Orlando City B (7-4-4, 28 points) had more chances than its opposition but fell 2-1 to Philadelphia Union II (6-7-2, 21 points) tonight at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee. Second-half goals by Eddy Davis and Theo Reed gave the visitors a 2-0 lead. Bernardo Rhein got one back in stoppage time, but it wasn’t enough as the Young Lions fell for the first time in over a month.

OCB Head Coach Eddie Wilding made three changes to the team that beat Huntsville City FC 2-1 in Alabama. Landon Okonski, Dylan Judelson, and Pedro Leao entered the starting lineup, replacing Titus Sandy, Jr., Caleb Trombino, and Harvey Sarajian, with the latter not dressed for tonight’s match.

The back line in front of goalkeeper Tristan Himes was made up of Rhein, Albright Chikamso, Okonski, and Parker Amoo-Mensah. Ignacio Gomez and Judelson were the defensive midfielders behind Issah Haruna, Justin Hylton, and Matthew Belgodere with Leao up top.

OCB dominated this game in almost every way but the scoreline. The Young Lions put double-digit shots on target, but most were into Pierce Holbrook’s chest. The Union II goalkeeper barely had to move to make his 10 saves and secure an important win away from home.

The first chance of the game came in the fourth minute when Davis dribbled to the end line and Okonski blocked his cross out of play. The defense cleared the ensuing corner kick but only to Davis at the top of the box. The attacker took a shot this time, sending his attempt over the target.

The Young Lions created their first chance in the eighth minute when Jordan Griffin deflected Gomez’s shot from the top of the box over the end line for a corner kick. Philadelphia cleared the ensuing set piece and OCB was unable to threaten Holbrook.

Hylton created the first shot on target by either team in the 11th minute. The attempt from the top of the box went through multiple defenders, forcing Holbrook to dive to his right and tip the ball wide of the post. The corner kick found Gomez at the far post and the midfielder had time to control the ball before shooting, but Lennon Harrington deflected his shot over the top of the goal.

OCB played the second corner short to Amoo-Mensah, who found Haruna outside the box. The midfielder took a shot from distance but Giovanny Sequera blocked it. OCB kept possession, resulting in a good ball to the back post for Leao, but the striker couldn’t get on the end of it.

Belgodere made a good run to the end line in the 17th minute before playing it to Hylton inside the box. The attacker sent a low shot toward the far post that rolled just wide.

A poor Okonski pass in the 20th minute resulted in the first booking of the game. Rafael Uzcategui headed the ball to the top of the box, where Sal Olivas was waiting. Okonski slid in with a tackle, winning the ball but taking Olivas out in the process. Referee Benjamin Meyer awarded Philadelphia a free kick and booked Okonski. The ensuing set piece by Davis flew wide of the far post, ending the threat.

Belgodere made another good run down the left in the 25th minute before lifting a cross to Leao, making a near-post run. The striker got his head to the ball, but it was a bit too high for the Brazilian to put it on target.

In the 35th minute, Belgodere tried to make something happen when he dribbled inside. He eventually found enough space for a shot, sending his attempt over the goal.

Haruna intercepted Griffin’s poor pass out of the back in the 39th minute, and the midfielder dribbled to the top of the box before unleashing a shot that Uzcategui blocked. Leao ran onto the loose ball and tried to lift it over Holbrook, but the goalkeeper got a hand up to block the attempt on OCB’s best chance of the first half.

A minute later, Judelson found Hylton with a long pass out of the back. Hylton’s defender gave him plenty of space to dribble to the top of the box, where he took a shot. However, he again sent it straight to Holbrook, causing little trouble for the goalkeeper.

Haruna found Leao near the top of the Philadelphia box in the 42nd minute. Harrington blocked Leao’s first shot, but it came right back to him. Finn Sundstrom deflected his second shot just wide. The Young Lions were unable to create anything from the ensuing corner kick, ending the attack.

Belgodere created another chance for himself in the 44th minute with a good run down the left. He took a shot for the near post, but Holbrook had it covered, blocking the shot and collecting the ball.

On the other end, Rhein fouled Willyam Ferreira in the 45th minute, creating a set piece for the visitors. Griffin took the free kick, but Judelson deflected it wide. Philadelphia couldn’t get anything from the ensuing corner kick, allowing OCB to escape.

