Good morning, everyone. It was about as good of a weekend as Orlando City could have hoped for, as the Lions took care of business and got enough help to climb up to eighth in the Eastern Conference. We’ve got a whole host of things to talk about this morning, so let’s jump straight into the links.

Braian Ojeda Honored

Braian Ojeda made the difference in Orlando City’s Decision Day victory over the New England Revolution, and he’s been rewarded for his efforts with a starting place in the MLS Team of the Matchday. “Bojeda” corralled a poor clearance from a corner just before halftime, and volleyed in a screamer that curled past Matt Turner into the top corner and proved to be the eventual game winner that secured the Lions a home date with FC Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference’s play-in game. In a game where good chances were at a premium, it was a spectacular piece of finishing, and he’s well deserving of his place in the TotM. Congrats!

Lions Nominated for Yearly Awards

A pair of Orlando City players have been nominated for MLS end-of-season awards. First up is Maxime Crepeau, who is in the running for the MLS Save of the Year thanks to a tremendous flying stop he made against the San Jose Earthquakes in the first game after the World Cup break on Matchday 17. Crepeau flew across his goal in the 47th minute and got a strong hand to deny a goal-bound effort from Beau Leroux and keep the score at 2-0 in favor of the Lions. Make sure you go vote for Crepeau to win here.

Martin Ojeda has been nominated for the MLS Goal of the Year, and in case you need a little help figuring out which goal has been chosen, allow me to assist.

Make sure you vote for Ojeda to win here.

Barbra Banda Honored

Continuing the theme of accolades for Orlando players, the Orlando Pride’s Barbra Banda has been named to the 2026 FIFPRO Women’s World 11. This is Banda’s third consecutive selection to the team, which is the only global award that is exclusively voted on by players. Banda was the first African player to be voted onto the team in 2024 and remains the only African player to be selected to multiple iterations of the team. She bagged a club-record 17 goals and four assists during a truncated NWSL campaign for the Pride, and she is the only NWSL player to be named to this year’s team. Congratulations!

New Contract for Oihane

The Orlando Pride have signed defender Oihane Hernandez to a new contract that runs through the end of the 2028 NWSL season and contains a mutual option year for 2029. Oihane joined the team prior to the 2025 season and has played in 50 matches across all competitions during her two seasons with the Pride. The defender has recorded three assists during that time. She started 27 of the 28 appearances she made during the 2026 season. With her staying in Orlando for the foreseeable future, Oihane will be a building block for a Pride team that will likely be doing some retooling during the off-season after a rocky 2026.

Free Kicks

• Toronto FC announced on Monday that the club has fired head coach Robin Fraser.
• Sporting Kansas City also announced that it fired head coach Raphael Wicky.
• Joey Saputo has begun the process of putting CF Montreal up for sale.
• MLS has announced the schedule for the 2026-2027 off-season roster building events like the MLS SuperDraft and the start of free agency.
• Former Lion Jonathan Spector is reportedly out from his position with Atlanta United.

• Gotham FC will host an NWSL semifinal at 5,000-seat Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island in Manhattan.
• Manchester United will reportedly part ways with Michael Carrick.

That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

Orlando City closed out the regular season with a 1-0 win against the New England Revolution on Saturday night at Inter.co Stadium. Braian Ojeda’s long-range strike on the stroke of halftime was the only goal of the night, and the Lions defended in numbers to keep a clean sheet against a Revolution side that saw far more of the ball. It was a welcome response from a team that had been beaten 4-0 by Charlotte FC in its previous match. The night also doubled as a farewell for Robin Jansson. The center back missed the match through injury and has since announced his retirement, and the club honored him as part of Decision Day.

How did your favorite Lions perform in Orlando City’s 1-0 home win against the New England Revolution on Decision Day?

