Orlando City
Orlando City vs. San Jose Earthquakes: Player Grades and Man of the Match
Another beautiful evening in a sold-out Orlando City Stadium was capped by yet another fantastic performance for the boys in purple (or black on this night), who extended their impressive winning streak to four straight. Let’s take a look at how they performed individually on the night:
Starting XI
GK, Joe Bendik, 6.5 — Bendik wasn’t tested much early in the first half, but as San Jose began to up their attacking tempo, Bendik was there to shut it down. He displayed his usual adept skills in positioning and shot blocking, but this match also highlighted an attribute that was missing from last week’s match: the quick second effort to save the loose balls he’s already parried down. Granted, San Jose wasn’t spectacular in the attack on the evening. He did concede a couple goals on corners late in the second half though, and that caused a bit of consternation among the crowd and coaching staff, but ultimately his performance was typical of a Bendik showing: class shot stopping coupled with a few unlucky breaks.
D, Will Johnson, 6 — Johnson was offered yet another opportunity to display his versatility as Head Coach Jason Kreis deployed him at right back. Unfortunately, it seemed that Johnson was a target of San Jose’s pacey attack, as he struggled countless times in keeping up with the opposing wingers. He was involved in the attack though, and his effort in hightailing it back to defend shouldn’t be discounted. His second half, however, was a bit stronger. Multiple tackles won on his flank were deciding factors in not conceding additional goals, and his impact from a position that is not his natural one should not be ignored.
D, Amro Tarek, 6.5 — It’s hard to believe that Orlando City has three in-form, experienced, and consistent center backs (albeit Jonathan Spector has been out for a few matches), but the Lions do, and it’s clear. Tarek has been rock solid in the back through these first two months of the 2018 campaign and tonight was no different. He did allow Danny Hoesen inside him on one occasion. He also found himself involved in a few heated scuffles near the conclusion of the match, and that needs to be avoided (especially when leading by two goals), but his performance was fabulous yet again, and the supporters won’t forget about it anytime soon.
D, Lamine Sané, 8 — Sané has been a godsend since his arrival this summer. His consistency in the back has been a sight to see, and I’ll continue to champion the idea that he’s been the most important addition so far. His slide tacking is second to none in the squad (his height isn’t either), and his leadership shows in his communication with his teammates. Oh, and he was also perfect in his passing in the first half at 100% completed.
D, Mohamed El-Munir, 6.5 — Aside from an errant pass early in the opening minutes and a couple iffy crosses, El-Munir was solid in both the attack and in defense on the night. Stefano Pinho and El-Munir displayed wonderful communication and movement, and though the attacks on the left flank often ended disappointingly, they were a constant threat to the back line of San Jose. El-Munir’s interest in getting involved in the attack is what sets him apart in this squad, and it’s only a matter of time before one of his cascading runs ends with the ball finding the back of the net.
MF, Yoshimar Yotún, 7.5 — Yotún was pivotal in the midfield on the night, providing quality passes in the two goal sequences of the first half. His fluidity and versatility allowed him space in various attacking positions despite being deployed as a holding midfielder, and his touch and command of the midfield was highlighted during the match in multiple scenarios as he settled the play down. Had it not been for rookie Chris Mueller’s sensational showing, Yoshi was in the running to be named as Man of the Match. He did see yellow in the 64th minute and that’ll be something to keep an eye on going forward, as a player is suspended upon a fifth booking in a season.
MF, Christian Higuita, 6 — Higuita did a solid job winning multiple fouls throughout the early stages of the first half, and looked quick on the ball as he maneuvered his way through challenges (the few where he wasn’t fouled). Unfortunately, on a few occasions following beating a man he gave away possession a little too easily, with the majority on errant passes or passes that lacked the mustard to make it to the intended target. Other than that, however, Higuita is again establishing himself as a valid option in the midfield for Jason Kreis and the supporters can expect to see more of him in the near future.
