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Orlando City vs. Atlanta United: Five Takeaways

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6 years ago

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Well, that was fun! Orlando City SC continued its winning ways, and notched the club’s first-ever win over Atlanta United in the process. Check out my takeaways from an entertaining first victory up in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Pareja’s Changes Prove Effective

Oscar Pareja rotated his team on Saturday, giving rests to several starters who have played a large amount of minutes. Nani, Ruan, Sebas Mendez, and Mauricio Pereyra all got rests, with Pereyra not even being named to the bench. Benji Michel, Junior Urso, Andres Perea and Kyle Smith started in their places and, despite no shortage of misgivings after the starting XI was released, the team played a largely effective and composed game. Urso in particular had an excellent showing, and spent much of his time being the primary source of energy in the midfield while also notching a goal and an assist. The other three changes also had solid games, even if they weren’t quite as eye catching as Urso’s showing.

Flexible Tactics for Orlando

Orlando’s game plan up to this point in the year has been to control possession, build patiently, and dictate the pace of the game. Things couldn’t have been more different up in Georgia though. From the moment the whistle blew to start the game Atlanta had most of the ball, with the Lions doing a lot of defending in their own half but pressing when they sensed an opportunity to put pressure on their opponents. Suffice it to say, the tactical flexibility paid dividends. While Orlando did have several spells of possession, OCSC only had 38% possession at the end of the game, which was the least amount of the ball the team has had this year by a country mile. It didn’t matter though, with the ability to use Daryl Dike as a target man — who could hold up the ball and help the team relieve pressure — being a big help in Orlando being able to successfully play a different style.

Clinical Finishing Makes the Difference

In the end though, the major difference maker on the night was the Lions’ clinical finishing. Orlando took 10 shots on the night, and put three of them on target. All three of those shots found the back of the net, and while Brad Guzan was taken out of the play on two of those goals, the point still stands. One of OCSC’s biggest problems in recent years has been a distinct lack of killer instinct in the final third. While Andres Perea did miss an absolutely golden opportunity just before halftime, Orlando was otherwise ruthless in front of goal. It might be harsh to say that Atlanta wasn’t clinical in its finishing considering Pedro Gallese made a couple excellent saves on the night and robbed Brooks Lennon blind with his stop in the eighth minute, but it was the difference between the teams regardless.

Set Piece Reversal for Lions

Speaking of El Pulpo’s stonewalling of Lennon, something that was a nice change in the game was Orlando having the upper hand in set pieces. Too often this year have the Lions been made to pay from free kicks and corner kicks. Nashville SC’s lone goal came from a free kick, and both Portland Timbers goals were from set pieces in the MLS is Back Tournament final. When Lennon found himself mostly free on a corner kick in the eighth minute, I found myself worrying that set pieces would haunt Orlando yet again. Instead, it was OCSC that was dominant in that area. Not only did Urso score the team’s first goal from a corner kick, but Perea and Antonio Carlos both had excellent chances to score from corner kicks. When it came to defending dead ball situations, the Lions looked mostly solid aside from that early free header, something that was made all the more relieving by just how much of a problem that area has been in recent weeks.

Yet Another Quick Response

On the other hand, a trend that OCSC fans were surely happy to see continue was the Lions’ ability to find quick responses when they were needed most. It took a mere five minutes after Gallese’s stellar save on Lennon for Urso to open the scoring at the other end. The close shave seemed to wake the team up and galvanize the Lions. Even though it wasn’t a quick response to going down a goal, as has been the case countless times this year, it was still nice to see. It was even nicer to see it happen again when the Lions finally did concede. After Lennon did manage to find the back of the net in the 83rd minute, it only took three minutes for Orlando City to score a third goal and put the final nail in the coffin. The team has excelled all year at scoring goals quickly after conceding, and even when the team never fell behind, it was still encouraging to see and points to the character of this squad.

That’s the way I saw this one. As always, feel free to let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/22/26

Martin Ojeda wins MLS Goal of the Matchday, MLS award contenders, sights and sounds from the Orlando Pride’s win, and more.

