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Orlando City vs. CF Montreal: Final Score 0-0 as 10-Man Lions Toothless Yet Again

It was Rafael Santos’ turn to get sent off this week as the Lions played to their third consecutive scoreless draw.

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9 months ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

For the third consecutive match, Orlando City had enough chances to score to win a game, but failed to be clinical enough to do so. The Lions (3-2-4, 13 points) also saw a defender sent off in the second half with a second yellow card for a second consecutive game as they drew CF Montreal (0-6-3, 3 points) 0-0 at Stade Saputo tonight. While it ran Orlando City’s unbeaten run to six games (2-0-4), it was also the team’s third straight without a win.

Orlando continued to either miss the net or fire at the goalkeeper for the third consecutive game, while Rafael Santos was the man who put his team in a bad spot during a game in which Rodrigo Schlegel was suspended for doing the same a week ago.

“I seriously(saw) in the first half, 20 minutes, of the intention that we brought here to play against Montreal, where we sequenced it well and we created some chances,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “And the second half, it was the same until the red card came.”

Pareja’s lineup was again shorthanded, as Pedro Gallese started in goal behind a back line of Kyle Smith — entering the starting XI in place of the suspended Schlegel — Robin Jansson, David Brekalo, and Alex Freeman. Joran Gerbet and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson once again started in central midfield, with neither starter on the bench after both were available a week ago. The attacking line was made up of Ivan Angulo, Martin Ojeda, and Marco Pasalic, with Luis Muriel up top.

Orlando played well for the first five minutes of the first half and the final 10 minutes of the opening period, but most of what came in between consisted of turnovers, poor passing, and a general lack of rhythm. Muriel got the game’s first shot away in the second minute as he found space just outside the area, but he was leaning back when he shot and his effort was always rising wastefully over the bar. Three minutes later, Freeman got on the ball in the box, shook off his defender, and smacked his shot into the outside netting.

Dante Sealy was a threat down the left for Montreal throughout the first half. That started early when he got down the left but slipped as he tried to send in a shot or a cross that ended up on top of Gallese’s net in the sixth minute. Two minutes later, Montreal tried to work a give-and-go in the Lions’ box but Gallese was able to pounce on the loose centering pass before a Montreal player could arrive.

Angulo cut in from the left in the 13th minute and tried his luck from the top of the area, but the Colombian sent his shot straight at goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.

Montreal nearly scored in the 19th minute when Sealy fired a shot from just outside the left corner of the box. Gallese got a fist to it to knock it wide for a corner.

Sealy scored on the recycle of the ensuing corner but the flag came up immediately. Samuel Piette was offside and stayed in Gallese’s line of vision, preventing the Peruvian from getting a look at Sealy’s shot. The play was reviewed and the no-goal call was upheld.

Nathan Saliba sent a shot well over the bar on a free kick in the 26th minute after Gerbet turned over the ball and Thorhallsson compounded the problem by fouling near the right corner of the box. Sealy and Prince Owusu each got half chances moments later but couldn’t get shots on frame out of them. Gallese then made an acrobatic catch on a corner kick cross in the 32nd that likely prevented a tap-in at the back post for Montreal.

The Lions started creating again at the end of the half after a spell of not giving the ball away cheaply. Muriel took a nice pass from Ojeda in the 43rd minute but missed the target from inside the left side of the box.

Pasalic then fired with his weaker right foot in the 44th minute but Sirois was able to fight it off.

Angulo fired wide from the top of the box in stoppage time, as the Lions continued to waste opportunities. After a poor corner kick cross was cut out by the back line, the fifth consecutive wasteful half by the OCSC attack was over.

The hosts held the halftime advantage in possession (53.8%-46.2%), passing accuracy (85%-83.4%), and corners (4-0, although Orlando literally ended the first half with a corner that was cleared by Montreal, so I’m not sure what the official scorer was doing late in the half). The Lions mustered more shots (6-2) and shots on target (2-0 — again, Gallese made a good save in the first half on Sealy, so it’s anyone’s guess what the statisticians were doing during the first period).

Santos replaced Smith to start the second, as the veteran was on a yellow card since the third minute. Nothing much changed, as Orlando continued to give the ball away cheaply and spend time absorbing pressure. The Lions conceded a long-range free kick just seconds after the restart but Gallese caught the long entry ball.

Owusu nodded down a ball for Caden Clark moments later but Orlando’s defense cleared. After a failed corner by Orlando, Montreal came back on the attack but George Campbell got frustrated and tried a shot from extreme range that Gallese caught on a hop in the 59th minute.

