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Orlando City

Orlando City’s Depth Will Be Stretched to a New Limit Against Vancouver

Injuries and call-ups will create a different-looking bench for Orlando City on Saturday.

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10 months ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

October has arrived, and with it comes two of my favorite postseasons — Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer. It is a major time of year, apparently. Even though this is an article about Orlando City, we will start with baseball, but I promise we will get to soccer shortly thereafter.

In my early teens I attended a summer camp amid the mountains of rugged New Hampshire, and my favorite activity at that camp was baseball. The camp counselors created all kinds of fun games for us to play. One of my favorites was called “Benchball,” when the counselors would hit increasingly more difficult balls to us in the field, and you would stay in the field until you did not field the ball cleanly or throw it back accurately, in which case you were sent to the bench.

In the later rounds of the game you had to start adding some flair to your plays, similarly to how the Savannah Bananas play with fun and fun-damentals. The counselors would take on the role of figure skating judges and could “bench” you, even if you made a good play, if they did not deem your play to have scored high enough on their artistic/creative scale. It was all in good fun, especially when I won, and even when I did not win it was a great way to spend time on a baseball field on a summer morning.

It was better when I won, though.

I was thinking about Benchball because Orlando City has a game Saturday night against Vancouver, and due to player departures, injuries, and international call-ups, several players who are going to start the game on the bench are going to quite possibly be the youngest and least experienced bench players in club history. We will not know the official lineup until about an hour before game time, but we certainly can make some educated guesses as to who will be in the starting lineup, and then take a look at those who are left who likely will be dressed but start on the bench.

Barring a major injury in practice, Pedro Gallese is the nailed-on starter in goal, and three of the four (assuming Óscar Pareja sticks with his usual formation) back line players are pretty easy to slot in as well, as it will likely be Adrián Marín at left back and Robin Jansson and Rodrigo Schlegel as the center backs. The right back will likely be Kyle Smith or Dagur Dan Thórhallsson, and that decision may come down to whether César Araújo is able to return from injury or if he is still out with a back injury.

If Araújo returns, he will start with Eduard Atuesta in the middle, but if he still cannot go, Smith probably partners with Atuesta and Thórhallsson starts as right back. There has not been an update on Joran Gerbet’s status, because soccer teams reveal roughly as much about player injuries as Bill Belichick did when he was the Patriots’ head coach, so in theory Gerbet could be back, but the odds are almost certainly not in his favor based on how that injury looked during the Columbus game.

Orlando City’s attacking midfield group will feature Iván Angulo on the left wing, but the central attacking midfield/secondary striker role that Martín Ojeda has played at an MVP level this season may be filled by Ojeda or perhaps by Luis Muriel, because there is a hole out on the right wing with Marco Pašalić unavailable. Pareja may push Ojeda out wide to try to start as many of his senior players as he possibly can. Muriel could also play out on the right and Ojeda could stay where he has been for most of this season, but I think Ojeda is the more likely candidate to go wide for one game.

If Araújo is healthy, Smith or Thórhallsson both also could be options on the right wing as well, since neither would be needed in the central midfield. Nico Rodríguez is a positionally like-for-like replacement for Pašalić, so he could also start at right wing, but in a game that has huge implications for playoff seeding I expect Pareja will prefer to start more experienced players.

The forwards in the 4-4-2 the Lions have used most of the season will depend on Pareja’s choice at right wing. If he goes with Rodriguez wide on the right, I expect Martin Ojeda and Luis Muriel to start up top with Duncan McGuire becoming one of the few experienced bench players. If Muriel or Ojeda start on the right, the one who doesn’t start on the right will likely play up top with McGuire to start.

What it boils down to is that Angulo, Atuesta, Gallese, Jansson, Marín and Schlegel are pretty much locked in to start and to play at their normal positions, and there are a lot of if/then statements (mathematicians love if/then statements, especially when we get to break out the abbreviation iff, which stands for if and only iff) at the other five positions, but those if/thens will be determined by the availability of Araújo and th positioning of Muriel, Ojeda, Smith, and Thórhallsson.