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30 minutes ago

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October 22, 2026

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Image of Maxime Crepeau taking a goal kick against Atlanta.
Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

How’s it going, Mane Landers? The temperatures have gotten just cool enough here in Florida as of late for me to feel like it’s truly autumn. While it would be nice if our leaves changed colors to really sell the fall feeling, a pumpkin candle and apple cider have definitely helped. Let’s get to the links!

Martin Ojeda Wins MLS Goal of the Matchday

Orlando City Designated Player Martin Ojeda predictably won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his fantastic finish in the team’s 4-1 win over D.C. United, garnering 71.7% of the vote. Ojeda’s acrobatic backheel capped off a smooth series of passes by the Lions and it will likely be in the running for MLS Goal of the Year as well. It was Ojeda’s 15th goal of the season and he has scored in five of Orlando’s past six games.

MLS Year-End Award Voting Begins

The voting for this year’s MLS Year-End Awards has opened and the finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 12. Former MLS star Bradley Wright-Phillips weighed in on who he thinks the contenders for each award are and there were a few Lions mentioned. Antoine Griezmann is in the running for Newcomer of the Year alongside Houston Dynamo attacker Guilherme, who has 16 goals and 10 assists this season. Maxime Crepeau may make the list of finalists for Goalkeeper of the Year for his incredible run of form since the World Cup, but it’s hard to see him winning it given just how many goals the Lions have conceded compared to other teams. Justin Ellis was also an honorable mention for the Young Player of the Year award for his breakout season.

Sights and Sounds From the Orlando Pride’s Victory

The Orlando Pride released a video showing the sights and sounds from their 2-1 win on the road against the Houston Dash. The video includes huddle talks from Marta and interim head coach Yolanda Thomas, as well as the goals by Luana and Solai Washington. It’s been a difficult year for the Pride and it’s nice to see some highlights as they aim to close out the season strongly after being eliminated from playoff contention.

UEFA Champions League Roundup

The third round of matches in the UEFA Champions League’s league phase wrapped up and we’re getting a better sense of where the teams stand. Bayern Munich and Arsenal played to a 2-2 draw in Germany, with Declan Rice scoring a late equalizer for Arsenal. Elsewhere across Europe, Manchester United was beaten 4-1 by Como, Inter scored while down a man to beat Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0, and Austrian club LASK won its first Champions League game by upsetting Sporting CP 3-2. Aston Villa, Real Madrid, and Real Betis all won to remain perfect in the tournament as well.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/21/26

Justin Ellis recognized, the Orlando Youth Soccer Network expands, the USMNT adds a friendly, and more.

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1 day ago

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October 21, 2026

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Image of Justin Ellis dribbling the ball trying to beat a Philadelphia Union defender.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. The weather is getting a bit nicer. I’m actually able to have the windows open at night, which is delightful. However, the temperatures are rising a bit this week, which I find sad. I know we live in Florida, but gosh darn it, we’re only 10 days from Halloween. I should be wearing sweaters rather than shorts. I appreciate you allowing me to rant, now let’s get to the links.

Justin Ellis Named No. 5 of MLS 22 Under 22

Justin Ellis was rightly named to Major League Soccer’s 2026 22 Under 22 list. The Orlando City striker came in at No. 5 on the list. It’s not surprising, given the year he’s had. He’s busted into the starting lineup for Orlando City, and he has 16 goal contributions so far. He also received his first call-up to the USMNT, scoring a goal in his first match and two goals in the four-game window. He’s joined on the list by fellow USMNT teammates Cavan Sullivan and Julian Hall. This is his second accolade in the last week as he was also named 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Pathway Player of the Year.

New Orlando Soccer School Announced

Orlando City and the Orlando Pride are expanding the Orlando Youth Soccer Network with the addition of the Orlando Soccer School – Winter Haven. The organization is formerly known as the Winter Haven Soccer Club. The school will provide programming for boys and girls ages 3-19. This is an example of the top-to-bottom pipeline the organization is building to develop players for both the men’s and women’s clubs.

Orlando City B Season in Review

Like the Orlando Pride, Orlando City B did not make the post season in 2026. That doesn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t a success in other ways. Orlando City B is a developmental squad, and the reserve side did its job in developing prospects this season. Some OCB players made it into the first team, there were a record number of academy debuts, and the team saw several international call-ups. Given how inconsistent the squad was because of all the shuffling around, it’s not surprising the team struggled on the pitch at times. Hopefully, all the younger players getting time will set the team up for success next season.

