Orlando City
Orlando City vs. FC Cincinnati: Player Grades and Man of the Match
How did your favorite Lions perform in Orlando City’s 6-2 away loss against FC Cincinnati?
Orlando City gave up four consecutive goals after tying the game 2-2, turning a competitive game into a 6-2 blowout loss on the road against Cincinnati on Saturday night. The World Cup break may have arrived at the perfect time for the Lions, who clearly need to take a comprehensive look at the roster and the coaching staff and figure out a new plan for the back part of the season.
I have my purple pen out and 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 an Eastern Conference rival.
Starters
GK, Maxime Crépeau, 6 — It may seem odd to see a grade of six when Orlando City allowed six goals, but Cincinnati tore apart the Orlando City defense during the last 60 minutes of the game and few goalkeepers would have kept out any of the six goals that went into the back of the net. Perhaps he could have gotten a hand on some, but Cincinnati shot the ball extremely well and I do not believe he should have saved any of the goals. The Canadian faced 11 shots on target, including nine from inside the box, and did well to make five saves and keep the team from becoming the first Orlando City team to allow seven goals in a single game. His distribution was solid, as he completed 88.9% of his passes, and once again he was one of the best players on the field for the Lions, despite the awful looking number of goals allowed.
D, Adrián Marin, 4 — The Spaniard made one great play, a sliding tackle from behind that robbed Kévin Denkey of a point-blank chance to score, but aside from that, he seemed to primarily be playing some kind of NBA-style drop coverage, where he just kept dropping and dropping as Cincinnati players attacked right at him, instead of stepping up to the ball. This allowed Marin to make three interceptions and to be in position to clear the ball twice, but it is telling that he had zero tackles in a game that was dominated by Cincinnati’s offense. Marin completed the second-most passes on the team (49, at an 87.5% completion rate), but most were of the very short variety and did not create anything offensively.
D, Robin Jansson, 4.5 — The Lions took an early lead thanks to a great ball over the top from Jansson to back line partner Griffin Dorsey, but after that play it was pretty much all downhill for the entire defense. The Beefy Swede put his body on the line, blocking three shots and heading the ball away for two clearances, but he made zero tackles or interceptions and was part of a Lions’ defense that allowed Cincinnati to repeatedly get open chances in the center of the box. He completed 90.4% of his passes, including a healthy amount of passes that moved the ball forward instead of just swinging it side to side, but the Jansson-led defense was far too soft on Saturday night and Cincinnati took full advantage.
D, David Brekalo, 4 — The one positive from Brekalo was that he stepped up and stepped in to make four tackles, but aside from that, it was a night to forget for the Slovenian. He was responsible for Kenji Mboma Dem on Cincinnati’s opening goal but he was beaten to the ball and allowed a free header, and then Evander just had his way repeatedly with the Orlando defense throughout the rest of the game, with the Slovenian often being isolated against the Cincinnati attacker and losing that battle. It is not a shame to be beaten by Evander, who is one the best attacking players in the league, but Brekalo’s name and number were repeatedly shown on the screen in the second half because he had turned his back and was chasing the Brazilian after getting beat. He completed 92.3% of his passes and hustled to get up into the attack more than fellow defenders Jansson and Marin, but he could not put either of his shots on target in what was a rough evening for the center back.
D, Griffin Dorsey, 4.5 — Dorsey’s three-game goal-scoring streak came to an end on Saturday night, though he nearly made it four with an acrobatic attempt to finish a cross with the outside of his right foot. He did not receive an assist, but he contributed directly to the game’s first goal, as it was his cross after a long run up the right sideline that led to a foul on Tiago and a penalty kick for the Lions. Orlando City probably should have looked to go up the right side more often than it did, as Dorsey only had 26 touches and was able to complete nine passes (64.3% completion rate). The man with the bun looked dangerous during the few times he had the ball, but those opportunities were few and far between. Like his other back line teammates, he bears responsibility for Cincinnati’s high-scoring output, as although he made two tackles, he did not have any other defensive contributions and was often caught too far up the field to help as Cincinnati went on the counterattack.
MF, Iván Angulo, 5 — It does not happen often but Angulo looked tired at points on Saturday night, the result of so many games in so few days, but he gamely pushed through it and went the full 90. The Colombian completed 81.5% of his passes but did not threaten often, though late in the game he shook loose and was able to put a shot on target that forced a diving stop from Cincinnati’s Roman Celentano. Angulo’s bigger contributions were, as they often are, on the defensive side of the field, as he made three tackles and intercepted two passes, with one of those interceptions snuffing out a Cincinnati counterattack on which Angulo was the last defender back. Overall, it was a middling game for Angulo, who probably needed a little more of a break in previous games or to come off the bench in this one.
