis Archange came on for Reid-Brown.
A Taifi corner in the 85th minute found a head near the back post and was past Pruter, but cleared off the line. The follow-up attempt was right at Pruter, who made the save to end the threat.
The visitors finally got a goal back in the 88th minute when some quick passing sent Anthony Alaouieh down the left. The midfielder sent his pass back and diagonally through the box to a wide open Ferdinand, as the entire OCB defense had shifted to the other side. With nobody closing him down, it was an easy goal for the defender, sending the ball inside the far post.
The Young Lions immediately went the other way, looking to increase their lead back to two goals. Solis took a shot in the 89th minute from just outside the box that forced Pruter to dive and knock it wide.
The ensuing corner kick found Platts, who put his attempt on goal. But it was cleared off the line. The clearance went to Solis near the top of the box and the midfielder sent the follow-up attempt high and wide.
Crew 2 had another chance in the first minute of stoppage time when Guske was unable to clear a Columbus throw-in and Su took possession. The midfielder carried the ball to the end line and played it to the top of the six-yard box where Ferdinand was waiting. However, Mercado did well to get down to collect it.
Both teams attacked in the six minutes of second-half stoppage time, but the missed opportunity by Su was the final chance and OCB held on for the 2-1 win.
While Crew 2 had much more possession in the second half, it was OCB that created most of the chances. The Young Lions ended up with more shots (15-12), shots on target (7-5), and corner kicks (7-2). Meanwhile, the visitors had the advantage in crosses (8-3) and passing accuracy (89.6%-83%).
“Of course, first of all, very happy for the guys that we could get a win. It’s not easy to start off and starting off always like this is positive,” Goldberg said about the game. “The things we propose ourselves to do this match, we did. So we’re happy about that.”
“I feel like it was a great team performance. We really held it down,” Taifi said. “Had a little lapse of concentration at the end, but it doesn’t matter. We got the three points. So, it feels great to start with a win. Let’s go!”
The Young Lions continue their streak of season-opening wins, which dates back to the start of MLS NEXT Pro in 2022, making it four in a row. That matches the streak of four straight campaigns in which they opened the season with losses, dating back to the team’s inaugural season in 2016.
OCB will continue its season-opening homestand next Sunday night when the Young Lions host rival Atlanta United 2 at Osceola County Stadium.
Orlando City
Four OCB Players Who Could Make MLS Debuts In 2026
Who are the most likely OCB players to make their first team-debuts during the 2026 season?
Orlando City has invested significantly in youth development since Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira arrived prior to the 2019 season. After signing just four players in the first five years after the club’s expansion announcement, Orlando City has signed 14 academy products to first-team deals in the last seven years.
While Muzzi departed the club this off-season, Moreira took over the role, so the emphasis developing homegrown talent is unlikely to change.
This past season alone, the club saw Colin Guske, Gustavo Caraballo, and Zakaria Taifi make their first-team debuts. Additionally, Tahir Reid-Brown, despite not getting on the field, was on the senior side’s bench for four games.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the most likely OCB players to join the first team for the 2026 season.
Tahir Reid-Brown, 19, Defender
The most likely player to make his first team debut in 2026 is 19-year-old fullback Reid-Brown. He’s already on an MLS contract and plays left back, a position currently of need for the Lions. The defender has been with the Young Lions for the last four years, making 56 appearances with 36 starts.
Reid-Brown initially played opposite Alex Freeman on the OCB back line before Freeman made the jump to the MLS squad and was replaced by Taifi, who also ended the 2025 campaign with the first team.
Adding to the likelihood that Reid-Brown might see playing time is the uncertainty at left back. Adrian Marin is the current projected starting left back, but the Spaniard was less than impressive in his first season with Orlando City. Unless the club signs more depth at that position before the season begins, you can exepct to see Reid-Brown get some MLS playing time before long.
Jackson Platts, 18, Defender
Another player who could see his first team debut in 2026 is center back Jackson Platts. The 18-year-old was a regular OCB starter alongside Thomas Williams in 2024 before being relegated to the bench in 2025. However, the starter alongside Williams last season was Hayden Sargis, who didn’t come from the academy and is currently out of contract.
Like all defensive positions, the Lions have a lack of depth that could provide opportunities for young players. The only center backs are Robin Jansson and David Brekalo, forcing the need for a backup. The club also traded Williams, opening more room.
Platts is also a versatile option. While his natural position is center back, he’s also spent time as an outside back and in the midfield. That versatility could result in him seeing MLS action this year.
