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Orlando City

Intelligence Report: Orlando City at Houston Dynamo

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Orlando City (6-2-0, 18 points) finishes off its two-game road swing at the Houston Dynamo (4-3-1, 13 points) tomorrow night at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Orange have yet to lose at their home ground, going 4-0-1 in home games. The Lions couldn’t knock Toronto off at home on Wednesday so they’ll have to work some magic in Houston to bring home some points from this trip.

The Lions are just 1-2-0 on the road this season, but played pretty well overall at BMO FIeld on Wednesday — aside from finishing in the penalty area. They’ll need to be sharper and more clinical to get a result in Texas against a team they’ve never scored against. Tyler Deric’s own-goal in 2015 is the only ball to find the net through two matches in the series. After that 1-0 final in the first meeting, the teams drew 0-0 at Camping World Stadium in 2016 under interim coach Bobby Murphy.

Here to help us learn about the 2017 Dynamo is our good friend Derek Stowers, a co-editor over at SB Nation’s Houston blog, Dynamo Theory. I also answered Derek’s questions, and you can read my answers to their questions over at their place.

The Dynamo are off to a much better start in 2017. What changes has the club made this season in both personnel and tactics that have led to the turnaround?

Derek Stowers: Before I dive into this answer, I should open by saying we’ve been terrific at home and absolutely abysmal on the road so while we’re off to a good start, much of that is due to a strong home schedule and we still have work to do in order to reach the upper echelon of the Western Conference.

What has really been the difference has been how the club handled itself following the departure of Owen Coyle. The front office did not truly rebuild the way it could have when Coyle was announced as head coach, so we saw sweeping changes this off-season in order to get away from our years of missing the playoffs. That began with the hiring of Wilmer Cabrera as head coach, who built the team in a way that could play his style. We saw mainstay players like Will Bruin traded and many others had their options not picked up so that Cabrera could bring in quick attackers such as Alberth Elis and Romell Quioto to complement Cubo Torres.

Cabrera has largely utilized a 4-3-3 this season that meant relinquishing some possession and defensive responsibilities by forwards in favor of quick counter attacking soccer. We could defend an attack against us and within less than 10 seconds have a shot on goal at the other end of the field and that is not an exaggeration — that’s how this team plays. But, that hasn’t worked out in every game, notably against Portland, New England, and Minnesota. Teams that are quick or possess well tend to do better against this style which is why Cabrera has shown some growth as he’s expanded to a 4-4-2. That itself has its limitations (more on that in the next question), but the way that Cabrera has helped build this team and his attacking oriented style has helped get us to where we are. He still needs to figure out how to manage games better, but few teams can attack as well and quickly as this Dynamo team.

Like Orlando City, Houston has deployed the 4-4-2 diamond in 2017. How has this affected the team’s play and what do you expect to see if both teams use it against each other on Saturday?

DS: As I mentioned in the above question, we saw the effectiveness of the 4-3-3 fail against some clubs and our home draw against Minnesota United FC particularly felt bad. Far too often we would get an early lead only to sit back, except without our forwards supporting, (so that we can spring our counter attack) and we would see that lead evaporate. Enter the diamond 4-4-2. Cabrera realized at times he would need to have at least one extra player in the midfield in order to defend more. The flexibility of the diamond 4-4-2 also allowed the central attacking midfielder to push into the forward line at times while being able to lend his services to supporting the defense.

While the style offers flexibility it does hinder to some degree our team’s ability to attack relentlessly the way we have early in the season. I also think that one reason we saw the shift to the 4-4-2 was due to Romell Quioto’s injury he suffered with the Honduran National Team. Of the front three we usually trot out, Quioto defends the most and the best, and losing him hurt both the offense and the defense. He is too good to leave on the bench at full health and I think, since he is 100% healthy, we’ll see the 4-3-3 again to begin this game. What I like about the 4-4-2 is that it is easy for Cabrera to shift to it with a single substitution to manage the game as needed. That’s what I think we’ll see.

Cubo Torres has seen a dramatic improvement in form. Are Dynamo fans surprised by his resurgence and how would you go about defending the way he’s played this season?

DS: We’re surprised to some degree because this is the Cubo we thought we were getting when he first arrived in Houston. While he was with Owen Coyle and Wade Barrett, he looked uninterested — lazy to some extent — and he lost minutes to the younger Mauro Manotas. Wilmer Cabrera, who coached Cubo during his breakout year with Chivas USA, has put a lot of faith and confidence in him. This has really helped Cubo grow and play the way he wants to. Cabrera designed a system with Cubo as the fulcrum and Cubo has rewarded that faith. He came into preseason having lost some weight and he has seen just about all facets of his game improve. He’s pressuring defenders better, he’s passing better, showing improved vision on the field, he’s winning balls in the air, and he’s scoring from a variety of ways, showing the league he’s more than just a poacher.