That was the last good chance of the half as the game entered the break scoreless. After 45 minutes, OCB had the edge in shots (17-4), shots on target (6-0), and passing accuracy (86%-70.6%). Meanwhile, both teams won four corner kicks.

Philadelphia was the more attacking team early in the second half. Shortly after the restart, Judelson fouled Oscar Benitez, resulting in a free kick near midfield. Halftime substitute Andrew Craig tried to catch Himes off his line from his own side of the field, sending the attempt wide.

Rhein blocked Sequera’s shot out of play in the 52nd minute for a Philadelphia corner kick. The short set piece ended up with Kellan LeBlanc making a run down the end line. The attacker either shot or crossed, putting it off the near post.

OCB players felt they should’ve had a penalty in the 55th minute when Belgodere dribbled into the box from the left and went down after contact from Benitez from behind. However, Meyer didn’t see it as enough contact to award a penalty.

Philadelphia quickly went the other way and created the game’s first goal. Ferreira turned forward Isaiah Mendoza’s outlet pass and sent it to Davis on the right. The attacker took Chikamso one-on-one, taking a touch inside to find enough space for a shot. It was an excellent attempt that curled around the diving Himes and inside the far post to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

The Young Lions quickly went on the attack, trying to find an equalizer. In the 60th minute, Belgodere made a good run into the box and fired a shot that was blocked. It went to Rhein on the other side, but Union II blocked his shot as well.

Philadelphia nearly scored a second in the 63rd minute when Sequera sent a quality cross to the far post for Olivas. The attacker got his head to the ball and headed it down past Himes. However, it bounced off the crossbar, allowing OCB to keep the game within one goal.

The visitors headed away Belgodere’s cross for Gomez in the 64th minute and broke on the counterattack. Olivas drove down the left and dribbled to the corner of the OCB box before finding Tyler Gladstone. The second-half substitute’s second touch was a shot that skipped just wide of the far post.

Sundstrom won a long pass across the field intended for Leao in the 66th minute. Sequera took possession and dribbled near the top of the OCB box, where he fired over the top.

Wilding made his first two changes in the 69th minute, replacing Chikamso and Hylton with Sandy and Nicolas Torres.

In the 69th minute, Gomez played the ball to Haruna on the right and continued his run, receiving it back. The attacker sent a dangerous cross through the box that was a little too far in front of Leao. The Young Lions kept possession and played the ball around for Gomez on the right. This time the midfielder took the shot himself, but Craig blocked it out of play. Sundstrom headed away the ensuing set piece.

Philadelphia immediately broke the other way with LeBlanc making a long run to the top of the OCB box. He found Davis making a run behind the back line and the goal scorer had plenty of space for a shot, but he put this attempt over the target.

In the 75th minute, Olivas made a run to the top of the box before unleashing a shot that Himes blocked wide. The visitors kept possession, resulting in a cross by Sequera that Olivas couldn’t quite get his head on.

Wilding made his third substitution in the 77th minute, replacing Gomez with Brady Kendall.

Philadelphia doubled its advantage in the 81st minute when LeBlanc sent a good cross to the back post. Sandy had drifted too far from Reed, who won the header and sent it past Himes and in to give his team a 2-0 lead.

In the 84th minute, Judelson sent a long ball to Amoo-Mensah on the right. The defender played it back for Haruna, who fired the ball right at Holbrook on another wasted opportunity.

Amoo-Mensah found Judelson making a run into the box in the 87th minute. The defensive midfielder’s shot was blocked right back to him. Judelson sent his second attempt straight into Holbrook’s arms.

Philadelphia intercepted Okonski’s pass at the top of its own box in the 89th minute and sent the ball forward for Olivas. The forward dribbled from just inside his own half to the top of the OCB box, sending his shot over the goal.

As the game neared full time, the Young Lions searched frantically for a goal to get back into the game. In the 90th minute, Reed blocked Torres’ shot out for an OCB corner kick. OCB played the ensuing short corner to Haruna, who crossed the ball in. Belgodere volleyed it into the six, but Union II cleared it. Judelson took possession and found Torres to his right. The attacker took another shot, sending the attempt right at Holbrook again.