A minute after that attempt, the Lions had a legitimate call for a penalty. A wayward pass was picked off by Angulo, who knocked it toward Muriel. Campbell took Muriel completely out from behind but referee Fotis Bazakos made no call, and the hosts took the free kick quickly to get away with the foul in the box.

“I’m so angry and I’m so frustrated,” Pareja said about the lack of a call or a review. “How, with our technology, and with the VAR…how is it not a PK? Please! I mean, it is so clear. And when I came back to the locker room and I saw the play, that increased our frustration. It was not right. It was a clear PK against Luis.”

In the 62nd minute, Gerbet was left in space outside the area. The rookie fired a shot that fizzed over the crossbar. Three minutes later, Pasalic missed the target again from the top of the box.

Gallese made a difficult save in the 69th minute on a Clark shot that bounced off of Gerbet and changed directions. The goalkeeper was able to maintain his balance just enough to stay on his feet and make the stop.

The game dramatically changed in Montreal’s favor in the 76th minute when an Orlando attack evaporated and Sealy looked to counter. There was some contact from behind by Santos and Bazakos gave the left back a second yellow, putting Orlando down a man for the second consecutive game. Santos was three-quarters of the field away from his goal and had no business making contact, but he made the selfish play trying to win back the ball. While Sealy did a good job of selling it, the Brazilian knew he was on a yellow card and had to be careful — and he wasn’t.

“Very frustrating, because that’s not what you plan during the week, playing with ten,” Pareja said. “And at some point, especially when you’re going away, they get an advantage that is not necessary.”

Shortly after the sending off, Orlando City had a golden opportunity on the counter. Angulo took the ball up the left and had second-half sub Duncan McGuire breaking toward goal on the other side. The Colombian tried to pick out McGuire, but could not get his final pass correct, and Montreal broke the other way. That led to a shot by Clark that was denied by a good save by Gallese.

“Very happy with the confidence that Pedro is acquiring again, is getting back to it,” Pareja said. “Not that we want to let the other team take too many shots, but when we need him the most, he appears, and that’s great for us.”

Orlando sacrificed attacking players for defensive ones, trying to preserve a road point. Thomas Williams entered the match for Muriel and Zakaria Taifi came on for Ojeda down the stretch.

The Lions gave up a couple of half chances and a few set pieces, but they did not break down in the end. The whistle finally blew on the club’s third consecutive scoreless draw — a frustrating one considering it came against a team with two points on the season.

Montreal finished with the advantage in possession (55.2%-44.8%), shots (13-9), shots on target (7-2), corners (8-2), and passing accuracy (83.7%-78.1%).

“I mean little bit frustrated, if I’m completely honest,” Thorhallsson said about his thoughts on the match overall. “It’s always good to have clean sheet. But we were scoring a lot and conceding a lot at the same time, but now we’re keeping the goal clean and not scoring a lot, so we need to find the balance. But a good point on the road since we got a red card. Of course, zero-zero’s fine on the road, but we have to start winning games.”

“I saw the team fighting a lot, and obviously we’re concerned about not scoring goals, but the other side is a good balance defensively, and we want to keep that,” Pareja said. “But in order to add three points, we have to score goals. We have to get back to that. But I like the attitude of the team. I thought we fought hard. I like the youngsters that are coming and helping us, also the guys that are occupied in the midfielder positions that help us a lot. So, a bunch of positive things. I know it seems like one point is not enough at this stage, but I know where we going, and we will keep pushing.”

The Lions return home a week from tonight to host Atlanta United in the first of two meetings against their northern neighbors this season.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/20/26

New signing for the Orlando Pride, MLS transfer happenings, Americans in midweek action, and more.

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4 hours ago

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January 20, 2026

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Image of the Orlando Pride starting XI prior to the 2025 NWSL semifinal against Gotham FC.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone. If you were lucky enough to have Monday off from work, I hope you’re feeling rested and ready to tackle the week. If you weren’t so fortunate, take solace in the fact that you’re one day closer to the weekend. We’ve got plenty to discuss this morning, but before we get into the links, we want to welcome Josh Simon as a subscriber member of The Mane Land . If you’d like to subscribe and receive extra perks, please consider signing up at our Buy Me a Coffee site (or just check it out and swee what’s on offer) at buymeacoffee.com/themaneland. OK, now let’s get into the links!

Orlando Pride Add a Forward

The Orlando Pride kicked off the week by announcing the signing of Jamaican international forward Solai Washington on Monday afternoon. The 20-year-old FSU product joins on a deal that runs through the 2027 season and contains a mutual option for the 2028 campaign. At the international level, Washington has played five times for Jamaica, including three appearances at the 2023 Women’s World Cup when she was only 17. While she has yet to make her professional debut, she’s a young player with plenty of upside, and the Pride have been sorely in need of depth when it comes to the team’s group of attackers. She’s got some excellent players to learn from, and a contract that runs through next season means she should have a couple of years to do so. Welcome to Orlando!

