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Orlando City vs. Inter Miami: Player Grades and Man of the Match

How did your favorite Lions perform in Orlando City’s 4-1 win over Inter Miami?

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10 months ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City welcomed its South Florida rival to The City Beautiful and had one of its best games of the season, dominating Inter Miami 4-1. Luis Muriel netted a brace and Martin Ojeda had a goal and an assist as the Lions claimed a huge three points, moving up to fourth in the Eastern Conference.

Let’s take a look at the individual performance in this very satisfying win.

Starters

GK, Pedro Gallese, 7 — Gallese didn’t have a whole lot to do in this game, but stood tall when called upon. The only concession was a Yannick Bright volley in the fifth minute that he couldn’t do much to stop. In the 67th minute, Luis Suarez tried to chip the goalkeeper off his line. Gallese did well to get back to the ball and punch it over the top. In the 83rd minute, Fafa Picault was sent through and Gallese came off his line to block the attempt.

Overall, Gallese saved four of the five shots he faced. He touched the ball 18 times and completed 75% of his 12 passes, including four of his seven long balls. It was a solid night and a hard-fought win for the Lions’ shot stopper.

D, David Brekalo, 6 — Brekalo took his usual position at left back, touching the ball 60 times. He completed 84% of his 50 passes and one of his four long balls. Defensively, he recorded a tackle, an interception, and four clearances. He didn’t contribute anything offensively, but he was a factor in Miami only taking two shots from inside the box.

D, Robin Jansson, 6 — Jansson captained the team again, touching the ball just 39 times. He completed 93.3% of his 30 passes, including both of his long ball attempts. His involvement in the buildup of Ojeda’s goal earned him an assist. Defensively, he recorded a tackle, five clearances, and an aerial ball won in a somewhat calmer night for the center back. He also took a shot and was booked.

D, Rodrigo Schlegel, 7 — Schlegel was the more active center back in this game, touching the ball 65 times and completing 92% of his 50 passes, including one of his two long balls. He recorded four tackles, two interceptions, six clearances, and two aerials won in one of his best performances this season. He even forced Oscar Ustari into a save with a shot on target.

D, Alex Freeman, 6.5 — Freeman was the starting right back in this game, touching the ball 51 times. He completed 83.8% of his 37 passes, including two key passes and three of his four long balls. Going forward, he put one of his three shots on target. His best chance to score was in the first minute of second-half stoppage time when he made a good run to beat Noah Allen and create space for a shot. But he sent the attempt straight to Ustari. Defensively, he added three tackles, a clearance, and two aerial balls won.

MF, Ivan Angulo, 6.5 — Starting on the left side of the midfield, Angulo had 63 touches and completed 87.2% of his 39 passes, but neither of his two crosses. While he put one of his two shots on target, it was defensively where he shined in this game. The midfielder used his speed to thwart the Miami attack on multiple occasions, winning the ball back in the Orlando City third of the field. On the defensive end, he recorded two tackles, two interceptions, and three clearances. The hard-working Angulo came off in the 90th minute, replaced by Tyrese Spicer.

MF, Cesar Araujo, 6.5 —  Araujo had a team-high 89 touches in this game, completing 92% of his team-high 75 passes, including five of his seven long balls. He didn’t do much offensively but contributed defensively with three tackles, a clearance, and a blocked shot. Overall, it was the type of solid performance Orlando City fans have become used to from the Uruguayan. Unfortunately, he was booked breaking up a counterattack and he’ll miss the Lions’ next game due to suspension.

MF, Eduard Atuesta, 6 — Atuesta also did his part in the defensive midfield in this game, touching the ball 63 times and completing 89.4% of his 47 passes. He had an interception, two clearances, and a blocked shot defensively, while winning a team-high three aerial balls. He came off for Kyle Smith in the 84th minute after a solid performance.

MF, Marco Pasalic, 7 — Pasalic had 42 touches in this game, completing 87% of his 23 passes, including a key pass, one of his four crosses, and two of his four long balls. He put two of his three shots on target, with both coming on the same play. He hit the post in the 82nd minute, making up for it in the 88th minute. The attacker forced Ustari into a save before collecting the rebound and creating a second chance. This time, he guided the ball into the corner for his team’s fourth goal of the night. The attacker also added a late clearance as the Lions saw out the game. Immediately after his goal, Pasalic was replaced by Dagur Dan Thorhallsson.

F, Martin Ojeda, 7.5 — Ojeda was great in this game, touching the ball 60 times. He completed 94.7% of his 38 passes, including four key passes, two of his six crosses, and all four long balls. Most everything went through the attacker. He assisted the opening goal in the second minute with a beautiful ball and scored in the 58th minute. The forward should’ve had a goal in the 54th minute when his first shot was blocked by Ustari right back to him. Ojeda could’ve passed it in, but sent the attempt over the top instead. Of course, he made up for it four minutes later, albeit with some help from Ustari’s poor goalkeeping. In addition to his distribution, he put three of his six shots on target, including his goal. 

