INSIDER
Altidore, Guzan on early US roster for CONCACAF Gold Cup
Read full article: Altidore, Guzan on early US roster for CONCACAF Gold CupForward Jozy Altidore and goalkeeper Brad Guzan are on a preliminary 59-man United States roster with a mostly junior varsity appearance for next month’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean.
Mueller scores twice, US routs El Salvador 6-0 in exhibition
Read full article: Mueller scores twice, US routs El Salvador 6-0 in exhibition“This could be World Cup qualifying. and I think we need to just be able to execute and be ready and not take our foot off the pedal. 22, the U.S. used a lineup mostly from eliminated Major League Soccer teams and had wide stretches of open space against 70th-ranked El Salvador in a match played outside the FIFA calendar and without top stars. Right back Julian Araujo also started in his debut, and defenders Marco Farfan and Kyle Duncan debuted as second-half substitutes. Aaronson got the lone goal of the second half in the 50th with a 12-yard right-foot shot from Lletget's pass.
Michel scores in 84th minute, Orlando City beats Crew 2-1
Read full article: Michel scores in 84th minute, Orlando City beats Crew 2-1ORLANDO, Fla. – Benji Michel scored in the 84th minute to help Orlando City beat the Columbus Crew 2-1 on Wednesday night. Orlando City (11-3-8) broke a tie for third place with Columbus in the Eastern Conference standings with one game left. With Orlando City down a man after Nani received a red card in the 52nd minute, Michel headed the ball to himself and tapped it between goalkeeper Eloy Room's legs for his fifth goal of the season. Harrison Afful scored his first goal of the season for Columbus, connecting from the 18-yard box in the 56th minute. Orlando nearly scored 30th minute, but Room made an incredible double save.
Dike continues strong play, Orlando City tops Atlanta United
Read full article: Dike continues strong play, Orlando City tops Atlanta UnitedORLANDO, Fla. – Daryl Dike had a goal and an assist to continue his strong rookie campaign, Chris Mueller scored on a free kick, and Orlando City beat Atlanta United 4-1 on Wednesday night. Orlando City (9-3-8) bounced back from a loss that ended a 12-match unbeaten streak and snapped a four-game winless skid. Tesho Akindele put away a one-touch shot, off a pass from Dike, in the 60th before Atlanta's Erick Torres scored in the 87th minute. It was the first goal of the season for Torres, who scored 14 goals in 27 appearances for the Houston Dynamo last season. Matheus Aias, a 23-year-old who signed with Orlando City on Aug. 21, scored his first MLS goal in the second minute of stoppage time.
Orlando City unbeaten streak at 11 after draw with NYCFC
Read full article: Orlando City unbeaten streak at 11 after draw with NYCFCORLANDO, Fla. – Chris Mueller scored an early goal, Brian Rowe had seven saves, and Orlando City played New York City FC to a 1-1 tie on Wednesday night, extending its unbeaten streak to 11 games. Rowe, making his second start of the season in place of Pedro Gallese (international duty), has 10 saves and one goal allowed this season. The 31-year-old Rowe started every game last season and finished with seven shutouts. Keaton Parks put away his own rebound, after Rowe made a sliding stop at the top of the six-yard box. He scored into an empty net for New York City (8-7-3).
Mueller, Orlando City beat Fire 4-1, extend unbeaten streak
Read full article: Mueller, Orlando City beat Fire 4-1, extend unbeaten streakORLANDO, Fla. – Chris Mueller had a goal and an assist, Luís Carlos “Nani” Almeida da Cunha also scored, and Orlando City beat the Chicago Fire 4-1 on Saturday. Mueller cut back to evade a defender and scored on a left-footer that deflected off Chicago's Álvaro Medrán before trickling into the net top open the scoring in the 11th minute and Orlando City led the rest of the way. Orlando City (6-2-4) is unbeaten, with four wins, in its last six games. Mueller lofted an entry to Nani who headed home the finish from point-blank range to make it 2-0 in the 24th. Pedro Gallese had just two saves for Orlando City but had a diving left-handed stop of a penalty kick by the Fire’s Álvaro Medrán in the 36th minute.
