Orlando City vs. Minnesota United: Player Grades and Man of the Match

Orlando City took a 2-0 lead on the road at Minnesota only to squander it, falling behind 3-2 late in the match. A stoppage-time equalizer from Tyrese Spicer saved a point on the road as the match ended in a 3-3 draw. Goals from Daryl Dike, Antoine Griezmann, and Spicer were the story of the Orlando City attack, but the defense cost the Lions two points. Let’s take a look at how Orlando City’s players rated in the draw against Minnesota United.

Starters

GK, Maxime Crepeau, 6.5 — Crepeau almost gave up an easy one early. He was slow and indecisive with Kelvin Yeboah closing him down and his clearance hit the Minnesota striker and went out for a goal kick, though it easily could have deflected in for a goal. He had a big double save in the 21st minute, the first of which he laid out to get his big paw on it, and followed that up with a deflection out for a corner kick. They were the type of saves we’re getting consistently from the Canadian since the World Cup. It wasn’t the last on the night either, as Crepeau made five official saves. He completed 66.7% of his passes including eight long balls.

D, Zakaria Taifi, 5 — Taifi is not a left back, but that is the position he finds himself in with injuries to Adrian Marin and Bernardo Rhein. Minnesota was able to create chances down his side, with the Loons’ opener starting with a switch of play in behind him as he was positioned centrally next to Robin Jansson, allowing acres of space in Minnesota’s right attacking corner. However, given it’s not his normal position I will give him a little grace. He still did some good things, though mostly in the attack. He completed 86.4% of his passes and recorded one tackle, one interception, and two clearances. I can’t fault his lack of effort. He made way for Martin Ojeda’s return in the 81st minute as Orlando City pushed for the equalizer.

D, Robin Jansson, 5 — It was not Jansson’s best night, though that could be said of the entire back line. He was caught out and beaten by the Minnesota offense a few times. He also made the bad pass that resulted in Minnesota’s third goal. It’s hard to feel good about his performance, given the number of goals given up. It wasn’t all bad, as he logged one interception and four clearances. He also completed 89.8% of his passes, including four long balls. He has been playing a lot of minutes, but I still expect more from the captain.

D, David Brekalo, 4.5 — Brekalo caused a little bit of consternation on the part of the Minnesota fans in the 62nd minute when he made a light two-handed shove into the back of Anthony Markanich, who went down a bit easily. There was rightly no call either way, and that may have been the best play he made. Then there were the two goals he was culpable on. He got beat by Marcus Caldeira on Minnesota’s goal in the 71st minute, and then on Markanich’s goal three minutes later. Brekalo recorded one tackle and 10 clearances, but he struggled in defending set pieces at times. His passing rate was decent at 85.7% but he didn’t connect on either of his two long balls.

D, Griffin Dorsey, 6 — Dorsey exhibited his speed and tenacity along the right side, getting into the attack again and again. Defensively, he did well most of the night, though he was part of the leaky Orlando back line. He finished with three tackles, an interception, seven clearances, and one blocked shot. His passing rate was a strong 90.9% and he completed his only long ball. His pass in from the right at the end line led to Dike’s opening goal, although he didn’t get credited for an assist because a defender touched the ball after the striker’s initial touch.

MF, Ivan Angulo, 6 — Angulo was only officially dispossessed once, which for him isn’t too bad. There was one breakaway in which he did well to hold up play to allow help to arrive rather than giving the ball away as he usually does. He completed 88.5% of his passes without a key pass and was just one of four on long balls, adding five tackles and three interceptions. Despite the pass percentage, it felt like he had trouble connecting through the press. I felt this was a match where he didn’t do any damage either for or against Orlando City.

MF, Joran Gerbet, 6 — Gerbet had the same troubles as everyone else when it came to dealing with the early press from Minnesota. He contributed two tackles and one interception. He also had a time high 97.2% passing rate. He was better once Orlando City was able to get on the front foot. He was able to contribute without being booked, which is something for a defensive midfielder.