MF, Chris Mueller, 8.5 (MotM) — The young man just can’t stop scoring. This time he did it early, as in second minute early. Not only did he notch yet another goal (his third in three games, and the fastest goal to start a game in the club’s MLS history), but he also snagged his first MLS assist as he helped Sacha Kjlestan get on the score sheet. It should be noted that Mueller could have easily taken on that chance, but maturely opted to slide the ball to a teammate for a somewhat easy (sliding) tap-in. His movement and energy was excellent and he continues to show vast improvements in his finishing and his relationship with his teammates. I initially wasn’t a huge fan of the “Cash” Mueller nickname…but if he keeps his name on the score sheet, Cash it is.
MF, Sacha Kljestan, 6 — The assist king got on the end of a Mueller pass in the first half to add his name to the score sheet on the evening. This was a match that saw Kjlestan take control of several attacking sequences that were seemingly going off the rails. While this was a strength of Kljestan’s performance, there was a clear weakness: being too fancy. On several occasions Kljestan took the route of a flick, back heel, or unnecessarily difficult pass when other options were available. Despite this, he was still solid in the attack and his performance, while not even close to his best, got the job done.
MF, Stéfano Pinho, 5.5 — Pinho had a fairly ugly whiff early in the first half that was a clear opportunity to increase the Lions’ lead. There were multiple times that Pinho would have benefited from being a bit more patient than he was, including an early first-half cross into the penalty area with no Lions making a run into the box. He was active on the defensive side of things though, and he provided much-needed support for left back El-Munir, so that certainly lifts his grade on the night.
F, Dom Dwyer, 6.5 — It’s not often that I find myself saying “Dwyer should have have been greedy there,” but I did say that to myself at least twice on the evening. He still found his way to the net though and his performance on the night was nothing to scoff at. His passing on the night was not quite up to par with what supporters have become accustomed to, but his movement in the attack was efficient and his pace was once again on full display. His goal in the 69th minute is a prime example of how dangerous he can be, even on a somewhat off night. Oh, the young man netted the 100th goal of his pro career, too.
Substitutes
MF, Justin Meram (60’), 6.5 — Meram entered the match at the hour mark and made an instant impact as he slotted a through ball to a sprinting Dwyer for the striker’s 100th career goal. One has to wonder if/when Meram will break back into the starting 11, and this performance may do just that for him in conjunction with Pinho’s lackluster showing. I’m sure he wishes he could have that penalty attempt back, but hey, it happens.
MF, Josué Colmán (78’), N/A— Colmán was brought on in the 78th minute for the star man on the night (Mueller) and didn’t really get to put his footprint on the match. While it was exciting again to see him on the pitch, I can only hope to see Colmán start a match to see what his performances can truly bring to the squad.
MF, Uri Rosell (85’), N/A — Uri was subbed on for an ailing Higuita near the finale of the match. He didn’t see the pitch long enough to make an impact on this one, but it was great to finally see his long-awaited Orlando City debut.
There you have it, Mane Landers. The Lions claimed another impressive win to add to their growing collection (despite the late scare), and Mueller continues to show why the Lions decided to call his name in January. What’d you think of the players’ performances? Let us know in the comment section below!
Polling Closed
| Player | Votes |
| Chris Mueller | 202 |
| Yoshimar Yotún | 29 |
| Lamine Sané | 16 |
| Dom Dwyer | 6 |
| Other | 5 |
Lion Links
Lion Links: 7/14/26
Marco Pasalic transfer rumor, Marta up for weekly award, MLS transfer roundup, and more.
Good morning, everyone. I write to you from Texas, specifically Dallas, as I was in Austin to see friends over the weekend and decided to pop up the road to take in the energy of the World Cup semifinal that will be played in the city later today. I won’t be attending the game, since I don’t wish to sell one of my kidneys but am looking forward to mingling with some of the fans who have traveled here for it. We’ve got a lot to talk about this morning, so let’s get into the links.