Belgodere used his speed to get into the Philadelphia box in the third minute of stoppage time, cutting inside to get a shot off. Benitez blocked it, but the ball went to Judelson, who immediately played it forward for Torres. Craig headed away the cross and it looked like Philadelphia would clear. However, Judelson immediately won the ball from Sundstrom and sent it into the box for Rhein. The academy product’s second touch was a hard shot from the left side that beat Holbrook to the far post, cutting the deficit in half.

The Young Lions had one final attempt in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Belgodere sent a cross toward the far post, where Okonski was making a run. Unfortunately, Reed got a body on the center back, ensuring he couldn’t get a clean header. It popped up, allowing Holbrook to make the easy catch.

At full time, OCB had the advantage in shots (28-16), shots on target (11-3), corner kicks (7-5), and passing accuracy (87.5%-73.9%). The difference in the game was that Holbrook made 10 saves while Himes only made one, as the Young Lions lacked the lethality theyve shown throughout the season in front of goal.

The loss ends a four-game winning streak for OCB and sees the team fall to fourth in MLS NEXT Pro’s Eastern Conference. The Young Lions sit on 28 points after 15 games, tied with New York Red Bulls II, two points behind Crown Legacy FC, and four points behind conference-leading Columbus Crew 2. The teams chasing Columbus have at least one game in hand.

The Young Lions will stay home as they host Crew 2 team on June 28 at Osceola County Stadium.

Last week, I wrote about Orlando as a soccer city, and created a ranking system that looked at where the City Beautiful sits among North American cities that have professional soccer teams. Since that article came out, none of the teams that were used as a the basis of the ranking system have played a game, as all of the top teams remain on hiatus due to all of the international games and the final preparations for the FIFA World Cup.

MLS NEXT Pro, however, continues to channel its inner Young Gunz and can’t stop, won’t stop playing regular-season games. As readers of our weekly membership newsletter (you can subscribe here and unlike with FIFA, zero attorneys general have opened investigations about our pricing policies) already know, Orlando City B (OCB) has won four of its last five games and currently sits in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The Young Lions are averaging 0.99 more points per match than the senior team (1.92 to 0.93), while scoring more and allowing fewer goals per game as well. They are not better players, at least not yet, but they are definitely playing better than Orlando City is relative to their level of competition.

OCB is not the only MLS NEXT Pro team playing much better than its senior team, and considering how poorly Orlando City has performed during MLS play thus far this season, it is not a surprise that the gap between the two in points per match is among the largest for all 27 MLS clubs that have a reserve team in MLS NEXT Pro (D.C., Montreal, and San Diego are the three MLS teams that do not have a team in the lower league). The gap between Orlando teams ranks fifth from the bottom, with only Austin, Atlanta, Houston, and Portland sporting MLS teams with worse points-per-match performances compared to their MLS NEXT pro teams.

On this week’s episode of The Mane Land PawedCast, there was a discussion about how clubs generally view and utilize MLS NEXT Pro, and while the Orlando City front office wants both of its teams to win, what the club really wants to see is player development at the MLS NEXT Pro level and wins and banners at the MLS level. Players who develop well at OCB generally sign Homegrown Player contracts with the senior team, which greatly benefits the team in terms of roster construction because they count differently against the salary cap.

Thus far this season, Orlando City has played five Homegrown Players during MLS games — Justin Ellis, Colin Guske, Javier Otero, Tahir Reid-Brown, and Zakaria Taifi — and their minutes played combine for approximately 10% of Orlando City’s minutes during MLS play. Only Miami and Philadelphia have played more Homegrowns (each has played seven) in games, though 10 teams have played Homegrown Players for a larger share of their minutes than Orlando City’s 10%. The league averages are only 3.1 players and 8.5% of the total minutes, so Orlando City is above average in both.

Of those five Orlando City Homegrowns, only Reid-Brown has played more league minutes with OCB than Orlando City, though by the end of the season it would not be a surprise if that was true for all except for Ellis, as the MLS minutes for the other four dried up during the final games before the World Cup break. A certain Antoine Griezmann will also be joining Orlando City in July and, spoiler alert, he is going to play a lot of minutes, which will push the players at the bottom of the depth chart one rung further away from MLS game time.

