Connect with us

Orlando City

Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Player Grades and Man of the Match

How did your favorite Lions perform in Orlando City’s 2-2 draw against the Red Bulls?

Published

1 year ago

on

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City completed the second of two back-to-back road contests against teams with the word New York in their names in Saturday afternoon’s matchup at the newly minted Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, NJ. Orlando allowed the Red Bulls to enjoy possession but was the first team to strike and took a 2-1 lead into halftime before allowing a quick equalizer to start the second half. While the match ultimately ended in a 2-2 draw, Orlando City will lament the missed chances that may have otherwise resulted in a road win.

Let’s look at the Lions’ individual performances and see who impressed and who needs to improve.

Starters

GK, Pedro Gallese, 6.5 — Gallese was called into action early, and for the most part he made some bright saves on the afternoon to keep Orlando in the game. He made five total saves and parried away multiple strong attempts from the Red Bulls attack. Up a goal in the first half, an unfortunate video review gifted the Red Bulls a chance at an equalizer. While Gallese guessed correctly, the placement and pace put the penalty kick attempt just out of his reach. The second New York goal was a point-blank redirection from a player the back line completely disregarded. The Peruvian finished with five saves, with his biggest coming on a breakaway by Gjengaar in the 72nd minute. Gallese completed 70% of his 20 passes and was successful on seven of his 13 long balls.

D, Kyle Smith, 6.5 — Swiss Army knife Kyle Smith was inserted into the starting lineup for a struggling Rafael Santos and provided the usual defensive effort that we have come to expect from the veteran. Smith touched the ball a team-high 76 times and completed 75.5% of his 49 passes. He was credited with one key pass and was accurate on his lone cross but only three of his eight long balls. The left back was fairly active on defense, recording a team-high five tackles and chipping in seven clearances. Smith was subbed out in the 82nd minute as Orlando looked for a go-ahead goal.

D, Rodrigo Schlegel, 6 — Schlegel touched the ball 47 times and completed 68.8% of his 32 passes but only two of his nine long balls. Both Schlegel and Robin Jansson appeared to make concentrated efforts to unlock the offense with balls over the top, but unfortunately, most of Schlegel’s attempts to link up from the back line were just slightly overhit. Schlegel got involved in the offense, logging two shots, which were both off target. He finished with a team-high 12 clearances but did not record a tackle or interception. He was caught ball watching on the tying goal in the 47th minute, failing to pick up Dennis Gjengaar’s run into his side of the box.

D, Robin Jansson, 5.5 — The captain started his second match since returning from injury. He touched the ball 49 times and completed 88.6% of his 35 passes, while boasting a much healthier ratio on his long ball attempts, completing six of nine. However, the Swede took some unnecessary risks trying to cut off passes to their intendd targets. One such occurrence resulted in Jansson playing catch-up and tangling with Eric Choupo-Moting in the box near the half-hour mark. While the play was not initially called a foul, Armando Villarreal’s review deemed the contact egregious enough that he overturned his no-call and awarded the Red Bulls a penalty kick. On the second goal, Jansson tracked Gjengaar’s diagonal run through the box, but he ultimately wasn’t able to communicate that danger to Schlegel in time to prevent it. Defensively, Jansson had one interception and nine clearances. Jansson was also lucky to not directly gift the Red Bulls another goal, as he gave the ball away cheaply at midfield in the second half, leading to a breakaway shot for New York that Gallese’s touch sent just wide of the net.

D, Alex Freeman, 6.5 — Steady yet timid is the way that I would summarize Freeman’s afternoon effort against the New York-adjacent Red Bulls. He was involved but didn’t seem to hunt his attacking positions as he recorded 61 touches and completed 86.8% of his 38 passes. The young Lion was credited with two key passes. He seemed reluctant to cross and only attempted one during the match, and while it was successful, it seemed like he passed up multiple chances to send a dangerous ball into the box. Offensively, Freeman did not record a shot, but on the defensive side of the pitch, he recorded three tackles, one clearance, and one blocked shot.

