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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 4-2 loss against Inter Miami?

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5 months ago

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Image of Tiago playing against Inter Miami.
Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Orlando City continued its disappointing start to the 2026 MLS season with a 4-2 loss to Inter Miami. The Lions took a 2-0 lead in the first half despite conceding most of the possession, but fell apart in the second 45 minutes. It ended a two-loss, two-game homestand in which the team was outscored 6-3.

Let’s take a look at how the Orlando City players performed individually in this game.

Starters

GK, Maxime Crepeau, 5.5 — If this was a 45-minute game, Crepeau would’ve had a much higher score. He was stellar in the first half and a primary reason the Lions had a two-goal halftime lead. But it was a game of two halves as he conceded four goals in the second period of play, including three from outside the box. In total, the Canadian faced eight shots, saving four. He completed 67.9% of his 28 passes and three of his 12 long balls. A 5.5 grade might seem a bit harsh after his first 45 minutes, but it’s hard to give a good grade to a goalkeeper when he conceded four times.

D, Tahir Reid-Brown, 6 — It was a first-team debut for Reid-Brown, who had 46 touches in 90 minutes. The 19-year-old Homegrown left back completed 88.9% of his 36 passes, including one of his three long balls. He ended the game with a tackle, an interception, and a clearance without doing anything on the attacking end. I’m taking into account that it was his first-team debut, but he was pretty solid, even if he were a veteran.

D, David Brekalo, 5.5 — Brekalo started again at center back, touching the ball 55 times. He completed 88.1% of his 42 passes, but none of his four long balls. The veteran recorded an interception, a blocked shot, and a team-high six clearances, winning a team-high four aerial duels. He had two shots on the attacking end with one on target and hit the woodwork. However, probably his most impactful moment came in the 85th minute when he slipped, allowing German Berterame to get to the end line and set up the go-ahead goal. That mistake drops his grade a little in my view.

D, Nolan Miller, 6 — The other half of the center back pairing started a professional game for the first time and played well. He had 39 touches, completing 96.8% of his 31 passes, including his lone long ball. The rookie had four clearances and a blocked shot, doing a terrific job on Lionel Messi in the first half. Unfortunately, he came off injured in the 59th minute right after the game-tying goal and was replaced by Iago. Miller and Brekalo have looked good together so far and Miller has been very good in both games he’s played in so far. Hopefully this injury won’t keep him out for long.

D, Griffin Dorsey, 6 — Dorsey had another week under his belt before this game and it showed. The right back looked much more comfortable with his new club, touching the ball 46 times and completing 77.8% of his 27 passes. He also completed a key pass — his first assist as a Lion — one of his two long balls, and one of his two crosses. Defensively, he had a tackle, an interception, two blocked shots, and won an aerial duel. The defender took one off-target shot in the attacking end. His biggest impact came in the 24th minute when the right back made a strong run into the Miami third before finding Martin Ojeda just inside the box. After receiving the ball back, he laid it off for the attacker, who doubled the team’s lead, recording his first assist with his new club. This is the type of game Orlando City fans hope to see regularly from Dorsey and will take some of the sting out of losing Alex Freeman.

MF, Ivan Angulo, 6 —  Angulo got the start in this game after a strong second half against the New York Red Bulls last week. He touched the ball 35 times and completed 89.7% of his 29 passes, including a key pass. The attacking midfielder didn’t attempt any shots or crosses, largely because the team conceded so much possession and he dropped defensively to the outside on the left, giving Orlando a fifth defender. However, his cross to Marco Pasalic at the top of the box in the 18th minute set up the game’s first goal. The attacker was replaced in the 79th minute with Eduard Atuesta. After sitting in the first half against New York, Angulo has now had three quality halves for the Lions.

MF, Colin Guske, 5 — Similar to Angulo, Guske got his first MLS start after playing well in the season opener. The 19-year-old had 57 touches and completed 73.9% of his 46 passes. However, all six of his long balls failed to find their intended target. He recorded two interceptions and four clearances defensively while drawing three fouls in the attack. It was a solid performance, but he suffered two yellow cards for his first sending off of his MLS career. While the first was a booking for pulling Messi back on a counterattack, the second was very questionable. Regardless, he put himself in a position for the fouls to be called. It might be a bit harsh, but his grade dropped due to the late sending-off.

MF, Braian Ojeda, 6.5 (MotM) — Ojeda touched the ball 62 times in his second Orlando City game, completing 93.8% of his team-high 48 passes. He completed four of his five long balls while putting his only shot off target. The midfielder also contributed defensively with a tackle, two clearances, and an aerial duel in arguably the strongest Orlando City performance. His completion percentage in a game where the team struggled to keep possession and overall play earns him my Man of the Match.

