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Orlando City vs. Chicago Fire: Final Score 2-1 as Lions Lose on Foolish Penalty

An unnecessary penalty in the second half cost Orlando a point against Chicago in a game stretched late by inclement weather.

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3 weeks ago

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Image of David Brekalo standing over the ball.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

A foul on captain Robin Jansson led to the winning penalty kick goal for Robert Lewandowski as Orlando City (6-11-3, 21 points) fell 2-1 at home to the Chicago Fire (11-6-2, 35 points) tonight in a wet match in front of 20,102 at Inter.co Stadium. The visitors struck early in the game on a poor clearance through Puso Dithejane and the game stayed that way until a lengthy weather delay late in the first half. Once play resumed, Orlando pulled level on a set piece goal by David Brekalo, but the defensive mistake allowed the visitors to take all three points home.

The Lions are winless in their last two home league games (0-1-1) and their last four at home in all competitions (0-2-2).

“Of course, disappointed with the result. Very, very disappointed because we were playing at home and we want to win,” Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman said after the match. “I think it was a game that we could have done a different result. It’s over. Nothing to do. We played against a good team. We couldn’t score (on the) chances we created. They were effective.”

Perelman’s lineup featured Maxime Crepeau in goal behind a back line of Adrian Marin, Jansson, Brekalo, and Griffin Dorsey. Luis Otavio and Wilder Cartagena started in central midfield between Ivan Angulo and Tyrese Spicer out wide with Justin Ellis and Antoine Griezmann leading the attack.

Orlando City looked to control possession and work combinations to get chances. It nearly worked right off the jump with Dorsey taking a pass in the middle near the top of the box. His first touch popped up on him and the fullback tried a shot on the half volley, but he made poor contact and sent his shot well wide of the left post in the second minute.

Unfortunately, the Fire took the lead two minutes later. Chicago attacked down the left and Jonathan Bamba sent a cross to the right to Lewandowski, who easily lost track of a ball-watching Marin. Lewandowski headed it back across the box where Brekalo failed to clear it and David Poreba picked it up and found Dithejane. No Lions closed him down and the forward smashed a goal inside the right post to open the scoring.

Much of Orlando’s first-half success getting into the final third involved sending Spicer down the left flank, but the speedy forward lacked precision and timing on his crosses throughout the half. His first chance came in the 12th minute, when he blazed down the left channel and was too impatient to hold play up for his teammates. Instead, he sent a cross way too far out in front of Angulo, who made a lung-busting run to try to get to the back post.

Chicago’s defense was excellent in coverage throughout the half, blocking several shots, including a drive from Griezmann in the 17th and attempts from Ellis in the 31st and 34th minutes. The latter set up Orlando’s first corner, and although the ball was headed back and forth across the box by both teams, it eventually went behind for a second corner. Chicago cleared on the second one.

Chicago nearly got a cheap second goal in the 37th minute when Marin fell asleep and didn’t track Dithejane’s run from midfield. Dithejane tried to beat Crepeau from distance, but the Canadian international made a diving save.

Orlando finally got an attempt on target in the 41st minute on a long-distance free kick. Griezmann’s ball into the area found Brekalo, but Chris Brady was able to save the defender’s header. Two minutes later, space opened up for Griezmann outside the box. The Frenchman tried to pick out the inside of the right post from distance but Brady made a good diving save.

The thunderstorm that had been coming for a few minutes finally arrived, and referee Rosendo Mendoza sent the teams to the locker rooms for inclement weather just two minutes and 10 seconds from halftime.

After the lengthy delay for lightning of nearly two hours, the game resumed with Tiago, Zakaria Taifi, and Marco Pasalic replacing Spicer, Marin, and Cartagena. The Lions nearly equalized in the couple of minutes remaining in the first half when Dorsey sent an entry ball through the box. Griezmann flicked it on toward the back post but Tiago couldn’t quite get to it at the back post, and moments later, the teams took a short break for halftime.

