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Orlando City vs. FC Naples, U.S. Open Cup: Final Score 1-0 as Lions Hold on for Dear Life vs. USL League One Side

The Lions were badly outplayed for the final half hour by the USL League One side but did enough to secure a 1-0 road win in Open Cup play.

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3 months ago

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Image of Luis Otavio looking for a teammate to pass to against FC Naples.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

It was anything but crisp, but it was a win, as Orlando City advanced in the U.S. Open Cup with a 1-0 win over FC Naples on the road at Paradise Coast Sports Complex. Tyrese Spicer scored the game’s only goal early in the first half and Javier Otero made several huge stops in a terrible final half hour for the Lions to preserve the win. The Lions probably owe the biggest thanks to rookie center back Nolan Miller, who cleared a sure goal off the line in the second half on a close play.

Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman rotated his squad heavily, starting Otero in goal behind a back line of three center backs Adrian Marin, Miller, and David Brekalo. Tahir Reid-Brown and Zakaria Taifi played in the wingback spots with Luis Otavio and Braian Ojeda pairing in the central midfield. Up top, the Lions went with an attacking line of Yutaro Tsukada, Justin Ellis, and Spicer.

The teams took a few minutes to settle into the match. Orlando’s first attack came five minutes in, when Taifi sent a centering pass into the area, but the defense cleared it away.

Chris Garcia had the first dangerous movement for FC Naples, blowing past Reid-Brown and dribbling across the top of the area, trying to clear himself to shoot. The defense was eventually able to clear it out despite some nervy moments.

Ellis won a free kick from distance in the 13th minute, but Tsukada wasted the set piece, getting way underneath it and sending it well out of play with a towering ball well over the crossbar.

FC Naples generated a great chance off the ensuing goal kick. On a direct ball down the pitch, Andres Ferrin beat Taifi and smashed a shot on goal. Otero was able to fight off the dangerous attempt in the 15th minute. The Lions were less than convincing on the ensuing corner kick defense but the ball went just over the line. The goal kick allowed Orlando to relieve the pressure.

Ellis got the first real look at goal for Orlando in the 18th minute but he didn’t hit his shot well and it deflected off a defender, bouncing harmlessly to goalkeeper Edward “Lalo” Delgado. The Lions, however struck seconds later.

Orlando City recovered the ball near midfield and went on the attack. Ojeda picked out Spicer outside the semicircle in the attacking end. The Trinidad & Tobago international touched it to his left and smashed a rocket from distance that Delgado could do nothing about, giving the Lions a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute. The goal snapped FC Naples’ 358-minute shutout streak.

FC Naples created the game’s next scoring chance in the 26th minute off a corner kick. Otero punched the ball out of the box, where Garcia ran onto it and smashed a wicked shot on goal. The Homegrown goalkeeper parried away the near-post effort to preserve the lead.

Taifi, who struggled on the defensive end in the first half against Ferrin, was able to create in the attacking half the few times he got forward, including in the 31st minute, when he laid off a pass for Tsukada on the break. FC Naples’ defense got to the ball ahead of Tsukada, however, knocking it out for a corner kick. A minute later, on the set piece, Tsukada’s service fell in the box for Spicer, who turned and sent a rocket toward goal that might have beaten Delgado had Kevin O’Connor not headed it away. Tsukada’s service on the ensuing corner went over everyone and out for a goal kick.

FC Naples continued to create danger. Garcia sent a hard cross into the area in the 38th that was knocked outside the box to Aiden Mesias. The Englishman fired a hard shot but it was well wide of the net. A minute later, Ferrin beat Taifi badly with a fake and cut inside, smashing a shot just inches wide of the left post.

Tsukada made a nice move to dance through multiple defenders on the left side in the 41st minute, but his cross was to the back post and Spicer was too central. Spicer committed a foul trying to win the race to the loose ball on the right side of the area. In the 42nd minute, Spicer’s long throw-in deflected to Ellis, but his touch was poor and it was ultimately knocked out for a corner. Tsukada’s service was poor on the set piece, allowing FC Naples to clear. Ojeda tried to fire it on the half-volley from distance, but he sent his shot well over the bar in the 43rd minute.

Orlando City’s last chance of the first half came in the 45th minute. Tsukada led a 3-v-3 break and sent a dangerous cross in front of goal, but it was too far out in front for Ellis to get a touch on it to tap it home.

The last look at goal went FC Naples’ way. Brekalo’s poor clearance fell to Ferrin just outside the top of the box. The Colombian cut to his right but sent his shot wide.

FC Naples held the halftime advantage in possession (58%-42%). Aside from that, stats were fairly even. Orlando City earned more corners (4-1) and attempted more shots (7-6), while both teams put two on target and passed with just 73% accuracy.

Colin Guske replaced Brekalo at the half, as the Slovenian had picked up a yellow card for persistent infringement. Rather than changing shape, Guske played the right center back position.

