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Orlando City vs. New England Revolution: Player Grades and Man of the Match

How did your favorite Lions perform in a difficult 3-1 loss on the road against the New England Revolution?

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1 year ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

It might not have been a particularly surprising result for Orlando City to lose 3-1 on the road against the New England Revolution, but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable to see. The Lions’ six-game unbeaten run and modest two-game winning streak came to an end in a game where OCSC didn’t offer very much threat going forward until it was already too late.

Here’s how I rated the Lions’ individual performance during a soggy loss in Gillette Stadium.

Starters

GK, Mason Stajduhar, 5 — It was a difficult night for Mason, and while he was largely helpless for all three Revolution goals, if three balls go in the net, then the score isn’t going to be a high one. New England put four shots on target and Mason made one save, while passing with 56% accuracy and flashing his rocket of an arm with a throw in the second half that easily cleared the center circle. Other than that, it was a night to forget, but he holds little blame for the final scoreline.

D, Rafael Santos, 5 — Santos had a busy night defensively, and recorded five tackles, four clearances and won an aerial duel. He also passed with 77% accuracy and completed a key pass. However, Gustavo Bou found it far too easy to get inside him onto his left foot for the Revs’ second goal, so he loses points for that. He also wasn’t able to do much when getting forward into the attack and he was guilty of putting more than one cross directly into the arms of Earl Edwards Jr. Overall, it was not the kind of performance he’ll want to look back on, although he did make a nice 1-v-1 defensive play in the 29th minute to dispossess Brandon Bye in the open field.

D, Robin Jansson, 5.5— All things considered, it was one of the Swede’s quieter performances. He had two tackles, two blocks and six clearances, which was the most of anyone on the team. He passed with 77% accuracy, but wasn’t able to do as much with his three completed long balls as we’ve seen at times. He suffered one foul, but managed to keep himself away from the yellow cards, which is always a nice bonus with him.

D, Rodrigo Schlegel, 5.5 — Stepping in for the suspended Antonio Carlos, Schlegel also had a fairly quiet night. He finished with one interception, three clearances and was fouled once. He passed with 78% accuracy and completed four long balls. It wasn’t a bad outing, but it wasn’t an especially good one either.

D, Mikey Halliday, 5.5 — It was a mixed bag from Mikey. He did some good things, like notching an assist, winning an aerial duel, and finishing with a successful tackle. Aside from one early occasion where he wasn’t making the run up the wing that Ercan Kara thought he would be, he was more than willing to get forward into the attack. The problem for much of the night was his passing, particularly his crossing of the ball. On several occasions he was in a good area but could only send his cross straight to Earl Edwards Jr. or out of play entirely. His decision to cross directly into a group of defenders when presented with a look at goal in second-half stoppage time was maddening. With that being said, he did put in a great ball to Duncan McGuire for Orlando’s goal, and was smart to not pick up another booking after receiving a yellow card early in the first half.

MF, Felipe Martins, 5 — Felipe got the start next to Cesar Araujo in defensive midfield with Wilder Cartagena on international duty. He was plenty involved and ended the night with one clearance and four shots, putting two on target, one off target and having the other one block. However, he was dispossessed twice, and dribbled five times, which is never a stat you love to see. He also drew three fouls and completed two long balls while passing with 79% accuracy.

MF, Cesar Araujo, 6 — The 22-year-old picked up a yellow just minutes into the game but showed good poise to toe the line for the rest of his time on the field. He ended with two tackles, one interception, two completed dribbles, one foul drawn and took two shots, with both going off target. He also passed with 91% accuracy but committed four fouls, including the aforementioned yellow card offense, which I frankly thought was a little soft.

MF, Ivan Angulo, 5.5 — Lively and energetic as usual, Angulo was plenty willing to track back and help defend. He stopped a mazy run from Gil in the box 10 minutes into the first half. He made two tackles, two key passes, one cross, completed one long ball and drew two fouls while passing at an 82% clip. He was also dispossessed twice, dribbled three times, committed one foul and put both of his two shots off target from promising areas. It was a performance with moments of promise but ultimately not enough precision and composure when it was needed.