Urso, Mueller help Orlando City beat Atlanta United
Read full article: Urso, Mueller help Orlando City beat Atlanta UnitedATLANTA Jnior Urso scored his first MLS goal, Chris Mueller added a goal and Orlando City beat Atlanta United 3-1 on Saturday. Orlando City (4-2-2) has won back-to-back games, beating Atlanta for the first time in nine career meetings. Urso, a 31-year-old Brazilian in his first MLS season, headed home a corner kick by Mueller to open the scoring in the 13th minute. Brooks Lennon slipped a header, off a cross by Jrgen Damm, from the center of the area just inside the right post for Atlanta (3-4-0) in the in the 83rd minute. Urso stole the ball from Pity Martinez deep in the attacking half and fed Lus Carlos Almeida da Cunha for a goal that capped the scoring in the 86th.
Orlando beats Nashville in lone MLS game played Wednesday
Read full article: Orlando beats Nashville in lone MLS game played WednesdayORLANDO, Fla. Rookie Daryl Dike scored two goals in the second half and Orlando City SC beat Nashville SC 3-1 in the only game played in Major League Soccer on Wednesday night. 5 overall in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, gave Orlando a 2-1 lead in the 52nd minute. Mauricio Pereyra led a two-on-one breakaway and found Dike near the penalty spot for a simple finish. Dave Romney opened the scoring in the 15th for Nashville (1-4-1) by heading home Hany Mukhtars free kick. Orlando (3-2-2) tied it six minutes later on another header, with Chris Mueller sending in Joo Moutinhos cross for his team-leading fifth goal of the season.
Orlando, Portland vie for MLS championship like no other
Read full article: Orlando, Portland vie for MLS championship like no otherLAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. In a year like no other, this will be a championship like no other. Orlando City and Portland will meet in the MLS is Back tournament finale Tuesday night, with the winner hoisting a trophy less than 24 hours before the league resumes its revised regular season in home markets. The World Cup-style format included 51 matches over 45 days at ESPNs Wide World of Sports complex at Disney World. Orlando and Portland emerged as the best of the bunch, both relying on staunch defense to get to the championship match. Defenders, sometimes, they dont get the credit when youre winning games, said Orlando coach Oscar Pareja, whose team hasnt allowed more than one goal in any tournament game.
Orlando City takes top spot after 1-1 draw with Philadelphia
Read full article: Orlando City takes top spot after 1-1 draw with PhiladelphiaLAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. Mauricio Pereyras goal midway through the second half gave Orlando City a 1-1 draw with the Philadelphia Union on Monday night and the top spot out of Group A in the MLS is Back tournament. A better goal differential gave Orlando City took the top spot in the knockout round. Orlando City (2-1-2) will play a third-place finisher from group play in the round of 16 on Saturday. His third career goal against Orlando City came after a long stretch where Orlando dominated scoring chances. Blakes best save came just before Philadelphia took the lead when he tipped a header from Antnio Carlos off the crossbar.
Mueller has 2 goals and Orlando City downs NYCFC 3-1
Read full article: Mueller has 2 goals and Orlando City downs NYCFC 3-1LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. Chris Mueller scored twice in the opening 10 minutes and Orlando City won its second game of the MLS is Back tournament, beating New York City FC 3-1 Tuesday night. Mueller got his first in the fourth minute, scoring on a free kick from Joao Moutinho that never hit the ground. Orlando City was coming off a 2-1 victory over Inter Miami in the tournament opener. Orlando City played to a scoreless draw with Real Salt Lake in the regular season opener on Feb. 29. NYCFC opened the regular season with a pair of losses to Columbus and Toronto.