USMNT to Face Jamaica in December

The USMNT added a friendly against Jamaica on December 13 in Miami. The match takes place outside of the international window, so we can expect Mauricio Pochettino to call up MLS players whose clubs have been eliminated from the playoffs. There’s also a possibility for some European-based players, but clubs are not required to release them. Prior to that, the team will be in action in against Haiti in the two quarterfinal legs of the Concacaf Nations League.

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

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 10/20/26

Griezmann named Player of the Matchday, Ojeda up for Goal of the Matchday, Pride in the power rankings, and more.

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2 days ago

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October 20, 2026

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Image of Antoine Griezmann celebrating with fans and Daryl Dike.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

Hello, Mane Landers! It was a great weekend for the Lions, while the Pride won but were finally knocked out of the playoffs with Seattle Reign FC’s defeat of the Chicago Stars. Let’s start today off by wishing Pride goalkeeper McKinley Crone a happy 28th birthday. It’s been a busy past few days, so let’s get to the links.

Griezmann, Ojeda Honored

For their efforts (and spectacular goals) in Orlando City’s 4-1 win over D.C. United on Saturday, both Antoine Griezmann and Martin Ojeda have received deserved honors. Griezmann was named MLS Player of the Matchday for his two-goal, one-assist performance, leading the way once again in what has been an impressive start to his career as a Lion. The man they call Grizi is up to 19 goal contributions in 14 matches. Griezmann was obviously also honored with a starting spot on the MLS Team of the Matchday, joining fellow Lion Martin Ojeda, who chipped in a goal and an assist against D.C. And what a goal it was! Ojeda’s crazy, leaping, spinning backheel goal from Griezmann’s chipped pass over the top is deservedly up for MLS Goal of the Matchday. There’s still time to cast your vote on Twitter.

In addition to Goal of the Matchday, Ojeda’s magical moment will likely be up for MLS Goal of the Year. Marco Pasalic’s late insurance goal was also important, and it gave the Lions a goal from all three Designated Players in the same game.

Lions Deemed Powerful, Entertaining

Orlando City is up to No. 9 in the latest version of the ESPN MLS power rankings after Wednesday’s road draw in Toronto and Saturday’s lopsided home win over D.C. United. It’s been a long climb up those power rankings, just like it’s been a long climb above the playoff line after Orlando’s terrible start to the season. The Lions still have a lot to do to secure a postseason spot, but at least at home, they’ve been strong in the second half of the season.

Additionally, the Lions are an entertaining watch, win or lose, according to Joseph Lowery over at the league’s website. Lowery’s argument is compelling, noting that both the Orlando attack and the defense keep things exciting by either scoring or conceding in bunches. He also notes the number of ways the Lions can operate with personnel moving around to give the team multiple attacking options.

Pride in the Power Rankings

The Orlando Pride picked up a 2-1 win in Houston on a big day from Solai Washington, but it wasn’t enough to keep the team in contention for the postseason as Seattle defeated Chicago to seal the Pride’s fate. In addition to the Pride being 11th in the standings after the win, the latest version of ESPN’s NWSL power rankings have them in the same spot, which seems fair. Orlando will play out the string starting Sunday with a matinee against first-place Gotham FC before finishing the season on Nov. 1 at Seattle.

Americans Abroad in European Tournaments

Several Americans will be in action this week, so make sure you’ve got all the games you need to see written down somewhere, so you won’t miss any of the action. Tyler Adams faces Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah in Europa League action Thursday as AC Milan travels to AFC Bournemouth. Chris Richards and Crystal Palace also play in a Europa League tilt against Besiktas, and the defense is being held up as a reason for their struggles. Tanner Tessman is also one to look for in Lyon’s matchup against Hoffenheim in a Europa League tilt. Villarreal heads to Liverpool in Champions League action and we’ll see if the club’s manager continues to ride Alex Freeman’s hot run as he has yet to start a Champions League game.

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That’s the wrapup for today. Check back with us tomorrow for more futbol news.

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