The Lions started the second half on the front foot, looking to put some breathing room between themselves and the USL League One side. Ojeda sent an ambitious effort off target two minutes after the restart. Spicer then sent a left-footed shot off the left post a minute later, coming inches from a brace and from doubling the lead.

Otavio did well to pick out Tsukada on the left in the 52nd minute. The winger sent a cross through the area at the top of the six, but none of his teammates made the run. A minute later, a takeaway by Otavio led to a quick counter in the attacking third. Tsukada made a nice play to beat the only defender and got his shot on frame, but Delgado made a big save to keep it a one-goal game.

In the 55th minute, it was Taifi making a nice run and getting the ball into the area, but his cross was behind Ellis and the defense got to the ball before Tsukada could get to it at the back post.

Ferrin sent another shot wide in the 58th minute as he continued to be the game’s most dangerous player.

Perelman sent on a trio of subs in the 59th minute and from that point on, FC Naples dominated. That was despite the fact that the substitutes were MLS veterans Martin Ojeda, Ivan Angulo, and Eduard Atuesta. From the time they stepped onto the field, the Lions struggled to keep the ball, break out of their end cleanly, and to finish their own chances at the other end on transition opportunities.

Otero saved his teammates repeatedly for defensive failures over the final half hour, starting with a 62nd-minute shot by Kevin O’Connor. The Naples attacker stepped right and fired a shot that was heading inside the right post. Otero dove and made a vital save.

Martin Ojeda’s best chance to impact the game came in the 64th minute. Taking the ball into the box on the left, the Designated Player went for power but just missed the upper 90 at the near post, sending a swerving effort fizzing just over the bar.

From that point on, it was nearly all one-way traffic and an endless series of set pieces for the hosts. The onslaught began in the 65th minute when Naples won a corner. Orlando failed to clear it and Garcia picked it up, firing a shot that forced another big stop by Otero.

A minute later, the Lions turned it over and Angulo conceded a free kick on Naples’ attacking right when a cross attempt hit his arm. O’Connor went for goal on the set piece and Otero knocked it over his crossbar to set up another corner.

On the ensuing set piece, Otero appeared to have plenty of time and space to catch the high cross. He instead opted to punch it away, and it was a costly decision, as FC Naples quickly won back possession and kept the pressure on, winning a corner. That led to the game’s most controversial call, and one FC Naples will feel aggrieved by.

Otero again couldn’t catch the cross on the next corner, and he didn’t punch it either. He didn’t get much on it as he palmed it away. The ball came off Dominick Bachstein in front and bounced toward goal behind Otero. Miller cleared the ball off the line. FC Naples celebrated as if it had gone in, but it appeared from the admittedly poor camera angle of the broadcast that Miller got to it before the entire ball crossed the line. It was a close play, and without video review, the call on the field stood, as neither the referee nor the assistant referee saw it as a goal.

After the play, Otero went down, either legitimately hurting, simply needing a breather, or to take some of the air out of Naples’ dominance. Perelman subbed Tiago on for Spicer.

Naples kept coming. Ferrin tied Taifi in knots again, cut inside, and fired another hard shot toward goal in the 77th minute. The shot didn’t miss by much, skipping across the top of the net. A minute later, Taifi’s late challenge gifted Naples a free kick near the left sideline. Orlando didn’t clear it decisively and the ball found Garcia again. The forward smashed another shot toward goal and Otero saved it again, denying Garcia at the near post.

Orlando generated a half-chance in the 80th minute in a rare attacking moment, but Tiago’s header from the left sailed wide of the right post.

The hosts came right back the other way and this time Guske conceded an unnecessary set piece. The free kick resulted in a free header inside the area but it floated well over the crossbar in the 82nd minute.

Orlando couldnt get out of its own way, even when the Lions had the ball. Marin decided to dribble forward in the 85th minute, but as FC Naples’ press closed on him, the Spaniard kept the ball too long. His eventual pass attempt was blocked in behind him, igniting a quick Naples counter. Miller saved his teammate some blushes by blocking Ferrin’s shot.

Taylor Gray was left alone for a free header on the ensuing corner kick and he put his shot on target, but he hit it toward the center of goal, where Otero caught it to save his teammates again in the 86th minute.

Orlando did well down the stretch to waste some time on restarts and by winning a series of corner kicks and playing the ball back out off a Naples player. Gray’s header was the last good look at goal for either side and the Lions were able to see out seven minutes of stoppage time that grew to nearly 10 before the final whistle mercifully blew.

FC Naples finished with the advantage in possession (53%-47%), shots (20-17), shots on target (8-4). Orlando City passed slightly more accurately (77%-73%), and each team won eight corner kicks.

In the end, Otero’s eight saves and Miller’s last-ditch clearance combined with Spicer’s goal to make the difference, but had the Bachstein goal counted, it may have changed things dramatically. As it is, the Lions avoided a “cupset” and live to face MLS competition in the Round of 16.