MF, Marco Pasalic, 6 — Pasalic was much better than last week, touching the ball 34 times and completing 70% of his 20 passes, including a key pass. His biggest moment on the attacking end came in the 18th minute when he brought an Angulo pass down well and placed it inside the near post to give the Lions a 1-0 lead. Defensively, the Croatian had two tackles and two interceptions before being replaced by Tiago in the 79th minute. This is more of what Orlando City fans expect from Pasalic and is a good sign moving forward.

F, Martin Ojeda, 6 — Like Pasalic, Ojeda was better in this game. He had 48 touches and completed 69% of his 29 passes, including a key pass, two of his three long balls, and one of his two crosses. He took a team-high four shots and put a team-high three on frame. In the 24th minute, he used the outside of his left foot to curl the ball into the far corner after a quick one-two with Dorsey, doubling the Orlando City lead. He also had two clearances in his 90 minutes of action. It was good to see Ojeda get on the scoresheet and he was a much larger part of the attack, something the Lions need if they have any offensive production this year.

F, Duncan McGuire, 5 — McGuire was disappointing for the second consecutive game. The big man only won one aerial duel, losing several throughout the game. He touched the ball 22 times and completed 75% of his 16 passes, including a key pass. Despite being a striker, he didn’t take a single shot and was completely invisible in the final third. He did draw two fouls and record two clearances, but the second poor performance makes you wonder how long it will be until Oscar Pareja goes to Tiago or another player up top.

Substitutes

D, Iago (59’), 6 — Iago entered the game in the 59th minute for an injured Miller and had the best performance since joining the club, including preseason. He had 28 touches in 31 minutes, completing 95.7% of his 23 passes with a long ball. Despite his lack of playing time, he equaled Miller and Guske’s four clearances — second-most on the team. He also drew a foul in what was a solid game, despite being a center back for two goals from the opposition.

F, Tyrese Spicer (66’), 5.5 — Spicer replaced McGuire in the 66th minute, moving up top initially before dropping into the midfield. He had 16 touches and completed 71.4% of his seven passes without any key passes, crosses, or long balls. His lone shot was off target and he had an interception, but didn’t create the offensive spark for which he was brought on.

MF, Eduard Atuesta (79’), 5 — Atuesta made his season debut after missing the first game with an injury shortly before kickoff. He came on in the 79th minute for Angulo, touching the ball 22 times and completing 70.6% of his 17 passes, including one of his three long balls. The defensive midfielder had three interceptions in his 11 minutes, but the most important thing was to see him healthy on the field as Orlando City’s injury list continues to increase. His decision to let a ball run through the midfield rather than play it was costly late in normal time, as the turnover led to Guske’s second yellow and the fourth Miami goal.

F, Tiago (79’), 5.5 — Tiago came on with Atuesta as Orlando City’s final two subs, replacing Pasalic. Playing up top, he touched the ball seven times and completed 75% of his four passes. He didn’t take any shots, but had a tackle and an interception in what was a largely invisible performance for the forward.

This is how I saw the individual performances in Orlando City’s two-goal loss to their in-state rivals. Let us know what you thought of the game in the comments below, and don’t forget to vote on your Man of the Match.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/16/26

Orlando City wins friendly, Orlando Pride beaten at home, MLS season returns tonight, and much more.

Published

49 minutes ago

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July 16, 2026

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Image of Antoine Griezmann and Martin Ojeda celebrating a goal during Orlando City's 2-1 friendly win at FC Dallas.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Justin Glatt

How’s it going, Mane Landers? For those of us in Florida, it looks like some storms could be heading our way this week. While that can be a bit annoying if you have outdoor plans, hopefully it will make some of this oppressive heat a bit more bearable. Both the Orlando Pride and Orlando City B are on the road on Saturday, so we may get to dodge some dreaded weather delays as well. But for now, let’s get to the links!

Orlando City Wins Friendly at FC Dallas

The Lions went to Texas for a friendly against FC Dallas and won 2-1 at Texas Health Mansfield Stadium — home of North Texas SC, FC Dallas’ MLS NEXT Pro side. Antoine Griezmann seems to be settling in nicely with the club, scoring yet again in this friendly after doing so a week ago against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Martin Ojeda also got on the scoresheet in the first half and you can check out both finishes below.

While I don’t put too much stock in friendlies, it sure does feel better to be on the winning side of them. This was the final tune-up for Orlando before the Lions hit the road for a match against the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday in their first league game since May.

Orlando Pride Shut Out At Home

The Orlando Pride hosted the Boston Legacy and weren’t able to get a result in a 1-0 loss at Inter&Co Stadium. Barbara Olivieri scored the game’s only goal in the 17th minute to give Boston the lead. Orlando had its chances to equalize but couldn’t manage to put together a finished product in the end. This was Orlando’s third loss to an expansion side this season (0-3-1) as the Pride picked up only one point out of 12 in four matches against Boston and Denver. It’s been a season of inconsistency for the Pride, but hopefully that means they’ll come back stronger in Saturday’s road match against the Utah Royals.