F, Luis Muriel, 8 (MotM) — There’s little question about Man of the Match in this game as Muriel followed up with a hat trick against Necaxa with a brace against Miami. And it was nearly a second consecutive hat trick. He started the game off quickly by scoring in the second minute before giving his team a 2-0 lead in the 50th minute. He also assisted Ojeda’s 58th-minute goal to put his stamp on the game. He nearly scored the goal of the game in the 20th minute when he volleyed a poor Ustari clearance from near midfield. Everyone watched with bated breath as the ball rolled toward the corner of the goal. Unfortunately, it hit the outside of the post.

In all, Muriel touched the ball 32 times and completed 81.3% of his 16 passes, including three key passes and one of his two long balls. He put four of his five shots on target — both team highs in the game. Defensively, he added three tackles before being replaced by Ramiro Enrique in the 82nd minute.

Substitutes

F, Ramiro Enrique (82’), 5.5 — Enrique entered the game for a clearly exhausted Muriel in the 82nd minute. He had five touches and completed three of his four passes, all of which were short. He didn’t take any shots or record any defensive stats, but he chased Miami around the pitch to see out the game.

MF, Kyle Smith (84’), 6 — Smith entered the game in the 84th minute for Atuesta, taking over in the defensive midfield. He had 15 touches and completed 92.9% of his 14 passes, including a key pass and one of his two long balls. The versatile player also recorded a clearance as the game wound down.

D, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson (90’), N/A — Thorhallsson came on for Pasalic immediately after his goal, touching the ball six times. He completed 80% of his five passes, his only stats of his short appearance.

MF, Tyrese Spicer (90’), N/A — It was an Orlando City debut for Spicer, coming on for Angulo in the 90th minute. The newbie had five touches and completed both of his passes, including a key pass. He showed some of his skill in the second minute of stoppage time, intercepting a pass, avoiding a defender, and setting up a good scoring chance for Ojeda. Despite a promising (but brief) appearance, he didn’t have enough time on the pitch to earn a grade.

That’s how I saw the individual performances in Orlando City’s 4-1 win over its in-state rivals. Let us know how you saw the game in the comments below and don’t forget to vote on your Man of the Match.

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Flashback Friday: June 10, 2023 vs. Colorado Rapids

Let’s take a trip down memory lane to a booking-laden match at home that took place a little less than three years ago.

Published

11 hours ago

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June 12, 2026

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

The World Cup is now officially underway, and while that means Orlando City is on break, we can’t have you forgetting about the Lions while all the international action is taking place. That means its time for another edition of Flashback Friday, where we hop in the trusty time machine and reminisce on OCSC matches of yesteryear.

Last week we relived a rousing road win over the New York Red Bulls from June, 3 2023, and this week, we actually pick up right where we left off, on June 10, 2023 as the Lions returned home to take on the Colorado Rapids.

Coming off a 3-0 win over the Red Bulls in the previous match, Oscar Pareja decided to not mess with a good thing, and kept Orlando City’s same starting XI from that victory. Pedro Gallese was in net behind a back line of Rafael Santos, Robin Jansson, Antonio Carlos, and Kyle Smith. Wilder Cartagena and Cesar Araujo played the double pivot; Ivan Angulo, Mauricio Pereyra, and Facundo Torres were the attacking midfielders, and Ercan Kara was deployed as the striker.

In typical June fashion for the City Beautiful, kickoff was delayed by just under an hour as the stadium was pounded by storms, and the delay did not look to have done any favors for Orlando’s sharpness. That said, OCSC did win a corner kick less than a minute into the game, and Torres had a tame shot saved in the eighth minute, but the Lions weren’t consistently sharp with their passing in the early moments of the contest.

The teams traded chances just before the 15-minute mark, with Kara sending a header too high before Cole Bassett sent a shot straight to Gallese. Carlos then picked up a yellow card in the 24th minute, which evened things out between the two teams after Lalas Abubakar was cautioned for the Rapids after just six minutes. Those two bookings proved to be a harbinger of things to come, because Colorado went down to 10 men in the 39th minute after midfielder Braian Galvan caught Angulo with a high boot while his studs were showing.

Pereyra had Orlando’s best chance of the opening 45 minutes in stoppage time but could only send his effort right at goalkeeper Marko Ilic, and that was the last significant action of the half. The Lions ended the half with an edge in possession (59.7%-40.3%), shots (7-2), shots on target (2-1), and passing accuracy (85.3%-79.4%), while both teams won two corners.

