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Orlando City vs. Atlanta United: Final Score 2-0 as Early Season Futility Continues for Lions

Lions remain winless in 2024 after another frustrating result.

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2 months ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

It was another frustrating night for Orlando City as the Lions were dumped 2-0 by Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Saba Lobjanidze and Giorgos Giakoumakis did the damage but it could easily have been a far worse final score if not for some big saves from Pedro Gallese and some moments of good emergency defending.

Orlando City (0-3-1, 1 point) has never had a worse start to an MLS season after falling to rival Atlanta (2-1-0, 6 points) on the road.

“Obviously frustrated on not getting a result, but the team that was on the pitch today really had a big effort on the game and a commitment to try to do the best possible way that we planned during the week, so I’m very proud of them,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “Obviously, the frustration at this point is probably bigger, but we are professionals and we have to move on.”

Pareja’s lineup featured Pedro Gallese in goal behind a back line of Rafael Santos, Robin Jansson, David Brekalo, and Kyle Smith. Martin Ojeda, Nico Lodeiro, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson, and Ivan Angulo started in a midfield behind forwards Luis Muriel and Duncan McGuire.

Atlanta pressed and looked to push the pace early, with the Lions coming in on short rest and having traveled to Mexico for a midweek match. Xande Silva fired a shot over the bar early and the Lions struggled to match the hosts’ energy in the game’s early moments.

Muriel managed to free himself for a blast from outside the area in the sixth minute but Brad Guzan tipped it over the bar. Two minutes later, Santos sent in a cross/shot that caught the crossbar. The Lions paid for that near miss seconds later.

Lobjanidze opened the scoring in the ninth minute as Atlanta unlocked the Orlando defense, which was caught out and rotated to the right. Giakoumakis sent a ball in front with the outside of his boot, putting the Lobjanidze behind Santos and in alone on Gallese. The Peruvian kept his near post covered, but Lobjanidze had a lot of net to shoot at on the far side and slotted it in to put the hosts up early.

That was a problem throughout the first half. The defense got caught multiple times with far too much space to defend.

Ojeda tried to get the Lions level in the 19th minute, trying a near-post shot from the left. Guzan was able to get down and keep it out. The Lions played the ensuing corner short and Angulo floated a perfect back-post cross, but none of his teammates made that run.

Brekalo and Jansson each made key defensive plays to deny Atlanta an easy second goal, but the hosts were bypassing the 4-4-2 midfield easily. Giakoumakis sent an off-balance shot well over the bar from the top of the box in the 34th minute as Atlanta kept coming. Jansson made another huge defensive play in the 38th to stop Brooks Lennon.

Atlanta did pretty much what it wanted on set pieces, easily winning free headers in front of goal. Derrick Williams’ free header was tipped over the bar in the 39th minute and another big stop on Williams on the next corner didn’t count as the defender was called for a foul after climbing over Santos to get to the ball.

Muriel had another good look in the 42nd minute but again Guzan got down to make the save. Thorhallsson tried to cross it back into the area but it was blocked behind for a corner. Muriel then tried a shot with his weaker foot a minute later but it was well off target.

The half ended with an enormous double save by Gallese off another corner, as El Pulpo was able to deny Atlanta twice.

The Lions ended up settling in and keeping more possession in the first half (51.5%-48.5%) and even passed more accurately (90.3%-88%), despite some bad wayward back passes in the defensive third. Atlanta attempted more shots (8-5), with each team getting three shots on target and earning three corners.

Giakoumakis went for glory from long distance just after the restart, but it was an easy bouncer for Gallese to handle.

Moments later, Angulo sent a tantalizing ball through the box that was just inches out of McGuire’s reach.

“It’s definitely frustrating when you have the ball in the opponent’s half that much, and especially in the final third, and not being able to put the final touches on the ball is definitely very frustrating for myself as a striker and for the rest of the guys,” McGuire said. “But knowing that we’ve had that much possession in their half is a good sign, I would say.”