If you were counting along (and if not, why weren’t you?), that is six players who are locked in as starters at their normal players and six players for five positions, but it might be five players for five positions if Araújo is still injured. So, who does that leave for the bench? Here is the full list of the remaining players on the roster who have dressed for at least one MLS game and are not injured or away on international duty, ranked in order of minutes played for Orlando City in 2025:

PlayerAgePositionMLS Mins: 2025MLS Mins: All-Time
Nico Rodríguez21W124124
Thomas Williams21CB10191
Shak Mohammed22W,F37
Favian Loyola20W01
Carlos Mercado26GK00
Riyon Tori24FB00
Total137323

That is the full list, and respectfully, it is not a list full of players who are likely to come off the bench and make a difference in a close game. Araújo being available to start would push one of the senior players to the bench. Note: both Zakaria Taifi and Tahir Reid-Brown have been on the injured list and were out against the Crew, and without knowing their status, it is probable that neither will be available.

With so many players unavailable this weekend, it is likely that at least one OCB player not on the list above will have to sign a short-term contract. If we sort those remaining who played at least 500 minutes by their season-long FotMob ranking the list goes:

PlayerAgePosition2025 FotMob Rating (MLS NEXT Pro)
Jackson Platts18CB6.58
Thalles20F6.57
Bernardo Rhein18W6.55
Dyson Clapier23W6.54
Hayden Sargis23CB6.29
Dylan Judelson17CM6.25

For perspective, Justin Ellis led OCB with a FotMob rating of 7.43, and Platts’ 6.58 rated him ninth on the team and tied for 314th in the league. That 314 is delicious when you put a decimal after the three, but it is otherwise a very low ranking.

If any of these players sign a short-term contract — and Thalles would seem unlikely as he did not dress vs. FC Cincinnati 2 on Sunday in a must-win game — it would only be to fill out the full roster for Saturday night’s game. None of them would be serious candidates to make anything more than a last-second cameo appearance unless there were injuries or other unforeseen circumstances.

With this set of options on the bench, Pareja is likely to ride his starters even longer than he usually does, and that is saying something for the coach who plays his starters the fourth-most minutes in MLS. Even with the players who are unavailable, the Lions should still have a competitive starting lineup, but the giant concerns will be if a starter picks up an early injury and who, if anyone, is trusted to come on to help the team hold a lead over Vancouver (glass half full) or try to catch the Whitecaps if the Lions are trailing (glass half empty).

Let’s hope that on Saturday night the decisions over who to sub in off the bench are difficult, iff Orlando City is so far ahead that the difficulty is high because they are deciding which young player(s) deserve to get their debut minutes for the senior club.

Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/21/26

Catching up with Daryl Dike, Antoine Griezmann’s impact, Giles Barnes leaves Orlando Pride, and more.

Published

11 hours ago

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July 21, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Good morning, everyone, and happy Orlando City matchday eve. It seems like an eternity since the Lions played way back in late May, but a competitive OCSC game is finally almost upon us, and we’ll have our first chance to see both a new face and a familiar one. We’ve got a lot to talk about this morning, so let’s get into the links.

Catching Up with Daryl Dike

Daryl Dike is wearing Orlando City purple for the second time in his career, and he took some time to express his thoughts and feelings about returning to the club where he got his start. He emphasized how much fun he had during his first stint with the Lions and said the happy memories from his time with OCSC were a big factor in wanting to come back. Despite Robin Jansson being the only teammate left from his first spell with the team, Dike spoke about things feeling very familiar and welcoming. Dike was part of the first Orlando team to ever make the playoffs, and he’s focused on keeping that streak alive for the club now that he’s a Lion once more.

Antoine Griezmann’s Impact

Antoine Griezmann has yet to play an official game for Orlando City,but he’s already making an impact on the team. Interim head coach Martin Perelman praised his presence in the locker room and highlighted the Frenchman’s humility and energy. He certainly brings a lot of experience at the highest level and has the trophy cabinet to prove it, so the club is hoping some of that rubs off on the Lions. After all, the club isn’t that far away from the playoff line, has a U.S. Open Cup semifinal looming in mid-September, and will begin Leagues Cup play in just over two weeks. Here’s hoping his off-field impact carries over onto the field too.

Giles Barnes Leaves Orlando Pride

Giles Barnes has departed from his position as an assistant coach for the Orlando Pride. The former OCSC forward has agreed to become the new head coach of Al Qadsiah FC, a team in the Saudi Women’s Premier League. Barnes had been an assistant with the Pride since the 2022 season, when he joined on an interim basis with then-interim head coach Seb Hines. He helped lead the team to the 2024 NWSL Championship and 2024 NWSL Shield. As a player, Barnes spent the 2017 season with Orlando City as a Designated Player. This will be Barnes’ first head coaching gig, and we wish him the best of luck!