Defending Cubo will not be easy, not necessarily because of what Cubo brings, but rather due to who he’s typically attacking with. This offense can hurt teams in so many ways. Alberth Elis and Romell Quioto, Cubo’s usual striking partners, have each scored three goals and will be there to capitalize on any extra attention Cubo may be getting. Instead of focusing on how to defend any of them, the best thing to do will be to keep the ball away from that group. That means possessing the ball in the Dynamo half of the field. Houston’s forwards will be reluctant to get back to defend and help the Dynamo possess.

Any injuries or suspensions we should know about? Your projected lineup and score line prediction? 

DS: No injuries/suspensions that would affect the starting XI.

Projected lineup (4-3-3): Joe Willis; DaMarcus Beasley, Leonardo, Adolfo Machado, A. J. DeLaGarza; Alex Lima, Eric Alexander, Ricardo Clark; Romell Quioto, Cubo Torres, Alberth Elis

Predicted outcome: 3-2 Dynamo. We’re great at home and Orlando is coming into town from Toronto. I think we get it done, but old tendencies of struggling to protect leads will resurface and make this game closer than I’d like. 


Big thanks to Derek from Dynamo Theory for stopping by and giving us a bit of a scouting report on Houston.

Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/29/24

Lions brace for the Red Bulls, Pride take on Chicago, OCB will play Inter Miami II in Bradenton, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday! Today marks one year since we here at The Mane Land published our first story here at our new independent home. It’s a bit hard to believe that it’s already been a year. Thank you all for sticking with us or checking us out since our move. That kind of support goes farther than you might think. I joined the team back in October of 2016 as an editor and it’s only just now hitting me that I’ve been here for nearly a quarter of my entire life. Here’s hoping for another great year of independence and Orlando soccer!

Orlando City Set to Host New York Red Bulls

Orlando City’s match at home Saturday night against the New York Red Bulls was noted as one of the top matches in the league this weekend. The Lions earned their first win of the MLS season last weekend and will look to build on that momentum heading into tomorrow. The Lions will also get a boost from players returning from international duty, with Duncan McGuire, Facundo Torres, David Brekalo, and Peruvian duo Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena back. They’ll have their hands full against a New York team that’s coming off of a 4-0 win over Inter Miami. Lewis Morgan had a hat trick in that match and Orlando’s defense will have to find a way to keep him and the rest of the Red Bulls from running rampant.

Orlando Pride Take On Chicago Tonight

The Orlando Pride’s third match of the NWSL season kicks off tonight at 7 p.m. when they host the Chicago Red Stars. The Pride enter this match following a gritty 1-1 draw against Angel City FC, with Brazilians Angelina and Marta linking up on a corner kick for a late equalizer. One thing to keep an eye on in tonight’s match will be how the Pride’s shorthanded defense can limit Chicago’s attack. The Pride have targeted versatile players while rebuilding, and that proved to be worth it last week as multiple players stepped up to fortify the back line. The last time these two sides squared off in Orlando was in August of last year, with the Pride coming up with a big 5-0 win. Hopefully we get to see a similar result tonight.

OCB Match Will Be Part of Generation Adidas Cup

Tuesday’s MLS NEXT Pro match between Orlando City B and Inter Miami II will take place at IMG Academy in Bradenton and will be part of this year’s Generation Adidas Cup. The participating teams of the tournament were invited to attend the match, along with their families, and fans can watch the match for free on the league website. The match will be broadcast in English, but a new AI dubbing platform will be used to instantly translate it into Spanish, French, and Portuguese. It will supposedly maintain voice and tone, so I’m morbidly curious to hear just how artificial it will sound.

Generations Adidas Cup Kicks Off Tomorrow

Speaking of the Generation Adidas Cup, the youth tournament kicks off tomorrow. All MLS academy teams will compete alongside some of the top youth teams from around the world in both the U-15 and U-17 age groups. Orlando City’s U-15 side was noted as one to watch after a strong run of form this year. Caleb Trombino has been solid defensively and Jakob Garcia has the attacking talent to light it up in this tournament. The team can make a statement when it takes on Arsenal’s U-15 squad at 10 a.m. this Sunday. That match, along with 27 others, will be broadcast on MLS Season Pass.

Free Kicks

  • The Lions received some special visitors for their training.
  • Somehow, the Seattle Reign’s Ji So-Yun beat Marta to win NWSL Goal of the Week.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!

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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Three Keys to Victory

What does Orlando City need to do to earn a second victory in a row at home this Saturday?

