Orlando City
Orlando City vs. Sporting Kansas City: Player Grades and Man of the Match
How did your favorite Lions perform in Orlando City’s 3-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City?
Cricket is usually the sport that most people associate with games taking place over the course of multiple days, but on Saturday night and Sunday morning, it was soccer that became a two-day game due to extreme weather (read: heavy rain and frequent lightning strikes) in the vicinity of Inter&Co Stadium. Orlando City channeled that lightning into an electric start and a powerful ending, defeating Sporting Kansas City 3-1 to make it four straight victories and six wins in the club’s last seven matches.
I have my purple pen out and I am ready to issue some grades, so here we go. Let’s take a look at how Orlando City’s players rated individually in their matchup with a Western Conference opponent.
Starters
GK, Pedro Gallese, 6.5 — El Pulpo was up to the task when he was called upon, making three acrobatic saves and coming aggressively off his line when balls were played over the top. Kansas City’s one goal came on a play when he had to come out, but the Peruvian was unable to push Mason Toye wide enough to prevent him from playing a ball back into the middle for Dejan Joveljic to tap in and tie the game. That goal felt like it had been coming after Orlando City really let down after the opening goal, so it is hard to fully fault him as Kansas City had been creating good opportunities for nearly 20 consecutive minutes, and the visitors finally converted one. On the whole, I thought it was a strong game for Gallese, as he even added a cool 90% completion rate on his 20 pass attempts.
D, David Brekalo, 6 — the strain of seven full 90s and one nearly full 90 in his last eight games, plus a game pushed back several hours due to weather, plus a partnership with a player out on the left wing who was more focused on offense than defense made this game a little rougher than ideal for Brekalo, as he looked a little leggy toward the end after a solid performance during the first three-quarters of the match. Without usual partner Iván Angulo on the field, Brekalo sat back a little more than usual, and he needed to, as Kansas City clearly was more focused on attacking down his side early in the game. The Lions had some nervy moments during that time and gave up a goal on a play that started with a through ball in between Robin Jansson and Brekalo, but after that, the Slovenian stepped up his defense and played solidly until he looked gassed in the final minutes of the match and got turned around a few times. He finished second on the team with 75 completed passes at a 90.4% completion rate and with one key pass, and he added one tackle and four clearances.
D, Robin Jansson, 6 — The captain had a slightly louder game than his center back partner, Rodrigo Schlegel, but not for positive reasons, as it was on his side where Kansas City focused most of its attack, particularly early in the game. Gallese was called into action early after a through ball split Jansson and Brekalo, and just a few minutes later, it happened again, but this time Kansas City converted. The defense improved after those early chances, but the Lions were fortunate to not be trailing. Jansson contributed to the shoring up of the defense after those early concerns, and he eventually matched his center back partner with 95.1% passing accuracy, as well as making one tackle, one interception, and four clearances.
D, Rodrigo Schlegel, 6 — Quiet games from center backs usually are a good thing, and through no fault of his own, the Argentine had a pretty quiet game, playing solidly but mostly playing just as a fulcrum to help pass the ball among his back line teammates. He completed a game-high 77 passes at a 95.1% clip, and made two tackles, one block and four clearances during the rare moments when Kansas City was attacking in his vicinity.
D, Dagur Dan Thórhallsson, 7 — it was fitting that Thórhallsson took over Kyle Smith’s role in the central midfield during the second half, as he demonstrated his own Smith-like versatility in this game, playing 45 minutes at right back and 45 minutes in the midfield. The Icelandic Dagur-of-all-trades was excellent in both roles, keeping Kansas City from threatening down the attacking left side in the first half and helping the Lions own the center of the field during the second half. He completed 94.5% of his passes and added three tackles and three clearances on defense.
MF, Tyrese Spicer, 6.5 — It is hard to open a game better than how the Trinidad & Tobago international opened this one, ripping a volley into the back of the net within two minutes after the opening kickoff. Spicer, who started on the left to give Angulo a break in a multi-match week, showed tremendous pace and dribbling ability on Saturday night/Sunday morning, and his performance probably made Toronto fans scream, “I told you he was being misused!” at their televisions while watching Orlando City in jealous frustration. Spicer was a threat offensively, but getting forward creates spaces behind, so he had some issues tracking back on defense. If he wants to earn consistent minutes for Óscar Pareja, he will need to improve his defense in the future. On this night, his offense was enough though, as in addition to his goal, he made multiple aggressive runs up the left side to help create chances. He completed 72% of his passes, including two key passes, and also led the team in tackles with four.
