Connect with us

Orlando City

Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Final Score 2-1 as Sloppy Lions Get Swept

It wasn’t the sharpest night for the Lions, who just couldn’t find the final bit of quality in losing their second game to the Red Bulls in 2021.

Published

3 years ago

on

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Orlando City will be happy to have seen the last of the New York Red Bulls this regular season. The Lions (6-2-3, 21 points) were sloppy and wasteful in a 2-1 loss to New York (5-5-1, 16 points) at Exploria Stadium, getting swept in the two-game season series by identical scorelines.

The Lions could have climbed to the top of the Eastern Conference with a win after New England dropped points, but the team conceded a late goal and missed a first-half Mauricio Pereyra penalty. Chris Mueller’s second-half goal tied the match after an early Cristian Casseres Jr. goal put the visitors on top, but Fabio Gomes Netto’s winner late sent the wet crowd of 19,009 home unhappy.

“Obviously sad with the result but with our heads very high with the effort of the players,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “But we accept it. I think we need to move forward. It’s a quick turnaround with a game in the middle of the week.”

It was New York’s first road win of the season.

Pareja started Brandon Austin in goal behind a back line of Kyle Smith, Robin Jansson, Antonio Carlos, and Michael Halliday. Junior Urso and Andres Perea started in central midfield with Pereyra and Mueller feeding the attack to Nani and Daryl Dike up top.

The Red Bulls took advantage of an early mistake by Orlando by doing what they do — scoring a transition goal off a defensive end turnover. The ball cycled to Casseres Jr. on the right and the defense overplayed him to the outside, so he cut back inside and curled a ball into the far side of the net to make it 1-0 in the sixth minute.

Carlos went down in the 10th minute while Pereyra was winning a free kick near the left corner of the box. He signaled for a substitute but Rodrigo Schlegel wasn’t ready yet so he stayed on for the set piece. Carlos scored on the set piece but was called for a foul. He went down after the call and was subbed off officially in the 14th minute.

The Lions started getting more of the ball and creating some opportunities but couldn’t quite cash in. Mueller smashed a shot in the 16th minute that was heading in but Carlos Coronel made a good diving save to keep Orlando scoreless. Two minutes later, Halliday fired just wide off a corner kick. Pereyra fired on target in the 26th minute but it was no trouble for Coronel. Seconds later, Mueller fired a shot just over the bar.

The best chance to tie the match in the first half came late in the half when Pereyra drew a foul in the box for an Orlando penalty. The Uruguayan took the penalty himself but Coronel guessed correctly to his left and Pereyra’s shot was at an easy height for the goalkeeper to make the stop.

The Lions got one more good look in stoppage time, with Dike heading over the bar on a good cross into the area. Despite getting some good looks, the Lions went to the break trailing.

The Red Bulls out-shot Orlando 7-6 in the first half, although the Lions had more on goal (3-2). Orlando held more possession (58.6%-41.4%), had more corners (3-1) and passed more accurately, but the passing wasn’t terribly accurate despite the Lions’ 78.2%-73.3% advantage, especially in the final third.

Orlando’s second half didn’t start much better than the first, as the Red Bulls had a lot of possession in the attacking third and the Lions struggled to accurately play the ball out of their own half. A giveaway by Perea in the 50th minute could have been fatal but the shot went over the bar.

The first good look of the second half for Orlando came in the 53rd minute when Urso slipped Dike in behind the defense. Dike tried to slip it under Coronel, who came off his line and made the save and it just didn’t look like the Lions’ night at that point.

It was a New York mistake that let Orlando back in the game. Defender Sean Nealis decided to try to dribble the ball past Dike, but the Orlando forward had no trouble dispossessing him and poking the ball to an onrushing Pereyra. The Uruguayan found Mueller on his left and Cash sent a perfect shot under the bar to tie the game at 1-1 in the 59th minute.

After the Orlando goal the game settled into a bit of a stalemate for about the next 10 minutes. New York looked the likelier side to score the second goal as the Lions continued to make silly mistakes in possession, forcing passes and trying to split double (and sometimes triple) teams against the Red Bulls’ press.

Patryk Klimala fired just inches wide in transition in the 72nd minute.

Orlando’s best chance to take the lead came in the 79th minute when Nani got the ball on the left and fired a shot on target. The captain’s chance was too close to Coronel, who made the save and then started the play the other way for the winning goal.

The Lions’ two center backs closed together to stop Klimala, but in doing so, Schlegel left Fabio to Halliday while helping Jansson, who appeared to be in good position. Klimala was was able to get a pass through to Fabio, who held off Halliday and beat Austin to make it 2-1.

“I think it was a counter for them, it was a quick transition,” Schlegel said. “And as they were bringing the ball up, they sort of came into the middle and (were) trying to play into the middle, so I stepped up to try and cover, and they were able to get it behind me and, frankly, their number nine just finished really well.”

“On the last goal I would say that it’s a lack of coordination when we have to step and cover,” Pareja said. “They don’t go around much, but through the middle they put a lot of numbers, so as you have to be concentrated on those small passes and short diagonals. And that’s why they found that goal. They made a good movement there where we were off, and in no time they scored that second goal.”

Orlando wasn’t threatening much in the final 10 minutes due to careless passes and poor decision-making. Dike ignored a run by substitute Silvester van der Water on one attack opportunity and Nani ignored an outlet pass to Benji Michel in his own half in stoppage time and lost the ball when three Red Bulls converged on him. Uri Rosell got a last gasp shot attempt off deep in stoppage time but missed the net.

New York out-shot Orlando 18-13, but the Lions got more on target (6-4). Corners were even at four apiece, with Orlando holding an advantage in possession (55.2%-44.8%) and the Red Bulls edging the Lions in passing accuracy (75.4%-76.1%).

“Obviously disappointed,” Austin said after the loss. “We wanted to keep that winning streak going. Tough game. I think there were chances where we definitely had opportunities to get more out of the game. Credit to New York, they came up with a game plan and they executed it quite well.”

The Lions will try to bounce back Wednesday night on the road at the Chicago Fire.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Orlando City

Intelligence Report: Orlando City vs. FC Cincinnati

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

Published

6 hours ago

on

May 3, 2024

By

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!

Continue Reading

Lion Links

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

on

May 3, 2024

By

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!

Continue Reading

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

1 day ago

on

May 2, 2024

By

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!

Continue Reading

Trending