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City is coming off its first win of the MLS regular season and will look to carry that momentum into Saturday night’s Eastern Conference matchup against the New York Red Bulls. The Lions will have several players back from international duty, making Oscar Pareja’s job a bit easier, although some of them will be on short rest. What does Orlando City need to do to earn all three points against the Red Bulls?

Stop Morgan

Lewis Morgan has been on a tear this season with five goals in five matches. That is more than every Orlando City player combined so far this season. The Red Bulls were held scoreless in two matches, meaning those five goals have come in three matches, with Morgan scoring a hat trick against Inter Miami. I love that he took it to the Herons like that, but I’m going to need him to cool off a bit against the Lions.

If Orlando City is to stop Morgan it will take excellent defending from the Lions’ back line and of course Pedro Gallese, who is returning from international duty. Orlando City also gets Wilder Cartagena and David Brekalo back, meaning more of the first choice lineup will be available to keep a clean sheet. With the match at home, earning a clean sheet is all the more important.

Proper Rest and Preperation

It might seem silly to say, but having more than a few days between matches is conducive to earning points. When Orlando City was participating in the Concacaf Champions Cup, the Lions never had time to properly recover or train with a game plan for the next match. Now, the Lions are able to do so, and the result against Austin FC reflects that.

Pareja is a top level MLS coach. We know that he has a plan for about the first 20 minutes of any match, and then makes adjustments throughout the remainder of the match. Even so, many of those adjustments have been planned out prior to the match. That, paired with a more rested roster, allows the Lions to be the protagonists Pareja wants them to be.

Shots, Shots, Shots

Orlando City was able to create plenty of chances against Austin FC, and will need to do so again against the Red Bulls. The Lions took 22 shots Saturday night, with eight on target, and they put two in the back of the net against Austin. Hopefully, Orlando City can be more efficient going forward, but if you don’t create opportunities, you won’t score.

The Red Bulls have some decent defenders who Orlando City will have to deal with, including fullback John Tolkin and Carlos Coronel at keeper. If the Lions can pass even close to the way they did against Austin, the opportunities will come, and if that is the case, hopefully the goals will come. Orlando City still has a sizable goal deficit, thanks to the early part of the season, that can only be corrected with more goals on the other end.


That is what I will be looking for this Saturday night at Inter&Co Stadium. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/28/24

Getting to know Rafael Santos, Orlando Pride prepare for Chicago, Midge Purce out for the season, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope the work week has been treating you well as we gear up for another weekend of soccer. March flew by for me and April is shaping up to be a pretty busy month as well. In other news, I’m looking into adopting a cat and gathering the supplies to make that happen. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Getting to Know Rafael Santos

Orlando City left back Rafael Santos was the latest Lion to field questions as part of the club’s video series for fans to learn more about its players. The 26-year-old spoke about the decision process behind joining Orlando and playing outside of Brazil for the first time in his career after five years with Cruzeiro. He’s brought his attack-minded style of play to the team, particularly in terms of providing lethal crossing from the wing. Make sure to check out the full video as Santos also shared photos of his newborn and showcased his skill with a cavaquinho.

Orlando Pride Prepare to Host Chicago

After a pair of draws to start their season, the Orlando Pride will have a chance to claim their first win of the season when they host the Chicago Red Stars tomorrow night at 6 p.m. Head Coach Seb Hines spoke about how the Pride have shown plenty of resilience so far this young season. The team managed to secure a point in last week’s 1-1 draw with Angel City FC despite a patchwork back line due to injuries. That defense will likely have its hands full against Mallory Swanson and a Chicago team that won both of its first two games. Hines spoke about how the Pride are preparing for Chicago and how they will need the home crowd to bring the support tomorrow night.

Sophia Smith Signs Record-Breaking New Deal

American forward Sophia Smith signed a new contract with the Portland Thorns that will make her the highest-paid NWSL player, according to the club. The new deal will last through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026 as well. The 23-year-old was drafted by the Thorns with the first overall pick in the 2020 NWSL Draft and has gone on to score 34 regular-season goals. Smith re-signed with the club in 2022 and was set to become a free agent following this season, but will instead stay in Portland.

Midge Purce Out for NWSL Season

NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Midge Purce will miss the remainder of the NWSL season after tearing her ACL. The 28-year-old will undergo surgery and suffered the injury in her team’s 1-0 victory over the Portland Thorns this past weekend. She’s been with Gotham since 2020 and assisted on both goals in her team’s 2-1 win in the 2023 NWSL Championship. It’s a tough blow for the United States Women’s National Team too, as she will not be representing the U.S. during this summer’s Olympics in France.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City B’s match against Carolina Core FC on April 14 has been rescheduled.

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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