MF, Kyle Smith, 6 — with César Araújo out due to yellow card suspension, The Accountant stepped into a starting role, playing the first half as a defensive midfielder. He was an active participant, completing 29 of his 30 pass attempts, and helped out defensively as well, adding two tackles and one clearance. Oscar Pareja talked about spacing issues being a problem in the first half, and the Lions’ energy level certainly dropped significantly after the first 10 minutes, so his solution was to move Thorhallsson to the middle, sacrificing Smith to bring on Alex Freeman, which also served to jumpstart the attack.
MF, Eduard Atuesta, 6 — Absent his usual midfield partner, Araújo, the Colombian played a litter deeper than usual, though he still was engaged in the offense, completing 20 more passes than any non-back-line player. Atuesta completed those passes at a 93.1% rate, with one key pass, and he also took one shot and put it on target, but it was right at the goalkeeper. He had one tackle and two interceptions on defense as well, before making way in the 86th minute for Joran Gerbet to get a little bit of rest with the Lions up 3-1.
MF, Marco Pašalić, 6 — This will not be a game that Pašalić looks back fondly on, as he was unable to get any real threat going on offense and may have been lucky to not be substituted out even earlier than he was. The Croatian took three shots and put two on target, but neither were well struck and both were saved easily. He completed 91.3% of his passes but did not beat any defenders off the dribble, and speaking of defending, he did not contribute any defensive statistics. Perhaps it was due to playing with Thórhallsson instead of his usual partner, Freeman, for most of his minutes on the field, but this was not Pašalić’s night.
F, Martín Ojeda, 7.5 (MotM) — There are only so many superlatives that I can use before it starts to become repetitive, but once again the Argentinean Designated Player was the talisman and key to the Orlando City offense. His shot/pass off the goalkeeper on Spicer’s goal obviously prevented him from extending his goal contribution streak just minutes into the game. ‘Oh well,’ Ojeda must have thought, ‘I’ll just have to do it again,’ and then he went ahead and did by assisting on Ramiro Enrique’s goal to give Orlando City the lead in the second half. Ojeda was everywhere, and on a different day he might have had a hat trick of assists and perhaps a few goals himself, but his touch was a little off. He completed 82.6% of his passes but had a crazy eight key passes — six more than any other Lion — and he took three shots but was unable to put any on target. The offense ran through him once again, and if he continues at his current pace when people refer to Orlando City’s M. Ojeda, that M just might stand for MVP.
F, Luis Muriel, 6 — Though he was active throughout his time on the field, the Colombian did not factor into any of the scoring plays. He got himself into position to take three shots but put none on target, squandering one big opportunity on his left foot after a beautiful one-two with Ojeda, shooting it with venom but high and wide left. He only completed 69.2% of his passes, but as is usually the case, he was trying creative and aggressive passes to unlock the defense, so it was not surprising his completion rate was lower than that of the rest of his teammates.
Substitutes
D, Alex Freeman (46′), 7 — The introduction of the U.S. international at right back invigorated the Orlando City offense, and the team looked completely different (in a positive way) during the final 45 minutes. Freeman’s energy and pace were hugely helpful, and he partnered well with Pašalić and fellow substitutes Angulo and Nico Rodríguez on the right side of the field. He completed 89.3% of his passes, and his shot attempt late in the game was deflected and then corralled by Rodríguez, who turned and fired it into the net. Freeman did not get an assist on the play, but for all intents and purposes he assisted on the third and final goal. He could have done better with a partial breakaway opportunity just moments after Rodriguez’s goal.
MF, Iván Angulo, (71′), 6 — Angulo moved to the bench with the big Leagues Cup game coming up on Wednesday, but just as with Freeman, when he came on he brought energy and pace, and the Lions’ offense accelerated with him zooming around the field. He had a secondary assist on Enrique’s goal, and he almost had a goal himself after being played in behind, but he lifted his shot over the bar. Angulo looked to be running at a different speed than everyone else when he came on, and he provided excellent minutes off the bench after coming on for Pašalić. He completed all five of his passes and tracked back very well to provide defensive cover once Orlando City took the lead.