MLS Transfer Roundup

With the beginning of the new Major League Soccer season drawing nearer by the day, the transfer business in and around the league is showing no signs of slowing down. We begin with Inter Miami, which has fully signed Tadeo Allende from Celta Vigo after he spent 2025 on loan with the Herons. Allende is now under contract through June of 2030. Next, there’s the Houston Dynamo, who Tom Bogert says are finalizing the signing of Mateusz Bogusz from Cruz Azul that has been rumored for awhile now.

Mr. Scoops also says that LAFC is putting the final touches on a deal to acquire midfielder Amin Boudri as an MLS U22 Initiative signing.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a whole slew of Americans who will be playing games during the working week, and the Champions League is a recurring theme. Things get going later today when Malik Tillman and Bayer Leverkusen take on Real Madrid, while Folarin Balogun’s Monaco side hits the road to face Real Madrid. Wednesday has Yunus Musah and Atalanta squaring off against Athletic Bilbao, while Tim Weah and Marseille host Liverpool. Attention shifts to the Europa League on Thursday when Auston Trusty and Celtic visit Bologna, while Tanner Tessman and Lyon face Young Boys. Things wrap up on Friday when Damion Downs and Hamburg play James Sands and St. Pauli in the Bundesliga, while West Brom and former Lion Daryl Dike have a road game against Patrick Agyemang and Derby County in the Championship.

AFCON Final Fallout

Saying that the AFCON final was a chaotic affair is an understatement, and now that the dust is settling after the end of the tournament, some of the fallout from the match is beginning to be felt. FIFA President Gianni Infantino criticized the scenes at the final as “unacceptable” and stated his belief that the Confederation of African Football will take disciplinary measures. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation stated that it will file complaints with both FIFA and CAF regarding the bulk of Senegal’s team withdrawing to the locker room after Morocco was given a late penalty kick. Senegal coach Pape Thiaw could be in line to receive match bans for his role in leading Senegal’s players off the field, although its unknown whether any ban would only be for CAF competitions or would come into play at this summer’s World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • Former Lion Cesar Araujo looks to be close to joining a new team.
  • Senegal’s backup goalkeeper didn’t play in the AFCON final but was still extremely active during the game.
  • Charalampos Kostoulas scored a ridiculous goal to help Brighton and Hove Albion rescue a late point against Bournemouth.

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

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Orlando City

Orlando City’s Three Biggest Current Roster Questions

What are the three most concerning issues for Orlando City this preseason?

Published

1 day ago

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January 19, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City has begun its preseason training as the 2026 MLS season nears. The last few weeks have seen signings and departures that have given fans a closer look at what the team will look like when the Lions take on the New York Red Bulls on Feb. 21.

In some cases, the team has made moves that will secure positions that were questionable during the off-season. The two most notable are the signing of Maxime Crepeau as the starting goalkeeper and Martin Ojeda signing a new deal through the 2028-2029 season.

But there are also some questions still to be answered. Let’s take a look at some of the most concerning issues with the current roster.

Who Will Start at Left Back?

Rafael Santos became Orlando City’s starting left back for the 2023 MLS season after the departure of Joao Moutinho.  The Brazilian was a regular in the lineup until early last season when he was relegated to the bench in favor of David Brekalo. The club ended up trading Santos to the Colorado Rapids on Aug. 15, 2025.

Despite not being a natural left back, Brekalo started in the position for the majority of last season until the final three games, when Adrian Marin started in the role. Brekalo started two of the last three games at center back and was away on international duty for the other.

Marin was less than impressive in his first starts for the club. Even though he’s really a center back, Brekalo seemed better at the position than the newer arrival. However, that might not be an option this season and isn’t an ideal situation in any case.

Orlando City sold starting center back Rodrigo Schlegel to Atlas FC on Dec. 16. The decision seemingly forces Brekalo back into the center of the field, where he’ll start alongside club captain Robin Jansson. Even if the club complete the rumored acquisition of Brazilian defender Iago, the departures of both Schlegel and Thomas Williams mean Brekalo will likely need to play his natural position.

That leaves the question of what to do at left back. At this point, Marin starting makes the left back position the weakest of the four. The club doesn’t have any dependable options after Kyle Smith departed the club this off-season. Right now, it will be either Marin or Brekalo, which will cause concerns at the position or leave depth issues at center back. Regardless, it’s an issue that needs to be addressed as the season gets closer.