Marco Pasalic Transfer Rumor
There have been some quiet rumblings for awhile now that Marco Pasalic may leave Orlando City during the summer transfer window. We now have a more concrete report regarding a potential departure, as the streets are saying that the winger is set to sign for newly promoted Hull City, with a price tag of at least €7 million.
If the move does come to pass, it would reunite him with manager Sergej Jakirovic, who he briefly played for during his time at HNK Rijeka. Jakirovic also stated in a recent interview that he wants to sign Pasalic, so this is a rumor that could have some legs.
Marta Up for Weekly Honors
The Orlando Pride picked up an excellent win on Friday by knocking off the Kansas City Current 3-0, and Marta has been rewarded for her efforts in the victory with a nomination for the NWSL Player of the Week. The Brazilian legend bagged the team’s first goal shortly after halftime, when she found herself in space well outside the box and unleashed a low left-footed drive into the bottom corner for her 50th goal as a Pride player. For some reason, she was snubbed in the Goal of the Week voting despite her impressive strike, so make sure you go vote for her for Player of the Week!
MLS Transfer Roundup
With the MLS summer transfer window opening on Monday, we’ve got a slew of moves to get caught up on. We begin with confirmation of an item that we covered in Monday’s Links, as Nathan Ordaz has officially moved to D.C. United in exchange for up to $2.875 million. The New England Revolution have extended Matt Turner’s loan from Lyon, with the new deal lasting through December. It also has an option to extend the loan again until December 2027, after which the Revs have a purchase option. Atlanta United has signed Paraguayan center back Junior Alonso on a free transfer, with his deal running through the 2028-2029 season. Finally, Charlotte FC has announced the signing of forward Allan Saint-Maximin as a Designated Player. He will occupy the DP slot vacated by Wilfried Zaha.
USWNT Announces Fall Friendlies
The United States Women’s National Team has announced that it will play a pair of October friendlies against Spain in a matchup of the reigning World Cup champions against the reigning Olympic champions. The USWNT will face the top-ranked team in the world on Oct. 10 at Audi Field in Washington D.C., and again on Oct. 13 at Subaru Park in Chester, PA. The Oct. 10 match will also have a pregame retirement celebration for USWNT defender Crystal Dunn. This will be just the fourth time that the two teams have faced each other, with the U.S. winning two of the three previous meetings. The two friendlies will be the last games that the USWNT plays before beginning World Cup qualifying.
Previewing France vs. Spain
The World Cup semifinals begin today, with France and Spain set to throw down in Dallas. For France, the stars are too many to count, with Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise all taking turns lighting up both the field and the scoreboard for the team that has made back-to-back appearances in the final. As far as Spain goes, all the focus is on Lamine Yamal, as the young winger has been key to Spain’s success despite scoring just one goal. If Nico Williams is able to start on the opposite wing, the French won’t be able to key so heavily on Yamal, and it could open up more space for him in which to operate. The matchup between the youngster and Lucas Digne will be key, as will the ability of either Mikel Oyarzabal or Ferran Torres to be effective up top for Spain.
Free Kicks
- Former Lion Daryl Dike is leaving West Bromwich Albion. We know a team that just traded a striker.
- Debinha has signed a contract extension with the Kansas City Current.
- Hydration breaks will reportedly be a key element in future negotiations for soccer media rights.
- Manchester United is reportedly in advanced negotiations to sign midfielder Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa.
- Pau Cubarsi has pushed back on comments made by Spain’s former prime minister Mariano Rajoy, in which he claimed that France “don’t have any French players.”
That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 7/13/26
Pride and OCB win, Maxime Crepeau to compete in MLS All-Star Skills Challenge, Latest MLS transfer roundup, and more.
Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been very busy at work, but I look forward to watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals and final this week. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Pride Shut Out Kansas City Current at Home
The Orlando Pride defeated the Kansas City Current 3-0 at Inter&Co Stadium Friday night, bouncing back from a tough outing at Angel City the previous week. After a scoreless first half, Marta scored the opener from long distance to give Orlando the lead. Hannah Anderson and Barbra Banda added a goal apiece as the Pride have won three out of their last four league matches. Goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse earned a clean sheet in her 100th appearance for the club. Orlando remains eighth in the NWSL table with 20 points. The Pride will be back in action at home Wednesday, taking on Boston Legacy at Inter&Co Stadium.
OCB Wins at FC Cincinnati 2
Orlando City B beat FC Cincinnati 2 by a 2-1 scoreline at NKU Soccer Stadium in Highland Heights, KY on Sunday. Issah Haruna’s goal gave the Young Lions the lead in the first half. In the second half, Cincinnati leveled the match, but Matthew Belgodere scored the winner on the road. That result pulls the Young Lions into third in the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference standings with 33 points, just one point off leaders Chattanooga FC. OCB will be away for another road test Saturday against Chattanooga FC at Finley Stadium.
Orlando City Reportedly Submits Transfer Offer for Alex Moreno
Orlando City has reportedly submitted a transfer offer to sign Girona defender Alex Moreno. No agreement has been reached between the two sides, and conversations remain ongoing, according to reports. Moreno made 31 appearances for Girona last season in La Liga and recorded three assists. The 33-year-old left back remains under contract with Girona through 2027, but the club was relegated from La Liga to La Liga 2 last season. Several European clubs have also expressed interest in signing Moreno, including La Liga sides Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano.
Crepeau to Compete in MLS All-Star Skills Challenge
Orlando City goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau will compete in the 2026 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge at Truist Field in Charlotte on July 28, the club announced Friday. The competition will feature top players from Major League Soccer and Liga MX competing to test their soccer skills on the pitch. Five skills challenge competitions are featured, including the All-Star Goalie Wars, All-Star Crossbar Challenge, and the MLS vs. Liga MX Relay Challenge. Each competition will crown its own champion this year, switching from the traditional MLS-versus-opponent format used in previous years.
Latest MLS Transfer Roundup
According to Tom Bogert of The Athletic, Sporting Kansas City has emerged as a potential option to sign former Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah.
D.C. United has reportedly acquired forward Nathan Ordaz from LAFC.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Sounders have reportedly traded defender Cody Baker to the New England Revolution.
Free Kicks
- Former Lion Silvester van der Water has signed with Cambodian Premier League side Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC.
- Ted Lasso actor Cristo Fernandez, who plays Dani Rojas in the show, made his professional debut for USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive over the weekend.
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that the organization will examine expanding the men’s World Cup from 48 to 64 teams after the 2026 tournament concludes.
- Senegal has fired manager Pape Thiaw following its Round of 32 defeat to Belgium in the World Cup.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.
Orlando City
Orlando City Trades Duncan McGuire to Houston Dynamo
The Lions send the 2023 first-round pick to Houston for a pile of Garberbucks.
Orlando no longer runs on Duncan as Orlando City has traded 2023 first-round draft pick Duncan McGuire to the Houston Dynamo. The big striker with the even bigger smile and the back flips joins the Dynamo, with the Lions receiving $600,000 in 2026 General Allocation Money (GAM), $400,000 in 2027 GAM, and $250,000 in 2027-2028 GAM. The return could also include up to $1.15 million in GAM add-ons if certain performance metrics are met. OCSC will retain a percentage of any sell-on by Houston.
It became clear that something was up with McGuire, as he did not dress for Orlando City’s friendly against Tampa Bay on Wednesday.
“Duncan has meant a great deal to this club since the day he arrived in Orlando,” Orlando City General Manager and Sporting Director Ricardo Moreira said in a club press release. “His resilience, determination, and willingness to fight through challenges both on and off the field have earned the respect of everyone throughout our organization. He has played a major role in our success over the last several years, and when the opportunity arose, we wanted to ensure it was a move that made sense for both Duncan and the club. We’re grateful for everything he has given to Orlando City and wish him and his family nothing but success in this next chapter.”