Starters

GK, Maxime Crepeau, 7 — Crepeau didn’t face a heavy workload, but he was sharp both times the Revolution got a shot on frame and walked away with a clean sheet. His best stop came in the first half, when Daniel Gazdag let fly from the top of the box and Crepeau went to ground to push it away. He came up big again in the 78th minute, when Brooklyn Raines threaded a ball into the box for Alhassan Yusuf, and Crepeau kept out the left-footed finish from close range. Distribution was the weak spot, as he completed just 15 of 26 passes (58%), and seven of 18 long balls. He was shown a yellow card for time wasting in stoppage time. Crepeau finished with two saves.

D, Vinicius Nogueira, 5.5 — Vinicius had an up-and-down game at left back. He won an early corner for Orlando, but a needless foul on Gazdag in a dangerous area gave the Revolution what amounted to a corner kick, and he was part of the mix-up with Wilder Cartagena that conceded another set piece. He contributed three clearances and one tackle to the clean sheet and completed 25 of 29 passes (86%), but neither of his two crosses found a teammate and both of his shots from distance missed the target.

D, Wilder Cartagena, 6 — Cartagena got through the first half without a costly mistake. He blocked a Dor Turgeman shot from the left side of the box early, but he and Nogueira both failed to deal cleanly with a ball over the top, giving away an unnecessary corner during New England’s best spell of the match. He also fouled Luca Langoni to hand the Revolution another set piece. Cartagena was tidy in possession, completing 20 of 21 passes (95%) and added one tackle, one clearance, and one blocked shot before Adrian Marin replaced him at halftime.

D, David Brekalo, 7 — Brekalo was the steadiest presence in Orlando’s back line, cleaning up much of what the Revolution sent into the box. During a long run of New England set pieces in the first half, he threw himself in front of an Ethan Kohler header from the center of the box to block it. He was composed on the ball as well, completing 37 of 41 passes (90%) and three of six long balls, and he drew two fouls. Brekalo finished with a team-high seven clearances and one blocked shot.

D, Zakaria Taifi, 7 — Taifi turned in a mature performance at right back and was a big reason New England’s possession so rarely turned into danger. His most important moment came in the second half, when he rose to head a dangerous cross clear from in front of goal. He also got involved going forward, knocking a ball down for Antoine Griezmann early on, and he had one of Orlando’s better looks during a first-half scramble, firing from the center of the box, but his effort went wide. Late in the match, he drew two fouls to help the Lions take time off the clock. Taifi finished with four clearances, two interceptions, one tackle, three aerials won, and one key pass while completing 19 of 25 passes (76%).

MF, Ivan Angulo, 6 — Angulo’s defensive work on the left side was more valuable than anything he produced going forward. He blocked an Ilay Feingold shot early in the match and finished with three tackles. In attack, he created two chances for teammates, but he was dispossessed twice, was caught offside once, and his lone shot attempt — a right-footed shot after cutting inside early in the second half — was blocked by Mamadou Fofana. He also drew a free kick in stoppage time to help see the game out. Angulo completed 28 of 36 passes (78%).

MF, Braian Ojeda, 8 (MotM) — Braian Ojeda produced the only moment that mattered on a night when chances were scarce. After Orlando won back-to-back corners late in the first half, the ball found him in the middle of the field outside the box, and he took a touch and struck it with his right foot into the top right corner for a 1-0 lead. It was a chance carrying an expected-goals value of just 4%, which makes the finish even more impressive. Beyond the goal, he was nearly perfect on the ball, completing 30 of 31 passes (97%), three of four long balls, and his only cross, while adding two key passes. He also chipped in one interception, one clearance, and one successful dribble.

MF, Eduard Atuesta, 6.5 — Atuesta did a lot of the dirty work in midfield before Joran Gerbet replaced him in the 62nd minute. He broke up New England’s possession repeatedly, finishing with three tackles, four interceptions, and one clearance, and he completed 34 of 40 passes (85%) and one of two crosses. He was dispossessed twice, fouled Matt Polster to concede a free kick, and sent his only shot, a left-footed attempt from outside the box, well over the bar.

