Orlando created plenty of chances in a 2x4 loss to Philly, but Pedro Gallese ended the night on the bottom of the MLS goalkeeping leaderboard with a-1.6 post-shot xG differential. In layman’ s terms: He let in about two goals more than the average ' keeper would have based on the shots on target he faced. And, well, he faced four shots on target and they all went in. That’ s not ideal. The good news is new DP winger Marco Pašalić had an ideal start, scoring twice in his debut.
Bradley Carnell’ s Union side( that’ s going to be weird for a while) rolled in his first match in charge. Philly, playing in a 4-2-2-2 instead of a diamond midfield, put four past Orlando in a road win to kick off the season.
Tai Baribo picked up right where he left off last year with an opening-day brace. He’ s up to 11 goals in 19 MLS starts.
Cartagena picked up a seasonending Achilles injury.
GOALNEWS 18 transferred to Palmeiras( for reportedly up to $ 14 million) and central midfielder Wilder
They’ ve replaced Torres with Croatian winger Marco Pašalić, who arrives as a DP from the Croatian first division. We’ ll just have to assume Orlando know something we don’ t. They’ ve replaced Cartagena with Eduard Atuesta, who arrives as a proven high-level MLS starter and clearly makes the team better.
PEDRO GALLESE
We’ ll have to give Orlando full marks there. Will those moves be enough for coach Parejas tweak the roster and improve on last year’ s Eastern Conference Final appearance?
It’ s been |
Orlando City had two major concerns this offseason after |
BRADLEY CARNELL |
years since we’ ve thought about Philadelphia sitting this |
DP winger Facundo Torres was |
low, but here we are. |
OSCAR PAREJAS
GR
Bradley Carnell has replaced Jim Curtin as head coach and Jack Elliott, Leon Flach and Jack McGlynn are all gone. The teardown of the best Union side we’ ve ever seen is essentially complete. Now, we’ ll find out how far this roster can go.
TAI BARIBO