The upshot of this is that OCB is likely to see those Homegrowns dressing and playing in a lot of its games during the back half of the season, making an already strong squad even stronger. If we take a look at all 60 teams between MLS and MLS NEXT Pro, the Young Lions rank sixth in goals scored per game at 2.38, and with a little defensive improvement (like, perhaps, the inclusion of defensive-oriented players Guske, Otero, Reid-Brown, and Taifi in more lineups) they could find themselves in that quadrant of teams that are among the best in both goals scored and goals allowed.

While MLS NEXT Pro teams may not be exclusively focused on Vince Lombardi’s famous quote about winning not being everything, but the only thing, winning is still, like, better than losing (thank you Nuke LaLoosh and Bull Durham), and OCB has been doing a lot of it lately. The club also has five players in the top 89 in FotMob‘s MLS NEXT Pro player rating rankings, including the overall number one Harvey Sarajian, Gustavo Caraballo (12), Pedro Leão (29), Bernardo Rhein (45), and Issah Haruna (89). Sarajian and Haruna are 21 and 22 years old, respectively, but the other three players are all teenagers and are performing at an advanced level in a league where the average player’s age this season is 20.6, according to Transfermarkt.

OCB’s average age across all players is only 18.8, third youngest in the league, so even beyond the top prospects the future continues to look bright for a team full of young players who are already performing at a high level in their league. Hopefully, the gap between their performance and that of Orlando City’s closes when the senior Lions return to play, but only because the MLS club performs more like it did during the last few years instead of how it did during the opening 15 games of MLS play this year. We still have more than a month to go until we will see Orlando City again though, so for now we can just sit back and see how big of a gap OCB can open up, starting with its game Saturday at Huntsville City — a perfect location for some Young Lions to go hunting for another three points.

Vamos Orlando!

Orlando City B (5-3-4, 22 points) won its second-straight game tonight, defeating Chattanooga FC (6-5-1, 19 points) 5-2 at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee. Ignacio Gomez gave the hosts the lead before goals by Alexander Krehl and Luke Husakiwsky made it 2-1 Chattanooga at halftime. But the Young Lions dominated the second half with goals by Harvey Sarajian and Justin Hylton and a brace by Pedro Leao, sealing all three points.

OCB Head Coach Eddie Wilding made four changes to the team that gave Inter Miami II a 4-1 beatdown on May 24. Parker Amoo-Mensah, Titus Sandy, Jr., Albright Chikamso, and Hylton entered the lineup for Zakaria Taifi, Nolan Miller, Clovis Archange, and Tahir Reid-Brown.

The back line in front of goalkeeper Tristan Himes included Rhein, Chikamso, Sandy, and Amoo-Mensah. Colin Guske and Gomez were the defensive midfielders behind Sarajian, Hylton, and Issah Haruna with Leao up top.

This was the back-and-forth type of game that OCB has become known for. The Young Lions got off to a great start, creating early chances and taking the lead in the sixth minute. They nearly had a second in the 21st minute, but lost control of the game after that. Chattanooga was the better team in the final 25 minutes of the first half, taking a 2-1 lead into the break.

The Young Lions came out strong in the second half, putting a stranglehold on the contest. They broke quick and often, putting Chattanooga under immense pressure. It resulted in a dominant half that saw them outscore the visitors 4-0.

OCB employed a high press from the start, which created the first opportunity at goal in the third minute. Receiving a pass back from Damien Barker John in his own third, Husakiwsky played it straight to Leao. The striker took a couple of touches into the Chattanooga box before sending a curling shot over the crossbar.

The Young Lions’ second chance came in the sixth minute and resulted in the game’s first goal. Gomez carried the ball into the Chattanooga third of the field before playing a give-and-go with Hylton. As Gomez neared the end line, it looked like he would cross it into the six. However, he curled the ball around Griffin Huff and inside the far post to give the hosts the early 1-0 lead.

Chattanooga earned its first chance of the game in the 10th minute when a long throw-in by Anton Sorenson was flicked on for Barker John behind. The midfielder’s first touch was a shot on goal, but it was right at Himes.

