Another Orlando City win, transfer deadline madness, and plenty more to dive into this week. Let’s get started…
In Orlando: The Taxman cometh
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Orlando City won again this weekend. The Lions took a hard shot to the jaw from a game New York Red Bulls side and powered through, with goals from Daryl Dike, Júnior Urso, and Antonio Carlos providing the fireworks in a 3-1 victory. Orlando are unbeaten in nine and sit two points back of the Supporters’ Shield.
They did this missing three of their four starters on the backline at the start of the game, including Brazilian dynamo Ruan, who came off hurt in the first half last Sunday against FC Dallas. Kyle Smith, who had been filling in at left back for João Moutinho, switched back to the right for this one and had the best game of his career:
Smith completely locked down forward Daniel Royer and wingback Jason Pendant on the left, with Red Bulls unable to generate anything on his side of the field. The Red Bulls attempted to pick on him, with 44.8% of their attack coming in the left third of the field (including a full 50% in the second half), but Smith kept stopping problems before they happened, most notably with a sensational tackle in the 83rd minute to prevent a 2v1. He even picked up the assist on Dike’s opener, his first MLS goal contribution.
It’s guys like Smith, and Andrés Perea, and Benji Michel, and Rodrigo Schlegel, and on and on and on that have allowed Orlando City to stay unbeaten for six weeks despite a grueling schedule and a virulent injury bug.
Around MLS: “Big name” franchises struggling
Everything we’ve known has been turned on its head in 2020, and Major League Soccer has been no exception.
The Los Angeles Galaxy have been the premier franchise in MLS for the entirety of its existence. They have won the most MLS Cups (five), signed the biggest players (David Beckham, Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, etc.), and attracted all the glitz and glamour that comes with it. Despite bringing in another big name in Javier “Chicarito” Hernandez, though, the Galaxy are mired in last place in the West. There’s a general malaise about their play at the moment that looks difficult to overcome.
Atlanta United looked like the modern successor to the Galaxy when they entered the league three years ago. Since winning MLS Cup in 2018, though, it’s been all downhill for the Five Stripes. Tata Martino left for the Mexican national team and replacement Frank de Boer never quite fit, while DPs Pity Martinez and Ezequiel Barco proved to be big-money busts and Josef Martinez went down with a torn ACL in the 2020 season opener. Atlanta are narrowly ahead of the playoff line in the East, but would not be if the field had not been expanded for this year.
Los Angeles FC have tried to bring it to the Galaxy in their own market, putting together a dynamic and explosive roster and setting the league record for points in a season in 2019. But a leaky backline has knee-capped the Black & Gold in 2020, as they’ve yet to adequately replace Walker Zimmermann, Steven Beitashour, or Tyler Miller and have suffered the price. Only the woeful Earthquakes and Whitecaps have conceded more than LAFC’s 30 goals allowed this year. The attack is still elite, though, so there’s hope here.
There doesn’t seem to be much of that in Fort Lauderdale at the moment. Inter Miami, pegged by many to be the next top-tier expansion team, so destined for greatness that FiveThirtyEight completely unbalanced their algorithm to put them in the league’s top 5, is instead dead last in MLS. They have scored just 11 goals in 15 games and have yet to find any sort of identity on the pitch. It hasn’t been all doom and gloom, and new DP Gonzalo Higuaín is going to get his despite missing a penalty on his debut, but it’s been a Murphy’s Law sort of season for the new boys on the block.
The only two “big” clubs that have stayed the course? Seattle and Toronto, who have met in the MLS Cup final in three of the past four seasons.
Throughout the World: Deadline day drama
Monday was the European transfer deadline, as the continent’s giants and would-be giants made their final maneuverings ahead of what could be the most challenging season in decades.
Of all teams, it was Arsenal who made the biggest splash, ponying up to pay midfielder Thomas Partey’s $68 million release clause from Atlético Madrid. Thomas is a complete central midfielder who should offer the Gunners stability at the base of midfield along with a rare long-range passing ability that he didn’t get to display often under Diego Simeone. His arrival could displace long-time mainstay Granit Xhaka, who will have to compete with Dani Ceballos for playing time in Mikel Arteta’s 3-4-3.
Manchester United, criticized throughout the window for inaction while rivals strengthened, made a slew of moves, headlined by the signing of striker Edinson Cavani on a free transfer. Cavani is one of the great forwards of his generation, with over 400 goals in his career for club and country, but he scored just seven times in 22 games last year for Paris Saint-Germain and has shown signs of decline at age 33. United also brought in Brazilian left back Alex Telles from Porto, who should take over that role from Luke Shaw, and teenage wingers Amad Traoré and Facundo Pellistri.
Other notable moves: Rafinha, brother of new Liverpool midfielder Thiago, has moved to PSG from Barcelona on a free, while the French champs further bolstered their midfield by signing Danilo Pereira on loan from Porto; midfielder Lucas Torreira went back to Atleti from Arsenal in the Thomas move; European champions Bayern Munich picked up some reinforcements in forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, winger Douglas Costa, and right back Bouna Sarr; and Juventus added up-and-coming Italian winger Federico Chiesa from Fiorentina on a two-year loan with an obligation to buy at $59 million.
What Weston’s Watching this week
Norway vs. Serbia, UEFA Euro Qualifying Play-off Semifinal (10/8, 2:45p, ESPN2) - The international break is always hard on soccer fans, as there generally isn’t much of anything going on, especially with the coronavirus pandemic further limiting what can be done. However, there are quietly a series of incredibly important games going on Thursday, as 16 countries begin a two-day tournament for the final four spots in Euro 2020, which will be played next summer. The game between Norway and Serbia is televised on ESPN2, so it’s the one I’ll be watching, but they’re all on ESPN3 with a cable sub.
Orlando Pride vs. Houston Dash, NWSL Fall Series (10/9, 5p, CBSSN) - The Pride play their first game in Florida in 363 days this Friday night. No, it’s not the same, and most of the roster’s top players are missing, but I will take any chance to watch Marta do her thing, and Sydney Leroux, Ali Krieger, and Ashlyn Harris will all help form the core of what should be a much-improved team in 2021.
Orlando City vs. Columbus Crew, MLS (10/11, 7:30p, FOX35 Plus) - This is a bit of a cheat, as I’ll be calling this game, but come on. It’s the biggest game of the weekend in the league on a slate that includes LAFC-Seattle and should be incredible to watch. Don’t miss it.
