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Orlando City SC vs. FC Dallas: Final Score 3-1 as Lions’ Second-Half Mistakes Prove Costly

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2 years ago

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Orlando City’s third game in seven days started out OK. In fact, the Lions were in control for the bulk of the match, but a second-half spell of mistakes turned a potential win into a 3-1 loss at Exploria Stadium. The Lions (6-5-3, 21 points) got a goal from Ercan Kara late in first-half stoppage time and had opportunities to add a second but then a series of giveaways and an uncharacteristically soft goal conceded by Pedro Gallese allowed FC Dallas (7-3-4, 25 points) to run away with it.

Paul Arriola and Franco Jara also scored in a three-minute span and Arriola added a second goal shortly after that, as the Lions continue to struggle against Dallas. Orlando City fell to just 1-4-2 and scored only its third goal in the all-time series.

“Until they scored the first goal, I thought we had a very good game,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “And then lack of concentration, a couple plays. The first one we had the ball and then we gave it away. Something that Dallas knows how to do is just counter and have players up front that are dynamic. We conceded that equalizer that hurt us and our reaction was not right and we conceded a second goal as well.”

With a couple of regular starters suspended and others needing rest, Pareja’s lineup included Gallese behind a back line of Joao Moutinho, Robin Jansson, Kyle Smith, and Ruan. Sebas Mendez took over in central midfield for the suspended Cesar Araujo with Andres Perea as his partner behind an attacking midfield line of Junior Urso, Mauricio Pereyra, and Jake Mulraney, with Kara up top.

Orlando City came out like a team playing its third game in a week. Movement was slow and deliberate and players’ first touch sometimes left a lot to be desired. But despite that, the team did well to keep the ball for spells of possession, although it wasn’t until late in the half that those spells produced shots and quality scoring chances.

The Lions had an early opportunity when Mulraney sent a header toward the back post to an open Urso but the pass was too far off line.

The first Dallas shot came from long range in the eighth minute, when Alan Velasco sent a shot over the bar. Arriola fired a shot right at Gallese in the 16th minute, as the USMNT forward was threatening throughout the game with his movement off the ball.

The Lions had a good chance to get something going on a free kick in the 23rd minute. Pereyra sent in a good ball that was just inches over Jansson’s head.

Arriola did well to smash a shot from the right in the 26th minute that Gallese parried away.

Late in the half, the Lions strung together a number of set pieces but weren’t doing much with them. A recycled ball into the area found Jansson, who flicked a header toward goal but hit teammate Urso with it in the 44th minute. Seconds later, Pereyra had a good opportunity. From the top of the box, he sent a shot on target that goalkeeper Maarten Paes palmed over the bar.

The breakthrough came deep in first-half stoppage time. The Lions had a corner kick cleared and Mendez was first to the loose ball. He was bundled over from behind to set up a free kick from the left. Pereyra sent in a good ball toward the near post for Kara. The Designated Player got his head on it and popped it up and over Paes’ outstretched hand and into the net near the back post to make it 1-0. It was Kara’s fourth goal of the year and his third in the last five games in all competitions. The goal also produced Pereyra’s team-leading sixth assist on the season.

The goal was effectively the last play of the half. Orlando went to the break up a goal. Dallas held a slim lead in possession (50.3%-49.7%), while Orlando fired more shots (5-4), with each team getting two on target. The Lions had more corners (5-0), while the visitors passed more accurately (86.6%-84%).

Orlando City had a chance to double the lead just after the restart. Ruan took the ball down the right and found Perea in the box in the 47th minute but the midfielder hit his shot into the outside netting. Two minutes later the Lions had a good flurry in front of goal but couldn’t get a shot to go. Jansson and Kara each had an effort blocked in the sequence.

FC Dallas had a good spell shortly after that, earning some set pieces in the attacking end. The only decent look for Dallas during that time was a shot wide of goal by Facundo Quignon in the 56th minute.