FIFA Will Investigate Post-Final Clashes

FIFA has begun a disciplinary investigation into the clashes that took place at the end of the World Cup final, which saw several Argentine coaches and players involved in physical altercations with Spanish players. Argentina’s Nahuel Molina and Leandro Paredes were seen hitting Spain’s Eric Garcia and Rodri, while Argentine assistant coach Roberto Ayala appears to have hit Dani Olmo. Lionel Scaloni and multiple players attempted to defuse the situations that were playing out, one of which included a verbal confrontation between Nicolas Otamendi and former Manchester City teammate Rodri. FIFA has opened a review of the postgame scenes, and suspensions could well be on the way for the worst offenders.

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  • Barbra Banda has been called up to represent Zambia at WAFCON.
  • Marco Pasalic was still absent from training as of Monday morning, amidst rumors surrounding a possible summer departure. Perelman said he will be back soon, however.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/20/26

Pride fall to Utah Royals, OCB draws Chattanooga FC, Orlando City signs Clovis Archange, and more.

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1 day ago

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July 20, 2026

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Image of Pedro Leao taking a penalty against Carolina Core FC.
Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been busy at work, but I checked out a Noah Kahan concert and watched the World Cup final while catching up with friends over the weekend. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando Pride Fall at Utah Royals

The Orlando Pride fell 1-0 to the Utah Royals at America First Field Saturday night. Narumi Miura scored the lone goal for Utah to secure the win, while the Pride have lost back-to-back matches after losing to Boston Legacy Wednesday. That result also dropped Orlando below the playoff line, as the club sits ninth in the NWSL table with 20 points. The Pride will return home for their next match against the Chicago Stars Friday at Inter&Co Stadium.

OCB Wins Penalty Shootout After 1-1 Draw vs. Chattanooga FC

Orlando City B drew Chattanooga FC 1-1 on the road at Finley Stadium Saturday. Pedro Leao scored the opener for the Young Lions in the first half. However, in the second half, Chattanooga FC scored the equalizer. The Young Lions won the penalty shootout 4-3 to earn a second point. OCB will be back in action at home Sunday, facing Huntsville City FC at Osceola County Stadium.

Orlando City Signs Clovis Archange to Homegrown Player Contract

Orlando City announced Friday that the club has signed defender Clovis Archange to a Homegrown Player contract with the first team. The deal is a three-year contract lasting through the 2027 calendar year, with club options in 2028 and 2029. Archange has made six appearances across all competitions for OCB during the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro season.

Latest MLS Transfer Roundup

According to Tom Bogert of The Athletic, there is no movement on the rumored Orlando City forward Marco Pasalic’s potential transfer to Hull City, but the English Premier League side has reportedly inquired about a loan deal.

The Columbus Crew have signed former Manchester United and Real Oviedo center back Eric Bailly. The contract runs through June 2027, with club options for the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 seasons. Liga MX side CF Monterrey is reportedly finalizing a deal to sign Chicago Fire forward Hugo Cuypers.

LAFC has reportedly reached an agreement with Hammarby on a transfer fee to move midfielder Amin Boudri to the Swedish club. Lastly, San Diego FC is reportedly finalizing a deal to sign winger Elias Achouri from FC Copenhagen.

🇹🇳 Sources: San Diego FC is finalizing a deal to sign Tunisia int'l winger Elias Achouri from FC Copenhagen.Achouri, 27, joins San Diego as a Designated Player. He had 5g/7a in 2,368 mins (37 apps) last year & played in all 3 games for Tunisia at the World Cup

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2026-07-18T16:37:04.314Z

Spain Wins World Cup

Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, Sunday to win the World Cup for the second time since 2010. Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez was sent off in stoppage time after committing a foul on Spain defender Pau Cubarsi. The match went to extra time, and Ferran Torres scored the winning goal for Spain in the 106th minute. Argentina was unable to find a late equalizer to send the match to penalties. Argentina was looking to repeat as champions but had only two shots in the game (both in extra time) and failed to record a shot on goal. As for the FIFA World Cup awards, Spain midfielder Rodri took the Best Player Award, while France striker Kylian Mbappe won the Golden Boot Award with 10 goals, the Golden Glove Award went to Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon, and Cubarsi won the Young Player Award.