MF, Joran Gerbet, 6 — Gerbet started his first professional game in place of Cesar Araujo, who did not make the trip north after picking up a knock late in the week. The first-year pro touched the ball 63 times and was the most accurate Lion out of all players who attempted at least 30 passes, completing a team-best 92.3% of his 52 attempts, including one successful long ball on his only attempt. Offensively, he did not attempt a shot, but he did pick up where Araujo usually shines, drawing a team-high four fouls. Defensively, he logged three interceptions. It was a solid first MLS start for the rookie, and it was reassuring to see some additional depth in the midfield.

MF, Eduard Atuesta, 7 — Atuesta was all over the field throughout the match and touched the ball 71 times, second on the team only to Smith. He completed 75.9% of his 54 passes, including a team high-five key passes. The Colombian was successful on his lone cross and throughball attempt and connected on two of his six long balls. Offensively, Atuesta notched a secondary assist on the first Orlando goal and a primary assist on Orlando’s second goal. On the latter, he unlocked Designated Player Marco Pasalic with a perfectly timed pass over the top. Defensively, he added two tackles and managed to survive the match without picking up a booking.

MF, Ivan Angulo, 5.5 — While Angulo’s pace with and without the ball allows for creativity on the pitch, the Colombian is making far too many mistakes with the ball at his feet, which carry the potential to swing the match in favor of the opposition. Angulo had 57 touches and completed 87.5% of his 40 passes. Functioning on the wing, Angulo did not attempt a cross in the match. He also did not attempt a shot against the Red Bulls. His defensive contributions included one tackle, two interceptions, and one clearance.

MF, Martin Ojeda, 7 — Ojeda touched the ball 46 times and completed 80.6% of his 36 passes, including two key passes, one of his two crosses, and one accurate long ball on his one attempt. Offensively, Ojeda got Orlando out on the front foot with a howitzer of a shot which streaked past an outstretched Carlos Coronel. It was the second goal for Orlando’s No. 10 in the last three matches. He logged three total shots, but the goal was his lone shot on target. Defensively, he contributed one tackle and was substituted off in the 69th minute for Dagur Dan Thorhallsson.

MF, Marco Pasalic, 7.5 (MotM) — It was truly a three-way coin flip to choose which Designated Player should walk away with Man of the Match honors, and Pasalic ultimately got my nod, thanks to a higher passing percentage and putting more shots on target. He touched the ball 43 times, completing 82.6% of his 23 passes. He had two key passes and was successful on his one long ball attempt. He took three shots and put two on target, including his third goal of the year, which at the time put Orlando ahead 2-1. On the defensive end, he was credited with one clearance. This game left me feeling that Pasalic still has another gear to unlock and I am excited to see that happen as the Croatian grows more comfortable in MLS.

F, Luis Muriel, 7 — Starting his second game in a row, Muriel appears to be growing into the player we all hoped that he could be when he was signed one year ago. He touched the ball 52 times and was involved from the opening kick. He completed 75.8% of his 33 passes, including one key pass — his assist to Ojeda for the first goal of the match. He put one of his two shots on target and could have ended the day with all three DPs scoring, but instead he settled for a single assist. Defensively, he added a tackle and two clearances. It was surprising to see the striker credited with six unstable touches, as I thought his hold-up play was excellent and he was able to spray the ball around in tight places.

Substitutes

MF, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson (69’), 6 — Thorhallson entered the match with Orlando level at two goals apiece as Head Coach Oscar Pareja tried to steal all three points on the road. He touched the ball 16 times and completed 72.7% of his 11 attempts. Thorhallsson was able to record two clearances but did not have much success creating offensive chances over the final half hour.

F, Ramiro Enrique (82’), 6 — Enrique entered in the waning minutes and nearly had a winner for Orlando City but was thwarted by Coronel. He touched the ball 10 times, completing 75% of his four passes. Defensively, he logged one interception.

