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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. Nashville SC: Five Takeaways

What we learned from Orlando City’s 2-0 home loss to Nashville.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

If only we could chalk this result up to April Fools’ Day shenanigans. Orlando City was back at home against Nashville SC for the first time in the regular season since Decision Day 2021 and the result was less than stellar as the Lions lost, 2-0. Let’s take a look at my five takeaways from a game hopefully soon to be forgotten.

Early Offensive Pressure Falls Flat

For the second weekend in a row, Orlando City did well to start the match as the aggressors and the offense seemed to connect well from the midfield to towards the Nashville goal. Great passes and all the buildup in the world, however, doesn’t change the numbers on the scoreboard and where Orlando City didn’t squander chances in the beginning of the match last week against the Philadelphia Union, within the friendly confines of Exploria Stadium the back of the net seemed to be locked up like Fort Knox. It is still encouraging to see the attack appear to generate more fluidity and chances in open play but if the struggles to find the back of the net continue, then results may be hard to come by.

Defense Caught Flat Footed

The defense did well to squash any momentum Nashville tried to generate in the first 25 minutes of the match, but in the 28th minute Hany Mukhtar played a quick long ball off of an Orlando City foul which fell perfectly at the foot of Fafa Picault. The winger was able to chip Pedro Gallese, who was caught in no man’s land off his line. This play merely caught the back line sleeping and once Nashville had a lead, it changed the complexion of the rest of the match.

Substitutions: Too Little Too Late

The match day lineup against Nashville was more or less the same one that fans saw in Philadelphia, with the exception of the return of Orlando City keeper Gallese. This set up Orlando to bring in some strong offensive pieces off of the bench, namely Designated Player Facundo Torres and MLS draft pick Duncan McGuire, along with Dagur Dan Thorhallsson in the midfield. Torres came on at halftime, replacing Felipe, but Orlando City did not make another substitution until the 78th minute, bringing McGuire on for Kyle Smith, and at that point the home squad was already looking at a 2-0 deficit. It would have been interesting to see how the last half hour of the match would have played out with fresh legs in the attacking phase of the game. Would Orlando still have conceded the second goal? Maybe, but by that time the Lions may have already pulled one back.

Mukhtar Breaks Out

Some players just possess the innate ability to hurt certain teams at certain times. It should come as no surprise then to any Orlando City fan that Mukhtar, the 2022 Landon Donovan MLS MVP, could break out and deliver daggers at any moment of the match. Cesar Araujo and the rest of the defensive unit did well for most of the night to keep the lightning in the bottle, but Mukhtar played a direct role in both goals scored for Nashville, assisting on the first and then scoring the second from an obscene angle to secure all three points for the visitors. For anyone following along this season, of course his first goal of the year would come against the Lions.

Dropping Points at Home

There is a tried-and-true recipe to success in Major League Soccer. Protect home field and bite, scratch, and claw your way to as many away points on the road as you can get. Do those two things and a club will more often than not be playing in the postseason. In the 2022 season, Orlando City was hot or cold at home, boasting a record of 9-8-0. Good teams win games at home that they should, while great teams find a way to turn losses into draws at home to save points. For the second straight home game Orlando City lost at home, dropping a potential six points in just two matches. For a team that had four of its first six games at home, the failure to protect home field could be a catastrophic trend for the season if it is to continue.

Bonus Takeaway: Sea Cow Fun

Orlando City leaned heavily into the April Fools’ rebranding of the club into the Orlando City Sea Cows. To the club’s credit it stuck with the shtick longer than I thought it would, while incorporating ocean-themed trivia into the fan engagement periods and debuting an entire Sea Cow merchandise line. Certainly a fun way to engage the fans. The only problem I saw is that — historically speaking — the Sea Cows’ record is just abysmal. It is certainly time for the sea cows to retreat back to the waterways until next year.


Those are my thoughts from Saturday’s match. What were your most important takeaways from a lackluster result at home? Let us know in the comments below.

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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