The next 15 minutes were mostly controlled by Orlando City, but the final ball just wouldn’t come off due to a heavy touch, a deflection, or simply a failure to shoot in one case — as Thorhallsson opted instead to lay off a weak pass that was taken away.

In the 62nd minute, Gallese did well to deny Silva with a key save. The Lions then squandered a corner kick won by McGuire and Santos was forced to do some emergency defending to prevent Caleb Wiley from getting a breakaway on the counter. Set pieces were an issue on both ends, as the Lions failed to defend them well and practically none of their own crosses fell anywhere near a friendly face.

Despite there being plenty of time left, Giakoumakis basically put the game away in the 71st minute. Another scramble in the defensive end in transition started with Santos getting beaten by Lobjanidze. Santos then compounded the issue by slipping and leaving too much space for his teammates to cover. Giakoumakis stayed near the top of the box and the ball found him. He fired a shot off the crossbar and in to make it 2-0.

Maybe the only nice moment of the match for Orlando fans came in the 81st minute when Jeorgio Kocevski made his MLS debut. That good feeling was short-lived, however, as Giakoumakis fired over the bar on a dangerous chance seconds later.

Lodeiro had a good look at goal in the 83rd minute off a give-and-go, but he fired his shot over the bar. After another overcooked cross from Angulo — from the right side this time — Kocevski nearly caught a break in the 87th minute, when a ball into the box caromed to him with Guzan out of position. The rookie had to swing high for the ball and caught an Atlanta defender, ending the play in a foul given instead of a debut goal.

Orlando finally found a purple shirt on a corner kick early in stoppage time, but the ball hit off of Smith and bundled wide. Moments later, substitute Michael Halliday had a free run at a back-post cross but he muffed the chance badly and sent it well wide. Angulo sent a late shot into the outside netting from the right and that was that.

The Lions finished with the advantage in possession (54.1%-45.9%), passing accuracy (90.3%-87.9%), and corners (8-5), while Atlanta had more shots (12-11) and shots on target (6-3).

“I’d say we’re obviously disappointed,” McGuire said. “And I feel like it hurts the most, because I feel like we can see ourselves playing the way that we want to play, and just the results aren’t falling our way.”

“There is a bunch of things that we saw today that just left us with the taste that we can bounce back,” Pareja said. “The boys gave 110 percent effort. I saw a lot of good things today. At this point we’re not getting results but what I saw today on the pitch is way different and I’m very optimistic.”

The Lions get their first normal work week in a while as they will prepare to host Austin FC on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. to start a two-game homestand.

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Orlando City

Orlando City at Philadelphia Union: Three Keys to Victory

What does Orlando City need to do to earn all three points on the road at Philadelphia?

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3 hours ago

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May 9, 2024

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Orlando City travels to the City of Brotherly Love hoping to get back on the winning track against the Philadelphia Union. The Union are currently in eighth place in the Eastern Conference with 14 points, and have a 3-2-5 record overall. However, the Union are 1-2-1 at home. Subaru Park hasn’t been the fortress it was in 2023 — though Orlando City did give them their first home loss last season.

Of course, the Lions are riding a two-match losing streak heading into this match. What does Orlando City need to do to take all three points from the Union on the road?

Defense, Defense, Defense

The Union have scored 19 goals so far this season and over half of them have come from Daniel Gazdag (6), and Julian Carranza (4). Obviously, stopping those two is a priority. However, the Union also have excellent midfielders in Alejandro Bedoya and Jack McGlynn — the two players that scored in the Union’s last match against DC United.

I feel like a broken record, but Orlando City’s defense needs to stop making the dumb mistakes that have resulted in way too many goals this season. Philadelphia’s attackers will punish the Lions if that is allowed to happen yet again. So please, for the sake of my sanity, stop giving up the stupid goals.

Score Some *%$#ing Goals

The Union have given up 16 goals so far this season. Philadelphia is not some impenetrable defense, meaning the Lions should have chances to score against the Union. The bigger questions is: Will Orlando City find the back of the net? The dearth of goals so far this season is a great source of frustration for all who support this club. It’s not necessarily the shots that go in — though that does stink — but the missed opportunities.