Three minutes later, Kara nearly pulled off the spectacular. The big forward had his back to goal and went for the bicycle kick in the box. He didn’t get a lot on his shot but it bounced right in front of goal and needed a good save by Paes to keep it out.

Orlando continued to get forward and win fouls but couldn’t do much with its set pieces. However, the wheels came off for the Lions starting in the 67th minute. Perea had a terrible giveaway at midfield that sent Dallas into the attack. A ball across the top of the box from second-half sub Jara wasn’t dealt with by Ruan and found its way to Arriola, who beat Gallese to tie the match.

“I feel like we were comfortable enough,” Mulraney said. “I can’t remember them having many big chances before the first goal.”

Arriola then nearly put Dallas in front in the 69th. Another giveaway — this time in the attacking third — again sent the visitors on the attack. The ball ended up on the left again and was crossed in for Arriola, who timed his run well but his deflection went off target.

But a minute later Dallas took the lead anyway. Jara timed his run well and Smith was unable to step in front in time to put him offside. As a result, Jara got well behind the back line and flicked the ball over Gallese and just barely inside the far post to make it 2-1. The play was reviewed upstairs but the Lions just kept Jara onside.

“He was going in behind a lot more (than other players),” Smith said of Jara’s introduction to the game. “I tried to hold the line. I thought he was offside and then I just tried to get back, and fair to him. It was a good finish.”

The Lions should have leveled the game in the 78th minute. Substitute Alexandre Pato sent in a fantastic corner kick cross to Kara at the back post. The big forward got his head to it at the post but somehow sent his shot just wide.

Seconds later, Gallese made a huge save. Kara lost the ball in the attacking third and Dallas came forward. The ball ended up on Ferreira’s foot and he sent a curling shot toward the far post but Gallese got a hand to it and knocked it away.

Arriola put the game away in the 84th minute. The Lions did nothing with a free kick from the right side and Dallas regained possession, working it upfield. Arriola ended up with the ball on the left side of the box and sent in a tough-angle shot that Gallese would normally save, but it squirted through him and inside the far post to effectively seal the Lions’ fate.

Dallas finished with a tad more possession (50.9%-49.1%) and slightly better passing accuracy (86%-84.1%), while Orlando had more shots (15-13) and corners (7-3). Dallas got more attempts on target, however (6-3). That lack of precision in front of goal and a short spell of giveaways ultimately killed the Lions in this one.

Nobody used the team playing its third game in seven days as an excuse for this result.

“We’re all getting professional recovery and we’re all professionals,” Smith said. “I just think we have to learn from the experience and take something from this.”

“I mean, look, it’s no excuse. We’re professionals,” Mulraney said. “You know, we look after each other well. We look after our own bodies well.”

The Lions are still wasting too many scoring chances that can put teams away and the team is dropping too many points at home. Orlando is just 3-4-0 at home after losing three games combined at Exploria Stadium across the previous two seasons.

“At this point in the season we have given away results at home where we normally are very strong, with games that we have played way better than many others,” Pareja said. “We walk off in defeat and frustration. It is a concern, for sure. I think it’s something that we’ll analyze.”

Orlando City finally gets a rest but will have to sit with the feeling of this loss for a couple of weeks. The Lions are off until June 15, when they travel to Gillette Stadium to face the New England Revolution.

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Orlando City

Intelligence Report: Orlando City vs. FC Cincinnati

Get all the inside information you need ahead of Orlando’s match with FC Cincinnati.

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6 hours ago

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May 3, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Another Orlando City matchday looms large this weekend, as the Lions will try to put Saturday’s thoroughly dispiriting loss behind them. They’ll have a tough task ahead of them though, as they welcome an FC Cincinnati team to town that currently sits second in the Eastern Conference.

A match against FCC means I spoke with Justin Blair of the always excellent Cincinnati Soccer Talk. As always, Justin was very helpful in getting us all caught up on Cincy before tomorrow’s match.

The nine goals conceded by FC Cincinnati are tied for the fewest given up by any team in the league. What’s been working so well for FCC defensively so far?