D, David Brekalo (82′), N/A — Brekalo returned to action after being out last week against New York City FC. He logged 14 touches and completed 81.8% of his 11 passes, including one key pass. Brekalo attempted one shot, which unfortunately was not on target. Defensively, he did not log a stat as Orlando was the aggressor in the final few minutes of the match.

D, Rafael Santos (82′), N/A — Santos entered the match for Angulo and touched the ball 14 times, completing all of his five passes, which included two key passes and one of his three crosses. Santos logged two shots, which were both on target. Like Enrique, Santos had a chance to be the hero, but Coronel came up with a huge save. Defensively, he logged one tackle and one clearance.

F, Duncan McGuire (87′), N/A — It was a surprise to see McGuire not only on the bench but enter the match much sooner in the season than initially projected after having off-season shoulder surgery. In limited minutes, Duncan made an impact, recording two shots which were off target (one was blocked) and two key passes. His layoff to Enrique should have produced a late winner. It will be exciting to follow along with how his playing time progresses.

That’s how I saw the individual performances in Orlando City’s draw against the Red Bulls. Let us know how you saw the game in the comments below, and don’t forget to vote for your Man of the Match.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/12/26

Barbra Banda up for weekly honors, Johnny Cardoso to have surgery, Americans in midweek action, and more.

Published

11 hours ago

on

May 12, 2026

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Good morning, everyone. It was a mixed bag for Orlando’s soccer teams over the weekend, as the Orlando Pride and Orlando City B both picked up victories, while Orlando City lost. There’s no rest for the wicked though, because the Pride take on Boston Legacy on the road tonight, while the Lions will host the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday. We’ve got a lot to talk about this morning, so let’s get into the links.

Barbra Banda up for Weekly Honors

Barbra Banda’s game-winning strike over the North Carolina Courage has been nominated for the NWSL Goal of the Week. Banda cut across her marker in the 87th minute with the match tied 0-0 and curled a great strike inside the far post to give the Pride a lead that wouldn’t be relinquished. The victory got Orlando back on track after dropping two games in a row, and the goal was Banda’s league-leading eighth strike of the year. Make sure you go vote for her to win!

Surgery for Johnny Cardoso

Atletico Madrid announced on Monday that midfielder Johnny Cardoso will have surgery to repair an injury to his right ankle. Cardoso was hurt during a training session, with Atletico classifying the injury as a “high-grade sprain involving joint damage.” The club’s statement did not specify a timeline for his return to the field and U.S. Soccer has not made any statement besides wishing Cardoso a speedy recovery. That said, with this summer’s World Cup less than a month away, its tough to imagine that he’ll be healed up and ready to be part of the United States Men’s National Team roster. If that’s the case, it’ll be a bitter blow for both the USMNT and a midfielder that looked like a sure bet to be on the squad.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans who will be taking part in games during the working week, so let’s make sure we’ve got everything on the schedule. Things got started on Monday when Brenden Aaronson played 63 minutes in Leeds United’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham. Action continues today when Aidan Morris and Middlesborough face Southampton in the second leg of an EFL Championship playoff promotion semifinal. Wednesday sees Auston Trusty and Celtic take on Motherwell in a game with massive ramifications on the title race in the Scottish Premier League. Wednesday also has Alex Freeman and Villarreal hosting Sevilla in La Liga play, while Chris Richards and Crystal Palace will try to play spoiler against Manchester City.

MLS Matchday 12 Lessons

Matchday 12 is officially in the books for Major League Soccer, so what did we learn from the weekend’s action? For one thing, Jack McGlynn was imperious in his second game back from injury, as his brace helped the Houston Dynamo knock off LAFC on the road while USMNT assistant Jesus Perez was watching from the stands. The New England Revolution are now unbeaten in the club’s last seven league games, and Carles Gil was a big reason why, as he nabbed a goal and an assist in the Revs’ 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union. He’s got four goals and four assists so far, and the Revs are sitting pretty at second in the Eastern Conference.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