Orlando City has had more passes/crosses just past a toe or just over a head, and more bobbled balls at a player’s feet than I care to count this season. The missed opportunities are a good reason for the results we’ve seen. I’ve spent plenty of time wishing for Facundo Torres, Luis Muriel, and Martin Ojeda to start scoring. Now, I’ll be happy with any player putting it in the back of the net. Robin Jansson header? Yes, please. Michael Halliday deflects it in with his face? I’ll take it. Own goal by the opposition? Bring it on. Just score some darn goals.

Find the Formula

I’m not certain why it’s taking Oscar Pareja so long to figure out the balance for this club. Most of the players from last season are there, but for some reason the recipe is off. There are a few new players and there have been some injuries to deal with, but the switch needs to be flipped. Pareja needs to figure out which players can turn it around.

It might be the players who haven’t made the necessary adjustments. Perhaps it’s just bad luck. Regardless, every coach and player needs to pull it together to get the ship righted. Preseason expectations might need to be adjusted, but we can still hold out hope for a turnaround. This weekend against the Union is a perfect time for that to start.

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: 5/9/24

Get to know Wilder Cartagena, Orlando Pride get ready for Bay FC, Orlando City B wins, and more.

Published

7 hours ago

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May 9, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this week hasn’t been too hectic for you. There’s been plenty of soccer to enjoy over the past few days and I’m looking forward to the weekend slate of games as well. But for now, let’s dive into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Learning More About Wilder Cartagena

Orlando City midfielder Wilder Cartagena was the latest Lion to field questions for fans to learn more about the players. The 29-year-old discussed growing up playing soccer in Peru as a child, as well as having to spend time away from family and friends to fulfill his dreams as a professional player. Cartagena also talked about how important his friendship with Pedro Gallese is, as the two have played together at both the club level and internationally with Peru. It’s a fun interview and I’m glad we have Cartagena here in Orlando.

Pride Prepare to Host Bay FC

The Orlando Pride are on a five-game win streak and will look to make it six when they take on Bay FC for the first time ever on Saturday. Pride Head Coach Seb Hines spoke on the difficulty of the team’s past few matches, along with the importance of getting wins in those games. Bay FC is in 12th in the standings, but Hines noted how this week’s opponent has plenty of talented attackers. Saturday’s match could be a tough one for Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, and she talked about the team’s grit and determination to close out games for points this season. Moorhouse also credited her back line for the Pride’s three shutouts this season.

OCB Secures First Win at Home

It took a few games, but Orlando City B won at Osceola Heritage Park for the first time this season after a 3-1 win over New York Red Bulls II. The Young Lions didn’t make it easy on themselves, but ultimately held on for the win after scoring twice early on. It’s nice for OCB to put another tally in the win column to climb up the conference standings. The Young Lions will be back in action next Wednesday with a road match against Columbus Crew 2.

Champions League Final is Set

The semifinal matchup between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich lived up to expectations, with Real Madrid advancing after a dramatic finish. Bayern was up to the task on the road and took the lead in the second half thanks to a goal from Alphonso Davies. But Real Madrid did what it always does, with Joselu scoring two late goals in quick succession. Bayern nearly had an equalizer, but a player was ruled offside and it couldn’t be checked as the flag was raised and whistle blown before the attack fully played out. It all sets up for a final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund on June 1 at Wembley Stadium. Dortmund will be the clear underdog, but the German club has proven capable of taking down some of Europe’s best this tournament.

