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Orlando City B

Orlando City B vs. Toronto FC II: Final Score 3-1 as Lions Get First Win of 2017

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8 years ago

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After tallying only a gifted own-goal through the first two matches of the season, Orlando City B scored three times en route to a 3-1 win over Toronto FC II in front of an announced crowd of 1,098 at Orlando City Stadium. It was the young Lions’ first win of the 2017 USL season and also their first ever in Orlando City Stadium.

Paul Clowes, Hadji Barry, and Lewis Neal provided the offense for OCB, to offset a Malik Johnson tally. Orlando (1-2-0, 3 points) did it the hard way, having to defend with only 10 men for the game’s final 20 minutes to defeat the visiting Reds (1-2-0, 3 points).

Anthony Pulis started a side with relatively few changes from Thursday’s loss against Louisville City, going with the following lineup (4-4-2): Earl Edwards Jr.; PC, Leo Pereira, Zach Carroll, Kevin Alston; Pierre Da Silva, Lewis Neal, Austin Martz, Paul Clowes; Richie Laryea; Hadji Barry. That’s four player changes and a move for Pereira from left back to center back.

Pulis left striker Michael Cox off the team sheet, leaving a bench of Jake Fenlason, Zach Hayden-Ellis, Conor Donovan, Ryley Kraft, Danny Deakin, Joe Gallardo, and Albert Dikwa.

Jason Bent lined up his Toronto II side like this (3-4-3): Angelo Cavalluzzo; , Oyvind Alseth, Mitchell Taintor, Brandon Onkony; Liam Fraser, Brian James, Ryan Telfer, Jordan McRary; Malik Johnson, Shaan Hundal, Ricardo John. His reserves were Brandon Aubrey, Brogan Engbers, Ben Spencer, Luca Uccello, Sergio Camargo, Anthony Osorio, and Tsubasa Endoh.

After a couple of games without many opportunities, it didn’t take long for OCB to generate a good scoring chance. Richie Laryea stung the palms of Toronto goalkeeper Angelo Cavalluzzo to force a save just three minutes in. Pierre Da Silva started the play with a nice midfield tackle. The ensuing corner pinged around in the box but found its way under Cavalluzzo before a Lion could get on it.

In the 11th minute, PC took a nice overlapping run up the left flank and fizzed a cross into the box for Barry but it was deflected just enough by the defense to keep the striker off the ball. A minute later OCB worked a training ground corner, with Clowes taking the kick short to Da Silva, who back-heeled it to an onrushing Martz. His cross found Neal, who flicked it on target but a defender got a piece of it. In the 14th, Laryea missed just high on a try from about 25 yards out.

Toronto finally got its first shot attempt in the 15th minute but it was a weak roller from outside the box that Edwards easily handled.

Four minutes later, the Lions broke through. Off a corner kick, Da Silva’s back post drive went over everyone and was collected by Pereira, who had his shot blocked. It fell for Carroll, who sent it back into the box. As Cavalluzzo was catching it, Clowes got his head on it and sent it in for OCB’s first goal scored by a Lion in 2017. The Reds will no doubt feel hard done by referee Jonathan Weiner for not blowing the whistle but it was a bang-bang play and the Lions took the lead.

It was Clowes’ first ever professional goal.

“It was unbelievable to have gone from marketing the stadium about three years ago, to be able to score the first goal for OCB at the stadium is something I’ll always remember for sure,” said Clowes. “I didn’t think my first goa would be with my head but they all count the same no matter how they go in. I’m very proud to do that but most importantly that was what helped us get a win.” 

After the opening goal, Toronto got on the front foot. In the 23rd minute, Edwards had to quickly scramble off his line to beat a Toronto attacker to the ball. A minute later, Ricardo John shot wide from the top of the box. In the 27th minute, Alseth tried a long-range effort but hit it well high. The Lions were definitely on their heels.

In the 28th minute, Hundal fizzed a dangerous cross into the box but it went through everyone. Two minutes later, Malik Johnson equalized. A ball deflected off a defender right onto Johnson’s foot and he fired home from the top of the box, giving Edwards no chance in the 30th minute.

The game was a bit more back-and-forth after the second goal. In the 34th, Da Silva sent in a tantalizing cross but none of his teammates could get to it. Three minutes later, Brian James sent a dangerous free kick over the bar. Barry nearly got a go-ahead goal in the 39th minute, dancing through several defenders in the box  before having his shot blocked and Neal couldn’t put in the follow.

Two minutes later, Barry did score. Martz started the play in the midfield, finding Laryea, who made a strong run through the defense before laying off on the left for Da Silva. Pierre coolly found Barry near the back post for an easy score, restoring the Orlando lead.