MF, Mauricio Pereyra, 6 — His rust was evident during the first half as he had more than one moment of sloppiness. However, he did get going, particularly on the offensive end. His night finished with one foul drawn, two completed dribbles, three complete long balls and five key passes while distributing the ball with 75% accuracy. He was also guilty of being dispossessed twice and dribbled once. He ultimately wasn’t able to have the kind of impact Orlando needed him to, although he’s far from the only one in purple who that was true of in this game.

MF, Martin Ojeda, 5.5 — As we’ve come to expect, Ojeda was not shy about shooting the ball, but the problem is that he only put one of his five shots on target, with the other four going wayward. The lone effort he put on goal was an excellent one though, and he was only denied a goal by a superb stop from Edwards Jr. He passed with 83% accuracy while completing two key passes and a long ball, won an aerial duel, made one tackle and was dispossessed once. He’s willing and works hard, but it still isn’t quite clicking for him yet.

F, Ercan Kara, 5.5 — It was a mostly quiet night for the Austrian target man. He often found himself isolated up top with New England having so much of the ball, and while he put in a good shift, particularly with his hold-up play, he was never able to really get going. He passed with 67% accuracy, won an aerial duel and a corner, but that was mostly it for him on the night.

Substitutes

F, Duncan McGuire (46′) 6.5 (MotM) — Brought on at halftime to give the Lions a different look. For most of the half he wasn’t able to provide too much, although he worked as hard as he always does. His moment came with just under 10 minutes remaining though, and he did a great job to put power on his header to score, giving the Lions fleeting hopes of stealing a point. He finished with two shots, one of which was on target and the other blocked, one tackle, and one corner won. He continues to be able to make an impact during limited minutes on the field and his header was an impressive piece of work. He takes Man of the Match honors for this one.

MF, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson (79′) N/A — The Icelandic midfielder entered the game with a little over 10 minutes left as a replacement for Pereyra. He took one shot, which he put over the bar, passed with 100% accuracy and committed one foul.

D, Luca Petrasso (79′) N/A — Brought on to replace Felipe with just over 10 minutes remaining, Petrasso wasn’t super involved, as he only had seven touches of the ball. However, he passed with 83% accuracy and recorded a key pass.

MF, Juninho (90′) N/A — Brought on during stoppage time for his first appearance with the senior side, Juninho passed with 50% accuracy during his brief time on the field but did well to create a shooting opportunity for himself and flashed the ball just wide.

F, Ramiro Enrique (90′) N/A — Another stoppage time substitute, Enrique had one touch of the ball but didn’t record any other statistics during his brief time on the field.

That’s how I saw the performances in a pretty dispiriting road loss against the Revs. The absences of several key starters certainly didn’t help Orlando’s cause in this one, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles. Make sure to cast your vote for this game’s Man of the Match in the poll below, and tell us your thoughts about this one down in the comments.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/14/24

MLS playoff predictions, Barbra Banda and Marta earn recognition, USMNT takes on Jamaica tonight, and more.

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5 hours ago

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November 14, 2024

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I’ve been a bit under the weather this week, but it’s at least meant I’ve been able to spend more time with my cat and get some reading done when not hacking up a lung. But enough about that, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

MLS Conference Semifinal Predictions

Former Orlando City captain Sacha Kljestan weighed in on which of the remaining eight teams will prevail in the MLS playoffs. He predicts that Atlanta United can lean on its counterattacking and Brad Guzan’s goalkeeping to beat Orlando City when the two rivals face off in Orlando on Nov. 24. A key thing to watch heading into the match is if Head Coach Oscar Pareja switches things up up top given Ramiro Enrique’s slump.

Kljestan predicts a tight match between New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls, but has NYCFC moving on. He also has both the LA Galaxy and LAFC advancing in the Western Conference, which would set up a playoff edition of El Trafico.