MF, Eduard Atuesta, 6 — Atuesta showed off the full range of his skills against Cincinnati, delivering on both sides of the ball. Defensively, he led the team with eight defensive contributions — a game-high six tackles and two interceptions — and he also led all field players with eight loose ball recoveries. On the offensive side of the ball, he completed a game-high 62 passes at an 86.1% completion rate with two key passes. He suffered four fouls, including the foul that led to the free kick goal that tied the game 2-2, and he showed off some nice dribbling moves to get free and hit a shot that just missed the far corner by inches, bouncing off the far post and back out onto the field of play. It was a solid all-around game for Atuesta, but his partnership with Braian Ojeda needs to improve as Cincinnati owned the center of the field for most of Saturday night.
MF, Braian Ojeda, 4.5 — The Orlando City coaching staff probably deserves responsibility for a portion of Ojeda’s grade, as the Lions played 10 games between April 18 and Saturday night, a period of 35 days, and Ojeda played in 96% of the possible minutes during those games. He did not have the burst to track back quickly enough to disrupt Cincinnati’s attacks, and with Dorsey pushed way up high, as usual, and Ojeda unable to get back, Cincinnati did pretty much whatever it wanted for the final two-thirds of the game. The effort was there but the legs were not, which helped lead to Ojeda committing four fouls as he was desperate to find any way to slow down the opposition’s attack. He made two tackles and added three interceptions and a clearance, and offensively he completed 86.8% of his passes, but only one Ojeda had a positive game on Saturday, and it was not Braian.
MF, Tiago, 5 — After a two-goal performance against Atlanta on Tuesday, Tiago got the start again out on the wing, but Cincinnati bottled him up and he did not create a lot offensively. What he did create he did with his pressing efforts, as he made a great play early in the game to win the ball in the Cincinnati 18 and set up Martín Ojeda for a shot that went into the back of the net, but unfortunately was called back as Ojeda was offside. Tiago then made another great play to earn Orlando City a penalty kick, as he hustled to dispossess Kyle Smith of the ball after Smith stepped in front of a Dorsey cross, and Smith then fouled him to give the Lions a penalty kick. Tiago was active on defense throughout his 45 minutes, with three tackles and an interception, but he brought little else to the attack (he had 25 touches but completed only 57.1% of his passes) and came off at halftime for Tyrese Spicer.
F, Martín Ojeda, 8 (MotM) — There should be little debate as to who the man of the match was for Orlando City in this one, as Orlando’s attacking Ojeda put the ball into the net three times, with two of them accounting for both of Orlando City’s goals. His best finish might have been the tight angled shot that went through Celentano’s legs after Tiago made a great defensive play to get him the shot, but that was the one that did not count as he was offside when the ball was played. The Argentine made up for it with a well-placed penalty kick in the first half and an outrageous free kick in the second half, and he probably should have completed his hat trick after that free kick but for Celentano making a great save on one shot and Ojeda channeling his inner Carlos Rivas (read: skying the ball way over the net) on a close-range opportunity right at the end of the game. Tincho completed 85% of his passes with two key passes, and he was by far the most dangerous Lion on the field throughout the game.
F, Justin Ellis, 4.5 — The Homegrown player saw very little of the ball during his 57 minutes, recording only 20 touches and completing only seven passes at a 53.9% completion rate. Ellis is an adventurous attacker, so his passing completion rate is often low, but completing what amounts to every other pass is too low, especially against a team that can counterattack as well as Cincinnati. The young forward suffered four fouls but didn’t contribute much else, as he looked tired after so many games in a short amount of time and came off for Marco Pašalić with just over 30 minutes remaining.
Substitutes
MF, Tyrese Spicer (46′), 5.5 —Spicer came on at the half for Tiago and did not touch the ball for quite a while into the second half, before he finally got going and ended up leading the team with three key passes. He completed eight of his nine pass attempts and also ripped a shot from close range that forced Celentano to make a good save. Spicer is not the tenacious defender that Tiago is, but he generally creates chances when he is on the field, and although Orlando City did not finish those chances against Cincinnati, the team looked better offensively with him on the field during the second half.