OCB nearly doubled its advantage in the 21st minute when Amoo-Mensah’s cross for Leao was headed over the end line by Mattias Hanchard. The Young Lions played the ensuing set piece short, ending up with Haruna. The midfielder fired from distance, rattling the crossbar. The ball ended up with Guske on the left and the Homegrown Player sent a cross into the box for a charging Sandy. The center back got a head to the ball, sending his attempt just over the target.

Two minutes later, Guske sent a ball forward for Amoo-Mensah making an overlapping run on the right. The right back sent a low shot towards the far post that Huff tipped wide of the target. The Chattanooga goalkeeper caught the ensuing set piece delivery, ending the threat.

Another long throw-in by Chattanooga in the 28th minute was flicked on to Krehl, who couldn’t get much on the header, allowing Himes to collect. OCB tried to play it out of the back as Himes rolled the ball out to Sandy, who played it right back to his goalkeeper. 

Himes tried to pass to Rhein at the top left corner of the box, but he sent his pass right to Barker John. As the OCB goalkeeper came out, Barker John lifted the ball for Yuval Cohen. The attacker tried to guide the ball in but couldn’t connect. It went to Sandy, whose weak clearance found Krehl’s foot. The forward tucked it away to even the game at 1-1.

The Young Lions gave the ball away in their own end in the 32nd minute when Guske’s touch went right to a Chattanooga player. The ball ended up with Daniel Mangarov on the counter and the attacker’s shot to the far post was just wide.

A minute later, Tate Robertson sent a dangerous cross toward the near post where Krehl was making a run. The forward volleyed the ball toward goal — looking for a quick brace — but the redirection bounced wide.

Long throw-ins by Chattanooga were a thorn in OCB’s side in the first half and it came back to haunt the team again in the 38th minute. Chikamso headed away a flick-on, but the clearance fell right to Husakiwsky. The attacker volleyed the ball past Himes and in to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.

Down a goal, the Young Lions tried to get back on even terms with a pair of chances as the game neared halftime. In the 41st minute, Guske got on the end of a corner kick, but his volley was off target. Chattanooga immediately went the other way and Barker John went down, appealing for a penalty. Referee Erik Lezama Pavon waved play on and OCB went on the counterattack. Sarajian laid the ball back for Gomez near midfield, who sent it forward for Leao. The OCB striker fired from just outside the box, sending his shot wide.

A long punt by Huff out of the back in the 44th minute gave Chattanooga a chance when Sandy mishit the clearance. Barker John took possession and played it square for Krehl at the top of the box. The forward played it back to Barker John, who spotted Cohen behind Rhein on the right side of the OCB box. The forward’s first touch was a near-post shot that hit the outside of the net.

The final chance of the half came in the first minute of stoppage time. OCB broke on a four-on four counterattack with Leao playing Sarajian down the left. Sarajian played it back for Leao, and it looked like the striker would guide it into the net. However, Nathan Koehler slid in front of the attempt, blocking the shot with his back.

OCB got the second half off to a flying start, evening the game in the 48th minute. Receiving a pass from Gomez, Rhein used a nifty touch to get by his defender and sent a quality ball into the six. It looked like a defender or Huff would clear it, but it slipped through for Leao, who touched it in to even the game at 2-2.

The Young Lions stayed on the attack, creating another chance in the 50th minute. Gomez danced through the Chattanooga defense before losing control at the top of the box. The ball went through the defender to Hylton, whose first touch was a shot wide of the near post.

OCB’s high press created problems for Chattanooga as the visitors tried to play the ball out of the back. Koehler lost the ball to Haruna, and the midfielder quickly sent a pass forward for Leao, whose shot was blocked away by Huff. Koehler tried to clear the ball, but it was a poor attempt, going right to Sarajian. The rookie volleyed the ball past Huff to give his team the 3-2 lead.

In the 54th minute, Haruna made a strong run into the Chattanooga third of the field. The midfielder had Gomez making an overlapping run but cut inside to shoot himself. The attacker fired — looking for his second long-distance goal of the night — but sent the attempt right to Huff.

A Gomez foul in the 56th minute gave Chattanooga a free kick that provided an opportunity for another equalizer. Himes punched away the set piece by Mangarov over a group of players. It went to Barker John, who forced Himes into a quick reaction save, diving to make the stop. The block went to Cohen on the far side, whose shot was blocked by Leao. Rhein headed away the ensuing free kick to the near post.

