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Orlando City vs. Montreal Impact: Final Score 2-0 as Impact Sweep the Lions

The Lions were never a threat to score and an early mistake allowed Montreal to park the bus.

Published

6 years ago

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Carlos Romero, The Mane Land

Orlando City will be glad not to see the Montreal Impact anymore this season. The Impact got yet another goal from Ignacio Piatti and the second Orlando City own goal in 10 days to escape Orlando City Stadium with a 2-0 win over the Lions, who have now lost seven straight in MLS play.

The announced crowd of 23,498 had to wait a half hour due to a weather delay but there wasn’t much to cheer for over the course of the 90 minutes.

Orlando (6-9-1, 19 points) wasn’t threatening at all after falling behind Montreal (6-11-0) just 13 minutes in on the own goal by Lamine Sané and is now below the playoff line after results elsewhere.

Bobby Murphy stuck with the 3-4-3, despite using five players who went 120 minutes on Wednesday night in U.S. Open Cup play on the road — something he admitted after the match may have been a mistake. Dom Dwyer took over at striker in between Justin Meram and Josué Colmán in front of a midfield of Donny Toia, Uri Rosell, Sacha Kljestan, and Will Johnson. Amro Tarek, Sané, and Jonathan Spector manned the back line.

The first half may have been the most boring 45 minutes seen in Orlando City Stadium this season, overall. But it didn’t start out that way.

Dwyer earned a free kick in the game’s first minute but Johnson blasted the set piece over the bar.

Montreal got the first good chance when Piatti fired on frame in the seventh minute but Joe Bendik parried the shot away. Spector headed wide on a corner kick in the 10th minute for Orlando.

Disaster struck in the 13th minute when Matteo Mancosu fizzed a cross into the area and Sané tried to nod it behind for a corner but instead he only got a glancing touch on it and it beat Bendik to the near post to make it 1-0 Montreal.

After the goal, the Impact sat back and were content to counter when possible. Montreal did well to gum up the pitch and allow very little space for the Lions to operate in. Orlando City never threatened goal for the rest of the first half.

Montreal got a couple of weak shots on target from outside the area but Bendik was called to action on a Mancosu header in the 35th minute that he did well to keep out.

Orlando City had more possession (56%-44%) in the first half and was the better passing team (88%-87%). Montreal led in shots (7-2), shots on goal (4-0). The Impact were quite content to sit behind the ball and wait for counter attacks after the own goal and the Lions were stagnant in the attack.

“I think the first half we had next to no energy and that might have been me thinking people could get through what they went through on Wednesday night, thinking we’d get a lift from some people we brought in, and none of it seemed to work,” Murphy said. “That’s on me.”

The Lions started the second half with a bit more energy but still struggled with quality in the attack. Meram put in an early back post cross but no one made the run. A few moments later, Meram made a nice turn in traffic at the top of the penalty area and tried to play Dwyer in alone but put a tad too much on the pass and Evan Bush collected it.

Mancosu had a go for Montreal in the 54th minute but missed the goal frame. Bendik then denied Alejandro Silva in the 62nd minute.

The Lions’ best opportunity came two minutes later. Dwyer laid a ball off for Kljestan who fired just a foot or so wide of the goal.

That chance came just after Chris Mueller subbed on for Amro Tarek and Orlando shifted into a 4-2-3-1. Moments after the miss, Scott Sutter made his return to the pitch for the first time since April 8 against Portland, replacing Will Johnson at right back.

“It was nice to get back out there, nice to be involved,” Sutter said after the game. “Obviously really, really disappointed that we lost again.”

Mueller got into the box in the 67th minute but took a heavy touch before going down after some contact, but there wasn’t enough in the challenge to warrant a penalty, especially after the rookie lost the ball. Colmán buzzed a cross into the box in the 69th that was cut out for a corner and Orlando finally got a shot on target out of it. Colmán’s cross found the foot of Sané, who fired it on goal but Bush stopped it right on the goal line.

Sutter put in a dangerous cross in the 75th minute that nearly connected with Dwyer, who either mishit it with his head or else he was perhaps trying to nod it back for Meram, but the chance fizzled out.

Piatti scored in the aftermath of a short corner in the 84th minute but the play was originally ruled offside. The play was reviewed and the goal counted, as Raheem Edwards was off but was judged not to have interfered with the play. Piatti was close to being off, but Spector just kept him on.

Piatti now has eight goals in nine games against the Lions.

Orlando launched about four more shot attempts over the bar in the final moments, plus six added minutes, before the final whistle blew on an utterly forgettable match.

The Lions were out-shot, 12-8, but a whopping 6-1 on target. Going back to Wednesday night’s U.S. Open Cup match, the team has fired 29 shots while only directing four of those on frame.