However, it bears mentioning that Marin had to adjust midseason to a new team on a new continent. It’ll be up to him to settle in during preseason camp and be ready when the season starts.

What Will Happen With Alex Freeman?

The left fullback position isn’t the only potential problem on the back line. A Homegrown product that came through the Orlando City academy and Orlando City B, Freeman made himself a household name last year. The right back quickly took the starting role from Dagur Dan Thorhallsson and started at right back for the U.S. National Team over the summer.

However, his stellar play has also led to interest from clubs overseas. Freeman has publicly stated his desire to play in Europe and he’s currently on a club option year for 2026. If he refuses to re-sign with the club, Orlando City might look to sell him before the European transfer window closes in early February or this summer in the MLS secondary transfer window to avoid losing the 21-year-old for free.

That would leave the Lions with a very serious problem at right back. The Lions traded Thorhallsson to CF Montreal this off-season and, as previously stated, Smith is gone as well. At this point, the starter if Freeman departs would probably be Zakaria Taifi. While the 20-year-old has shown quality for OCB and the first team, he’s still raw with little MLS experience.

As of now, Freeman will be the starter when the season begins and could end up extending his contract with the club, especially since playing in MLS hasn’t hindered his ability to get into the senior national team. But if contract negotiations don’t look positive in the near future, the club will have to figure out what to do with the future of that position.

Will Duncan  McGuire Solidify His Spot Up Top?

The defensive midfield and attacking midfield positions are pretty well set for the 2026 campaign. However, there are definitely some questions when it comes to who will play up top.

The position wasn’t exactly in a great state late in the 2025 season. The two top goal scorers on the team last year were midfielders in Ojeda and Marco Pasalic. Luis Muriel and Ramiro Enrique both scored in double digits in all competitions, but neither is with the club anymore.

The Lions sold Enrique to Saudi side Al-Kholood on Sept. 8, and sold Muriel to Colombia’s Atletico Junior on Jan. 15. That leaves McGuire as the club’s only striker with any considerable experience.

A first-round pick in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft, McGuire had a strong rookie campaign that saw him score 15 goals in 37 appearances in all competitions. He nearly left the club following the season — even traveling to England to finalize the deal — but a clerical error on Blackburn Rovers’ part saw the move fall through.

McGuire’s contributions dipped slightly in 2024 as he scored 11 goals in 37 appearances and it got worse when he suffered a shoulder injury in the first round of the playoffs that required surgery.

The 2025 season was McGuire’s worst since turning professional as he sustained an injury to his other shoulder and watched Muriel and Enrique carry the attacking position until Enrique’s departure. Even when Oscar Pareja put two players up top, he usually paired Ojeda with Muriel rather than McGuire. McGuire only appeared 23 times in 2025 with seven starts in all competitions, scoring just three goals. However, with Muriel’s departure this off-season, McGuire is the only experienced natural striker on the roster.

The main question for McGuire this season will be his health. The attacker has had trouble staying on the field with the back-to-back shoulder injuries. The recent departures and lack of additions into the squad mean he’ll likely be expected to start when the season begins. It could be a bounce back season if he can stay healthy.

However, that’s still a big question. In the meantime, the club still needs depth at that position, regardless of McGuire’s health. It’s something that must be addressed during the preseason. The club does, however, have an open Designated Player slot available.

This off-season has been somewhat troubling for Orlando City fans. The club saw some key departures and not enough additions to feel confident about the upcoming season, but there is still a month before opening day.

As the team goes through preseason training and the first regular-season game gets closer, there are still some issues that must be addressed if the team wants to improve on last year’s disappointing finish. These three questions are the most concerning.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/19/25

Lions signs Harvey Sarajian, Orlando City’s latest transfer rumor, Pride sign three players, and more.

Published

1 day ago

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January 19, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope you all had a good holiday weekend as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I’ve been staying busy at work and checked out the 2026 Chicago Cubs Convention over the weekend. Before we get started, let’s all wish OCB’s Titus Sandy Jr. a happy birthday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Signs First-Round Pick Harvey Sarajian

Orlando City announced Friday that the club has signed 2026 MLS SuperDraft first-round pick Harvey Sarajian to a first-team contract. The deal runs through the 2027-2028 MLS season, with three additional club option years that could keep him in Orlando through 2030-2031. The Naples native began his collegiate career at Georgia Southern before transferring to Wake Forest last year. He scored two goals and added two assists in 17 games last season for the Demon Deacons, but his side fell to SMU in the ACC Tournament and failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Sarajian will likely be a reserve for MLS games this year and develop his game with Orlando City B in MLS NEXT Pro.