MF, Marco Pasalic, 6.5 — Pasalic was Orlando’s most creative player before Daryl Dike replaced him in the 66th minute. He led the team with three key passes, the best of which found Martin Ojeda early in the second half for a shot that slid just wide of the right post, and he completed three dribbles. His one shot, from distance in the first half, was on target but didn’t trouble Matt Turner much. Pasalic completed 16 of 21 passes (76%) and added one tackle and one clearance. Apart from the chance he set up for Martin Ojeda, his work rarely produced clear-cut opportunities, which keeps his grade a bit lower than his work rate would otherwise suggest.

F, Martin Ojeda, 6 — The captain worked hard at both ends but couldn’t find the target. The Argentine fired four shots but put none of them on frame. The closest came from Pasalic’s setup early in the second half that went just wide, and he also had a first-half shot blocked by Kohler while his appeals for a handball were waved away. His defensive effort stood out, as he blocked two Feingold shots and added three tackles. The acting captain completed 20 of 24 passes (83%), both of his long balls, one of two crosses, and one key pass, while also handling a share of the set-piece delivery before Griffin Dorsey replaced him in the 82nd minute.

F, Antoine Griezmann, 6.5 — Griezmann was involved all over the field and put two of his four shots on target, the most on the team. His best look came in the first-half scramble, when his shot from the center of the box was blocked by Kohler, and he later forced a save from Turner from the right side of the box. Early in the second half, Turner raced well off his line to beat Angulo to a ball, but the clearance fell to Griezmann, whose shot from near midfield forced the keeper to scramble back and knock it down. Griezmann completed 30 of 37 passes (81%), his only long ball, two dribbles, and one key pass, but none of his three crosses connected. He also pitched in defensively with three clearances and two aerials won, including combining with Gerbet to clear a late Revolution corner. He committed two fouls and was caught offside once.

Substitutes

D, Adrian Marin (46′), 6 — Marin came on for Cartagena at halftime and brought calm to the back line in possession as the Lions protected their lead. He completed 24 of 25 passes (96%) and three of four long balls, and he added one key pass. His work came almost entirely in possession, and New England didn’t find a way through on his watch.

MF, Joran Gerbet (62′), 6 — Gerbet replaced Atuesta and spent most of his time helping Orlando hold its shape. He combined with Griezmann to clear a Revolution corner and finished with two clearances while completing seven of nine passes (78%). He also drew a foul late to help kill off some time.

F, Daryl Dike (66′), 5 — Dike came on for Pasalic to give Orlando an outlet up top, but the service rarely came and he struggled to hold the ball when it did, though he fought hard for possession and took his share of contact from New England defenders. He completed just one of three passes, lost the ball twice on heavy touches, and was dispossessed once. He did his part defensively with one tackle, two clearances, and one aerial won. Dike was also dragged back on a play that should have drawn a caution, but the referee played advantage and never went back to give the card.

D, Griffin Dorsey (82′), N/A — Dorsey returned to action in place of Martin Ojeda for the final minutes and helped close out the win, including a sharp block on a cross in stoppage time that went out for a goal kick. He completed four of five passes. He didn’t play long enough to be graded fairly.

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been busy at work covering high school basketball and wrestling. Our beloved Lions were in action over the weekend, and we’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Shut Out New England on Decision Day

Orlando City defeated the New England Revolution 1-0 on Saturday at Inter.co Stadium on Decision Day. Braian Ojeda scored the lone goal late in the first half, helping Orlando close out its regular-season finale with a win, clinching the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference table. It was the Lions’ first shutout since a 3-0 win against Toronto FC on Sept. 12. Orlando City will host FC Cincinnati in the wild card play-in match on Nov. 19. The winner of that match will face Nashville SC in the first round. Before the match, the Lions honored Martin Ojeda for becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer.