“I’m glad to get the goal to help the team but that’s not the most important thing. We got the three points,” Barry said after the game.

“I was pleased with Hadji tonight,” Pulis said. “I thought he was a threat for their back three all night long and he probably should have had more goals. He got himself in some fantastic positions.” 

The Reds threatened twice more before the halftime whistle, first on a bicycle kick by John that was hit straight at Edwards. The second was a dangerous free kick from the corner that forced an Edwards punch. But OCB held and took its advantage into halftime.

“I thought at times in the first half we played some really, really good football, especially on the counter attack,” Pulis said. “I thought we looked really dangerous. Hadji, Richie, Austin Martz, Pierre Da Silva looked really dangerous tonight. So I was pleased with that. We had to make some adjustments at halftime because I felt like we were a little bit too open on the counter attack. So we had to make a couple of tactical changes. And I thought we started the second half really well.” 

Toronto had a slight edge in possession at the break (51.6%-48.4%) and the teams were even on shots, at 7-7 (3-3 on target).

The hosts wasted little time extending their lead in the second period. Just six minutes after the restart, Da Silva held off Alseth down the left side with a show of strength and got to the end line before squaring a ball back across the box for Neal, who roofed his shot into the top netting to make it 3-1.

Neal nearly earned a brace three minutes later, turning with a ball in the box and firing over the net. 

In the 65th, Barry showed some sweet moves after Kevin Alston made a picture perfect sliding tackle to stop a good scoring chance. Barry nutmegged a defender and forced a two-handed diving save on a play that was deserving of a goal.

The game took a turn in the 69th minute when Da Silva was sent off after Weiner consulted with his assistant and judged reckless play after a hard challenge. He then gave a retaliation push after he was kicked twice by Jordan McCrary. As a result, Da Silva will miss this Saturday’s match against the Charlotte Independence. McCrary wasn’t punished.

“Really, really disappointed with it,” Pulis said of the red card. “That’s something we’re going to have to look at as a club to see if we review that and appeal it because it doesn’t look (like) a sending off to me.”

Danny Deakin replaced Laryea shortly thereafter and the Lions slid into a 4-4-1 to try to ride out the final 20 minutes. Barry was sacrificed for Dikwa in the 79th minute after some cramping issues on what was a good night for the first-team striker.

Toronto nearly pulled one back in the 80th minute when a back-post cross found Onkony’s head and popped over Edwards but was cleared by Pereira.

That was about as close as the visitors got, other than some crosses into the box that Edwards was able to punch away over the final 10 minutes plus stoppage time.

Pulis was delighted with the job his team did after going a man down. Toronto FC II was held to only two shots after halftime and only a half chance after getting a manpower advantage.

“After [Da Silva was sent off], we have no other choice, than to obviously sit in and be really disciplined and really diligent defensively and make it difficult for them to break us down. I thought we did a fantastic job,” he said. “The guys are absolutely shattered in there now. They’ve got nothing left. That’s what we expect. That’s how it should be every game. The discipline and the togetherness they showed in that last 20, 25 minutes, whatever it was – it felt like three hours for me – was excellent. Hopefully we can kick on from here, now.”

OCB will be back in action Saturday night at home against Charlotte at 7:30 p.m.

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Orlando City B

Orlando City Signs Goalkeeper Carlos Mercado to a New Contract

Carlos Mercado signs a new contract to remain Orlando City’s third-choice goalkeeper.

Published

6 days ago

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January 30, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City announced this morning that the club has signed goalkeeper Carlos Mercado to a new contract. The deal is through the 2025 season with club options for 2026 and 2027.

“Carlos did a great job for us last year with Orlando City B and continued to provide a positive work ethic and atmosphere every day in training up with the first team and showed his skill and ability to compete every chance he got,” Orlando City Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi said in a club press release. “He’s part of a strong goalkeeping unit here at the club and we feel confident in the future of that entire position group moving forward.”

Mercado originally joined Orlando City prior to the 2024 season to back up Javier Otero. However, when Mason Stajduhar broke his tibia and fibula in a June 28 game against New York City FC, Otero became the primary backup to Pedro Gallese and Mercado was the starter for the Young Lions.

In his debut season in purple, Mercado started 20 games — including a playoff game in Chicago — playing 1,830 minutes. He conceded 30 goals for a goals-against average of 1.48 and saved 81 of 111 shots faced for a save percentage of 73%. He kept three clean sheets and compiled a record of 9-5-6 (W-L-D) while saving two of the four penalties he faced in regular play.

The 25-year-old signed a short-term deal following Stajduhar’s injury with his lone game on the team sheet being on the bench for a July 3 game against Toronto FC. He went on to sign a first-team contract on Sept. 20 through the 2024 season with options for 2025, 2026, and 2027. However, his 2025 option was declined following the season.