MF, Marco Pašalić (57′), 4.5 — Pašalić was a passenger for the opening minutes of his shift, but he finally warmed up to the competition toward the end of the game, but it was far too little and far too late. He completed 75% of his passes, with eight of those advancing the ball and only one was a short pass, and he ripped a late shot from outside the box that reminded everyone of the lethality in his left foot. Unfortunately, his shot curled back just a little too far and was saved, but those are the shots Orlando City needs the Croatian to take to open up room for the rest of the offense. The team also needs him engaged throughout his time on the field, which he was not on Saturday night.
F, Duncan McGuire (72′), 5 — Big Dunc had very little opportunity to contribute, as he only had eight touches and spent most of his minutes chasing the ball as Cincinnati passed it around. He played in one dangerous cross but none of his teammates could get on the end of it, and he took one shot from outside the box but it did not threaten Celentano. He completed six of his eight pass attempts and hustled as he always does, but had nothing to show for it.
D, Wilder Cartagena (72′), 4 — Cartagena came on as a defender, but he still does not seem fully fit and ready to be back on the field at the MLS level. He got caught too far in front of Denkey and on the wrong side of the Togolese attacker, and Denkey just boxed him out and easily finished for a goal, and then late in the game he was not quick enough to get to Ender Echenique and prevent a cross, and Tom Barlow finished that cross to put a bow on Cincinnati’s dominance of the Lions. Cartagena completed 85.7% of his passes and made one tackle, but hopefully by the time the World Cup break is over he is able to get back the game speed he had before his injuries.
MF, Luís Otávio (85′), N/A — The Brazilian came on late and had a great chance to score but hit his shot right down the middle and Celentano made the simple save. He completed four of his six passes and added one tackle on defense.
That’s how I saw the individual performances in Orlando City’s brutal 6-2 loss on the road at Cincinnati. 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
How Orlando City’s Players Fared In Transfermarkt’s Latest Market Valuations
A look at Transfermarkt’s latest player valuations for Orlando City and where those players rank across all of MLS.
The World Cup is finally here and in full swing, and the soccer on the field has been thoroughly enjoyable through its first week. The “home” North American teams are off to a good start, with dominating wins by Mexico and the United States, a draw from Canada, and good showings from Haiti and Curaçao, even though both teams lost (Panama had not played as of this article’s completion). Curaçao’s goal against Germany was one of the moments of the tournament so far, even in what turned out to be a thumping defeat, and if the next few weeks can match the first week, we are in for a great tournament.
And thank goodness for that, because Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are still on hiatus, leaving only Orlando City B in action locally, as MLS NEXT Pro continues to channel its inner Mcfadden & Whitehead, reminding everyone that “ain’t no stoppin’ us now.”
And speaking of on the move, several Lions who moved on from Orlando contributed majorly to their nation’s opening games, with Alex Freeman (U.S.) and Richie Laryea (Canada) earning starts and Cyle Larin (Canada) coming off the bench. All three were excellent during their time on the field, and Larin and Freeman each recorded a World Cup goal contribution (goal for Larin and assist for Freeman) on the same day. Laryea really broke out after leaving Orlando City (much like another L-named former Lion on a World Cup roster, Brazil’s Léo Pereira), but Larin and Freeman were excellent in Orlando before transferring elsewhere, which leads me to Transfermarkt, the go-to website for player valuations.
The analysts at Transfermarkt generally update their player valuations twice per year, with occasional additional valuations upon player transfers. Fortunately for us during this dearth of Orlando City soccer, those updates happen in June and December, so there are brand new valuations for the Lions (and most of the players in MLS) as of the last few weeks.
Keep in mind these are estimated player valuations if another team would try to buy that player, and not salaries or estimates of worth as it relates to Orlando City’s 2026 team. Robin Jansson, for example, is valued at a lower amount than Iago and considerably lower than David Brekalo, even though the Orlando City coaching staff likely rates him as their top center back on this year’s team. Jansson is nearing retirement age, while Iago and Brekalo both have many years left in their careers, hence their larger value than Jansson.