The Lions are back in MLS action Saturday night at home when the Houston Dynamo visit Inter&Co Stadium. In the U.S. Open Cup, the Lions will travel to face the New England Revolution on April 28 or 29.

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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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10 hours 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.

Free Kicks

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.

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3 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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Flashback Friday: July 15, 2023 at Atlanta United

Let’s rewind to a tense battle up in Atlanta that took place a little over three years ago.

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3 days ago

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July 17, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Well everyone, Major League Soccer is officially back. The league returned from its summer hiatus with three games Thursday night (four were scheduled but air quality from the Canadian wildfires caused Chicago vs. Vancouver to be postponed), and two more games are set to be played later today. Orlando City won’t take the field until Wednesday night against the San Jose Earthquakes though, so that means we have time for one more trip down memory lane. Last week, we went four years into the past and reminisced on a weird 1-0 win over Inter Miami that came courtesy of a Damion Lowe own goal. Today, we go back to mid-July 2023 and a road trip against Atlanta United.

Orlando had been in mostly good form heading into the team’s trip up I-75 to take on the Five Stripes but had hit a sizable bump in the road in the previous match in the form of a 4-0 hammering out west against Real Salt Lake. Oscar Pareja went to his usual 4-2-3-1 in an effort to get back to winning ways, with Pedro Gallese in goal; Rafael Santos, Antonio Carlos, Robin Jansson, and Kyle Smith at the back; Cesar Araujo and Wilder Cartagena at the double pivot; Ivan Angulo, Mauricio Pereyra, and Facundo Torres in attacking midfield, and Duncan McGuire leading the line.

The Lions seemed determined to put the previous game’s woes behind them and fashioned a chance with not even a minute played. McGuire played a slick pass behind the defense for Pereyra, but a poor first touch let him down and Brad Guzan came off his line well to save from point-blank range. Torres, McGuire, and Araujo then tried shots in the fifth, sixth, and eighth minutes, respectively, but none of them troubled Atlanta’s goalkeeper.

Orlando then took its foot off the gas a bit after trying to come out of the gates and overwhelm the hosts, but some self-inflicted errors gave the Five Stripes some life and eventually led to them opening the scoring. The Lions took a poor throw-in during the 22nd minute which turned the ball over deep in their own defensive third. Miguel Berry drew four OCSC players to him before flicking a ball over the top for Machop Chol. Carlos saved Chol’s deflected shot off the line but Caleb Wiley was first to the loose ball and did well to lift his shot into the net over a recovering Gallese.

Fortunately, the good guys were able to find a quick response. Orlando had a dangerous free kick just three minutes after conceding, and Pereyra curled in a dangerous ball toward the penalty spot. Carlos rose highest and powered a vicious header into the far corner with Guzan left helpless.

Leveling the game gave Orlando a needed injection of belief. McGuire tried his luck at catching Guzan off his line in the 35th minute, and Angulo put a powerful shot just outside the post two minutes later. Smith even had a pop from distance in the 42nd minute, but it went high and that was the last meaningful action of the half.

Atlanta ended the opening 45 minutes with more of the ball (52.1%-47.9%) and more corners (2-0), while OCSC took more shots (7-5) put more shots on target (3-2), and passed more accurately (81.3%-78.2%).

The two teams traded chances after a slow start to the second half, with a deflected ball trickling just wide of the Atlanta net in the 51st minute, before Santiago Sosa put a ball onto the roof of Gallese’s goal four minutes later.

Orlando then went ahead in the 60th minute. Pereyra split Atlanta’s center backs with a great ball for McGuire, who held off Luis Abram’s recovery efforts, and put a low shot past Guzan and into the side netting.

The good guys really should have bagged an insurance goal in the 68th minute, but Ramiro Enrique’s diving header went off the post and out after a great cross from Torres. Pareja then switched to five at the back to try to see out the game, and Atlanta managed to generate some chances. Thiago Almada and Matheus Rossetto had chances in the 88th and 90th minutes, but nothing came of them. The most dangerous moment occurred deep in stoppage time. Atlanta had a dangerous free kick in the 98th minute, and Almada sent a wicked-looking effort on net, but Gallese got over well and put two strong hands on it to parry away.

Atlanta took the resulting corner, but the Lions cleared successfully and the final whistle blew to give the visitors a 2-1 win and all three points.

Atlanta finished with more possession (59.2%-40.8%), corners (7-1), and shot attempts (17-10), but each side put four shots on target. The hosts were also more accurate when it came to passing the ball (84%-76.3%).

Marcus Mitchell was on Player Grades for this one, and he gave Carlos the Man of the Match nod with a grade of 7.5 out of 10. Other high scorers on the evening were Pereyra and McGuire, who each earned grades of 7 out of 10.

Here’s hoping the Lions can pick up some road points in a similar fashion when they return to play next Wednesday. Vamos Orlando!

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