At the break, Orlando City had the advantage in possession (50.5%-49.5%), shots (9-4), and corners (2-0). Chicago led in passing accuracy (89.5%-89.2%). Both teams put two shots on target.

The Lions started the second half brightly, looking to combine but not creating much. Pasalic made a difference as an active player working well off of Dorsey outside and inside to Griezmann, Ellis, and Angulo. The Croatian created a corner kick with a cross that was blocked behind and Orlando made it pay off.

Griezmann sent in a good cross on the set piece. Brekalo made a diagonal run from left to right through the box before rising and meeting the delivery, flicking it past Brady to pull Orlando level in the 52nd minute.

Rather than energizing Orlando, the goal seemed to wake Chicago up. The Fire started keeping more of the ball and winning set pieces from that possession. Tiago gave up an unnecessary free kick near the sideline in the 58th minute, but the Lions withstood it. [Editor’s note: a previous version of this story misidentified the player who committed the foul as Zakaria Taifi. We apologize for the error.]

Taifi, playing on his weaker left side on the back line, was repeatedly taken advantage of by Chicago in the second half. The Homegrown defender got burned in the 62nd minute, allowing his man to get to the end line before slipping a pass through Jansson’s legs that Brekalo knocked away for a corner. The Lions dealt with the set piece.

Lewandowski changed the game in the 66th minute when he made a good run between defenders and got onto a through ball on the left. From a tight angle as he approached the end line, it seemed the Chicago star would either have to settle for a low-percentage shot or turn wide and look for help, but Jansson gambled that he could get the ball cleanly and lost. Sliding in to try to nick the ball from behind in his own penalty area, the Swede got Lewandowski’s foot and conceded a penalty. Lewandowski took the spot kick himself, sending Crepeau left and putting it just inside the post on the other side to make it 2-1 in the 69th minute.

From that point on, Orlando City wasted the chances it created and Chicago looked for opportunities to come forward in transition and kill the game.

Angulo fizzed a shot just over the bar in the 73rd minute, although Brady had it covered as the effort was right down the middle.

Dorsey did well to block a Lewandowski shot from just inside the top of the area in the 75th minute after Taifi got baited into stepping up, leaving room behind for the Fire to break. Taifi got beat again down the left side a minute later, but Jansson was there to block the cross behind for a corner, and it nearly paid off for the Lions rather than the Fire.

Orlando cleared the corner kick cross and second-half sub Daryl Dike played it into space for Griezmann near midfield. Griezmann was caught from behind by Jonathan Dean, but he held the defender off long enough and sent a shot just wide of the right post.

Much of the rest of the game consisted of a bit of hero ball, with Orlando looking to play long balls over the top that weren’t connecting or firing hopeful shots from long range. Pasalic created space for himself from about 25 yards out in the 81st minute but blazed his shot just over the bar. Dike tried his luck from outside the box four minutes later, but he too missed the target. Pasalic shook free near the top of the area in the 88th minute, and although he got his shot on frame this time, he sent his effort straight at Brady for a comfortable save.

The Lions could do nothing with the six minutes of added time except send long balls over everyone and out of play, and the game came to an end.

At the final whistle, Orlando City held the advantage in possession (55%-45%), shots (17-6), shots on target (4-3), and passing accuracy (89.7%-86%). Both teams won three corners in the match.

“We started not as precise as we want, then we were able to to improve a little bit,” Perelman said. “We couldn’t score. It’s not easy, of course, to score. We were there, creating some chances. Some ones more clear than other ones, and then again, they found those goals in those situations. They have talented players. Game over.”

Orlando City has yet another quick turnaround as Real Salt Lake visits on Saturday.

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Orlando City vs. Atlanta United: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

The Lions head north to Atlanta for a midweek rivalry matchup.

Published

1 hour ago

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September 9, 2026

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Image of Martin Ojeda taking a shot against Atlanta.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to your match thread for a Wednesday night matchup between Orlando City (8-11-4, 28 points) and Atlanta United (6-13-4, 22 points) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (7:30 p.m., Apple TV). It’s the second of the two MLS regular-season meetings between the Eastern Conference rivals and the third matchup between them in 2026 in all competitions.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of tonight’s match.