The calculations behind Transfermarkt‘s estimated valuations are proprietary and are not shared on the site, but here is the list of Orlando City’s top players by position, and their corresponding rank among all MLS players at that position:
| Player | Position* | Valuation (in $ millions) | MLS Rank at Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maxime Crépeau | GK | $2.09 | T-8 |
| Adrián Marín | LB | $1.74 | T-20 |
| David Brekalo | CB | $4.06 | T-5 |
| Griffin Dorsey | RB | $1.74 | T-14 |
| Braian Ojeda | DM | $4.06 | T-3 |
| Eduard Atuesta | CM | $4.06 | T-15 |
| Tiago | LW | $4.06 | T-13 |
| Marco Pašalić | RW | $7.53 | 6 |
| Martín Ojeda | AM | $10.43 | 2 |
| Duncan McGuire | CF | $2.32 | T-35 |
*GK=goalkeeper, LB = left back, CB = center back, RB = right back, DM = defensive midfielder, CM = central midfielder, LW = left wing, RW = right wing, AM = attacking midfielder, and CF = center forward. Those positions were assigned by Transfermarkt. I cannot tell you why Braian Ojeda is a defensive midfielder and Atuesta is a central midfielder. Also, in a somewhat surprising categorization, attacking midfielders are classified as midfielders and not attackers, which will become relevant below.
For those who are interested, the full list of Orlando City valuations can be found here; just know that the numbers will look different because the site tracks valuations in Euros and I did the conversion to dollars for the table above. Putting that mathematics degree to good use!
On the whole, Transfermarkt values Orlando City’s roster at $56.6 million, with goalkeepers at $2.3 million, defenders at $11 million, midfielders at $24.1 million, and attackers at $19.3 million, respectively (there is some rounding in there, which is why when you did the math in your head, and I know you did, you summed those values to $56.7 million instead of $56.6 million). Among all MLS teams, those positional sums rank 11th, 19th, fourth, and 20th, in the same positional order. Orlando City is not the only team that is about to add a new signing once the secondary transfer window opens up, but Antoine Griezmann is currently valued at $9.27 million and adding that to the existing $19.3 million of Orlando City’s attacking group would vault them from 20th to sixth in attack and into fifth overall across all rosters.
Griezmann is not yet on the roster, however, so he is not included in the chart below, which displays the MLS rankings based on Transfermarkt‘s valuations. Orlando City ranks 26th in the league in points earned per game, but the Lions are doing it with a roster that is estimated as having the 12th-most value, and it would be a lot nicer if those two were flipped, or if the Lions could just play better and pick up more points. It is the hope that kills you keeps you going.
Here is the current state of Transfermarkt‘s valuations (I combined goalkeepers and defenders into one grouping):
Miami dominates this list, as its roster contains three of the league’s seven highest-valued players, a group of three that by themselves are more valuable than the bottom eight teams in MLS. The less said about them the better, so that is enough on the Herons.
As previously mentioned, Orlando City’s midfield, featuring the league’s 14th-highest valued player Martín Ojeda, is where most of the team’s value is. Pašalić leads the attacking group at $7.53 million (26th overall in MLS), nearly double the estimated value of the next highest attacker Tiago, and Brekalo is in a similar boat as the defender with the most value ($4.06 million), nearly twice that of Crépeau ($2.09 million) and more than double any other back line player. Adding Griezmann will give the Lions some bite on the field and also in these rankings, as McGuire has the most value on the club but ranks only 35th among forwards, and his value has fallen 60% from where it was in June of 2024 ($5 million).
Among the 26 players that Transfermarkt valued for Orlando City, 16 of them had valuations two seasons ago as well. Eight players have increased in value from 2024, three are at the same valuation, and five have decreased. As much as I would like to put stock into these valuations, as Transfermarkt is one of the most trusted sites in the business, a certain former Lion named Freeman is on a rocket ship trajectory in his career and yet is currently only valued at the same dollar amount as Atuesta, Brekalo, Braian Ojeda, and Tiago. Positional differences account for some part of it, but I think few teams in the world would actually value all of those players the same, with Freeman commanding far more than any of those other four players.
In the end, a player’s value is determined not by a website but by what one team is willing to pay for them, and with the MLS secondary transfer window set to open in a little less than a month on July 13, we will soon see if any current Lions are transferred out, and at what price, and if there will be any new Lions joining the team aside from Griezmann.
Orlando City got younger and, according to Transfermarkt, more valuable from 2025 to 2026, but while we as fans enjoy the discourse and rumors about buying and selling players, what we really want are wins and banners. I do not think San Jose’s fans care one bit that their team is rated as having the third-least value in MLS, the Earthquakes are averaging earning the third-most points per match, picking up three points in most of their games.
The Lions still have 19 regular-season games remaining, and it would be great if by the next update from Transfermarkt in December the roster will be full of players who increased their valuations after a scorching run to close out the season. Once again, it is the hope that kills you keeps you going.
