Mason Stajduhar has arrived.
Nearly six years after signing a Homegrown contract with Orlando City, the 23-year-old has made his presence known, going five MLS games without a loss in place of All-Star No. 1 Pedro Gallese and growing in confidence match after match. He put in his best performance yet on Saturday night, winning Heineken Man of the Match honors for Orlando City’s 1-0 defeat of the Chicago Fire.
Stajduhar made five saves on the night, but it was when he made them that counted. Four of them came after the 80th minute and three were in second half stoppage time, including a denial of a header from Carlos Terán on the game’s final play.
The Homegrown’s best save came in the 81st minute. DP striker Robert Beric uncorked a curler from outside the box, but Stajduhar flashed his elite athleticism and quick reflexes to make the stop.
Stajduhar was strong in other areas, as well. He made three aerial claims on three tries and cleared the ball from danger on three occasions. His distribution was sound, as he completed 10 of 12 passes with his only two incompletions coming on long balls over the halfway line.