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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Inter Miami: Final Score 1-1 as Sloppy Lions Drop Points at Home

Antonio Carlos’ goal was canceled out in the second half by Kieran Gibbs as the conference bottom feeders stole a point in Exploria.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Antonio Carlos gave Orlando City a lead late in the first half, but the Lions were wasteful and gave the ball away cheaply in the second half, allowing Inter Miami to sneak out of Exploria Stadium with a 1-1 draw after Kieran Gibbs’ goal. It was an unsatsifactory result for Orlando City (8-4-5, 29 points), which had a chance to close the gap on New England but couldn’t hold the lead against last-place Miami (3-8-4, 13 points).

Tesho Akindele had a late goal disallowed for offside, which didn’t help matters. Miami’s point in Orlando was the first time in the Tropic Thunder rivalry that the Herons took any points away from the Lions at Exploria Stadium.

“I think it was a difficult game for both (teams),” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the game. “It didn’t flow for either team, I think, from the beginning. We couldn’t find a rhythm. Miami didn’t create any chances but we didn’t have that volume in attack that we used to have, either.”

Pareja’s lineup was almost unchanged from the starting XI against Atlanta. Mason Stajduhar got his second straight start, with Adam Grinwis on the bench and Pedro Gallese still out. Kyle Smith and Ruan flanked center backs Robin Jansson and Carlos. Junior Urso started in place of Uri Rosell in the only change, alongside Andres Perea in the central midfield. Chris Mueller and Mauricio Pereyra facilitated the attack to Nani and Benji Michel.

Orlando City was sloppy in possession in the opening 10 to 15 minutes, trying to find a way through the Miami midfield trio of Blaise Matuidi, Victor Ulloa, and Gregore. Miami’s defense was only partly responsible for the numerous poor passes or bad touches, but some of it was just sloppiness on the part of the Lions as they tried to settle into the match. Inter Miami committing seven of the game’s first 11 fouls and 10 in the first half didn’t help the flow of the game, either, but the Lions seemed to lack a sense of urgency for long stretches in the match.

The first good look for Orlando came in the 19th minute. Pereyra floated a cross in for Nani, who timed his run well. The captain got his head on the ball but struck it right at goalkeeper Nick Marsman. Four minutes later, Perea followed his own blocked shot and fizzed a strike just over the crossbar.

Pereyra freed himself up for a shot in the 37th minute but his effort was too close to Marsman, who made the save. Two minutes later, Smith nodded just wide off a Nani corner kick cross.

The Lions found an opener in first-half stoppage time. Michel won a corner kick and the Lions played short, which is usually when things go wrong. But instead, Nani delivered a fantastic ball into the area for Carlos to nod home.

Unfortunately, Carlos clashed heads with Kelvin Leerdam right after the header and needed a visit from the trainers. He finished the first half on the sideline being checked for a possible concussion and was subbed off at the break for Rodrigo Schlegel.

After the match Pareja said the team is waiting for the doctors to fully evaluate Carlos to determine his condition and how to proceed.

Orlando City attempted more shots (8-1), fired more on target (3-0), held more possession (56.6%-43.4%), and passed more accurately (89.4%-85.6%), with each team winning three corners in the opening half.

The Lions should have doubled the lead in the 51st minute. A great through ball sent Ruan in behind the defense on the right. With options to shoot or find one of two teammates in the area, he sent a cross into the path of a defender and it was knocked harmlessly away.

A minute later, Miami sent a warning shot across Orlando’s bow. Schlegel got himself out of position after tussling with Gonzalo Higuain, allowing Robbie Robinson to break in on goal. Robinson stayed wide and beat Jansson. Stajduhar came out to cut down the angle and Robinson chipped the ball over the top. Smith came back and made a leaping play to head the ball off the goal line to preserve the lead.

Miami tied the match in the 66th minute after Orlando had multiple opportunities to clear the ball out of its own end but couldn’t find the handle or make a good pass out of traffic. The ball ended up on Miami’s attacking right side and Ulloa sent in a cross to the back post. Ruan was no match in the air for Gibbs who nodded just inside the left post, leaving Stajduhar no chance for a save.

Smith nearly handed a winning goal away just seconds later. His back pass was too soft, allowing Lewis Morgan a chance to get to it. Stajduhar did well to get off his line quickly and take the ball off Morgan’s foot in the 67th minute.

Orlando fashioned its next good chance in the 74th when Nani got down the left. He shot from a tight angle and Marsman was able to fight it off for a corner. Five minutes later, a pass sent substitute Silvester van der Water down the right but the Dutchman didn’t hit the ball cleanly with his weaker foot and it squirted well wide of goal.

The Lions thought they’d regained the lead in the 82nd when Smith sent a cross in that Marsman spilled in front. Akindele tapped it in while Miami players argued with referee Armando Villarreal. After consulting with the video assistant referee, Villarreal went to the monitor and didn’t take long to overturn the goal, ruling Akindele offside in the buildup.

“I think Silvester had the ball at the top of the box. I thought he was going to shoot, so I ran in to get the rebound, but he passed the Kyle,” Akindele said. “So I came back, and then when Kyle crossed I ran again and I guess I was barely offside. I saw the video. It did look like I was a bit offside, so it’s fair enough. You get some bounce your way, some don’t bounce your way.”

The last good look for Orlando came in the 91st minute when Pereyra fired over the bar from just outside the area and that was that.

The Lions out-shot the visitors 14-4 (4-2 on goal), held more possession (56.7%-43.3%), passed more accurately (88.9%-81.9%), and earned more corners (7-4), but have only one point to show for a game in which Miami created very little. The Herons will happily take the point and their third non-loss in a row (1-0-2) and head back south.

“We couldn’t combine as usually we do and maybe we are not now in our best shape,” Pereyra said. “We are suffering a lot to win the games and we need to keep working and keep growing to go to the next level and try to go to the end of the season in the best shape.”

“At the end of the day, it was just disappointing,” Akindele said. “We expect to win games at home, especially when we’re up 1-0. I think that we have the quality to close it out, so it’s disappointing. I think it’s not like the defense let us down or the offense. I think we just need to — as a group — be more solid and make sure when we have a lead, we take care of it and that when we’re at home we win the games.”


The Lions have another quick turnaround, with a trip to play FC Cincinnati on Saturday looming. That match is set for 7:30 p.m.

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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