MLS Season Returns Tonight

MLS is back! While the Lions aren’t in action until Wednesday, the season resumes tonight with an exciting slate of games. Many eyes will be on the match between the Chicago Fire and Vancouver Whitecaps, as it could include Robert Lewandowski’s MLS debut. While it’s a brand new team and league for the forward, he’d be going up against a familiar face in former Bayern Munich teammate Thomas Muller, who has helped Vancouver climb to the top of the Western Conference. Other intriguing matchups tonight include a Canadian clash between CF Montreal and Toronto FC and a rivalry game between the Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers. On Friday, Nashville will host Atlanta United before the LA Galaxy and LAFC square off in the latest edition of El Trafico.

Argentina Will Face Spain in World Cup Final

Argentina orchestrated yet another dramatic victory this World Cup, beating England 2-1 to advance to the World Cup final to face Spain. After a scoreless first half, Anthony Gordon gave England the lead in the 55th minute with his first goal of the tournament. England shifted gears and parked the bus to defend its lead, but Enzo Fernandez scored an equalizer in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martinez gave Argentina its winner in stoppage time. Lionel Messi assisted on both goals, and Argentina is now just one game away from winning its second consecutive World Cup. Sunday’s final should be a great match pitting Argentina’s potent offense up against a Spanish defense that has only conceded once all tournament.

Free Kicks

  • Former Lion Alex Freeman was noted as one of many players whose stock likely went up due to their World Cup performance. Hopefully, a solid summer translates to more playing time with Villarreal and an eventual transfer for Orlando City to benefit from due to the sell-on percentage.
  • Duncan McGuire wasted no time scoring for his new team, putting the ball in the back of the net early on in the Houston Dynamo’s 2-1 friendly win against America de Cali.
  • The Galaxy added Finnish forward Robert Taylor as a free agent, signing him to a contract through the end of the year with an option for all of 2027 as well.
  • The Philadelphia Union are reportedly finalizing the return of Kai Wagner, who only just left the Union for Birmingham City in January.
  • The San Jose Earthquakes are reportedly close to signing Australian forward Luka Jovanovic, who scored 11 goals last season for Adelaide United.

🇦🇺 Sources: San Jose Earthquakes are finalizing a deal to sign Australia youth int'l forward Luka Jovanovic from Adelaide UnitedJovanovic, 21, was co-Golden Boot winner of the A-League with 11g/3a in 1,639 mins last season. Joins on a U-22 initiative deal.

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2026-07-15T16:58:50.262Z

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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Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/15/26

Daryl Dike’s potential return, Orlando Pride prepare for Boston, World Cup news, and more.

Published

1 day ago

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July 15, 2026

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Oh boy, do we have some news for you today. Between the Orlando Pride match tonight, the World Cup this afternoon, and some potential big signings, we have a lot to get to. We also want to wish a very happy birthday to Orlando City B goalkeeper Tristan Himes. Now, let’s get to the links.

The Return of Dike(?)

Forget “It’s coming home,” rather he’s coming home! Per Tom Bogert, Daryl Dike is set to return to Orlando City after his multi-year stint with West Bromwich Albion. Dike had a rough go of it in England, mainly due to injuries he sustained. I figure he just needs some Florida sunshine and the team at Orlando Health to help find the form that made him a terror to Orlando City’s opponents.

It also seems that the departure of Marco Pasalic is not a done deal. There has not been an official bid as of yet, and if Orlando City’s valuation isn’t met, then he may be staying. If he stays, he bolsters the attack. If not, well that’s what Dike is coming back to do and it would supply the Lions with plenty of coin to bolster the roster.

Orlando Pride Set for Boston Legacy

The Orlando Pride host expansion side Boston Legacy FC at Inter&Co Stadium tonight. The Pride will look to avenge a 2-1 loss earlier this season in Boston. After defeating the Kansas City Current over the weekend, Seb Hines’ squad will want to keep the home winning streak going. This may be Barbra Banda’s last match before heading out for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament later this month, so take the opportunity to head to the match if you are in the Orlando area.

World Cup News

France was unable to keep things going as Spain defeated Les Bleus 2-0 on Bastille Day. La Roja now wait to see whether Argentina or England will be the opponent in the final. As they have done so many times this World Cup, the Spanish did not allow a goal and did enough offensively to advance. Lamine Yamal earned a penalty that Mikel Oyarzabal slotted home to give Spain a lead in the 22nd minute. Pedro Porro added another in the second half and France was unable to muster any magic.

Later today, England and Argentina square off to see which team will play the Spaniards. The amount of history between these teams at World Cups is enough to make most watch the match. I think the bigger question is which team does Gianni Infantino want to win, and will we see the same shenanigans we’ve seen in previous matches featuring these two teams? Don’t worry, England. I’m sure it’ll be fine.