Free Kicks

  • St. Louis City is reportedly interested in signing Marco Reus once his contract with Dortmund ends this summer, although talks are just in the preliminary stage at this point.
  • Not a single Pride player was named to the NWSL’s Best XI of the Month for the months of April and May. While I can see the reasoning behind each inclusion, it’s crazy that Angelina, Marta, Summer Yates, or Emily Sams didn’t earn a spot in the eyes of the league’s voters.
  • American midfielder Keyrol Figueroa has signed with Liverpool’s first team. The 17-year-old has risen through the ranks of Liverpool’s youth system and scored seven goals for the U.S. in the 2023 Concacaf U-17 Championship.
  • Luis Rubiales will face trial for one count of sexual assault for kissing Jenni Hermoso and a count of coercion for his actions in the aftermath. The former head coach of the Spanish women’s national team, Jorge Vilda, is also accused of coercion, along with Sporting Director Albert Luque and the federation’s head of marketing, Ruben Rivera.

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: 5/8/24

Orlando Pride move up in power rankings, OCSC will celebrate Pride Month, Orlando City B plays tonight, and more.

Published

1 day ago

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May 8, 2024

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. We’re halfway through the week and I hope you’re doing well. Personally, I love Wednesdays, because in my job they are effectively my “Friday,” as my day off is on Thursday. So, as such, I love bringing you the news to start out your midweek morning. Let’s get to the links.

Orlando Pride Nearly Top Power Rankings

The Orlando Pride are at the top of the NWSL standings with 18 points, and are riding a five-match winning streak while staying undefeated so far this season. If you thought that would be enough for the team to top ESPN‘s NWSL power rankings, you’d be wrong. The Pride actually came in at second despite all the factors I listed above, with the Kansas City Current ranked above them. Even more shocking is that the writer admits he doesn’t have much of a reason for not ranking the Pride first. I’m not sure what to do with my hands.

Orlando Soccer Matches Will Celebrate Pride Month

Orlando City and the Orlando Pride will recognize Pride Month during a pair of matches in June at Inter&Co Stadium. The Pride are set to host the Utah Royals on June 21 and the Lions will then host the Chicago Fire on June 22. Both matches will include celebrating Orlando’s LGBTQ+ community and honoring the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting. There are plenty of additional events throughout Pride Month in the Greater Orlando Area as well. I will be at those matches and I hope to see you there as well.

Orlando City B Hosts New York Red Bulls II Tonight

OCB will try to follow up a result on the road with its first result at home tonight at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee. Forwards Yutaro Tsukada and Shak Mohammed lead the attack for the Young Lions as the club plays only its third home match of the season — and only the second at its actual home field. There’s plenty to look for from OCB as it takes on New York Red Bulls II at 7 p.m. Try to make it to the match if you are able.

U.S. Soccer Doubles Down

The battle between the USWNT and U.S. Soccer over equal pay has been going on for years. Now, U.S. Soccer has reportedly employed Washington D.C. lobbying firms to provide what the organization asserts are “accurate information and factual numbers” to policy makers. Spokespersons for the players’ associations of both the USWNT and USMNT expressed disappointment regarding the move by U.S. Soccer. The issue is front and center as two congresswomen have proposed legislation to block funding for the 2026 World Cup unless equal pay is enacted.

Free Kicks

  • Were you wondering how good Barbra Banda has been since arriving in Orlando? Me neither, but here is a cool stat from OptaJack on her shot production.
  • Orlando City fans know all too well how good FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta is at scoring goals. Now, the striker is in the process of becoming a naturalized citizen of the U.S. and expressed a desire to play for the USMNT. It would be nice to have him score goals for a team I support.
  • Nottingham Forest’s point reduction appeal was rejected by the independent board overseeing the decision. Only three points separate Nottingham from Luton Town and the relegation zone with two matches left this season.
  • I know that some Orlando City fans were hoping to see Thiago Silva join the Lions after he left Chelsea, but that rumor never made sense financially, and the defender has chosen to rejoin his old Brazilian club, Fluminense.
  • It’s not often that someone follows up an unpopular decision with an even more unpopular explanation for that decision, but that is exactly what MLS Commissioner Don Garber did when explaining that the U.S. Open Cup didn’t offer a competition that “drives value” and that “rises to the level where fans care about it.” I’m sure everyone will now understand the decision. Well done, Commish.

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Orlando City and Orlando Pride matches this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

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