Justin Hylton, 18, Forward
The OCB player that took the biggest leap in 2025 was unquestionably Justin Hylton. The teenager was a star for the U-17 team before making his professional debut for the Young Lions. Originally a backup, he soon became a focal point of the attack and created problems for opposing defenses.
Hylton made his OCB debut on June 1 and didn’t start until Aug. 23. But he was in the starting lineup for the final six games of the season and was a crucial part of the team’s late successes. He ended the season with 11 appearances, starting six games, and recording two assists.
The only issue for Hylton is that his position is currently not the most in need. Whether the club sees him up top or in the attacking midfield, there are players in front of him. However, we could see him make his debut in an Open Cup or Leagues Cup game, if not as a late substitute in the regular season.
Dylan Judelson, 17, Midfielder
Judelson is another player who joined OCB from the academy in 2025. He started the season on an academy contract but signed to the club’s second team on Aug. 5. The defensive midfielder was a key part of the team from day one, starting the first four games of the season.
In all, Judelson made 20 appearances in 2025 with nine starts. He was in and out of the lineup with Guske, Riyon Tori, and Jhon Solis also seeing time in the role. But the Canadian youth international was very solid when on the field.
Although the departure of Cesar Araujo works in Judelson’s favor, he’s still behind veterans Eduard Atuesta, Braian Ojeda, and Wilder Cartagena, as well as Guske and MLS U22 Initiative signing Luis Otavio, while Joran Gerbet is also under contract but will miss the first part of the season recovering from a knee injury.
It’s a crowded field in front of Judelson in his position group, meaning he’ll have the biggest uphill climb of the players mentioned in this column to make his first-team debut. However, we could see the teenager with the first team for the first time this year if his development continues and there are injuries and suspensions ahead of him on the depth chart.
After years of the academy failing to produce talent for the first team, Orlando City has become one of the league’s standard bearers. That’s likely to continue this season, and it might be the start of a successful professional career at the senior level for these young players.
Orlando City B
Orlando City Exercises Contract Option on OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg
Manuel Goldberg is back to lead the Young Lions of OCB in 2026 after the club exercised his contract option.
Orlando City announced today that the club has exercised the option on Orlando City B Head Coach Manuel Goldberg’s contract, keeping him in purple through 2026. The Young Lions’ boss enters his third season in the position in 2026 and his fifth overall with the team.
“Since taking over the role as head coach of OCB, Manu has done a tremendous job connecting with our MLS NEXT Pro players, developing their skillsets and preparing them for opportunities with the first team and beyond,” Orlando City General Manager & Sporting Director Ricardo Moreira said in a club press release. “His deep understanding of our player pathway and internal processes has been invaluable. The continuity Manu provides is critical for the career development of both our players and staff.”
Goldberg initially joined the club in 2022 as an assistant to Martin Perelman. When Perelman was promoted to first-team assistant, Orlando City announced Goldberg as his successor on March 11, 2024. At 30 years old, Goldberg became the youngest head coach in the short history of MLS NEXT Pro.
In his first season in the position, Goldberg led his team to a record of 11-9-9 (28 points), finishing fifth in MLS NEXT Pro’s Eastern Conference. The Young Lions took fourth-seeded Chicago Fire FC II to penalties in the first round of the playoffs away from home, where they fell 5-4 to end their season.
The 2025 campaign was particularly disappointing, as the Young Lions failed to qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2022. They finished the year with 28 points (9-13-6) and tumbled to 11th in the Eastern Conference after a promising start.
Overall, Goldberg has a record of 18-21-16 in 55 games leading the Young Lions. His draw in Chicago in 2024 (and subsequent penalty shootout loss) was his only playoff appearance. Meanwhile, his teams have been 9-7 in penalty shootouts over the past two seasons.
However, Goldberg has been successful in his primary objective of producing players for the first team. Since becoming head coach of OCB, three players — Colin Guske, Gustavo Caraballo, and Zakaria Taifi — have signed Homegrown Player contracts, while Justin Ellis is seemingly on the brink of signing one as well. He’s also coached backup goalkeeper Javier Otero and, most notably, starting right back Alex Freeman, helping them develop into first-team contributors.
Goldberg began his coaching career at Israeli side Hapoel Katamon in 2015 following a three-year playing career in the country. He then joined Club Nautico Hacoaj in Buenos Aires, Argentina as an assistant coach from 2017 to 2019 before becoming a competitive program coach at Barça Academy PRO Miami. After two years in South Florida, he was hired by Orlando City as Perelman’s assistant with OCB.