Lions Reportedly in Negotiations to Sign Brazilian Defender

According to Tom Bogert of The Athletic, Orlando City is reportedly in negotiations to sign 20-year-old center back Iago from Flamengo in Brazil’s Serie A.

https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/2012983324361343248

Iago joined the club in 2024 and has played for the Flamengo U-20 squad, making 10 appearances and scoring six goals. He has also made five appearances for Flamengo’s first team, scoring one goal across all competitions. According to another report, the two sides have been in negotiations for the last 10 days, and the transfer fee is reportedly $3.5 million. Iago has exceeded the age limit for Flamengo’s U-20 side, and his contract expires at the end of the year as the club looks to sell the defender.

https://twitter.com/JulioMiguelNeto/status/2012974189527855558

Orlando Pride Sign Three Players to One-Year Deals

The Orlando Pride announced Friday that the club has signed forward Seven Castain, goalkeeper Cara Martin, and defender Nicole Payne to one-year contracts for the 2026 NWSL season. Castain spent four seasons playing collegiate soccer at Texas Christian University. She earned 2025 United Soccer Coaches All-America first-team honors, was a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist, and tied the school’s single-season goals record with 17 in her senior season. Martin played college soccer at Georgetown University, where she was named Big East Goalkeeper of the Year, starting 23 games in her senior season, and recording eight shutouts and 59 saves. Payne was a free agent and had previously played for the Portland Thorns and Paris Saint-Germain.

MLS Transfer News Roundup

There is plenty of transfer moves from the past few days. Austin FC has reportedly submitted a transfer bid to acquire former Lion Facundo Torres from Palmeiras. A week ago, Torres was linked with a potential move to Benfica. Orlando City would receive a 15% sell-on percentage if the transfer move is finalized.

https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/2012264099913085209

St. Louis City is reportedly finalizing a deal to sign Mamadou Mbacke Fall from Barcelona.

https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/2012626458376646923

Toronto FC has signed goalkeeper William Yabrough to a contract through the 2026 season with an option through June 2027. Real Salt Lake has acquired Lukas Engel from EFL Championship side Middlesbrough. Engel is under contract through December 2028 with an option for 2028-2029. New York City FC announced the club has loaned defender Mitja Ilenic to Polish side Rakow Czestochowa through December 2026. Lastly, the San Jose Earthquakes announced that defender Nick Lima has retired from professional soccer after nine seasons in Major League Soccer.

Rose Lavelle, Lilly Earn U.S. Soccer Recognition

The U.S. Soccer Federation announced its 2025 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year and Young Female Player of the Year Award Friday. NJ/NY Gotham FC midfielder Rose Lavelle was voted 2025 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. Lavelle scored the lone goal to help Gotham FC defeat the Washington Spirit to win the 2025 NWSL Championship, earning match MVP honors. She returned to the U.S. Women’s National Team last June and had six caps and one goal contribution in each of those matches. She beat out Sam Coffey and Catarina Macario for the award. Lavelle’s teammate, Lilly Reale, was voted the 2025 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year. The 22-year-old defender made 29 appearances last season in the NWSL, played 2,217 minutes, and was named the NWSL Rookie of the Year. Reale had five caps for the USWNT and recorded one assist in her debut against Ireland last summer. She won 48% of the total vote, beating out Jordyn Bugg and Micayla Johnson.

Senegal Wins 2025 Africa Cup of Nations

Senegal beat host Morocco 1-0 after extra time to win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title for the second time in five years. The match saw drama late in the second half when Morocco was awarded a controversial penalty kick in stoppage time. Senegal Men’s National Team manager Pape Thiaw instructed his team to leave the pitch. Players from both teams argued over the controversial VAR penalty call, and violent altercations ensued between Senegal supporters and Moroccan authorities. After a 15-minute delay, the Senegal players returned to the pitch, and Brahim Diaz saw his Panenka penalty attempt easily saved, keeping the match scoreless and sending it to extra time. Pape Gueye scored the winning goal for Senegal, while Morocco missed out on ending its 50-year wait for a continental title on home soil.

Free Kicks

  • Our Lions have been busy at preseason training camp over the weekend, working on their conditioning.
https://twitter.com/OrlandoCitySC/status/2013004943645413401
  • Orlando City gave new signings Braian Ojeda and Maxime Crepeau a warm welcome at Inter&Co Stadium.
https://twitter.com/OrlandoCitySC/status/2012585711128510914
https://twitter.com/OrlandoCitySC/status/2012948099820302473

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

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