(Photo by Daniel Castrillon / New Day Review)
ORLANDO, Fla. – So begins the first edition of the New Day Review “Weekly Orlando City Soccer Club Recap.” Firstly, welcome. Each Monday, the NDR staff will publish a one-stop piece for a weekly recap in news regarding Orlando City Soccer Club and its three teams. From match recaps to injury updates and other weekly storylines, the “Weekly Orlando City Soccer Club Recap” will compile every story published from the week before.
Have a suggestion on what kind of content you’d like to see? Leave our staff a comment down below, or you can tweet at us at @NewDayReview.
Orlando City SC (MLS)
Record: 8-7-5, 29 points
| No. | Team | GP | Overall (W-L-T) | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1. | Chicago | 19 | 11-3-5 | 37 | 19 | 18 | 38 |
| 2. | Toronto | 19 | 11-3-5 | 34 | 19 | 15 | 38 |
| 3. | NYCFC | 19 | 10-6-3 | 36 | 24 | 12 | 33 |
| 4. | Atlanta | 19 | 9-7-3 | 39 | 27 | 12 | 30 |
| 5. | Orlando | 20 | 8-7-5 | 22 | 29 | -7 | 29 |
| 6. | Columbus | 20 | 9-10-1 | 30 | 32 | -2 | 28 |
| 7. | NYRB | 18 | 8-8-2 | 20 | 25 | -5 | 26 |
| 8. | Philadelphia | 18 | 6-7-5 | 25 | 21 | 4 | 23 |
| 9. | Montreal | 17 | 5-6-6 | 27 | 29 | -2 | 17 |
| 10. | New England | 19 | 5-9-5 | 29 | 31 | -2 | 20 |
| 11. | D.C. | 19 | 5-11-3 | 14 | 31 | -17 | 18 |
Sebastian Giovinco’s Brace, Assist Lead Toronto Over Orlando City
For the club’s Major League Soccer side, there was just one game last week. The Lions lost to second-place Toronto FC 3-1 at home on Wednesday behind two goals and an assist from Sebastian Giovinco. Jozy Altidore also added a score and an assist. As for Orlando City’s goal, Carlos Rivas scored his fourth goal of the season after coming into the game at the start of the second half.
Click here for the full recap.
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Jason Kreis Said His Team Feels Like Away Team at Home
During the post-game press conference following the loss to Toronto, City head coach Jason Kreis prompted his own comments on the refereeing for games held in Orlando City Stadium. Kreis said his Lions feel like the away team even when they’re playing at home.
“We go away, and we feel like the away team by the referees’ decision on the 50-50 calls, and we come at home, and we still feel like the away team, and I think it’s unacceptable,” Kreis said after the loss.
Click here for the full transcript and story.
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Carlos Rivas Was Limited but Effective Against Toronto
Rivas suffered an ankle injury in the June 30, 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake in Utah. In just 45 minutes of play, he tied midfielders Will Johnson for a team-high three shots and Johnson and Ricardo Kaká for a team-high one shot on target. Both Johnson and Kaká played all 90 minutes against Toronto. Rivas also created two chances, second only to Kaká’s game-high five, as he completed 71.4 percent of his 21 passes.
For Kreis, limiting Rivas to just 45 minutes and playing him off the bench was a matter of his fitness and not strategy.
“It was absolutely fitness,” Kreis said. “Didn’t feel like he was able to play any more than 45 minutes. So really maxed out what he was able to contribute tonight by subbing him in at halftime.”
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Rafael Ramos Shows ‘Pretty Good’ Energy in 2nd MLS Match
Right-back Rafael Ramos made just his second appearance for the MLS side this season in the loss to Toronto. His first appearance came in a 26-minute outing against the No.1 Chicago Fire on June 4. For Kreis, he saw the Portugal native show a “pretty good” energy level against Toronto.
“I think he looked pretty good. His energy level looked pretty good,” Kreis said. “Got himself in some really good spots and went to make some passes that were, I think, close to coming off. Wasn’t quite there for him tonight, which is to be expected when it’s really his first game back, extended minutes in the entire season in the MLS.”
Ramos finished with one shot (zero on goal) and one chance created while completing 80 percent of his 35 passes.
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Ricardo Kaká Named to 2017 MLS All-Star Game
Kaká was named to his third-straight MLS All-Star Game on Friday. In his first MLS All-Star Game appearance in 2015, he led MLS to a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur and earned MVP honors for his assist to David Villa and goal.
Click here for the full story.
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Training-availability Transcripts
Click here for the full transcript of media availability with Kreis, goalkeeper Joe Bendik, right-back Scott Sutter and center-back José Aja from July 3.
Click here for City forward Cyle Larin’s full transcript from his first open availability with the media from July 4 following his DUI charge on June 15. He missed three games because of the inherent suspension he was issued during his time with the league’s Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health (SABH) program.