“To get the chemistry in attack, it takes time. We’ve got to just be better at it, and that’s my job for right now,” Murphy said.

Orlando held 55% of the possession and out-passed Montreal (86%-84%) but it was mainly due to Montreal’s willingness to sit back and defend in numbers.

“I want to apologize to the fans who came out tonight,” Murphy said. “The team selection falls on me and I chose a group that went out there and we weren’t good enough tonight. So that’s my responsibility.”

Orlando City will not have an easy time of stopping the losing streak at seven games, as the Lions will next visit Atlanta United on Saturday, June 30 .

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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. FC Cincinnati: Three Keys to Victory

What does Orlando City need to do to ensure a victory over FC Cincinnati Saturday at home?

Published

14 hours ago

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May 2, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City looks to bounce back from the disappointing 2-1 loss to Toronto FC Saturday night at Inter&Co Stadium. Cincinnati has twice as many points as Orlando City and more than twice as many wins. FCC has only scored one more goal than Orlando City, but with only nine goals conceded compared to Orlando City’s 17, it’s easy to see why Cincinnati is sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference.

What I’m trying to say is that the task doesn’t get any easier this weekend. What does Orlando City need to do to secure all three points at home against FC Cincinnati?

Accost Acosta

Cincinnati’s attack revolves around Luciano Acosta. The attacking midfielder has four goals and five assists so far this season. To put that into perspective, Duncan McGuire — Orlando City’s leading scorer — also has four goals but only one assist. If we look at the Lions’ attacking midfielders, Facundo Torres has one goal and one assist, Ivan Angulo and Nico Lodeiro both have one goal and two assists, and Martin Ojeda has zero goals and only one assist. Luis Muriel is still at double zeroes.

The defensive midfield and the back line must do everything possible to mark him out of the match. It’s not enough to keep him from scoring, they must also keep him from setting up chances for his teammates. Most importantly, the defense must do that for 90 minutes plus stoppage time. There is no room for the mental lapses we’ve seen throughout the first part of this season.

Break Through

Cincinnati is stingy on defense. As I mentioned above, the club has only allowed nine goals this season. The back line is formidable with the likes of Matt Miazga, Miles Robinson, and Ian Murphy. On the wings are DeAndre Yedlin and Luca Orellano. This is a tough defense, and whether it is McGuire or Muriel who gets the start, they must find the spaces in between.

Just as importantly, Torres, Angulo, Ojeda, and Lodeiro — depending on who is in at any given moment — must be able to thread the passes in for McGuire, Muriel, or each other to create quality chances. On top of that, the Lions must convert on those chances, which is not something that has been a strength so far this season. If the Orlando City defense continues to give up cheap goals, then the offense will need to one-up the competition when it comes to scoring.

Deal with an Unknown

FC Cincinnati recently signed Venezuelan forward Kevin Kelsy from Ukrainian Premier League club Shakhtar Donetsk. Kelsy comes in as an MLS U22 Initiative player and is eligible to play against Orlando City. Even though Kelsy is only 19, he has 68 professional appearances, including UEFA Champions Leagues matches. At 6-foot-3, he can be a challenge for defenders, especially in the air.

Kelsy hasn’t had much time with the team, but he could be a second-half substitution for Cincinnati. Given that Orlando City just gave up two late headers against Toronto FC, the back line will need to be careful that Kelsy doesn’t hurt the Lions in the same manner — especially if he comes on late when legs and minds are tired.

That is what I will be looking for Saturday night. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/2/24

The Pride win big, OCSC celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month, USMNT news, and more.

Published

18 hours ago

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May 2, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

It’s Thursday, Mane Landers. Of course, the name Thursday comes from Thor’s day, and as such, it isn’t a big leap for us to consider it Thorhallsson’s day. Though I suppose that is a bit of a mouthful, so we’ll just keep things the way they are, but do hold Dagur Dan close to your heart today. Also, let us wish a happy birthday to the Orlando Pride’s Luana. Despite the devastating news that dropped about her health earlier this week, we hope that her spirits are high and we wish her nothing but happiness today. It’s also Dagur Dan Thorhallsson’s birthday today, so we’re celebrating him as well. Let’s get to the links.

The Pride Dominate the Courage

The Orlando Pride defeated the North Carolina Courage 4-1 in a midweek match at Inter&Co Stadium. The Pride did indeed dominate the Courage as much as the score line indicates. It was once again the Barbra Banda show, with the Pride’s newest player contributing a brace and an assist on the night. It is the Pride’s fourth straight victory and the undefeated run continues.

OCSC Celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month

Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are doing their part this May to observe Mental Health Awareness Month. The club is sponsoring and attending events and forums available to the general public, as well as holding club staff workshops around promoting mental health. I have to say my favorite is the therapy dogs visits that will be available to the staff. There’s nothing as good for my personal mental health as the joy and unconditional love a dog can bring. If I didn’t have dogs of my own, I’d be really jealous.