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

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Orlando City

Daryl Dike Returns to Orlando City, Signs Deal Through 2027

Daryl Dike is back with the Lions after being out of contract with West Bromwich Albion.

Published

4 days ago

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July 17, 2026

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Image of Daryl Dike posing in his Orlando City kit after re-signing with the club on July 17, 2026.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Striker Daryl Dike has returned to the club that gave him his professional start. Orlando City announced today that it has signed Dike as a free agent through the 2027 MLS “sprint season” with an option for 2027-2028. The club also had to send $75,000 in 2027 General Allocation Money (GAM) to the Seattle Sounders in exchange for Dike’s Discovery Priority and could owe the Western Conference side another $75,000 in GAM if Dike meets undisclosed performance metrics.

The signing gives Dike a new start after an injury-plagued career at West Bromwich Albion.

“Daryl is a player our club and our fans know well, and we’re very excited to welcome him back to Orlando,” Orlando City General Manager and Sporting Director Ricardo Moreira said in a club press release. “He brings a powerful combination of strength, speed, and physical presence, and his ability to hold up play, bring teammates into the attack, and finish chances gives us another important option up front. Daryl has already shown what he can do in our league and in this city, and we look forward to helping him make an impact again in purple.” 

Dike, who will wear No. 9 for the Lions, returns nearly five years since Orlando City sold him to West Brom on Jan. 3, 2022, for a fee reported by The Athletic to be around $10 million.

The Edmond, OK native was Orlando City’s first-round selection with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft. As a rookie, he started to see minutes on the pitch during the MLS is Back Tournament, making his professional debut against the Montreal Impact in the competition’s round of 16. From there, the striker out of the University of Virginia blossomed, playing in 35 regular-season matches with Orlando, including 30 starts, for a total of 2,547 minutes. He contributed 18 goals and seven assists on 63 shots, getting 27 on target. He passed well (71.1% in 2020 and 72.1% in 2021), providing 14 key passes. Dike drew 71 fouls while committing 40 and was never booked during the regular season in his time in MLS.

He also played in all three of Orlando City’s playoff games during his first stint with the club, starting all three and scoring one goal on five total shots (two on target). He suffered seven fouls and committed four, and picked up one yellow card in the 2020 postseason.

Following his rookie season, Dike went on loan to Barnsley, where he scored nine goals in 22 matches from February to May of 2021.

Dike’s play with the Lions in his first two professional seasons quickly put him on the USMNT radar and before he was sold to West Brom he made eight appearances and scored three goals for the United States at the senior level. He has added two more caps since for a total of 10.

After his sale to West Brom in the EFL Championship, Dike struggled to stay on the pitch, dealing with Achilles injuries that kept him off the pitch for long stretches. Dike managed to score 11 goals in 68 matches when healthy. He scored twice and added an assist in 24 matches in 2025-2026, starting six times, as he was finally able to get a stretch of games in.

“I’m thrilled to be back where it all started,” Dike said in the club’s press release. “Orlando is where I first got the opportunity to play professionally, and returning here feels like coming home. From the moment I arrived the first time, I felt welcomed, and that same feeling has only grown since I’ve come back. Everyone has been incredibly supportive, and I’m grateful to be back in Orlando.” 

What It Means for Orlando City

Dike fills a hole vacated by the trade of Duncan McGuire to the Houston Dynamo a week ago. It will be interesting to see where his salary slots in when the MLS Players’ Association reveals its next salary information. McGuire, who had his own injury struggles in recent years, made a base salary of $600,000 and a total guaranteed annual compensation of over $920,000.

The hope will be that Dike can both stay healthy and contribute at a higher level than McGuire was prior to his trade to Houston. The new scenery may do McGuire good and a return to familiar surroundings may similarly help Dike regain his footing. At just 26 years old, Dike is still in his prime years and there are plenty of miles left in Dike’s legs if he can stay on the pitch. Fans will remember how he tossed center backs around like rag dolls during his two previous seasons in Orlando. That kind of physicality will open a lot of room underneath for Antoine Griezmann and Martin Ojeda.

With just a year and a half on the base deal, this is a low-risk and potentially very high-reward signing for the Lions.

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