F, Ramiro Enrique, (71′), 6.5 — The Argentine came on with Angulo, replacing Muriel and Pašalić, and the offense improved with the two subs on for the two Designated Players. Enrique got himself into a dangerous location just minutes after coming on, and when Ojeda cut the ball back into the middle, Enrique was ready, receiving the pass, spinning 180 degrees, and then firing with his weaker left foot, equaling his career high with his eighth goal of the season. He completed four of his five pass attempts, including one key pass, and it was his goal that gave Orlando City the lead back for good.
MF, Nico Rodríguez, (78’), 6.5 — Rodríguez came on for Spicer, sending Angulo over to his favored left side and settling in himself on his favored right side. The Colombian impressed in his 12 minutes plus stoppage time, looking lively and active, and his awareness paid off in the 83rd minute. He alertly controlled a blocked Freeman shot, reacted quickly, and turned and fired, scoring his first career MLS goal and effectively ending the game by putting the Lions up by two. Rodríguez completed seven of his eight passes and put his one shot on target and in the net, and he looked completely comfortable on the field throughout his appearance.
MF, Joran Gerbet, (86′), NA — Gerbet made his return from a long absence due to a thigh injury, coming on for Atuesta to see out the final minutes of the game. He completed all nine of his passes and looked back to full speed, which will be important for Orlando City with a busy next few months ahead.
That’s how I saw the individual performances in Orlando City’s 3-1 win against Sporting Kansas City. 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.
Orlando City
Intelligence Report: Orlando City vs. New York City FC
Get up to speed on the Pigeons ahead of Saturday’s game, courtesy of someone who knows them best.
Happy Friday, everyone. Orlando City got a week of rest after taking care of business against D.C. United at home, and it returns to the purple palace Saturday night to face a New York City FC team with its back against the wall in the race for a playoff place.
A showdown with the Pigeons means I caught up with Matthew Mangam of New York Soccer Journal. As always, he was helpful in getting us up to speed on NYCFC, and we appreciate his help. I also answered some of his questions about Orlando City, so make sure you check them out over at their place!
Talk me through NYCFC’s summer transfer business. Who’s out, who’s in to replace them, and how have they performed?
Matthew Mangam: NYCFC’s summer business wasn’t anything groundbreaking. The club brought in striker Luighi on loan from SE Palmeiras and got back midfielder/defender James Sands, whose loan with St. Pauli ended.
Luighi started off well, bagging four goals in his first seven league appearances. But since then, the 20-year-old is on a five-game drought. To his credit, Luighi started only two of his last five games. As for Sands, this is his third stint at NYCFC, so the versatile 26-year-old was welcomed back with open arms.
The biggest acquisition this summer, though, was Bénie Traoré. The winger joined the club as a Designated Player from FC Basel in Switzerland, but it hasn’t gone well. In 15 league appearances, Traoré has one goal — a penalty kick that hit off the post and went in — and no assists.
The club’s last move that didn’t happen in the summer surprised everyone: adding free agent Matt Miazga. The veteran defender hasn’t made his debut yet, and I’m honestly not sure when he will.
New York City has been a wildly different team since the league restarted after the World Cup. What’s happened to cause the change in form?
MM: I honestly don’t know where to start with this one. There’s so much I could say, but if I did then I’d be here all day. I’ll narrow it down to this: NYCFC can’t play a complete 90 minutes.
NYCFC has conceded six goals in stoppage time this season, is 0-4-12 after falling behind 16 times, and is 4-5-6 at home. So, they can’t hang onto leads — they’ve lost seven points after the 75th minute — they have no come-from-behind wins, and they’re poor at home.
There are other smaller factors, like injuries, individual mistakes from usually solid players (Matt Freese and Sands), and players struggling, but, as I said, it’s a lot.
The playoffs are still in reach, as NYCFC is just two points out of eighth. What needs to happen in order to get above the line and stay there?
MM: Simply put, NYCFC needs to win all four remaining games, or, at the very least, go 3-1-0. Teams around them, like Toronto, Columbus, and Cincinnati, are picking up wins and building separation, so NYCFC is in a do-or-die situation.
Getting Alonso Martínez back and starting again is huge, but you can’t expect him to return from a brutal injury and save the team immediately; it’s not fair. Traoré has to step up and show why the club paid DP money for him — one lone goal that, in my opinion, fortunately went in, and no goals from open play is extremely concerning.
Also, Nico Fernández Mercau hasn’t scored in five matches. He’s getting double- and triple-marked because teams are now well aware of how talented the Argentine is, but he has to find a way back on the scoresheet in this stretch. NYCFC needs him to. So, so badly.