European seasons aren’t quite wrapped up yet, but that isn’t stopping transfer rumors from flying thick and fast. We start with the Premier League, where Manchester City is reportedly prepared to trigger the release clause of 16-year-old Hertha Berlin midfielder Kennet Eichhorn, before immediately sending the player on loan to continue his development. Elsewhere in England, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal are all said to be interested in signing Juventus fullback Andrea Cambiaso. Switching lanes to the managerial side of things, Chelsea has reportedly identified Xabi Alonso as the leading candidate to become the next manager of the team, with the Spaniard said to be open to taking the job. Finally, Jose Mourinho is said to be open to taking the Real Madrid job, although he reportedly has a couple conditions that he wants met first.

Free Kicks

  • Kickoff times have been set for Orlando City’s three group stages matches in this year’s Leagues Cup.
  • The Lions will be launching a new merch collection Friday at The Final Whistle.

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

Continue Reading

Orlando City

Orlando City vs. CF Montreal: Player Grades and Man of the Match

Here’s how your favorite Lions performed in Orlando City’s 2-0 loss to CF Montreal.

Published

1 day ago

on

May 11, 2026

By

Image of Griffin Dorsey trying to send the ball upfield against a Montreal defender.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

If you play Football Manager enough, you play plenty of games where the after-match comment is “a bore draw.” That appeared to be where Orlando City’s road game at CF Montreal was headed until a mistake by Robin Jansson in added time led to a penalty which opened the scoring for the hosts. They tacked on another late in stoppage time and the Lions will return home for a three-game set (one of them in the U.S. Open Cup) sore from Saturday’s 2-0 loss to CF Montreal.

Let’s take a look at how Orlando City’s players rated individually in their matchup with the Quebecois.

Starters

GK, Maxime Crépeau, 5.5 — With 25 shots by Montreal, one would’ve figured Crepeau was busy. Not really — he finished with three saves. A goalkeeper is almost never responsible for being scored on from the penalty spot, but Dagur Dan Thorallsson’s goal at the death is one Crepeau will want back, although in fairness it was perfectly placed. The Canadian goalkeeper finished with a 72.7% passing rate and was helped out after being rounded by Prince Owusu in a 1-v-1 opportunity that his teammates should never have allwoed for what would have been a goal if not for Iago’s sliding block to clear it off the line.

D, Adrián Marin, 5.5 — Marin got caught ball-watching in the 34th minute to allow a Wiki Carmona rocket that just went wide. Otherwise, he just didn’t impact the game one way or the other. Marin completed 87.8% of his passes and added one tackle, one block, and three clearances.

D, Robin Jansson, 5 — Jansson played his normal emergency role all game. Unfortunately, he got put off-balance in the first minute of added time in the second half and fell into the legs of Luca Petrasso, giving a penalty. It was a rough ending for the captain, but Orlando left the door open for Montreal and the hosts took it. The Swede also couldn’t close down Thorhallsson to prevent the second late Montreal goal. Jansson completed 78.7% of his passes, with one tackle, 10(!) clearances, and one block.

D, Iago, 6 — We saw both sides of Iago. He had a really nice pass in the 17th minute to free up Eduard Atuesta on goal but the Colombian missed the target to waste Orlando’s best chance of the game. The Brazilian’s biggest highlight moment was in the 76th minute, when Owusu dribbled past Crepeau for an open look at goal but Iago was there to clear it off the line. On the flip side, he also had a dangerous header defending a corner that almost created an own goal, instead hitting the left post. He got pulled wide in the first minute of the second half, allowing a dangerous shot by Owusu. On the offensive end, he got on the end of a corner but headed it right at Thomas Gillier. He was all over the place, which you can expect from a young player. He would’ve gotten a higher grade had the game finished scoreless because of his goal-line clearance and a couple of sparkling long balls that should have led to more. Alas. He finished with zero interceptions or tackles, three blocks, six clearances, and a 92.3% passing rate. He also picked up a yellow card in the sixth minute of added time in the second half preventing a counter on one of his attacking teammates’ many turnovers.