Vamos Orlando!
Orlando City
Orlando City and the Orlando Pride: Positions Available
Both the Lions and the Pride have positions of need, and they’re more similar than you think.
As we eagerly await the arrival of Antoine Griezmann, I got to thinking about positions of need for Orlando City. That led to doing the same for the Orlando Pride, and I came to a realization. The two Orlando sides have very similar positions of need. I’m not saying they are identical, but perhaps a joint shopping trip isn’t the worst idea. Let’s take a look at where the two clubs need some help.
Got Any More of Those Center Backs?
Orlando City has rotated plenty along the back line this season and it’s a big reason why the club is on a record-breaking pace when it comes to conceding goals. Robin Jansson was missing due to injury for the first part of the season, and his return certainly helped, but he is getting older and won’t be around forever. Iago started pretty shakily, and while his performance has improved, he’s not where he needs to be yet. David Brekalo keeps getting moved between center back and left back, depending on the situation, and Nolan Miller is barely seeing time.
The Orlando Pride lost Emily Sams and understandably haven’t been able to replace her yet. I continue to believe that Hailie Mace was the intended replacement, but that experiment has run its course and we’re mostly seeing her at right back. Rafaelle seems to finally be healthy and is the stabilizing force on the back line, but she can’t do it alone. Cori Dyke has been playing in the middle and has been serviceable, but is she a long-term answer at center back?
What both teams have is an experienced, if older, center back paired with a young or out-of -position partner. That is not a recipe for success. When the Pride won the double, they had an excellent pair of center backs. I think both teams need to add another veteran center back to shore up the back line to stop bleeding goals. The Lions are more guilty than the Pride, but both need help.
Same Coin/Different Sides
When it comes to the attack, both squads need another attacker, but the need is the opposite of the other. Orlando City has Martin Ojeda playing well and scoring plenty of goals. The arrival of Griezmann will help Ojeda and the other players create space and get more opportunities. Where the Lions need another body is at striker. In the past, Duncan McGuire looked like he could be that guy, but he hasn’t gotten back to consistent form ever since his back-to-back shoulder injuries. Orlando City needs McGuire to get his mojo back or to add another target striker.
The Pride have a different problem. Barbra Banda is leading the Golden Boot race in 2026 and is often unstoppable. The problem is she isn’t getting much help. We have yet to see Banda, Marta, and Jacquie Ovalle play together. That was supposed to become the Pride’s deadly attacking trio, but it hasn’t happened thanks to injuries. If Seb Hines can get all of those players on the pitch together consistently it will crack open defenses. Of course, Marta is unlikely to continue much longer, and even now seems to only be able to provide a limited number of minutes. Her replacement is needed so that the team can have continuity.
Midfield Identity
For a long time, Orlando City counted on Cesar Araujo and Wilder Cartagena to provide one of the best defensive midfields in MLS. Either could go forward or be a destroyer at the back, though I’ll give Cartagena the nod on the destroying end. Braian Ojeda has been serviceable and I’d say improving as of late. Eduard Atuesta has gotten worse in his time with the Lions. The team may need to find another destroyer if Cartagena can’t get back into form — and will need a partner for him even if he does.
I think the midfield issues for the Pride run even deeper. Setting aside Marta, her Brazilian teammate Angelina hasn’t been as effective as years past. Ally Lemos gets all the minutes she wants, but she isn’t producing enough to warrant it in my opinion, and out on the wing, Solai Washington is young and has been injured in recent weeks. Haley McCutcheon is a solid player who has the (very) occasional great game, chipping in a goal here and there. The team is missing the connection between the defense and the offense, and that is why we’ve seen so much route one service to Banda. If Angelina can’t return to form, or if the younger players don’t make the leap, then adding an experienced playmaker to the midfield is crucial if the Pride want more hardware.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 6/18/26
Marco Pasalic’s journey to the World Cup, analyzing Australia before USMNT game, Angel City FC and Alex Straus part ways, and more.
We’re a week into this year’s World Cup and I’ve been enjoying the action so far. The star players have been living up to expectations for the most part, and it’s been fairly competitive in my opinion. Before we get to today’s links from around the soccer world, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando Pride defender Rafaelle!