MF, Eduard Atuesta, 6 — Atuesta had an average night, contributing on both sides of the ball. There were some good passes, though like nearly everyone he had trouble dealing with Minnesota’s press at times. He was able to complete 83.3% of his passes without a key pass and hit one of his two long balls. Defensively, he finished with two tackles, one interception, and three clearances. He made way in the 81st minute for Marco Pasalic to bolster the attack.

MF, Justin Ellis, 6.5 — Ellis once again had a good night without scoring a goal. He made numerous slick moves to get the ball past his opponents. His scoop pass on a give and go with Griezmann in the first half was just a little too far in front for the Frenchman to be able to get on the end of it. He managed two key passes including the assist on the give and go with Antoine Griezmann for the second goal. He was part of the buildup on the opening goal and completed 83.9% of his passes, committed one foul, and suffered one foul. He also made one clearance. He was subbed off for Tyrese Spicer in the 72nd minute.

F, Antoine Griezmann, 7.5 (MotM) — Griezmann is so good that I don’t think he had his best match and still he was involved in all three goals. There were times when his passing seemed a bit off, but in the end, the passes he connected on were more important. He kept the ball alive with an overhead kick to start the sequence that ended with Dike scoring the opener. He teamed up with Ellis on a long distance give and go to score Orlando City’s second goal on the night. Finally, he provided the long pass to Spicer for the equalizer in second half stoppage. He scored one goal on two shots, both of which were on target. He completed 84.8% of his passes including two key passes. He also committed two fouls earning a yellow card on one of them.

F, Daryl Dike, 7 — Dike got his first MLS goal since returning to Orlando City, scoing in the 28th minute. It was a very Dike type of goal. He used his body to hold off Michael Boxall, stayed on his feet through a three-way collision with Boxall and Drake Callender, turned, and shot at a very tight angle, but it was on target and with enough juice to find the back of the net. He also contributed on the defensive end a few minutes later, clearing a corner kick. He made the most of his one shot that was on target, recorded one clearance, and completed 57.9% of his 11 passes. He came off in the 59th minute for Harvey Sarajian.

Substitutes

F, Harvey Sarajian (59′), 6 — Sarajian came on for Dike in the 59th minute, though it’s hard to replace Orlando City’s big guy. Sarajian dispossessed Boxall to start the play that led to Griezmann’s goal and his run up the field occupied defenders, giving Ellis to make the pass and Griezmann to get in behind the back line. It was one of his best moments with the first team this season. He also won a free kick and drew a yellow card on Boxall in the 66th minute. Sarajian passed at an 88.9% rate and contributed one tackle.

MF, Luis Otavio (59′), 6 — Otavio came on for Gerbet, who is still working back from injury. He passed at an 84.6% rate, and contributed one tackle, one interception, and one clearance. He was solid if unspectacular, which isn’t bad for a teenager playing central midfield.

MF, Tyrese Spicer (72′), 7 — Super sub Spicer is back! Spicer did what Spicer does off the bench, which is spread the defense, create chances, and, more often than might be expected, scoring late goals. Spicer scored in the third minute of stoppage time to equalize for Orlando City after getting on a ridiculously amazing pass from Griezmann. He contributed an interception and passed at a 77.8% rate.

MF, Martin Ojeda (81′), N/A — Welcome back, Martin Ojeda. Orlando City’s No.10 got a run out at the end of the match while the Lions were chasing the game, coming on for Taifi. He managed one shot that was on target, though it went right to the keeper. He didn’t have enough time to truly impact the match, but I’m happy he got some minutes.

MF, Marco Pasalic (81′), N/A — Pasalic came on for Atuesta as the Lions chased the match. He committed a professional foul earning a yellow card. It was an obvious, if necessary, foul. Pasalic searched several times for a left-footed goal as he worked his way across the top of the box. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to make it happen, getting his one shot attempt partially blocked. He made one key pass but his overall success rate of 62.5% on eight attempts is less than stellar.

That’s how I saw the individual performances in the match. Let us know how you saw the game in the comments below, and don’t forget to vote for your Man of the Match.