Orlando Pride (NWSL)
Record: 4-5-4, 16 points
| No. | Team | GP | Overall (W-L-T) | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1. | North Carolina | 13 | 9-4-0 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 27 |
| 2. | Chicago | 13 | 7-3-3 | 16 | 11 | 5 | 24 |
| 3. | Sky Blue FC | 14 | 7-6-1 | 22 | 21 | 1 | 22 |
| 4. | Seattle | 13 | 5-3-5 | 24 | 17 | 7 | 20 |
| 5. | Portland | 13 | 5-4-4 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 19 |
| 6. | Orlando | 13 | 4-5-4 | 19 | 20 | -21 | 16 |
| 7. | Houston | 13 | 4-7-2 | 13 | 22 | -9 | 14 |
| 8. | Kansas City | 13 | 3-6-4 | 13 | 18 | -5 | 13 |
| 9. | Boston | 13 | 3-6-4 | 9 | 14 | -5 | 13 |
| 10. | Washington | 12 | 3-6-3 | 15 | 20 | -5 | 12 |
Marta Viera da Silva’s 2 Goals Help Pride Draw with Last-place Washington
Orlando City’s National Women’s Soccer League side nearly escaped with a victory in their matchup with the last-place Washington Spirit. Unfortunately for the Central Florida side, a late penalty-kick call was made in the 88th minute, allowing Spirit forward Mallory Pugh record her brace. Marta Vieira da Silva scored both goals for the Pride off a penalty kick in the 10th minute and an NWSL Week 12 Goal of the Week nominee in the 56th minute.
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Waived Center-back Laura Alleway Continues to Train with Pride
On July 3, inaugural-season center-back Laura Alleway was waived by the Pride. Despite her no longer officially being a part of the team, Pride head coach Tom Sermanni still welcomes here to train with the team anyway. While she stays fit and provides competition for her former teammates, Sermanni and his staff are actively seeking out other opportunities to play domestically or abroad.
“She’s more than welcome [to train with us],” Sermanni said after training on July 6. “When you’re part of the club, you’re part of the club, you know? And as I say, sometimes we have to make decisions that are difficult, decisions that are tough on players, but, at the same time, it’s important that we say whether ou’re a current player or a former player that you’re still part of our club.”
Click here for the full story.
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Ali Krieger Said She Feels She’s Better Now Than When She Was Younger
Despite being 32 years old, Pride center-back and team captain Ali Krieger said she feels like she’s only getting fitter and faster as she gets older. She attributes that mostly to her newfound focus on her running form, guided by a personal trainer at home and United States women’s national-team strength and fitness coach Dawn Scott.
“As I get older, I feel like I need to have really good form in order to continue to be fast and also to keep up, and I think that as long as I practice my form and the running, then everything else comes into play.”
Click here for the full story.
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Training-availability Transcripts
Click here for the full transcript of media availability with Sermanni and left-back Steph Catley from July 4.
Click here for the full transcript of media availability with Sermanni and Krieger from July 6. Krieger left training early on July 4 because she was feeling “under the weather,” per Sermanni.
Orlando City B (USL)
Record: 5-6-6, 21 points
| No. | Team | GP | Overall (W-L-T) | GD | Pts |
| 1. | Charleston | 17 | 10-2-5 | 18 | 35 |
| 2. | Louisville | 15 | 8-2-5 | 10 | 29 |
| 3. | Charlotte | 15 | 8-3-4 | 11 | 28 |
| 4. | Tampa Bay | 18 | 7-5-6 | 6 | 27 |
| 5. | Bethlehem | 16 | 8-6-2 | 5 | 26 |
| 6. | Cincinnati | 18 | 6-6-6 | 2 | 24 |
| 7. | Rochester | 15 | 6-3-6 | 2 | 24 |
| 8. | NYRB II | 17 | 6-8-3 | -7 | 21 |
| 9. | Orlando City B | 17 | 5-6-6 | -1 | 21 |
| 10. | Ottawa | 16 | 5-6-5 | -1 | 21 |
| 11. | Pittsburgh | 17 | 5-7-5 | -4 | 20 |
| 12. | Harrisburg | 16 | 4-8-4 | -7 | 16 |
| 13. | Saint Louis | 15 | 4-7-4 | -9 | 16 |
| 14. | TFC II | 17 | 3-9-5 | -16 | 14 |
| 15. | Richmond | 17 | 2-9-6 | -10 | 12 |
Orlando City B Draw with Pittsburgh
The club’s United Soccer League side saw attacking midfielder/forward Richie Laryea return in a 0-0 draw with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on July 8. It was his first game with OCB since he helped them battle to a 1-1 draw with the Rochester Rhinos on June 7. OCB possessed the ball 61.3 percent of the time but couldn’t find the back of the net without team-leading assister Pierre da Silva. da Silva, who has six assists on the season, is serving a three-game suspension for violent conduct in a draw 1-1 draw with FC Cincinnati on July 1.
Click here for the full recap.
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Rafael Ramos Suffers Grade 1 Right-hamstring Strain
Less than 10 minutes into the second half of OCB’s draw with Pittsburgh, Ramos went down with an apparent hamstring injury. Before he was substituted off, a team athletic trainer massaged his right hamstring. After the match, OCB head coach Anthony Pulis didn’t have an immediate update.
After an appointment on Monday, it was determined Ramos suffered a Grade 1 right-hamstring strain. He will be out for four weeks.
For more on Orlando City and all three of its professional-soccer teams, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