Mercado played for the FC Dallas academy in his youth, earning call-ups to the United States U-16 National Team and Mexico U-18 National Team. He played collegiately at the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX, before joining San Antonio FC of the USL Championship.

The goalkeeper made his professional debut in 2021, coming on for the final 29 minutes in a 3-0 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. He stayed with San Antonio FC through the 2023 season before joining OCB.

What It Means for Orlando City

As previously mentioned, Mercado’s option for 2025 was declined following the 2024 MLS season since the club already had three other goalkeepers. However, signing another goalkeeper became necessary when Orlando City traded Stajduhar to Real Salt Lake on Jan. 15, leaving the club with two under contract.

Mercado will likely continue to be the club’s third goalkeeper and is the presumed starter for Orlando City B when the MLS NEXT Pro season starts in March. He’ll have to join the first team if Gallese goes away on international duty with Peru and Otero enters the starting lineup. Barring unavailability of Gallese and Otero, it’s unlikely he’ll see any MLS action.

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Orlando City B Announces Schedule for 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Season

Find out where, when, and who the Young Lions of OCB will play in 2025.

Published

1 week ago

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January 27, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

The 2025 MLS NEXT Pro schedule was released this afternoon, telling us where, when, and who Orlando City B will play in the team’s fourth year in the league. The league will again feature 29 teams in 2025, with three teams set to enter the league next year. There are 27 MLS affiliated clubs in the league and two independents — Carolina Core FC and Chattanooga FC.

The schedule remains at 28 games, with Orlando City B playing 14 at home, 13 away, and one at a neutral site at IMG Academy in Bradenton. OCB home games will take place at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee again this season.

OCB will start the 2024 season with a two-game home stand, opening the season on Sunday, March 9 against Columbus Crew 2 at 7 p.m. A week later, Atlanta United 2 will visit Osceola County Stadium. The Young Lions will then hit the road for the team’s first two away games starting Wednesday, March 26 at Crown Legacy FC and following with a match at Chattanooga FC on Saturday, April 5.

In addition to opening the season at home, OCB will close the regular season by hosting FC Cincinnati 2 at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5. Last year, the Young Lions opened and closed the season on the road. All Decision Day games in the Eastern Conference will start at 1 p.m. and all Western Conference matches will kick off at 4 p.m. (ET).

OCB will compete in the 15-team Eastern Conference as part of the Southeast Division. The other teams in the division are Atlanta, Carolina Core, Chattanooga, Crown Legacy, Huntsville City, and rival Inter Miami II. The reserve version of the Tropic Thunder rivalry will play out over three meetings in 2025. The Young Lions will travel IMG Academy to face the Baby Herons on April 15, with the home match in Kissimmee coming May 17. The teams will meet again in Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 14.

MLS NEXT Pro teams will again only play opponents from their own conference, limiting travel. The Young Lions will play each team in the Southeast Division three times, including Atlanta United 2, and Chattanooga twice at home and once away, and Carolina Core, Crown Legacy, and Huntsville City once each at home and twice away. OCB will play the teams from the Northeast Division once, except Columbus and New England, which the Young Lions will face both at home and away. Orlando City B will face FC Cincinnati 2, New York City FC II, New York Red Bulls II, and Toronto FC II only at home in the regular season, while facing Chicago Fire II and Philadelphia Union II only on the road.

The busiest months for OCB this season will be June and August, when the Young Lions will play five matches. They’ll play four times in April and July, three times in March, May, and September, and once in October. The most common day the Young Lions will play is on Sunday (13 games). Additionally, they have five games on Saturday, four games each on Wednesday and Friday, and one game each on Monday and Tuesday. The most common kickoff time is 7 p.m.. The Young Lions will play 18 games with that start time, three times each at 3 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 8 p.m., and once at 1 p.m. (Decision Day).

Once again, the postseason will include 15 games this year, concluding with the MLS NEXT Pro Cup. The higher playoff seeds will again select their opponents for the matchups in the first two rounds.

The majority of regular season games and all playoff games will again air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. The remaining games will be streamed live on mlsnextpro.com.