D, Griffin Dorsey, 5.5— While Orlando City was heavily weighted to the left side all game, when the Lions went down the right, it was through Dorsey. He led the break down that side multiple times but had trouble connecting. Dorsey finished with one tackle, three clearances, and one cross while passing at a 79% rate.

MF, Iván Angulo, 4.5 — When Angulo whiffed on a ball in the second minute which caused a Montreal counter, it was an indicator of the night to come. He was sloppy all game long and, by The Mane Land’s unofficial tally, turned the ball over eight times, with the majority of those coming in his own defensive half. It was an ugly night that looked a touch better when Tyrese Spicer departed, changing Angulo’s duties, but it didn’t wipe out a forgettable match. He finished with 90.2% passing, despite being loose with the ball. He was two out of six for successful dribbles and two out of seven in winning ground duels.

MF, Eduard Atuesta, 5.5 — A major part of the toothlessness of the Lions in the match was the midfield play. While Atuesta had a 95% passing rate, the only real impact he had was in the 17th minute, when Iago broke him free with a great pass. Atuesta made a well-timed run, but he ended up doing nothing with it when he sent his shot wide of goal. He had a turnover in the fourth minute to leave Montreal with a 3-on-2 break, leaving me to wonder if it was going to be one of those nights for him. Luckily no, but there was no real contribution either. He picked up a yellow card in the 62nd, was dispossessed once, and committed four fouls.

MF, Braian Ojeda, 5.5— Atuesta’s midfield partner also had trouble linking the play but contributed a touch more defensively. His sloppy handling in the 41st minute allowed Montreal to keep possession and created a corner. In the end, he finished with one tackle, one block, one clearance, and a 90% passing rate.

MF, Tyrese Spicer, 6— Unfortunately, most of Spicer’s contributions came on the defensive end this game because he could never get himself in the flow offensively. While he was 10-for-11 passing, he attempted two shots, one right at the goalkeeper and the other that missed so badly it almost went behind the net without hitting anything. He had just two touches in the opposition box. His biggest highlight was a tackle in the 23rd minute to end a dangerous Montreal possession. He was replaced in the 67th minute by Duncan McGuire. Spicer finished with a 91% passing success rate, led the team in tackles with four, and added two interceptions.

F, Martín Ojeda, 5 — This grade may be a bit harsh. However, when you are a Designated Player, you have to contribute, and Martin Ojeda was invisible at best. With 44 total passes, he was the one having to compensate for the lack of midfield control and it showed by his lack of offensive contribution. He had zero touches in the opposition box, which is not going to be a recipe for Orlando City success. Martin took one shot that was on target and passed at a 91% rate.

F, Justin Ellis, 6.5 (MotM)— Someone has to win Man of the Match. Ellis almost wins it by default as his overall play was the only positive thing all game. While his stats were mediocre, and there was not one moment you can pick to point to, he was the most talented when on the ball, tracked back to collect the ball occasionally, did more to link play than the midfield did, and just didn’t have a negative impact. He was replaced in the 80th by David Brekalo and finished with a 94% passing rate, was four-for-four on successful dribbles, and went five-for-six on ground duels won.

Substitutes

F, Duncan McGuire (67′), 5— McGuire started out playing out of position on the wing and while asked to pick up the offense, McGuire was unable to show anything of promise. Dorsey found him in the 88th minute with a cross, but McGuire turned down a quick shot and held the ball too long while deciding, and he ended up taking a low angle shot that had been there from the beginning that ended up harmless. He passed at a 75% rate and had three touches in the opposition box, turning those into a measly 0.05 expected goals. One of his touches on a promising attack was heavy and wasted the opportunity to get a shot off late in the game.

D, David Brekalo (80′), N/A — Brekalo came on for Ellis with a few minutes remaining, maybe a tactical choice to see out the draw. He completed all seven of his passes and had one clearance. He was not able to do anything to prevent Montreal’s two late goals, but he wasn’t the only one.