Justin Blair:  In 2023, FC Cincinnati was tied for fourth in goals conceded with 39 allowed (Orlando, NYCFC, and RBNY). This season is continuing that impressive trajectory. The addition of Miles Robinson, arguably the best MLS center back, was a home run signing for FCC. Robinson joins 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Matt Miazga as the feature center back duo. But Pat Noonan’s system asks for three in the back and has been plugged with a rotation of players that have kept the defense stout. I have to mention that central defensive midfielder Obinna Nwobodo is arguably the most underrated player in all of MLS. He is an extremely skilled player that flies around and acts as a catch-all in front of the back line. 

Brandon Vazquez departed in the off-season for Monterrey. In his absence, who has Cincy turned to for goal scoring?

JB: Brandon Vazquez is a tremendous striker for FCC and has been solid for Rayados with 10 goals in 22 appearances. But his form never hit stride in 2023. He had nine goals across all MLS competitions, which was down from a career high of 18 goals in 2022. FCC had to find goals in other places last season, so they aren’t exactly in uncharted waters. So far in 2024, reigning MLS MVP Lucho Acosta has been carrying the load with four goals and five assists. Yuya Kubo, who I affectionately call FCC’s Swiss Army knife, has seen recent minutes at the forward position. Kubo’s confidence on the ball and chemistry with Acosta has seen him score three goals in a short amount of time. Surprisingly, FCC’s star Designated Player striker Aaron Boupendza has fallen in the graces of the squad and hasn’t hit consistent minutes this season.

Run me through some of the other arrivals and departures that took place during the off-season. Who are a few names to watch out for?

JB: Well FCC’s off-season was a doozy to say the least. Several departures include the previously mentioned Vazquez, along with Sanitago Arias, Yerson Mosquera (loan), Alvaro Barreal, Dominique Badji, Junior Moreno, and Ray Gaddis — all of whom played significant minutes for the orange and blue during their 2023 Supporters’ Shield season. For incoming players, GM Chris Albright brought in Robinson, Pavel Bucha, Luca Orellano, Kipp Keller, and Corey Baird during the off-season. The additions of DeAndre Yedlin and Yamil Asad have also worked their way into the matchday rotation. Every piece added has felt like an upgrade or at least a comparable replacement. This is, of course, with the exception of replacing Vazquez.

FCC (recently) announced the loan signing of target striker Kevin Kelsy from Shakhtar Donetsk. The young loanee is sure to see considerable minutes with FCC but will likely not feature in the match versus Orlando City. I would keep an eye on Orellano for FCC. The left wingback is the heir apparent to Barreal that is so critical for Cincinnati’s ability to progress the ball from the midfield into the attacking third. Orellano is clean with his touches and can serve up line-splitting through balls that are perfectly weighted.

Will any players be unavailable due to injury, suspension, etc.? What is your projected starting XI and score prediction?

JB: Unavailable players might include Yedlin (hip), goalkeeper Roman Celentano (ankle), forward Sergio Santos (leg), and center back Nick Hagglund (knee). It seems uncertain if either or all will miss minutes in the match versus Orlando but most likely to participate would be Celentano, who was a late scratch versus Colorado on Saturday. 

Starting XI (3-5-2): Roman Celentano (Alec Kann); Bret Halsey (DeAndre Yedlin), Miles Robinson, Matt Miazga, Ian Murphy, Luca Orellano; Obinna Nwobodo, Pavel Bucha, Lucho Acosta; Yuya Kubo, Corey Baird.

Score Prediction: Oscar Pareja seems to have Pat Noonan’s system figured out. FCC also struggles to find wins against Orlando City. I’m going to go with a 1-1 draw when the final whistle sounds. 

Thanks again to Justin for the great info on FCC. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 5/3/24

MLS roster profiles revealed, Marta’s best moments, Kelley O’Hara announces her retirement, and more.