As far as viewing conflicts go for Orlando City and Pride fans, there are a few overlaps in 2025. OCB plays at 7 p.m. on April 5 at Chattanooga with the MLS Lions playing at 7:30 p.m. at Philadelphia that night. On May 23, OCB plays at Atlanta United 2 at 7:30 p.m. and the Pride and Royals kick off in Utah at 9:30 p.m. just as that game is concluding. On June 25, OCB plays at home at 7 p.m. against Toronto FC II, with Orlando City at St. Louis City at 8:30 p.m. OCB’s game July 25 at Huntsville City will kick off 30 minutes after the senior side begins playing at Columbus. The Young Lions start at home on Aug. 3 against NYCFCII an hour after the Pride and Utah Royals kick off at Inter&Co Stadium. OCB and the Pride are both home on Aug. 9 as well, with the Young Lions and Chattanooga getting underway at 7 p.m. at Osceola County Stadium, just 30 minutes before the Pride and Racing Louisville battle at Inter&Co Stadium. On Aug. 23, OCB will play at 7 p.m. at home against Atlanta United 2, with the senior Lions and Nashville SC kicking off at 8:30 p.m.

Orlando City B’s 2025 Schedule

  • Sunday, March 9 — vs. Columbus Crew 2, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, March 16 — vs. Atlanta United 2, 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, March 26 — at Crown Legacy FC, 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 5 — at Chattanooga FC, 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, April 9 — vs. New England Revolution II, 7 p.m.
  • Tuesday, April 15 — vs. Inter Miami II (at IMG Academy in Bradenton), 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, April 27 — vs. New York Red Bulls II, 7 p.m.
  • Friday, May 2 — at Chicago Fire FC II, 8 p.m.
  • Saturday, May 17 — vs. Inter Miami II, 7 p.m.
  • Friday, May 23 — at Atlanta United 2, 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, June 1 — vs. Chattanooga FC, 7 p.m.
  • Friday, June 6 — at Huntsville City FC, 8 p.m.
  • Wednesday, June 11 — at Carolina Core FC, 7:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, June 25 — vs. Toronto FC, 7 p.m.
  • Monday, June 30 — at Philadelphia Union II, 3 p.m.
  • Sunday, July 6 — at Crown Legacy FC, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, July 13 — vs. Carolina Core FC, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, July 20 — at New England Revolution II, 3 p.m.
  • Friday, July 25 — at Huntsville City FC, 8 p.m.
  • Sunday, Aug. 3 — vs. New York City FC II, 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, Aug. 9 — vs. Chattanooga FC, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, Aug. 17 — at Columbus Crew 2, 3 p.m.
  • Saturday, Aug. 23 — vs. Atlanta United 2, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, Aug. 31 — vs. Crown Legacy FC, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, Sept. 14 — at Inter Miami II, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, Sept. 21 — vs. Huntsville City FC, 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, Sept. 27 — at Carolina Core FC, 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, Oct. 5 — vs. FC Cincinnati 2, 1 p.m.
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Orlando City B

Orlando City B Signs Goalkeeper Tristan Himes

The 24-year-old former academy goalkeeper returns to the club after a four-year collegiate career.

Published

4 weeks ago

on

January 8, 2025

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Orlando City announced this afternoon that the club has signed former academy goalkeeper Tristan Himes to an MLS NEXT Pro contract to play with the club’s reserve side, Orlando City B. The 24-year-old returns to the club following the conclusion of his collegiate career.

“This is an exciting first step for us this year on the path to achieving our goals for 2025 and beyond,” Orlando City Vice President of Soccer Operations and Technical Director Ricardo Moreira said in a club press release. “Tristan is a player that is homegrown, that we’ve seen develop in our academy here in Orlando, and a bright young player. He’s someone whose path took him to play and get more experience in college and now we’re excited to bring him back home to Central Florida.”

The DeBary native attended the University of South Carolina after his time in the Orlando City Academy, making seven appearances in two seasons. He conceded 13 goals in 546 minutes while making 22 saves. He stopped 62.9% of his shots faced for the Gamecocks, recording one shutout and an assist. The goalkeeper played 543 minutes during his freshman season but only three minutes during his sophomore campaign, coming off the bench on Oct. 1, 2022, against West Virginia.

Himes transferred to Coastal Carolina University for his junior season but was forced to sit out all of 2023 due to injury. He returned for his senior campaign, making 10 appearances and playing 855 minutes while conceding 20 goals and making 35 saves. He finished his time with the Chanticleers completing two shutouts while recording a 2.11 goals-against average and stopping 63.6% of his 122 shots faced.

Despite coming through the Orlando City Academy, the goalkeeper was eligible for the 2025 MLS SuperDraft but wasn’t selected. The signing is the first in a string of expected deals as the club looks to rebuild its MLS NEXT Pro roster. Following the 2024 season, the contracts of six of the 10 players on MLS NEXT Pro deals expired.

Himes’ signing could see him replace Carlos Mercado, who started the majority of OCB’s games in 2024. The goalkeeper eventually signed a first-team deal late in the season, but his option was declined by the club. Depending on the recovery of first-team backup goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar, Himes could start for the Young Lions or will play behind Homegrown product Javier Otero.

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