Orlando City B
Orlando City B vs. FC Cincinnati 2: Final Score 4-1 as Loss Eliminates OCB from Playoff Race
OCB ended its 2025 MLS NEXT Pro campaign with a 4-1 loss to FC Cincinnati.
Orlando City B (9-13-6, 37 points) ended its 2025 MLS NEXT Pro campaign with a 4-1 loss to FC Cincinnati 2 (9-12-7, 41 points) today at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee. Albright Chikamso scored the lone goal for the Young Lions, and Gerardo Valenzuela, Stefan Chirila, and Kenji Mboma Dem scored for the visitors.
OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg made only one change to the team that drew 3-3 with Carolina Core FC on Sept. 27 and won 4-2 on penalties. Chikamso made his first start for the team, replacing Tahir Reid-Brown, who left injured in the first half in North Carolina.
The back line in front of goalkeeper Carlos Mercado was Chikamso, Thomas Williams, Hayden Sargis, and Riyon Tori. Colin Guske and Justin Hylton were the defensive midfielders behind Gustavo Caraballo, Justin Ellis, and Titus Sandy, Jr., with Shak Mohammed up top.
The Young Lions started the day in 10th place but with an opportunity to qualify for one of the eight playoff spots. Results around the league went their way, but the team failed to take advantage, as FC Cincinnati 2 dominated the match to end OCB’s season.
Cincinnati’s opening goal always seemed likely, and when it did, it briefly woke up the Young Lions. They converted an equalizer in the 30th minute but fell apart after that. Cincinnati dominated the remainder of the game, putting it away before halftime.
Cincinnati was the more attacking team early as OCB struggled to clear the ball. Valenzuela dribbled near the OCB box in the second minute before Hylton stepped on his foot, conceding a free kick near the top of the penalty area.
Mboma Dem went for goal on the set piece, sending it on target. However, Mercado got to his near post to tip the ball over the crossbar for a corner kick. FC Cincinnati 2 committed a foul on the ensuing ball into the box, ending the attack.
The visitors created another attempt in the 10th minute when Valenzuela received a pass near the top right corner of the OCB box. The attacker fired, but Chikamso blocked it out for a corner kick. Again, Cincinnati couldn’t create anything from the set piece and the Young Lions cleared the danger.
The Young Lions nearly took the lead when Hylton played Sandy down the right in the 15th minute. The rookie played it back central for Hylton near the top of the box, where he was taken down by Stiven Jimenez. Caraballo took the set piece, sending his attempt off the crossbar. The ball bounced around before being cleared to Guske at the top of the box. The Homegrown Player volleyed the ball wide of the far post.
The visitors scored in the 20th minute through a wonderful run by Valenzuela. The midfielder weaved through defenders into the OCB box, beating Williams, Chikamso, and Sargis, before guiding the ball past Mercado and inside the far post from just inside the six-yard box, giving his team the 1-0 lead.
Mohammed made a run to the top of the Cincinnati box in the 24th minute, shooting from distance. Andrei Chirila deflected it wide for a corner kick. Caraballo took the ensuing set piece, sending it through the box untouched and out for a goal kick.
In the 26th minute, Sandy sent a cross into the box that found Ellis’ head, but he sent his shot over the crossbar. Two minutes later, Hylton shot from the top of the box that deflected off Yamir Uculmana, forcing Cincinnati goalkeeper Paul Walters to tip it wide. The Young Lions kept possession in the Cincinnati third, creating another chance when Mohammed found Ellis at the top of the box. He played it forward for Sandy, whose low cross was cleared wide.
OCB continued on the attack, earning a corner kick in the 30th minute. Caraballo sent the set piece into the box, where Chikamso headed it inside the far post for his first professional goal, evening the game at 1-1.
Mboma Dem took a shot from the top right corner of the box in the 34th minute that Guske blocked. However, the OCB midfielder took the worst of it, going down injured. Since he received attention for something other than a head injury, he had to leave the game briefly, leaving the Young Lions with 10 men. The visitors took advantage when a pair of brothers converted with the help of an OCB mistake.
Andrei Chirila sent a long ball down the right for Stefan Chirila. Williams stepped in front to intercept, but he missed the ball, allowing the attacker to shield Sargis and get behind the back line. The attacker placed the ball behind Mercado, retaking the lead for Cincinnati.
Valenzuela took a layoff from Stefan Chirila in the 41st minute. The midfielder took a shot, looking for his second goal of the game, but Hylton deflected it out for a corner kick. The ensuing set piece resulted in two crosses before Uculmana pulled Hylton back, earning a yellow card.