Robin Jansson Announces Retirement

Orlando City defender and captain Robin Jansson announced his retirement from professional soccer on Friday He spent eight seasons in purple with Orlando City after signing on March 12, 2019, from Swedish top-flight side AIK. The 34-year-old Swede set Orlando City records for appearances (263), starts (256), and minutes played (23,050) across all competitions. Jansson last played for the Lions on Oct. 10 against the Columbus Crew and ended the 2026 season on the injured list after undergoing foot surgery. He was dependable on the back line, and the Lions will miss his leadership and ability to keep the defense organized. Orlando City will need to add a defender this off-season and name a new captain for the 2027 season. The Lions honored Jansson on the field during Saturday’s match with a retirement ceremony.

Orlando City to Play in 2027 Leagues Cup

Major League Soccer announced on Sunday the 18 MLS clubs that will play in the 2027 Leagues Cup. Orlando City has qualified and will make its fifth consecutive appearance in the competition. Orlando is one of nine MLS clubs to play in every edition of the Leagues Cup since its inception in 2019. The tournament is set to take place Aug. 3 through Sept. 5 in 2027.

MLS Decision Day Recap

The 2026 MLS Cup playoff field is set after Decision Day concluded on Saturday. Nashville SC shut out FC Cincinnati 2-0 and set a new single-season MLS points record with 77. Inter Miami drew Charlotte FC 3-3 after blowing a 3-0 lead. The Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers shut out CF Montreal and Austin FC by the same 2-0 scoreline. New York City FC beat D.C. United 1-0, and St. Louis City and Sporting Kansas City defeated the Houston Dynamo and San Diego FC, respectively, by that same score. The Columbus Crew edged the Chicago Fire 4-3 on a stoppage-time goal to clinch seventh place. Cavan Sullivan scored twice as the Philadelphia Union cruised past Toronto FC 4-1, and the New York Red Bulls shut out Atlanta United 3-0. FC Dallas beat the Colorado Rapids 3-1 and Minnesota United defeated the San Jose Earthquakes by the same score. Real Salt Lake edged the LA Galaxy 2-1, and the Seattle Sounders beat LAFC 2-1 as those two teams booked the final playoff spots in the Western Conference and will face each other in the Wild Card play-in game . The MLS Cup playoffs will kick off with the Wild Card round on Thursday, Nov. 19. The first-round, best-of-three series’ begin Friday, Nov. 20.

NWSL Playoff Quarterfinals Recap

The 2026 NWSL playoff quarterfinals are in the books. On Friday, Kiana Palacios scored the only goal in the match for the Utah Royals in a 1-0 road win against the San Diego Wave. On Saturday, Michelle Cooper buried her penalty kick for the Kansas City Current to seal a 1-0 win over Angel City after extra time. On Sunday, despite the poor field conditions, Gotham FC shut out the Seattle Reign 1-0 on Jordan Bugg’s early first-half own goal sending the defending champions to the next round. Trinity Rodman scored two goals for the Washington Spirit in a 4-1 win against the Portland Thorns. The Spirit will host the Utah Royals while Gotham FC will battle the Kansas City Current in the semifinals.

Free Kicks

• Orlando City B defender Parker Amoo-Mensah was called up to the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team for training camp and the upcoming tournament at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center. The U.S. will face Japan on Nov. 12, Colombia on Nov. 14, and Paraguay on Nov. 17.
• Stoke City midfielder Jack McGlynn has been added to the U.S. Men’s National Team roster for the upcoming Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals series against Haiti. McGlynn will replace midfielder Gio Reyna, who withdrew from the squad due to injury.
• Fermin Lopez scored twice for Barcelona to overturn a 1-0 deficit and secure a 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday in La Liga.
• New York City FC announced Sunday that the club will part ways with Head Coach Pascal Jansen.
• Chattanooga FC defeated LAFC 2 1-0 on Sunday in the MLS NEXT Pro Cup final, becoming the first independent club in league history to win a championship.

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