MF, Tiago (90′+5), N/A — Tiago entered right after the penalty to try to claw back a goal. Unfortunately, he whiffed on a 50/50 ball just moments before Thorhallsson ended up scoring the game’s second goal. He wasn’t on long enough to issue a grade, however.

D, Zakaria Taifi (90′+5), N/A — The best thing you can say about Taifi’s time is that he didn’t turn the ball over conceding a goal in the five minutes he was on the field.

That’s how I saw the individual performances in Orlando City’s loss to CF Montreal. Let us know what you thought of the game in the comments below, and don’t forget to vote for your Man of the Match.

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/11/26

Lions fall to CF Montreal, Pride defeat North Carolina Courage, OCB beats Atlanta United 2, and more.

Published

1 day ago

on

May 11, 2026

By

Image of Barbra Banda taking a shot against North Carolina.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Justin Glatt

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida, and belated happy Mother’s Day to all you moms out there. I spent the weekend in Texas catching up with friends and family. Let’s wish a happy birthday to Orlando City goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, who turns 32 today. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Fall to CF Montreal

Orlando City fell 2-0 to CF Montreal at Stade Saputo Saturday on a pair of late goals. After a scoreless first half, the Lions were minutes away from escaping with a point on the road but conceded twice in stoppage time, with former Lion Dagur Dan Thorhallsson adding the insurance goal for Montreal as Orlando City left Canada with zero points. The Lions could not capitalize on their few scoring chances throughout the match. Orlando City returns home for its next match on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Union at Inter&Co Stadium.

Banda’s Late Goal Lifts Pride Over Courage

The Orlando Pride defeated the North Carolina Courage 1-0 at Inter&Co Stadium Friday, as Barbra Banda scored the lone goal late in the second half to help the Pride secure a much-needed win, snapping their two-match losing streak. Banda scored her eighth goal of the season, and she has scored five goals in the last three matches. The Pride will be on the road this week, facing the Boston Legacy Tuesday at Gillette Stadium, followed by another match Saturday against the Denver Summit at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

OCB Beats Atlanta United 2 on the Road

Orlando City B defeated Atlanta United 2 with a goal in each half, winning 2-0 at Turner Soccer Complex in Athens, GA Sunday. Gustavo Caraballo scored the opening goal from the spot to give the Young Lions the early lead. In the second half, Issah Haruna added another goal for the Young Lions to put it away and take three points. OCB will be back on the road Sunday to face New England Revolution II at Beirne Stadium in Smithfield, RI.

Americans Abroad

Austin Trusty played a full 90 minutes as Celtic won its sixth consecutive match across all competitions 3-1 against Rangers. Gio Reyna scored his first goal of the season for Borussia Monchengladbach to snap his 16-month goal drought at the club level, but his side fell 3-1 to FC Augsburg. Weston McKennie played 86 minutes for Juventus in a 1-0 win against Lecce. In the Women’s FA Cup semifinals, Alyssa Thompson played 78 minutes for Chelsea, but her side fell 3-2 to Manchester City after extra time. Lindsey Heaps scored for OL Lyonnes while Lily Yohannes and Korbin Shrader were also in action in a 4-1 win against Paris Saint-Germain to lift the Coupe De France trophy. Later today, Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United will face Tottenham Hotspur.

Free Kicks

  • Check out this video on Orlando City’s social media pages featuring some players writing letters to their moms for Mother’s Day.
  • James Rodriguez will reportedly leave Minnesota United this week and will not return to the club after the World Cup concludes this summer.
  • Slavia Prague chairman Jaroslav Tvrdik stated that the club will impose a lifetime ban to fans who invaded the pitch as the club was minutes away from defeating rivals Sparta Prague Saturday to win the Czech First League title before the match was abandoned.
  • Leandro Trossard scored a late winner in the second half to help Arsenal beat West Ham United 1-0 to keep its five-point lead over Manchester City and pull a step closer to clinching the English Premier League title.

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

Continue Reading

Trending