History

The Lions are 5-11-8 in the all-time series against Atlanta in league play and 2-5-4 on the road. Orlando City is 7-12-8 against tonight’s opponents in all competitions (regular season, playoffs, and U.S. Open Cup).

Orlando City and Atlanta United met most recently on May 19 in the 2026 U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals, with the Lions mauling the Five Stripes 4-1 in Orlando. David Brekalo, Griffin Dorsey, and Tiago provided the offense, with the latter scoring a brace to more than offset Atlanta’s late goal by Emmanuel Latte Lath that spoiled the shutout.

That U.S. Open Cup game came just three nights after the sides played to a 1-1 draw — also in Orlando. Dorsey gave Orlando the lead early but the Lions squandered chances to extend their advantage, allowing Jay Fortune’s late goal to steal a point for the visitors.

The Lions led 2-1 in Atlanta on May 28, 2025, on goals by Cesar Araujo and Ramiro Enrique to more than offset Alexey Miranchuk’s goal. However, Araujo foolishly got himself sent off by getting his hands up in the face of an opponent. The Five Stripes turned the game around on Bartosz Slisz’s goal with seven minutes remaining in normal time and Jamal Thiare’s winner deep in stoppage time in a 3-2 victory for Atlanta. The teams had met in Orlando a month earlier on April 26, and the Lions prevailed 3-0 on goals by Luis Muriel (from the penalty spot), Alex Freeman, and Marco Pasalic.

The rivals met in the 2024 Eastern Conference semifinals, with the Lions eking out a 1-0 home victory on Nov. 24. Enrique provided the game’s only goal, and the Orlando defense was dominant, allowing the visitors just seven total shot attempts — none on target. That win pushed the Lions into their first-ever conference final.

Prior to their postseason meeting, these two teams met on Decision Day 2024, with Atlanta scoring two early goals and holding on for a 2-1 win on Oct. 9. Saba Lobjanidze and Thiare gave the visitors an early lead. Martin Ojeda pulled one back and Duncan McGuire appeared to tie the game late, but the latter goal was overturned on video review for a handball. The teams also met at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on March 17, 2024, when Orlando City fell 2-0 on goals by Lobjanidze and Giorgos Giakoumakis.

The last meeting of 2023 took place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with Orlando City capturing a 2-1 away win. Atlanta took the lead through Caleb Wiley, but Antonio Carlos and McGuire scored to lead the Lions’ comeback. The southeast rivals also met in Orlando on May 27, 2023, at Exploria Stadium and played to a 1-1 draw. It was a heartbreaking dropped two points for the Lions, who took the lead through Kyle Smith at the half-hour mark and held that advantage until four minutes from full time, when Tyler Wolff equalized.

Atlanta went 1-0-1 in the season series in 2022. On Sept. 14 at Exploria Stadium the Five Stripes won 1-0 on a Thiago Almada goal despite the Lions out-shooting Atlanta 20-10. The sides played to a 1-1 draw in their first meeting of that year on July 22 in Atlanta. Mauricio Pereyra’s beautiful free kick gave Orlando the lead. Juan Jose Purata equalized in the second half, and Atlanta bombarded Orlando the majority of the game, outshooting the Lions 18-3 in the match.

Orlando had a six-match unbeaten streak in the series (3-0-3) snapped on Sept. 10, 2021, as the Five Stripes won 3-0 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. George Campbell and Ezequiel Barco scored for Atlanta, sandwiched around a Daryl Dike own goal to hand Gonzalo Pineda his first win as manager for United.

The second of three 2021 meetings took place July 30 at Exploria Stadium with the Five Stripes taking the lead twice on goals by Josef Martinez and Marcelino Moreno, but the Lions not only fought back twice on strikes by Smith and Silvester van der Water, but Nani scored a late game winner by heading in VDW’s cross in Orlando City’s 3-2 win. The first meeting of that season between the two rivals came on opening day — April 17 — and they played to a 0-0 draw.