The Lions selected McGuire out of Creighton with the No. 6 overall selection in the first round of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft. Although he was not a Generation Adidas player, the striker had signed a pre-draft contract with the league, meaning Orlando City didn’t need to spend time agreeing to a contract. The 6-foot-1 forward quickly became a starter for the Lions during his rookie year, and put together back-to-back, double-digit goal-scoring seasons in his first two professional seasons. Now in his fourth pro year, McGuire has appeared in 85 MLS matches (45 starts) for the Lions, scoring 29 goals and adding eight assists. In all competitions, McGuire has contributed 32 goals and nine assists in 109 appearances (55 starts).
Once one of the most promising up-and-coming American strikers in any league after his 24 goals across his first two MLS campaign, Mcguire underwent surgery on both shoulders in separate procedures after the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs, which have restricted his availability, affected his form, and have limited him to just five goals and three assists in his last 29 matches. He has sat behind various other strikers starting in his place the last couple of seasons, including Ramiro Enrique, Luis Muriel, and Justin Ellis.
After his breakout rookie campaign, in which the Omaha, NE native scored 14 goals, he was courted by several teams in Europe. He signed with Blackburn Rovers in 2024, only to see the transfer rejected by the English Football League due to an administrative error by the EFL Championship club. Upon his return, the Creighton product signed his most recent contract on Aug. 22, 2024, locking him down through 2027 with a club option for 2028. That deal now belongs to the Dynamo.
McGuire’s hot start to his professional career had him climbing the U.S. Men’s National Team player pool. Gregg Berhalter called him up to the USMNT for the first time in January 2024 ahead of the team’s friendly against Slovenia. The striker made his first USMNT appearance in that match, coming off the bench to replace Brian White on Jan. 20, 2024, in a 1-0 loss. That is his only cap to date, although he had previously appeared nine times and scored one goal for the U.S. U-23 side.
The 2022 Hermann Trophy winner spent three seasons at Creighton, where he appeared in 24 games (23 starts) in his final (junior) season, logging 1,591 college minutes. McGuire scored 23 goals and added three assists in 2022.
What It Means for Orlando City
It makes sense to deal a striker making a base salary of $600,000 ($921,000 in total guaranteed compensation) if he can’t crack the starting lineup. While some of that comes down to coaching decisions and other players emerging, it didn’t help McGuire that he struggled to regain the consistent form he showed in his first two years in Orlando. In the end, this is a bit of a blow financially to the club, as the initial agreement with Blackburn was for a reported $4 million. He now departs for considerably less money, but his value understandably dropped with his production and the two shoulder surgeries.
McGuire is still just 25 years old, and sitting out after two surgeries means he has fewer miles on his legs than many players his age. He could still regain the form that saw him score 14 times in 2023 and 10 more times in 2024 and had the USMNT and European clubs paying attention. Orlando City will hope that he returns to form, because that will influence how much GAM the club eventually receives for this transaction.
A fan favorite since his arrival, McGuire will be missed, and while the Lions could perhaps have benefitted from getting a player back in return to bolster an area of need, the influx of GAM can help accomplish the same goal.
McGuire’s departure appears to solidify Justin Ellis’ position on the first team, although his play in the first half of the season likely already did that. It may also open up more minutes for Tiago. But the trade also tells us that unless a new striker is brought in, the Lions will play without a traditional target striker for the time being, allowing players who have typically either played as wingers, attacking midfielders, or false nines to have the freedom to fluidly change positions and force defenders out of their comfort zones when it comes to coverage. Martin Ojeda, Antoine Griezmann, Ellis, Ivan Angulo, Marco Pasalic, and the team’s fullbacks will be harder to keep tabs on under such a system.
Whether it will work or if it will further stress the team’s shoddy transition defense (or both) remains to be seen.
PawedCast Episode 542: Tampa Bay Friendly, McGuire Traded, OCB Beats Cincinnati, and More
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