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Orlando City vs. Esporte Clube Bahia: Final Score 6-1 as Lions Roll behind Seb Hines’ Four Header Goals

Center back Seb Hines had a night to remember as the Lions dismembered Brazilian club Bahia at the Citrus Bowl in the team’s final preseason match.

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Nick Leyva, The Mane Land

Orlando City used set piece magic to make up for wasted chances in the run of play to beat Brazilian side Esporte Clube Bahia 6-1 at the Orlando Citrus Bowl in front of an announced crowd of 18,619. In the club’s final preseason match of 2016, Seb Hines was the unlikely scorer of a hat trick plus one, tallying four goals with his head off Kaká set pieces, and Pedro Ribeiro and Darwin Ceren each added a score from the run of play in a game Orlando City completely dominated.

Hines may have to register his noggin as a lethal weapon after murdering Bahia in the air all night. Orlando City has worked hard on set pieces throughout the preseason and it paid off in spades tonight with Kaká finding the English-American four times in total, with three off corners and one on a free kick.

“It’s very unlikely to score more than one in a game, so to score four, I’m very proud and happy to do so,” Hines said. “It just fell on my head. It was great delivery from Ricky. I just tried to get my head on everything that came into the box. Lucky for me it went in the back of the net. I would like to save some for the league but you can’t pick and choose.”

Adrian Heath opened up with a 4-3-2-1 formation — a change from his preferred 4-2-3-1 — with Joe Bendik in goal and a back four of Brek Shea, David Mateos, Hines, and Rafael Ramos. The three-man central midfield featured Servando Carrasco tucked in behind Ribeiro and Ceren, with an attacking midfield of Kaká and Kevin Molino behind the lone striker, Cyle Larin.

The midfield played fluidly throughout the game, changing positions, and shape, and confounding Bahia with their movement. Molino was a danger man throughout the match but despite several outstanding set-ups, none of his teammates could finish for him. Molino, who played 45 minutes against Fort Lauderdale in the midweek, was the only player subbed out, leaving in the 60th minute for Adrian Winter.

Bahia took the lead just 52 seconds into the match when defender Hayner sent a through ball to Ze Roberto, who split the Lions’ center backs with pace and fired a shot that Bendik got a piece of but could not keep out. Before the crowd had even settled in, the Brazilian side had a 1-0 lead.

It didn’t last long. Orlando City settled into the game and started earning free kicks and corners all over the offensive third. The Lions pulled level at the 12′ mark. Kaká sent a corner to the far post that Hines nodded home from a severe angle to knot the score at 1-1.

Bahia Head Coach Doriva, who was a teammate of Hines at Middlesbrough once upon a time, said through a translator that Hines gave his team problems because he’s tall and attacks the ball in the air well. He said tonight’s struggles against the Orlando center back will give his team something to work on going forward.

It was the beginning of a mostly dominant half for Orlando City, which certainly should have been ahead at the half instead of level at 1-1. Larin had two outstanding chances to score, chipping just over the bar after taking a heavy touch trying to settle it in the box at 27 minutes, and then blasting well high just three minutes later, after Ribeiro’s pass had given the Canadian international a sitter. At 33 minutes, Kaká was sent in beautifully by Molino but keeper Marcelo Lomba got a touch on it and sent it inches wide. Molino also set up Ceren in the box but Lomba came out and smothered the Salvadoran’s attempt.

Hines’ second of the game gave the Lions a 2-1 lead in the 58th minute, cutting across the top of the six-yard box to finish Kaká’s corner cross. In the 71st minute he completed his hat trick despite being held initially. He broke free on a cross that may have gone in without his assistance, as Kaká’s corner had a wicked bend on it that might have been an Olimpico if not for Hines’ touch.

The fourth came on a free kick earned by Larin just outside the box to the left of the Bahia keeper in the 86th minute. A low, hard cross was thumped into the net by a charging Hines to make it 5-1, as Ribeiro had made it 4-1 just eight minutes earlier after collecting a blocked attempt by Larin and left-footing it past second-half Bahia keeper Jean.