Published

9 hours ago

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May 3, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

Happy Friday! We’ve reached the homestretch of the week and I couldn’t be happier. A busy weekend awaits me, but I’m hoping for some quiet, nice moments to offset some of the hustle and bustle. It’s also another weekend packed with Orlando soccer to enjoy, so make sure to plan your next couple of days accordingly. But for now, let’s get to the links!

MLS Unveils Club Roster Details

There’s a little more transparency in Major League Soccer after the league released helpful snapshots of each club that detail the composition of each roster. From Designated Players and MLS U22 Initiative Players to international roster slots and contract lengths, the graphics are easy to comprehend and give a nice look behind the curtain on each team. Using this, we can see that Orlando City midfielder Cesar Araujo no longer takes up a U22 Initiative slot and that the team also has an open international roster slot. It should be a fairly nice reference guide for fans moving forward, as well as a way to check out how other MLS teams are building their rosters.

Emily Sams Earns Recognition as Potential USWNT Player

Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams was mentioned as one of the top 20 eligible Americans who have yet to make an appearance with the United States Women’s National Team according to Pro Soccer Wire. The shout out is well deserved, as Sams has helped anchor a Pride defense that’s only given up seven goals this season. Only time will tell if Sams will earn a call-up once Emma Hayes is at the helm of the USWNT, but it does feel inevitable given how she’s been playing. Other notable players on the list include Ajax’s Lily Yohannes, Washington Spirit rookie Croix Bethune, and Angel City FC defender Sarah Gorden.

Marta’s Top Moments

All For XI compiled some of the best moments from Marta’s career into a tidy top five. Considering how prolific she has been for Brazil over the years, it was nice to see a pair of goals from her time with the Pride receive some recognition. Both of those moments were from 2018, with her free kick to equalize against the Seattle Reign placing fifth and her solo effort to stun the Spirit taking third. It’s fitting though that the top moment on the list showcases the impact she’s had off the field, as it’s Marta’s emotional speech after Brazil’s exit in the 2019 World Cup.

Kelley O’Hara Will Retire After 2024 Season

USWNT defender Kelley O’Hara announced that she will retire from professional soccer following the 2024 season. Over the course of her international career, she’s played in four World Cups, three Olympic Games, and was named to the FIFA FIFPro World XI in 2019. O’Hara has played in every NWSL season since the league’s inception, winning the title with the Spirit in 2021 and again with NJ/NY Gotham FC last year. She joined Gotham as the first free agent signing in NWSL history and she is set to close out her illustrious career there.

Free Kicks

  • Curve Fragrances was named the official fragrance partner of Orlando City. As part of the partnership, there will be giveaways and product sampling at select games this season.
  • Wrexham’s women’s squad for The Soccer Tournament this summer will include a trio of former Pride players, with Bridget Callahan, Danica Evans, and Nickolette Driesse all taking part. I can’t wait to see if Callahan will make SkoRed a rallying cry at the tournament.
  • Orlando City won’t have to contend with FC Cincinnati forward Aaron Boupendza tomorrow, as he will miss the next six to eight weeks due to a broken jaw suffered in an off-field incident.
  • The Europa League semifinals are underway and Bayer Leverkusen extended its unbeaten run to 47 games after a 2-0 road win against Roma. In the other matchup, Atalanta and Marseille drew 1-1 in France.
  • American midfielder Johnny Cardoso hasn’t been with Real Betis for long, but he’s doing well enough that Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, and Borussia Dortmund are among the clubs reportedly interested in signing the 22-year-old.
  • Lucas Hernandez suffered an ACL injury in Paris Saint-Germain’s loss to Borussia Dortmund and will miss out on this summer’s Euros with France.
  • Reims and Will Still have mutually agreed to part ways, with the coach leaving now despite just having three games left in the Ligue 1 season. It will be interesting to see where the 31-year-old coaches next, as he had a notable 19-game unbeaten stretch with Reims last season.
  • Here’s a detailed dive into the obstacles Everton has faced in recent years, as well as how the club has avoided relegation amid another difficult season.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!

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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

1 day 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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