The Billionaires Clubs

Orlando City and Orlando Pride owners, the Wilf family, are not the only billionaire owners in the NWSL. There are more and more owners and ownership groups that fall into that category. The influx of more money is a growth opportunity for the league and potentially for those owners. It’s a bit of a “rising tide lifts all boats” mentality for these owners as they do better when the league as a whole does better. It’s not just the owners who think so. The NWSL was ranked No. 5 on the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2024. I’m just glad the Pride are in the club.

USMNT News

I hate starting off a section with bad news, but Sergino Dest tore his ACL in training with PSV Eindhoven and will miss the Copa America. Dest will require surgery though there is no time frame yet for when he may return. The loss of Dest is a blow to the U.S. defense heading into the competition this coming June. The USMNT plays Bolivia on June 23.

In better news, Tim Weah provided the assist for Juventus on Arkadiusz Milik’s goal against Lazio. Juventus entered the second leg of the Copa Italia semifinal up 2-0, but Lazio drew level before Milik’s goal. Juventus advanced 3-2 on aggregate and will play in the final.

Free Kicks

That will do it for today. There’s plenty more soccer to come this weekend with all three teams playing. Check back for more as we get you ready for those matches. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 5/1/24

Mason Stajduhar was arrested, Orlando Pride play at home tonight, Colin Guske discusses his signing, and more.

Published

2 days ago

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May 1, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday and welcome to May, Mane Landers. Don’t forget that the undefeated Orlando Pride are in action tonight, so check back for our match preview and the latest episode of SkoPurp Soccer: An Orlando Pride PawedCast for additional pre-match coverage. In the meantime, let’s get to the links.

Mason Stajduhar Arrested Early Sunday

Orlando City goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar and his wife Tatiana Stajduhar were both arrested on disorderly conduct charges following an incident at a nightclub overnight Saturday in the early hours of Sunday morning. The couple were reportedly disrespectful to the club’s staff and got into an altercation with the security guards. Mason stated he was only resisting the security guards to re-enter the club because the bouncers allegedly hit his wife. Tatiana allegedly pushed the police officers after they arrived, and she was not charged with battery on a law enforcement officer. The couple were released Monday after posting a bond. Orlando City provided the following statement to WESH 2 News:

“The Club is aware that goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar was arrested early Sunday morning. We are currently gathering more information and will have no further comment at this time.”

Orlando Pride Host the North Carolina Courage Tonight

After a 3-2 win on the road last Friday against the Washington Spirit, the Orlando Pride are back in the City Beautiful and will take on the North Carolina Courage tonight. Unbeaten in their six games so far this season, the Pride have also won their past three games and sit fourth in the standings. They’re tied on points with a Courage team that beat the Seattle Reign Saturday. Orlando has scored at least one goal in every match this season. Forward Barbra Banda had a great performance in that win against the Spirit, so hopefully the scoring trend continues tonight for the Pride.

Orlando City/Pride Earn Golden Brick Awards

Have you enjoyed the new food options at the stadium? I know I have, and I’m looking forward to trying even more. The efforts made by Orlando City’s front office to feature more local food and beverage options did not go unnoticed, as the club won the Hospitality & Dining category in the Downtown Orlando Partnership’s 2023 Golden Brick Awards. The Orlando Pride’s 2023 Highway Woman Kit also won the award in the Arts & Culture category. The home jersey was inspired by the work of Mary Ann Carroll, the sole woman in the famed Highwaymen artists from decades ago.

Colin Guske Speaks On Signing First Pro Contract

Orlando City Development Academy player Colin Guske signed his first professional contract with the club last month and spoke on the importance of this moment in his career. The 17-year-old is now on an MLS NEXT Pro contract with Orlando City B, and he has started in nearly every game for the Young Lions this year. Both of Guske’s brothers have also played for Orlando City’s academy over the years, and he thanked his family for helping him reach this point.

“It’s awesome to represent the Guskes,” Colin said. “Thanks to my brothers for always pushing me through early mornings and late nights, always putting in the work, doing video sessions, everything. My sister as well, for always being there for me and my parents, too. They’re always helping me and what was the best for me.”

Free Kicks

  • Enjoy all of the sights and sounds from the Pride’s big win over the Spirit in the nation’s capital.
  • The Champions League semifinals are underway and Real Madrid and Bayern Munich played to a 2-2 draw in Germany. The second leg will take place on May 8 in Madrid.

That will do it for today. If you can make it out to the stadium tonight to catch the Pride in action, I strongly suggest you do so. Barbra Banda is about to take the NWSL by storm and you’ll want to see it in person. Vamos Orlando!

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