Pareja made two moves at halftime, bringing on Rodrigo Schlegel for the once-booked Carlos, and Martin Ojeda for Cartagena in an effort to go more offensive against a shorthanded Rapids side. The Lions certainly looked brighter going forward as the second half got underway and had a few dangerous moments before finally breaking the deadlock in the 55th minute.

Pereyra played a ball across the top of the box for Torres, who took a couple of touches before sending a ball to the net that took a wicked deflection off Andreas Maxsø that carried it past Ilic.

It wasn’t the prettiest goal the Lions have ever scored, but for a team that was guilty at times of passing up good shots in favor of the perfect look at goal, it was proof that sometimes you just need to take shots in dangerous areas.

Fortunately, Orlando seemed to take that lesson to heart. Kara went close in the 65th minute despite shooting through traffic, Angulo had a shot deflected by Abubakar three minutes later, and Torres had another deflected effort go just wide of the post four minutes after that.

The game changed again in the 75th minute, when the Rapids had another player sent off. Abubakar lasted for 69 minutes on a yellow card but got burned by Angulo in midfield and hauled him down in order to prevent the Lions from potentially working a transition opportunity. He had some teammates behind him, but the referee showed him a second yellow card. Pareja smelled blood in the water and just three minutes later he brought on Ramiro Enrique for Smith, who had been given a yellow card in the 52nd minute.

Ilic made a great save on Pereyra in the 81st minute to keep the score at 1-0 and keep the Rapids in the game, but Orlando got its second goal just two minutes later. Torres had the ball on the right side of the box with a Colorado player backing off him, and that gave him ample time to get his head up and pick out a man. He played a ball to Enrique at the top of the box, who had plenty of time to take a couple of touches and send a low shot into the bottom corner past a diving Ilic for his first goal as an Orlando City player.

Somewhat surprisingly, the game started to get a little stretched after the Lions doubled their advantage. Colorado had a shot blocked in the 81st minute, Kara sent a shot very close to the post six minutes after that, and Gallese saved a Darren Yapi attempt in the 88th minute to keep his clean sheet alive. Aside from Pareja handing Alejandro Granados his MLS debut, that was the last significant action of the match, which finished 2-0 to the good guys.

Unsurprisingly, considering Colorado’s deficit in players, the Lions dominated all of the game’s most important statistics. OCSC finished with the advantage in possession (65%-35%), shots (15-4), shots on goal (6-2), corners (5-3), and passing accuracy (89.4%-81.5%).

The victory made it back-to-back wins for the first time in 2023, stretched Orlando’s unbeaten run to six, and gave El Pulpo his 100th clean sheet for the team in all competitions.

Marcus Mitchell had the helm for Player Grades in this one, and Torres got his nod for Man of the Match with a goal, an assist, and a grade of 7.5 out of 10. Several other Lions graded out at 7 out of 10, with only one player grading below a 6.

While it was a weird win, it unfortunately was the final game of the unbeaten streak, as the Lions fell to a familiar defeat at Gillette Stadium the following week, although things got back on track soon afterward. I’ll see you back here in a week for another trip down memory lane. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 6/12/26

USMNT plays Paraguay tonight, red cards rain down in World Cup opener, Sporting Kansas City linked with Yann Gboho, and more.

Published

15 hours ago

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June 12, 2026

By

Image of Alex Freeman sliding in celebration of a goal.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! The World Cup is in full swing and the U.S. will play today, so it’s a pretty exciting Friday to say the least. I’m a bit of a bundle of nerves about how the team will do, but I’m still looking forward to catching the game. If you have any gameday rituals, be sure to share, so that we can conjure up enough luck and support for the team tonight. Let’s get to the links!

USMNT’s World Cup Campaign Begins Today

The United States Men’s National Team will take on Paraguay at 9 p.m. tonight in its first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. There’s plenty of pressure on the U.S. to perform well as one of the host nations, and this will also be Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino’s first time coaching at a World Cup. Pochettino stated that all 26 players are available for selection, including center back Chris Richards, although he may not necessarily start. Former Orlando City defender Alex Freeman, who is the youngest player on the U.S. roster, could make his World Cup debut tonight, so be sure to root for our hometown hero should he take the field. Hopefully, the Yanks can start this tournament off on the right foot with a big win in California.

World Cup Opener Features Three Red Cards

This year’s World Cup began in Mexico City, with Mexico beating South Africa 2-0 in a match that included three red cards. All three were straight red cards given in the second half in separate incidents, as Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were sent off for South Africa before Mexico’s Cesar Montes was shown red in stoppage time. There hasn’t been a World Cup match with that many red cards since the record of four was set in 2006 in a match between Portugal and the Netherlands. As for the game’s goals, Julian Quinones pounced on a mistake by South Africa to give Mexico an early lead and Raul Jimenez doubled that lead while South Africa was reduced to 10 men.