“When the fourth went in I couldn’t believe it, to be honest,” Hines said, who added that he probably hasn’t scored that many goals in a game since he was 13.

Ceren closed the scoring in the 88th minute with a chip off a bad Bahia turnover.

Bahia had trouble generating much after its first-minute goal. Aside from a few long-distance attempts, they rattled the bar late, already down several goals. There was another chance off a Ceren turnover for Bahia but the shot went wide.

Hines said the off-season work on the set pieces was key to the win and to his big night.

“It’s massive,” he said. “We have a big side, so the gaffer emphasizes how important set pieces are, attacking and defending. He’s made it clear that he wants more goal this season and it can help the strikers if us defenders and other players on the field can get more goals from set pieces.”

Heath was measured after the big win.

“Obviously delighted with the scoreline,” he said. “I thought there was a lot of good stuff and a lot of stuff we’ve got to work on.”

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.

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  • 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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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/27/24

Bally Sports will broadcast Orlando Pride matches, Pride players called up, USWNT announces SheBelieves Cup roster, and more.

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Hello, Mane Landers. I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I attended my friend’s wedding this past weekend and have been getting myself back into work mode by covering high school tennis this week. There is plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Bally Sports Will Broadcast Select Orlando Pride Matches

Bally Sports was announced as the new local television partner for the Orlando Pride. There will be 13 select Pride matches broadcast this season across Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports Sun, and on the Bally Sports app. The partnership will begin this Friday, with the Orlando Soccer Insider show taking place before the kickoff of the Pride’s home match against the Chicago Red Stars at 7 p.m. The show will be broadcast on Bally Sports Florida, and then you can switch to the Bally Sports app to watch Friday’s match. Below are all the select matches that will be broadcast on Bally Sports this season.

Brazilian Orlando Pride Players Called Up

The Orlando Pride’s Marta, Angelina, and Luana were all called up by Brazil for next month’s SheBelieves Cup. Brazil heads into this tournament after a solid showing in the Concacaf W Gold Cup. The format is different for this year’s SheBelieves Cup, as there will only be four matches instead of six. Brazil’s first match of the tournament will be a semifinal on April 6 against Canada in Atlanta.

USWNT Announces Roster for SheBelieves Cup

United States Women’s National Team interim head coach Twila Kilgore announced the 23-player roster for the 2024 SheBelieves Cup matches next month. The USWNT has won this competition four consecutive times since 2020, and is going for a seventh title in 2024. Of those called up, 19 players on this squad were part of the team that won the Concacaf W Gold Cup earlier this month. San Diego Wave forward Jaedyn Shaw, the Concacaf W Gold Cup’s MVP, is back on the roster after she led the USWNT with four goals. The squad also includes familiar names like former Pride forward Alex Morgan, Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, and Olympique Lyon midfielder Lindsey Horan. Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario return to the squad after being sidelined with injuries. The USWNT will begin its quest to defend its SheBelieves Cup title when it faces Japan on April 6 in Atlanta.

MLS Referees Agree to New CBA

After a lockout that resulted in Major League Soccer starting the season with replacement referees, the Professional Soccer Referees Association voted to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement with the Professional Referee Organization. The new CBA is a seven-year deal that runs through January of 2031. This deal will also include significant pay raises for referees, assistant referees, and video assistant referees. The PRO referees will return to the pitch for this weekend’s MLS matches.

Ukraine, Georgia, and Poland Qualify for Euro 2024

Ukraine has qualified for this summer’s Euros after edging out Iceland 2-1 in its playoff final, with Mykhaylo Mudryk scoring the winning goal in the second half. Georgia eliminated Greece 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw to book a spot in the tournament as well. Georgia qualifies for its first major tournament after coming up short in 2020. Poland also needed penalties to qualify, with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny making the final save against Daniel James to beat Wales 5-4 on penalties after a scoreless draw.

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That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Wednesday and I’ll see you next time.

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