The final meeting of 2020 took place on Oct. 28, when Orlando City ran away with a 4-1 win at Exploria Stadium. Dike, Chris Mueller, Tesho Akindele, and Matheus Aias scored the goals for the Lions, with Cubo Torres preventing a shutout with a late goal for the visitors. Prior to that, the teams met in Atlanta on Oct. 7, 2020 and played to a 0-0 draw. Robinho and Nani each hit the woodwork and Brad Guzan stood on his head to prevent Orlando from taking a deserved three points in that one. Brian Rowe held down the fort at the other end to earn a shutout in Pedro Gallese’s absence.

Back on Sept. 5, 2020, a late, unforced turnover by Kamal Miller led to Adam Jahn’s 92nd-minute tying goal that offset a Benji Michel strike in a 1-1 draw at Exploria Stadium. Orlando City finally got on the board in the series against Atlanta United with a 3-1 road win on Aug. 29, 2020. Junior Urso, Mueller, and Nani supplied the offense to more than counter a Brooks Lennon headed goal. That three-goal explosion snapped a three-match scoreless streak against the Five Stripes for Orlando.

Orlando City created an incredible 17 scoring chances on Aug. 23, 2019, yet finished none of them in a 1-0 home loss. Martinez scored the game’s only goal in the second half. Only 17 days earlier at Exploria Stadium, Orlando also failed to score and lost 2-0 to Atlanta, getting bounced from the U.S. Open Cup semifinals. On Mother’s Day of 2019, Atlanta United claimed a 1-0 win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Pity Martinez scored the goal.

Atlanta won at Orlando City Stadium on Aug. 24, 2018 by a 2-1 final score. Leandro Gonzalez Pirez bundled home a rebound off Joe Bendik, who misplayed Barco’s free kick to open the scoring just 21 minutes in. Scott Sutter tied the game just before the half, but Josef Martinez broke the deadlock in the second half, with only 16 minutes remaining in normal time.

Atlanta easily claimed the June 30, 2018 meeting at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, 4-0. Josef Martinez and Barco each scored a goal and Miguel Almiron added a brace. Orlando lost the first matchup of 2018, 2-1, on May 13. An early penalty on a Cristian Higuita foul gave the visitors a leg up on a Josef Martinez goal from the spot and Barco doubled the lead before halftime. Justin Meram scored his first goal as a Lion to pull one back, but Orlando could get no closer. The unfortunate ending included a shower of debris coming out of the stands due to dissatisfaction with referee Alan Kelly’s decisions that night.

Hector Villalba’s two late goals in the first two meetings turned what could have been an Orlando draw and a win into a loss and a draw. The two teams kicked off their series with Orlando suffering a late 1-0 loss at home on July 21, 2017. Villalba found the net late. He then scored a stoppage-time tally to rescue a 1-1 draw for Atlanta in the second meeting on July 29, 2017. Kaká scored one of his best goals as a Lion in that match to provide Orlando’s lone score.

Orlando City became the first visiting team to take any points out of Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a 3-3 draw in Atlanta that September. Dom Dwyer scored his first brace as a Lion (in MLS, anyway) and also assisted on Cyle Larin’s goal. Josef Martinez’s hat trick spoiled Orlando’s bid to take all three points.

Overview

The Lions are coming off a 1-0 victory over San Diego FC on Saturday in the first meeting between the two clubs. Antoine Griezmann provided the game’s only goal in the first half, while Ivan Angulo frustratingly blew a sitter in the second half that could have provided some breathing room. Orlando’s defense played well, allowing few chances to get the shutout. That win gave Orlando City a modest three-game unbeaten streak (2-0-1), with the draw coming on the road at Minnesota United in a match the Lions controlled until a three-goal lapse on defense. It was a costly dropped two points and underscored the team’s paltry 2-7-2 road record this season.