Pride Players Make ESPN’s Top 50

ESPN unveiled its annual list of the top 50 women’s soccer players and a pair of Orlando Pride players made the list. Forward Barbra Banda is ranked third on the list for crushing it in her first year in the NWSL, scoring 13 goals to help the Pride win the NWSL Shield. Marta, who has not been listed in the past two years, ranked 26th for turning back the clock at 38 years old and creating 46 chances for Orlando this season. Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati tops the list, with Naomi Girma in second, Caroline Graham Hansen in fourth, and Sophia Smith rounding out the top five. There are many voters for this year’s list from around the world, including Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter.

Steven Moreira Named Defender of the Year

The Columbus Crew’s Steven Moreira was named 2024 MLS Defender of the Year after a strong season. He made 27 appearances for the Crew this season and was a key part of his team’s success in the Concacaf Champions Cup and Leagues Cup this year. Moreira also helped out offensively with two goals and four assists and was an All-Star this year. The 30-year-old beat out Inter Miami’s Jordi Alba and Seattle Sounders center back Jackson Ragen for the award.

USMNT Takes On Jamaica Tonight

The United States Men’s National Team will play its first competitive match under Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino tonight when it takes on Jamaica in Kingston in the Concacaf Nations League. Although the U.S. may be favored in this series, playing on the road in Concacaf is always tough and Jamaica tends to keep things close against the Yanks. Tonight’s match is the first of the two-leg quarterfinals, with the two nations facing off again in St. Louis on Monday. Hopefully Pochettino can get the team firing on all cylinders as it continues to prepare for the 2026 World Cup.

Free Kicks

  • In a rollercoaster of a match, the U.S. Men’s Deaf National Team fell in a penalty shootout to Brazil in the Deaf Pan American Games. The U.S. took the lead in extra time, but Brazil battled back to tie it, winning from the spot to reach the final.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/13/24

Orlando City’s international call-ups, Orlando Pride playoffs preview, NWSL Awards voting opens, and more.

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1 day ago

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November 13, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Orlando City might have to wait a week to continue its playoff journey, but the Orlando Pride do not. The Kansas City Current are coming to town this Sunday for the third meeting between these NWSL heavyweights this year, and I will be there. I hope you will make it to Inter&Co Stadium to show this Pride club how much we appreciate all they have done this season in their final home match of the season. For now, let’s get to the links.

Lions on International Duty

Several Orlando City players received call-ups for this international break, including Facundo Torres for Uruguay. Additionally, the following also got the call: David Brekalo with Slovenia, Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena for Peru, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson for Iceland, and Favian Loyola for Chile’s U-20 squad. All we can hope for is they all stay healthy and in form. Orlando City’s next opponent, Atlanta United, also had several players called up.

The NWSL Playoffs Continue

The Orlando Pride will face the fourth-place Kansas City Current this weekend after decimating the Chicago Red Stars Friday. There’s been a lot of drama between these two clubs, making this an intriguing semifinal match. The other match sees the second-place Washington Spirit take on third-place NJ/NY Gotham FC. While we get to enjoy seeing the Pride continue their NWSL playoff run, many clubs are now watching from home and working on next season’s campaign.

NWSL Award Voting Open

The NWSL has opened the “fans voting round” for its 2024 end-of-season awards. There are several Pride players who were named finalists, including Barbra Banda, Marta, Emily Sams, Kylie Strom, and Anna Moorhouse. Of course, Seb Hines is up for NWSL Coach of the Year in what should be a foregone conclusion. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get out there and submit your vote here. This is your chance to make a difference for Hines and these Pride players who have given so much this season.

Pepi is Ready

The USMNT will play its first competitive match under Mauricio Pochettino against Jamaica Thursday night in the first leg of a Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series. The U.S. doesn’t have a ton of options at forward, meaning Ricardo Pepi will likely get the start. The PSV striker said he feels he’s “ready to be the man.” It’s been years since anyone locked down the starting role up top for the USMNT. Let’s hope that Pepi is indeed ready.