Will any players be unavailable due to injury, suspension, etc.? What is your projected starting lineup and score prediction?
MM: The only players out are the ones with long-term injuries: Keaton Parks, Kai Trewin, Maxi Moralez, Arnau Farnós, and Drew Baiera.
Given that NYCFC needs to win or the season is practically over, I expect Head Coach Pascal Jansen to leave it all out there with his best possible lineup:
Matt Freese; Kevin O’Toole, James Sands, Thiago Martins, Tayvon Gray; Andres Perea, Aiden O’Neill; Hannes Wolf, Nico Fernández Mercau, Agustin Ojeda; Alonso Martínez.
I think Nico Fernández Mercau and Alonso Martínez score, but it won’t be enough, as Antoine Griezmann gets a brace and both teams settle for a 2-2 draw.
Thank you to Matt for his excellent refresher on NYCFC. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 10/23/26
Orlando City prepares for New York City FC, Antoine Griezmann’s impact in Orlando, U.S. will host FIFA Women’s Club World Cup, and more.
Happy Friday, Mane Landers! It’s been a pretty nice week for me, as I was able to watch all of Slow Horses and finish reading Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson, both of which were brilliant. Attention now turns to this weekend’s soccer, with both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride playing at home over the next couple of days. Let’s get to the links!
Orlando City Prepares for New York City FC
The Lions host New York City FC on Saturday in one of the marquee matchups in MLS as the regular season nears its conclusion. Plenty has changed since Orlando’s 5-0 loss to NYCFC on March 7. The Lions have clawed their way up the table while the Pigeons have only won once in their past 13 league games. NYCFC enters this match after a 1-1 draw with LAFC that included an equalizer by former Lion Andres Perea to give the team a valuable point amid the playoff race. Nicolas Fernandez Mercau, Luighi, and Benie Traore are all NYCFC players the Lions will need to keep in check, or else it could end up being another high-scoring affair in the City Beautiful.
Antoine Griezmann’s Impact on Orlando’s Offense
Orlando’s wait for Antoine Griezmann to join in the summer has proven to be well worth it, as he’s transformed Orlando’s attack into a force to be reckoned with just as the playoffs near. Although Griezmann wasn’t able to enjoy a fairytale ending with Atletico Madrid by lifting the Copa del Rey or Champions League trophies this year, he’s breathed life into an Orlando side that struggled mightily prior to his arrival. The 35-year-old has recorded 12 goals and seven assists in just 14 appearances this season. Not only has he excelled when it comes to getting the ball in the net, but he’s done well in terms of defensive metrics and intangibles as well.
U.S. Will Host Women’s Club World Cup
The inaugural FIFA Women’s Club World Cup will be held in the U.S. in January of 2028 with the host cities still to be determined. There will be 19 clubs taking part, with Gotham, Arsenal, Barcelona, and Club America having already qualified along with three other teams so far. This tournament is sandwiched between the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, so there’s plenty of exciting women’s soccer to look forward to in the coming years.
U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team Wins at World Cup
The United States U-17 Women’s National Team won 6-1 against Kenya in the group stage of the FIA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, clinching a spot in the round of 16. Maggie DiMaria scored four goals to bring her total to 10 across just two games. The U.S. will play its final group game on Sunday against China PR, which also won both of its games against Kenya and Samoa to secure a spot in the knockout stage. The winner of this group will get to avoid a match with Spain in the round of 16, so there’s still plenty to play for before the next round gets underway.
Free Kicks
- The first leg of the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal between the United States Men’s National Team and Haiti has been moved from Kingston to Miami. Haiti has had to play games outside of the country due to unrest and submitted a request to Concacaf to play in the country of its opponent.
- American center back Naomi Girma is now dealing with a calf injury that may sideline her for a few weeks according to Chelsea Head Coach Sonia Bompastor. She missed out on the team’s recent friendlies against Spain and may be absent for the Concacaf W Championship quarterfinal against El Salvador next month too.
- The United States Women’s Cerebral Palsy National Team beat Ireland 15-0 to advance to the IFCPF Women’s World Cup final, which takes place today against Australia. Annie Wickett scored five goals with four other players scoring braces.
- The San Diego Wave signed defender Mimi Van Zanten to a contract extension through the 2029 season. She’s made 27 appearances for San Diego during her rookie season, helping the club keep pace in the NWSL Shield race.