Atlanta enters tonight winless in its last two games (0-1-1), but came from behind to draw Inter Miami 2-2 on the road Saturday night. The tying goal was supplied by new Designated Player Breel Embolo from the penalty spot. The Five Stripes also added Mauricio Amaro, Paulo Díaz, and Júnior Alonso looking to retool a team that was recently in the Eastern Conference basement but is now five points behind the final playoff spot. Atlanta United is 4-6-1 at home this season.

Orlando City’s defense will have to keep tabs on Embolo, Almiron, and Miranchuk in particular, but the Lions can’t switch off in their own end regardless of who is on the pitch and what the score is.

The Lions will be without Adrian Marin (thigh) and Braian Ojeda (foot), while Atlanta will be missing Giuliano Galoppo (not due to injury) and Cooper Sanchez (concussion protocol), while Steven Alzate (illness) is questionable.

Match Content

Projected Lineups

Orlando City (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Maxime Crepeau.

Defenders: Bernardo Rhein, Robin Jansson, David Brekalo, Griffin Dorsey.

Midfielders: Ivan Angulo, Joran Gerbet, Eduard Atuesta, Justin Ellis.

Forwards: Antoine Griezmann, Daryl Dike.

Atlanta United (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Lucas Hoyos.

Defenders: Elias Baez, Junior Alonso, Paulo Diaz, Tomas Jacob.

Defensive Midfielders: Jay Fortune, Will Reilly.

Attacking Midfielders: Miguel Almiron, Tristan Muyumba, Aleksey Miranchuk.

Forward: Breel Embolo.

Referees:

REF: Armando Villarreal.
AR1: Adam Wienckowski.
AR2: Kevin Lock.
4TH: Amin Hadzic.
VAR: Younes Marrakchi.
AVAR: Jason White.

How to Watch

Match Time: 7:30 p.m.

Venue: Mercedez-Benz Stadium — Atlanta.

TV/Streaming: Apple TV.

Radio: AM 810 FOX Sports Radio Orlando (English), Mega 97.1 FM (Spanish), Nossa Rádio 1160 AM-WRLZ (Portuguese).

Social Media: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow us on Bluesky Social at @themaneland.bsky.social or follow Orlando City’s official Twitter (@OrlandoCitySC) or Bluesky (@OrlandoCitySC) feed.

Enjoy the match. Go City!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 9/9/26

Orlando City plays Atlanta, Griezmann gets fined, Banda a Ballon d’Or contender, and more.

Published

5 hours ago

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September 9, 2026

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Image of Antoine Griezmann taking a set piece against Monterrey in Leagues Cup action.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s also match day for Orlando City. The fixture congestion is back for the next couple of weeks which means plenty of opportunity to watch the Lions in action. I’m looking forward to seeing Martin Ojeda fully integrate back into the offense with Antione Griezmann. We will have more match prep later today, but for now, let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Heads to Atlanta

Orlando City is headed north to take on Atlanta United tonight. Both teams have been playing better of late, but this is still an opportunity for the Lions to get all three points from a rival on the road. Atlanta has struggled to score goals this season, and Orlando City’s offensive weapons are many, and the team is rising up the MLS power rankings, thanks to the win over San Diego FC. It’s a double match week, so it will be interesting to see how Atlanta rotates players based on availability.

Grizi Gets Fined

The MLS Disciplinary Committee has fined Orlando City’s Antoine Griezmann an undisclosed amount for violating the League’s policy regarding throwing/kicking an object toward fans in the match against San Diego FC. Here is the “incident” in case you missed it during the match.

If the fine was more than a dollar, it was too much. That’s not true, a dollar is also too much.

Pride in the News

The Orlando Pride made history in the 3-1 win over the Houston Dash. The victory made Yolanda Thomas the first Black woman in a head coach’s role in NWSL history, and only the fourth female coach to win their first-ever NWSL match in charge. It also comes as no surprise that Barbra Banda is a nominee for the Women’s Ballon d’Or.

Pochettino’s Big Plans

Mauricio Pochettino wants to make the USMNT one of the “most powerful” international teams in the world. That is a pretty ambitious goal, though I like the high aspirations. Pochettino is now in charge of the procedural and developmental sides of the game. He will have some time to experiment before the next World Cup, including utilizing more MLS homegrowns.