Sporting Kansas City Linked With Yann Gboho

While the World Cup roars on, the rumor mill is in full force as clubs make plans for summer reinforcements. Sporting Kansas City is reportedly pushing to sign Toulouse winger Yann Gboho, who recorded 10 goals and three assists across all competitions this past season. The surprising aspect of this pursuit would be that Toulouse values Gboho at an eye-watering $20 million transfer fee, which would be a club record by a country mile. Kansas City needs all the help it can get on offense, as it has scored just 14 goals in 14 games so far this season.

Jose Mourinho Officially Returns to Real Madrid

It’s been a bit of an open secret over the past few weeks that Jose Mourinho would become Real Madrid’s next manager and it’s now official, with the 63-year-old signing a three-year contract with the Spanish club. Mourinho helped Real Madrid win a La Liga title and the Copa del Rey over a decade ago before his departure in 2013 after three seasons with the club. Now, he joins a Real Madrid side that has finished second in the league standings and been eliminated in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League the past two seasons. I, for one, can’t wait to see how one of the biggest personalities in soccer works alongside a locker room of star players that seemed in disarray this past season.

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

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Lion Links: 6/11/26

Wilder Cartagena linked with move to Sporting Cristal, Orlando Pride hire Dr. Nicole Surdyka, Barbra Banda injury update, and more.

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2 days ago

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June 11, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jermey Reper

The World Cup is finally here! Today starts what should be an exciting month of international soccer featuring more teams than ever before. While I wasn’t able to part with the arm and leg necessary to afford a ticket to one of the games, I’m still looking forward to watching along when I can with the rest of the world. Let’s get to the links!

Wilder Cartagena Linked With Move to Peruvian Club

You’ll need a translation tool to check out the full details unless you are fluent in Spanish, but Sporting Cristal of Peru’s top flight is reportedly interested in signing Orlando City midfielder Wilder Cartagena. The 31-year-old is currently under contract with Orlando through 2026, with the contact also including a club option for 2027. He was a crucial part to Orlando’s success in 2024, but he missed all of last year and has only started one game so far this season due to injuries. It’s not much more than a rumor as of now, but it’ll be something to keep an eye on during this break in the league schedule.

Barbra Banda Sustained a Hamstring Injury

Zambia Head Coach Nora Hauptle stated that Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda is dealing with a hamstring strain. Banda didn’t play in either of Zambia’s matches during this international break, but Hauptle also noted that she should recover in the next week or two and will be fine for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations at the end of July. Banda was injured late in the Pride’s 3-1 win against Bay FC on May 29 and it was unclear how severe the injury was. Hopefully she’ll be good to go before the Pride’s match against Angel City FC on July 3.

Dr. Nicole Surdyka Named Orlando Pride Director of Medical & Performance

The Orlando Pride have hired Dr. Nicole Surdyka as their new director of medical and performance. She’ll oversee the Pride’s medical operations, nutrition, and more while also working with Orlando Health. Dr. Surdyka has over a decade of experience that included leadership roles with OL Reign and the LA Galaxy and has studied extensively into developing frameworks for health and performance in women’s soccer.

“Nicole is one of the most respected practitioners in our field, and her expertise in women’s football, return‑to‑play, and high‑performance systems will elevate every aspect of our medical and performance environment,” said Caitlin Carducci, Orlando Pride VP of Soccer Operations & General Manager. “Her leadership, her commitment to evidence‑based practice and her passion for supporting athletes make her an exceptional addition to the Pride.”

Analyzing Paraguay Ahead of USMNT World Cup Match

The United States Men’s National Team will play its World Cup opener on Friday when it hosts Paraguay at SoFi Stadium. It will be the 10th match between the two nations, with the USMNT most recently winning 2-1 against Paraguay in November of last year. There’s a familiar face on Paraguay’s roster in Orlando City midfielder Braian Ojeda, with Miguel Almiron and Andres Cubas as other MLS midfielders called up. Paraguay’s defense is anchored by center back Gustavo Gomez, who you may remember as the player who put former Lion Alex Freeman in a headlock during that aforementioned November friendly. As for Paraguay’s attack, the Yanks will need to keep Julio Enciso and Antonio Sanabria from wreaking havoc. Paraguay is a physical team that’s also strong in the air, so we’ll see how the USMNT deals with that on Friday.

England Beats Costa Rica 3-0 at Inter&Co Stadium

Orlando City’s Inter&Co Stadium hosted a friendly between England and Costa Rica on Wednesday, with England winning 3-0. Declan Rice gave England an early lead, but Costa Rica kept the Three Lions off the scoresheet until the substitutes came on for England in the second half, with Anthony Gordon and Ollie Watkins both scoring. England got the full Orlando experience due to a heavy storm that delayed kickoff, but Inter&Co Stadium earned praise for its drainage system that had the pitch ready to roll in no time. Enjoy this satisfying time-lapse video of the transformation provided by the stadium.

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

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