Marco Pasalic’s Journey to the World Cup
Orlando City winger Marco Pasalic made his World Cup debut Wednesday, coming off the bench for Croatia and putting a shot on target in his team’s 4-2 loss to England. While not a great result, it’s still a momentous time for Pasalic, who spoke prior to the tournament on his soccer journey. The 25-year-old shared details about his upbringing as part of a refugee family in Germany and the importance of maintaining his connection with Croatia over the years. Pasalic also gave insight on the gratitude he has towards Orlando City for the opportunities he’s had since becoming a Lion.
“You saw it when I played my first game here, that I felt really well, two goals in the first match. No other club did I score in my debut,” he said. “The last season speaks for itself, that I felt really good. I have to be thankful that this club gives me the opportunity to play so many games. I got the recall up for the national team, because I gained it here through the trust of the club, the trust of everybody here, and I could provide it on the field.”
Analyzing Australia Ahead of USMNT Match
The United States Men’s National Team will play Australia on Friday in a pivotal World Cup game with control of Group D on the line. This will only be the fifth match between the two nations, with the most recent match being a 2-1 U.S. win in October. Australian goalkeeper Patrick Beach surprisingly started over captain Mathew Ryan and had eight saves in Australia’s 2-0 win over Turkiye, with center backs Alessandro Circati and Harry Souttar doing their part defensively as well. As for Australia’s attack, the U.S. will need to find a way to limit Nestory Irankunda, who scored against Turkiye and can do damage on the counter or from set pieces. At 6-foot-6, forward Tete Yengi is another Australian to keep an eye out for and he could make an impact off the bench.
Angel City FC Parts Ways With Alex Straus
Alex Straus is no longer Angel City’s head coach, with the two parting ways during this break in the league schedule. Angel City got off to a hot start this season, with Straus named NWSL Coach of the Month for March, but has since only won one of its past eight games. Straus officially joined the club in June of last year after winning three consecutive league titles with Bayern Munich, and now his time with Angel City comes to a close just a little over a year later. Leif Gunnar Smerud will serve as Angel City’s interim head coach moving forward while the club searches for its fourth head coach in its short club history.
Gotham FC and Angel City Make Big Moves
Angel City will also be without Kennedy Fuller, as the 19-year-old midfielder was traded to Bay FC in exchange for $500,000 in Intraleague Transfer Funds and $20,000 in Allocation Money. That’s not all Angel City is up to though, as it has reportedly signed American attacker Ally Sentnor from the Kansas City Current for a $850,000 transfer fee as well.
Gotham FC is wheeling and dealing too, trading 2025 NWSL Rookie of the Year Lilly Reale to the Boston Legacy for $350,000 in Allocation Money and $50,000 in Intraleague Transfer Funds. The Massachusetts native should bolster a Boston defense still searching for its first clean sheet. Gotham is also reportedly set to sign Australian forward Sam Kerr as a free agent. The 32-year-old previously played for Gotham back when the club was named Sky Blue FC and should bring some firepower to a loaded team that’s somehow only scored 12 goals in 11 games this season.
2026 FIFA World Cup Roundup
Harry Kane scored twice in England’s aforementioned 4-2 win over Croatia in Arlington. FC Dallas forward Petar Musa scored an equalizer for Croatia right before the half in an emotional moment, but Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford both scored in the second half to lift England to victory. In Houston, Portugal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo battled to a 1-1 draw. While an unexpected result, the DR Congo is a talented side that eliminated Nigeria, Jamaica, and Cameroon in order to qualify. Ghana beat Panama 1-0 thanks to Caleb Yirenkyi scoring deep in stoppage time in a rainy match in Toronto.
Today’s action features Group A and Group B, with Orlando City goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau and Canada set to take on Qatar. Fellow co-host Mexico will face South Korea and either nation can qualify for the knockout round with a win if Czechia and South Africa draw in the other Group A game.
Free Kicks
- Here’s the first look at next year’s biopic about Marta, with Alice Carvalho starring as the legendary forward.
- Orlando City B may be climbing the MLS NEXT Pro standings, but it remained in seventh in the power rankings. Hopefully the Young Lions can make it five straight wins when they host Philadelphia Union II on Sunday.
- The Colorado Rapids transferred Connor Ronan to Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership, with him signing a two-year contract with his new club.
- The Philadelphia Union waived defender Olivier Mbaizo, who has been with the club since 2018.
- Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva signed a two-year contract with Real Madrid after nine years with Manchester City.
- Mexico’s military brought down a drone that was seen near South Korea’s training camp as it prepares to play against Mexico.
That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your week!
How Orlando City’s Players Fared In Transfermarkt’s Latest Market Valuations
Orlando City and the Orlando Pride: Positions Available
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