- After being stretchered off the field due to a head injury in the U.S. Open Cup final, St. Louis City goalkeeper Roman Burki is alert and in good spirits, according to the club.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!
Orlando City
Orlando’s October Outburst Originated Months Ago
Orlando City’s October offensive surge may look like a recent development, but the Lions have been scoring at an impressive rate for months.
We do not watch nearly enough Sesame Street in my house, but ever since the summer we say that A is for Antoine when the show discusses the alphabet. Sadly, this replaced A is for Andrew, which is my name, because Antoine Griezmann is more popular than me in my house. I cannot say that I am surprised, but I can say that it hurts just a little bit. More than a little bit.
For the past few years, O has been for Ojeda, as in Martín Ojeda, the man who is now Orlando City’s all-time leading goal scorer. This October, however, O is for offense, as the Lions have scored 10 goals during their three October matches, and that tally leads all of MLS this month. Orlando City’s offense has actually been on point for several months now, as you can see from the chart below (MLS games only):
| Month | Goals Scored | Games Played | Goals per Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| March | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| April | 7 | 5 | 1.4 |
| May | 11 | 5 | 2.2 |
| July* | 5 | 2 | 2.5 |
| August | 9 | 5 | 1.8 |
| September | 11 | 5 | 2.2 |
| October | 10 | 3 | 3.3 |
| Total | 58 | 30 | 1.9 |
- *There were no games in June due to the FIFA Men’s World Cup
Griezmann arrived for the July games, but even before that, the offense had started to heat up in May. Although May 1 is an arbitrary date, if we use it as a benchmark it allows us to capture two-thirds of Orlando City’s season, as the first 10 games happened before May and the team has now played 30 in total. Since May, the Lions rank fourth in MLS in goals scored with 46, sitting behind only Miami (54), Philadelphia (52), and St. Louis (47).
In a matter of perfect symmetry, the Lions also rank fourth in goals allowed, and by rank fourth I most certainly do not mean they are among the best defensive teams in the league. Orlando City has allowed 41 goals in the last 20 games, which is an average of more than two goals allowed per game but is also fewer than the 46 the team has scored. I know you already did the math in your head, but 46 – 41 = 5, and that +5 goal differential since May puts the Lions at eighth overall in MLS.
Perhaps we are now in the Inception timeline, because in yet another matter of symmetry Orlando City has also earned the eighth-most points (34) since May 1. This is yet another reminder of how poor of a start the club had this season, with seven losses in those first 10 games.
Since then, however, the 2026 team has performed like the teams of the past few years, but even with a top 10 performance for two-thirds of the season, it has not been able to climb above seventh in the Eastern Conference. This is because four of the five best teams since May are in the same conference, and the ninth and 10th hottest teams, right behind Orlando City, are also in the East. For those of you counting, hopefully in a voice like The Count’s (“Ah, ah,ah!”), that makes seven of the top 10 Eastern teams, so it is no wonder that the Lions are still in a precarious playoff position.
Saturday’s game against New York City FC is, on paper, the easiest of the remaining four games, but then again, the Pigeons did dirty pigeon things all over the Lions in the first matchup, winning that game 5-0. A repeat performance would wipe away the +5 goal differential Orlando has since May, but in addition to the fact that this game will be played on an actual soccer field, there is another pretty major difference between the early season Lions and the current Lions: Griezmann.
The French superstar is up to 12 goals scored and six primary assists (to go with one secondary assist in only 14 MLS games, which is wild), and he and Ojeda make up one of only seven tandems in the league in which both players have at least 12 goals each (Ojeda has 15). Only three tandems have at least 13 goals each (Miami’s Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, Cincinnati’s Kévin Denkey and Evander, and Nashville’s Sam Surridge and Hany Mukhtar), and with another goal from Griezmann, the two Lions would become the second pair in club history to each score at least 13 goals in a season, joining Facundo Torres and Duncan McGuire in 2023.
Marco Pašalić scored in the most recent game, and both Iván Angulo and Justin Ellis have recorded double-digit goal contributions, so let’s hope the team’s recent offensive onslaught continues, because with all the injuries on the back line and some difficult opponents coming up on the schedule, the Lions will likely need to put up multiple goals if they are going to get results and qualify for the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season.
And considering how poor the start to the season was, if they can orchestrate that it would be outstanding. Let’s gooooooooo.
Vamos Orlando!
Intelligence Report: Orlando City vs. New York City FC
Lion Links: 10/23/26
Orlando’s October Outburst Originated Months Ago
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