Free Kicks

  • In unsurprising news, Charlotte FC’s Kristijan Kahlina was named 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Orlando fans are all too familiar with how good Kahlina is in goal. Honestly, Khalina is a very deserving winner.
  • England’s squad will look very different this international window with eight players out due to injury, including Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer.
  • The UScpMNT match scheduled for today has been postponed due to inclement weather.
  • Coventry City has its eye on Frank Lampard as a possible replacement for Mark Robins as manager.
  • We have unfortunately seen the last of Memphis 901 FC. It is a sad day, as we’re unlikely to see such a cool name with whatever Santa Barbara comes up with.
  • We’re sad to share that FC Cincinnati’s Marco Angulo passed away as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and teammates.
  • Finally, I leave you with Ally Watt solving a Rubik’s Cube.

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Pride’s playoff match against the Kansas City Current. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 11/12/24

Examining Orlando City’s playoff path, what to watch in the Concacaf Nations League, Lily Yohannes declares for the U.S., and more.

Published

2 days ago

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November 12, 2024

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City / Jeremy Reper

Happy Tuesday, everyone! The weekend couldn’t have gone much better for Orlando’s soccer teams, as both Orlando City and the Orlando Pride advanced after their respective playoff games, with the Pride dominating Chicago and the Lions getting a late, dramatic equalizer before winning the penalty shootout. The Pride will return to action Sunday against the Kansas City Current, while the Lions have a slightly longer layoff before they take on Atlanta United. As usual, we have plenty to discuss this morning, so let’s get into the links.

Orlando City’s Playoff Path

It was a wild weekend for the MLS playoffs as far as the Eastern Conference was concerned, and a slew of upsets suddenly means that the path to the MLS Cup final in the Eastern Conference goes through Orlando. The Lions are the highest remaining seed in the East, and not only will they host Atlanta Nov. 24, but they would also host the Eastern Conference final, should they come out victorious. Oscar Pareja spoke after the game about not wanting the victory over Charlotte FC to be the end of the playoff journey, and says the team intends to chase the MLS Cup. If Orlando does make it that far, the team wouldn’t be likely to host the match, as it would require Minnesota United to come out of the Western Conference in order for the final to be held in Orlando. Stranger things have happened though.

What to Watch For With the USMNT

It seems like we just had an international break, but here we are again with two more United States Men’s National Team games on the docket. These are two important games, as the USMNT squares off against Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals. Besides the obvious chance to advance to the semifinals, there are plenty of other storylines to keep an eye on. With Josh Sargent and Folarin Balogun both absent due to injury, can Ricardo Pepi seize an opportunity to lay claim to the starting striker role? What sort of impacts can Brendan Aaronson and Weston McKennie have in the midst of good starts to the season for their clubs? Last, but certainly not least, is Christian Pulisic, who has had a fantastic start to the season and will have many eyes on him in the first competitive matches under Mauricio Pochettino.

Lily Yohannes Chooses the United States

The United States Women’s National Team has landed a great young talent, as Lily Yohannes announced on Monday that she has chosen to represent the U.S. over the Netherlands. While she was born in Virginia, Yohannes has lived abroad since the age of 10, making her eligible to play for either country. However, she stated that with the United States being her country of birth, as well as where her extended family lives, she decided to commit to representing Emma Hayes’ team. Yohannes made her debut for Ajax’s senior side in November of last year, and has seven goals in 40 appearances for the Dutch team.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

As always, the transfer rumor mill continues to turn, which means we have plenty of things to catch up on. We start with Major League Soccer itself, where FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta has said he may have played his final game for the club. He cited frustration with falling short of silverware as a possible reason for wanting to move on, so he may change his mind once the sting has faded more. Moving to Spain, Barcelona is reportedly monitoring Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush as an option to replace the aging Robert Lewandowski. Arsenal and Manchester United are said to be interested in Leroy Sane, and will pursue him hard if contract talks with Bayern Munich don’t progress well.

Free Kicks

  • NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman had some friendly words for the Orlando Pride.

That does it for me today. Vamos Orlando!

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