USMNT Reflections

There’s been a bit of space and time for all of us to process the USMNT’s performance at the World Cup and it isn’t all doom and gloom. None other than Carli Lloyd said that despite the way it ended, it was a successful outing for the U.S. Matt Freese is trying to see the positives even though he made a costly mistake that gave up a goal to Belgium. Folarin Balogun said what I was thinking in that a certain phone call about his red card did affect the USMNT’s nerves heading into the match against Belgium. Lastly, the future could be bright thanks to these five USMNT prospects.

Free Kicks

🇨🇱 Atlanta United has signed Chile int'l defedner Paulo Diaz. Versatile but likely to play center back.Joins on a free transfer after spending years at River Plate. Diaz, 31, has 56 caps for Chile.

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2026-07-14T14:06:23.290Z

That will do it for today. Check back later for our coverage of the Orlando Pride’s match against Boston Legacy FC. You can follow The Mane Land on Bluesky for updates. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/14/26

Marco Pasalic transfer rumor, Marta up for weekly award, MLS transfer roundup, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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July 14, 2026

By

Image of Marta looking for an outlet in action against Kansas City.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone. I write to you from Texas, specifically Dallas, as I was in Austin to see friends over the weekend and decided to pop up the road to take in the energy of the World Cup semifinal that will be played in the city later today. I won’t be attending the game, since I don’t wish to sell one of my kidneys but am looking forward to mingling with some of the fans who have traveled here for it. We’ve got a lot to talk about this morning, so let’s get into the links.

Marco Pasalic Transfer Rumor

There have been some quiet rumblings for awhile now that Marco Pasalic may leave Orlando City during the summer transfer window. We now have a more concrete report regarding a potential departure, as the streets are saying that the winger is set to sign for newly promoted Hull City, with a price tag of at least €7 million.

If the move does come to pass, it would reunite him with manager Sergej Jakirovic, who he briefly played for during his time at HNK Rijeka. Jakirovic also stated in a recent interview that he wants to sign Pasalic, so this is a rumor that could have some legs.

Marta Up for Weekly Honors

The Orlando Pride picked up an excellent win on Friday by knocking off the Kansas City Current 3-0, and Marta has been rewarded for her efforts in the victory with a nomination for the NWSL Player of the Week. The Brazilian legend bagged the team’s first goal shortly after halftime, when she found herself in space well outside the box and unleashed a low left-footed drive into the bottom corner for her 50th goal as a Pride player. For some reason, she was snubbed in the Goal of the Week voting despite her impressive strike, so make sure you go vote for her for Player of the Week!

MLS Transfer Roundup

With the MLS summer transfer window opening on Monday, we’ve got a slew of moves to get caught up on. We begin with confirmation of an item that we covered in Monday’s Links, as Nathan Ordaz has officially moved to D.C. United in exchange for up to $2.875 million. The New England Revolution have extended Matt Turner’s loan from Lyon, with the new deal lasting through December. It also has an option to extend the loan again until December 2027, after which the Revs have a purchase option. Atlanta United has signed Paraguayan center back Junior Alonso on a free transfer, with his deal running through the 2028-2029 season. Finally, Charlotte FC has announced the signing of forward Allan Saint-Maximin as a Designated Player. He will occupy the DP slot vacated by Wilfried Zaha.

USWNT Announces Fall Friendlies

The United States Women’s National Team has announced that it will play a pair of October friendlies against Spain in a matchup of the reigning World Cup champions against the reigning Olympic champions. The USWNT will face the top-ranked team in the world on Oct. 10 at Audi Field in Washington D.C., and again on Oct. 13 at Subaru Park in Chester, PA. The Oct. 10 match will also have a pregame retirement celebration for USWNT defender Crystal Dunn. This will be just the fourth time that the two teams have faced each other, with the U.S. winning two of the three previous meetings. The two friendlies will be the last games that the USWNT plays before beginning World Cup qualifying.

Previewing France vs. Spain

The World Cup semifinals begin today, with France and Spain set to throw down in Dallas. For France, the stars are too many to count, with Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise all taking turns lighting up both the field and the scoreboard for the team that has made back-to-back appearances in the final. As far as Spain goes, all the focus is on Lamine Yamal, as the young winger has been key to Spain’s success despite scoring just one goal. If Nico Williams is able to start on the opposite wing, the French won’t be able to key so heavily on Yamal, and it could open up more space for him in which to operate. The matchup between the youngster and Lucas Digne will be key, as will the ability of either Mikel Oyarzabal or Ferran Torres to be effective up top for Spain.

Free Kicks

  • Former Lion Daryl Dike is leaving West Bromwich Albion. We know a team that just traded a striker.

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

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