The season is over. Year 4 is in the books.
But before we turn the page on 2018, let’s take a look at the Lions by the numbers.
Justice from the spot
On March 10 against Minnesota, Yoshimar Yotún scored City’s first penalty kick in 550 days. The Lions hadn’t converted a PK since Kaká did so in Montreal on Sept. 7, 2016. It was City’s second successful penalty of the early season after Joe Bendik’s heroic save on D.C. United’s Darren Mattocks on Opening Day.
In all, City went 5-for-7 shooting and 2-for-7 defending penalties this season, compared with 0-for-1 shooting and 1-for-5 defending in 2017. City got positive results in its last three PKs: goals from Yotún and Sacha Kljestan and a first career penalty save for Adam Grinwis.
The Lions also earned a victory in a penalty shootout against D.C. United in the U.S. Open Cup. City erased an early deficit after a 90-minute weather delay before winning the shootout 4-2. The Lions improved to 2-0 all-time in penalty shootouts following their Open Cup win over Charleston in 2015.
Justice was also served on the scoresheet, where the Lions were beneficiaries of their first two own-goals in favor since May 2016.
Power-Up for Yoshi
Lions midfielder Yoshimar Yotún enjoyed a memorable 2018. It started with excitement over his native Peru’s qualification to the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 36 years. It continued with City’s hot start to the year that ran until Yotún left for Russia. While he was there, his wife had their second child, Valentino.
Yotún played in all three of Peru’s World Cup games, and a couple weeks after returning, he joined the MLS All-Stars in Atlanta. Yotún was City’s sixth ever All-Star selection, after Kaká (2015-17), Cyle Larin (2016) and Dom Dwyer (2017).
In 2018, Yotún put up career-highs with four goals and 10 assists, passing his three-goal season with Sporting Cristal Lima in 2010 and his seven-assist campaign with Malmo in 2016. MLS credited Yotún with three secondary assists this season.
Not all gloom
“Coming to Orlando’s been a blessing. I get to learn from some of these amazing guys. Sacha led MLS in assists last year so coming from leading college in assists it’s obviously a huge step and I’m just excited to learn from guys like this and hopefully get to play with some of them.”
Those were rookie winger Chris Mueller’s words during preseason camp in January. Ten months later, the 22-year-old finished tied with Kljestan for second on the team with seven assists. He added on three goals, including the fastest goal in Club history scored 65 seconds into City’s 3-2 win over San Jose in April.
Mueller was undoubtedly one of the brightest spots on the team in 2018. He was consistently among the most exciting and creative players, including during the summer doldrums, so much so that he was named a finalist for MLS Rookie of the Year.
Records ‘n such
Cristian Higuita scored a career-high four goals this season, including two of City’s three from outside the box.
This season was the first in which every eligible player on the roster earned MLS minutes. Sacha Kljestan led the way with 2,522 league minutes.
Put it in perspective
The only Lion on the roster not to appear in any competition this season was Mason Stajduhar, but for good reason. Stajduhar, City’s 20-year-old Homegrown goalkeeper, spent the better part of nine months battling localized Ewing’s Sarcoma. He drove back and forth from Gainesville, where he underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments, for training several times a week. In July, Stajduhar was officially declared to be in remission.