Two minutes later, the visitors extended their lead. Hylton had the ball near the top of the OCB box, losing possession to Stefan Chirila. The midfielder touched the ball forward for Mboma Dem, who beat Mercado to his near post to give his team a 3-1 lead.
Guske went down for a second time in the first minute of first-half stoppage time. It initially looked like Goldberg would make his first change, but he decided to end the half with 10 men to avoid using a substitution window.
The final chance of the half came in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Hylton failed to clear the ball. Valenzuela took possession of the ball, firing on target and forcing Mercado to go down to make the stop.
After 45 minutes of action, Cincinnati had the edge in shots (8-7), shots on target (5-2), corner kicks (4-2), and passing accuracy (91.2%-89.5%). OCB had more crosses (3-2) but trailed by two goals at the break.
OCB made one halftime substitution at central midfield as the injured Guske was replaced by Dylan Judelson.
Cincinnati started the second half the way it ended the first half, putting pressure on the OCB back line. In the 46th minute, Valenzuela played Mboma Dem forward, but Mercado blocked his shot out of play for a corner kick. The ensuing set piece resulted in several headers that the Young Lions were unable to clear. Eventually, Williams knocked it out for another corner kick that landed on the foot of Uculmana, but his attempt went wide.
The Young Lions had one of their best attacks in the 51st minute, passing the ball around the top of the box. Mohammed took a shot from the top right corner that Andrei Chirila blocked. The ball deflected to Ellis, who fired, but Noah Adnan blocked it.
The Young Lions forced a turnover in the 53rd and went on the break with Hylton finding Mohammed to his right. The forward took a couple of touches before shooting from the top of the box, but Andrei Chirila made another block.
The visitors extended their lead again in the 59th minute when Tori blocked Stefan Chirila’s pass. Unfortunately, it went straight to Mboma Dem, allowing him to get behind the OCB back line. He sent it past Mercado to give Cincinnati a 4-1 lead.
The Young Lions nearly got one back in the 61st minute when they earned a corner kick. Caraballo sent the set piece into the box, where Sargis got his head to the ball. The center back sent it to the back post where the ball bounced off the woodwork, keeping the deficit at three goals.
Chikamso went down injured in the 67th minute, requiring attention. The stoppage allowed Goldberg to make three more changes. Favian Loyola, Noham Abdellaoui, and Jacob Ramirez entered the game for Chikamso, Williams, and Hylton.
The Young Lions should have netted a second goal in the 71st minute when Caraballo found Ellis open near the penalty spot. Ellis somehow managed to send the shot wide. Loyola got into the action in the 72nd minute, receiving the ball well outside the box. Rather than crossing it in for a teammate, he went for goal from 25 yards out, sending his attempt right to Walters.
On the other end, Carson Locker attempted a long-distance attempt, but this one sailed well over the crossbar.
Caraballo made a run to the top of the box in the 75th minute before backheeling the ball to Ellis behind him. The attacker’s second touch was a shot that forced Walters to dive to his right to tip it wide. The Young Lions couldn’t create anything from the ensuing set piece as Cincinnati cleared.
Goldberg made his final change during the second-half hydration break, replacing Sandy with Jake Basinet.
Loyola played Mohammed to the end line in the 82nd minute and the forward reached it before it went out of play. His pass was a little behind Ellis, who flicked it on frame with his heel. It was a close-range chance on target, but Walters reacted well to make the stop.
The Young Lions came close again in the 88th minute when Judelson drew a foul on Yair Ramos near the top of the OCB box. Loyola’s set piece found Abdellaoui’s head, but he sent his attempt off the post.
Mohammed earned a corner kick in the first minute of stoppage time. Loyola’s ensuing set piece delivery found Ellis, who sent his header attempt wide.
At full time, OCB had more shots (18-14), crosses (8-3), and corner kicks (7-6). However, the Young Lions struggled to put their chances on target, sending fewer on frame than the opposition (8-4). Additionally, the visitors had better passing accuracy (89.5%-88.8%).
Three points in this game would have qualified the Young Lions for a third consecutive postseason. Unfortunately, they failed to show up when needed, being completely outplayed. Meanwhile, Cincinnati was up to the occasion, earning a playoff spot on the last day of the season.
That concludes OCB’s 2025 season. The Young Lions put themselves in position to qualify for the playoffs with a three-game winning streak in August and September, but losses to teams below them were costly. Overall, it will be seen as a disappointing season for OCB.
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