Free Kicks

  • Marco Pasalic has been called up to the Croatian National Team for the UEFA Nations League matches later this month and in the first part of October. Croatia will be playing Czechia, England, and Spain.
  • Ivan Angulo will be sporting a new look at the match tonight. Hopefully it helps him score goals on his breakaway opportunities.

That will do it for today. You can follow The Mane Land on Bluesky for live match updates and we will also have a recap of the match tonight and more coverage tomorrow. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 9/8/26

Antoine Griezmann earns recognition, lessons from MLS matchday 24, Americans in midweek action, and more.

Published

1 day ago

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September 8, 2026

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Image of Antoine Griezmann playing the ball.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Good morning, everyone! I hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend — the same way Orlando’s soccer teams most certainly did. All three teams picked up victories over the weekend: Orlando City B got the party started on Friday with a 4-1 win over Inter Miami CF II; Orlando City knocked off San Diego FC 1-0 on Saturday; and the Orlando Pride made it a full nine points from nine with a 3-1 win over the Houston Dash on Sunday. OCSC has a midweek game against Atlanta United Wednesday night, before all three teams are back in action over the weekend. We’ve got lots to talk about today, so let’s get into the links.

Antoine Griezmann Earns Recognition

Antoine Griezmann scored the all-important goal in Orlando City’s 1-0 win over San Diego FC on Saturday, and his performance has been rewarded with a bench place in the MLS Team of the Matchday. The goal was his fifth of the season and he now has eight goal contributions in eight league appearances with the Lions. His arrival has coincided with OCSC slowly climbing up the table into the playoff places, and the good guys will need more defensive performances like the one we saw on Saturday if they’re going to hang onto a playoff spot and potentially make some noise in the postseason.

Lessons from Matchday 24

Major League Soccer’s 24th matchday is now in the books, and there were plenty of things to be learned from the weekend’s action. Up in Canada, Josh Sargent bagged a hat trick and is starting to look more and more like the player he was at Norwich City. Toronto FC is now unbeaten in its last six games. Strikers were certainly at the forefront this weekend, as Petar Musa bagged a brace for FC Dallas in the team’s 4-3 win over Sporting Kansas City, and Breel Embolo scored a penalty kick on his Atlanta United debut to salvage a point with Inter Miami on the road. Finally, while its been an uneven year for the LA Galaxy, they knocked off the New England Revolution 2-1 at home and are now just one point outside the Western Conference playoff places.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans who will be playing games during the working week, and the UEFA Champions League is firmly back in the crosshairs. Things get going on Tuesday when Alex Freeman and Villarreal start their UCL campaign on the road against Borussia Dortmund. Wednesday sees Johnny Cardoso and Atletico Madrid play Liverpool on the road in UCL play, while Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Celtic play St. Johnstone during Scottish Premier League play. Things then wrap up on Friday when Gianluca Busio and Venezia play Fiorentina in Serie A action.

Mauricio Pochettino Speaks on Young Talent

Speaking of American players, USMNT Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has urged caution when it comes to the hype surrounding young Yanks like Cavan Sullivan and Julian Hall. The United States Men’s National Team will play four friendlies in the upcoming international window, and with the roster set to be announced on Sept. 17, there’s plenty of people calling for young talent like Sullivan, Hall, and Justin Ellis to get some looks with the senior squad. While the USMNT coach said he’s happy about the young talent in the player pool, he also urged people to not get carried away, and said,

“We need to be careful because when you are young, of course you need to be confident, you need to have the trust in yourself, and believe that you can perform and you can do well. But the thing is it’s a limit. The balance is the most important. And one of our responsibilities is to protect this guy because sometime if you play well and you are 17, 16 or 18 and you play well and people started to know to talk about that you are Messi or you are a big star in the world because you do some few good things. If after you are confused and you don’t manage well, that can be dangerous for your career.”

Free Kicks

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

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