OCB quickly went on the counterattack as Guske tapped the ball forward. Huff blocked a shot by Leao from the top of the box, but it went right to Haruna. The midfielder attempted to dribble around Huff, allowing the goalkeeper to knock it off his foot. The Young Lions maintained possession, with Guske sending a cross to the far post, where Hylton was making a run. The teenager volleyed the ball past Huff and inside the far post to give the hosts a 4-2 lead.

Both teams made three changes immediately after the goal. Wilding replaced Haruna, Guske, and Sandy with Nicolas Bobea Torres, Jacob Ramirez, and Landon Okonski.

Now chasing the game, Chattanooga went on the offensive. In the 66th minute, Cohen lifted the ball into the box. Amoo-Mensah attempted to head it away but sent it to Anthony Garcia at the top of the 18. Despite a deflection, Himes was able to collect the second-half substitute’s shot.

Leao sent a good ball forward for Bobea Torres in the 69th minute and the substitute quickly played the ball central for Hylton. The goal scorer initially lost possession before shooting. Huff came off of his line to cut down Hylton’s angle, blocking the attempt with his legs.

Ramirez’s ensuing corner kick found Okonski’s head, but the center back’s redirection was wide, ending the threat.

Wilding made his fourth change in the 78th minute, replacing Rhein with Matthew Belgodere.

Shortly after coming on, Belgodere made his presence felt. He received a pass on the left in the 80th minute and immediately took on his defender. As the substitute beat Garcia and entered the box, he went down from a sliding challenge. Pavon pointed to the spot, giving OCB a chance to put the game away.

Leao stepped up to the spot for the penalty, sending Huff the wrong way to give his team a commanding 5-2 lead.

Barker John went on a run off the restart before Chikamso tripped him near the top of the OCB box. Robertson stepped up to take the free kick, sending his delivery around the five-man wall and just wide.

Wilding made his fifth and final change before the goal kick could be taken, replacing Amoo-Mensah with Nicolas Lasheras.

The Young Lions nearly scored a sixth in the 86th minute when a poor pass out of the back was blocked. Leao sent the ball forward for Sarajian with Hylton making a run on the right. Sarajian took the shot himself from the top of the box, sending his attempt wide.

Cohen dribbled into the OCB box in the 89th minute before Lasheras slid in and knocked the ball over the end line. The short corner resulted in a give-and-go between Cohen and Sorenson, sending Cohen behind Lasheras. The attacker could’ve gone down as Lasheras challenged him, but stayed on his feet and forced Himes into a one-handed save. The block went right back to Cohen, whose first touch was a second shot. But Himes got down to block the ball over the end line with his right leg.

The second corner kick was cleared, allowing OCB to retain its three-goal lead.

The Young Lions went the other way with Leao playing a ball to Sarajian as he entered the Chattanooga third of the field. The midfielder took an ambitious shot from outside the box that forced Huff to block the ball rather than catch it.

Chattanooga was unable to clear the ball, with Lasheras winning it back. The defender laid it off for Ramirez, who was unhappy with his ball forward for Leao. However, it went through several players for Hylton behind the back line. Unfortunately, Hylton wasn’t expecting the ball, resulting in a poor touch that allowed Huff to come out and collect.

In the third minute of stoppage time, Barker John found Alex McGrath in the box. The substitute shot from short distance that Bobea Torres was able to block. Himes caught the ensuing set piece, ending the attack.

The final chance of the game came in the sixth minute of stoppage time when Cohen received a pass on the left. The attacker cut inside, looking to end the game on a high, and took a shot from distance. However, he wasn’t able to curl the ball as he wanted, sending his attempt well wide of the far post.

Chattanooga took more shots (20-19) in this game, but OCB put more chances on target (11-8). The Young Lions also had better passing accuracy (86.5%-83.7%) with both teams winning six corner kicks on the night.

The win lifts OCB into fourth place in MLS NEXT Pro’s Eastern Conference, just a point behind Columbus Crew 2 for third and two points behind New York Red Bulls II for second. Having won three of their last four games, the Young Lions are now just five points behind Crown Legacy FC, which tops the conference with 27 points.

The Young Lions will look to extend their winning streak as they welcome Carolina Core FC to Kissimmee on June 7.