2015 Orlando City SC season

Orlando City
2015 season
President Phil Rawlins
Manager Adrian Heath
Stadium Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium
MLS Conference: 7th
Overall: 14th
MLS Playoffs Did not qualify
U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals
Carolina Challenge Cup 4th
Top goalscorer League: Larin (17)
All: Larin (19)
Highest home attendance 62,510 vs NYCFC (Mar. 8)
Lowest home attendance 22,241 vs Kansas City (Sept. 13)
Average home league attendance 32,847
Home colors
Away colors
← USL Pro 2016 →

The 2015 Orlando City SC season is the club's fifth season of existence in Orlando, and Orlando City's first season in Major League Soccer, the top-flight league in the United States soccer league system.

Background

On November 19, 2013, it was announced that Orlando City would be the next expansion franchise in Major League Soccer, the league's 21st team.[1] The dissolution of C.D. Chivas USA following the 2014 MLS season resulted in Orlando City instead being the league's 20th franchise.

Following the completion of City's final season in USL Pro, the team released all but nine players from its roster. The remaining players, who would form the base of the 2015 roster, included Kaká, who was placed on loan with São Paulo FC in his native Brazil following his signing in June 2014.

On September 24, 2014, Orlando City manager Adrian Heath and New York City FC manager Jason Kreis took part in a draw to determine who would get top priorities in various selection mechanisms, including the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft and the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. Orlando City won the draw, and Adrian Heath selected the top pick in the Expansion Draft first. He would also choose the top pick in the SuperDraft, top selection priority for USL Pro and NASL players (beyond Orlando City's own USL Pro players, which the team had right of first refusal to), and second-to-last (then #20, now #19) in lottery ranking. Orlando City will be #2 in United States men's national soccer team player allocation ranking, #21 (now #20) in player discovery ranking, #21 (now #20) in re-entry draft ranking, and #2 in designated player ranking.[2]

On October 17, 2014, the team broke ground on their new soccer-specific stadium.[3] Due to delays in sales tax subsidies from the Florida Legislature, the team decided to assume stadium financing themselves, and committed to pay back the City of Orlando for the land purchased and any other costs already incurred.[4] Orlando City played the 2015 season, and will play the entire 2016 season, in the remodeled Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium.

For normal regular-season matches in 2015, Orlando City will open the sidelines and ends of the lower bowl only, except for the corners, along with the luxury suites. For the season opener on March 8 against New York City FC, however, the entire stadium was made available for sale. The team announced that the stadium's entire allotment of permanent seating was sold out on March 2.[5] The team made 2,000 standing room only tickets available on March 4,[6] and those sold out within 24 hours.[7]

On November 14, 2014, Orlando City was drawn for the seventh pick in the dispersal draft for Chivas USA players, but chose to pass on their pick.[8][9] Manager Adrian Heath signed a contract extension on November 21, 2014 committing him to the club through to the end of the 2017 MLS season.[10]

Orlando City originally planned to train in late January in Brazil, but eventually cancelled those plans in favor of training in Orlando. They will instead train at Sylvan Lake Park in Sanford.[11][12]

Season overview

March

Orlando City opened the 2015 MLS season at the Citrus Bowl against the other expansion team for that season, New York City FC. The match ended in a 1–1 draw after Kaká scored an equalizer in the first minute of second half stoppage time. The attendance of 62,510 was the largest crowd to see a soccer match at the Citrus Bowl, the second-largest attendance ever for an MLS team's inaugural home match,[13] and the ninth-largest crowd in MLS history for a standalone match.

Squad information

Number Nat. Player Position Date of birth Previous club 2015 MLS
appearances		 2015 MLS
goals		 Notes
Goalkeepers
22United StatesTally Hall GK May 12, 1985United States Houston Dynamo – – –
36United StatesEarl Edwards, Jr. GK January 24, 1992United States UCLA Bruins – – –
42United StatesJosh Ford GK November 6, 1987United States Seattle Sounders – – –
Defenders
2United StatesTyler Turner RB March 4, 1996United States IMG Academy Bradenton – – HGP, #
3EnglandSeb Hines CB May 29, 1988England Middlesbrough F.C. – – LOAN
14EnglandLuke Boden LB November 26, 1988England Sheffield Wednesday F.C. – – #
16United StatesCorey Ashe LB March 14, 1986United States Houston Dynamo – – –
20United StatesBrek Shea LB/LW February 28, 1990England Stoke City F.C. – – –
23United StatesConor Donovan CB January 8, 1996United States NC State Wolfpack – – GA
27PortugalRafael Ramos RB January 9, 1995Portugal S.L. Benfica Juniors U-19 – – INT, #
29United StatesTommy Redding CB January 24, 1997United States FC America – – HGP, #
44SpainDavid Mateos CB April 22, 1987Hungary Ferencvárosi TC – – INT
78FranceAurélien Collin CB March 8, 1986United States Sporting Kansas City – – –
Midfielders
5United StatesServando Carrasco MF August 13, 1988United States Sporting Kansas City – – –
6United StatesTony Cascio LW/RW March 28, 1990United States Colorado Rapids – – –
7ColombiaCristian Higuita AM January 14, 1994Colombia Deportivo Cali – – INT
8EnglandHarrison Heath CM/DM April 16, 1996England Norwich City U-18 – – HGP, #
10BrazilKaká AM April 22, 1982Italy AC Milan – – INT, DP
12United StatesEric Avila M November 24, 1987Mexico Santos Laguna – – LOAN
15BrazilPedro Ribeiro AM/SS June 13, 1990United States Philadelphia Union – – –
17El SalvadorDarwin Cerén CM December 31, 1989El Salvador Juventud Independiente – – #
18Trinidad and TobagoKevin Molino AM/RW June 17, 1990Trinidad and Tobago Ma Pau SC – – #
24EnglandLewis Neal LM July 14, 1981United States D.C. United – – –
32SwitzerlandAdrian Winter AM July 8, 1986Switzerland FC Luzern – – INT
55PortugalEstrela DM September 22, 1995Portugal S.L. Benfica Juniors U-19 – – INT, #
Forwards
11ColombiaCarlos Rivas FW/LW April 15, 1994Colombia Deportivo Cali – – INT, DP
19Democratic Republic of the CongoDanny Mwanga FW July 17, 1991United States Colorado Rapids – – –
21CanadaCyle Larin FW April 17, 1995United States Connecticut Huskies – – GA, INT
25United StatesAdam Bedell FW December 1, 1991United States Columbus Crew SC – –
26United StatesSidney Rivera FW November 15, 1993United States Old Dominion Monarchs – – –
35HondurasBryan Róchez FW January 1, 1995Honduras Real C.D. España – – INT, DP

# denotes players who were retained from the USL Pro side.
dagger denotes player who made appearances but left the club before the end of the season.

Transfers

In

Date Player Position From Fee/notes Source
July 1, 2014 Brazil Kaká MF Italy AC Milan Free transfer, first designated player [15][16]
December 8, 2014 United States Tally Hall GK United States Houston Dynamo Acquired with Allocation Money, Orlando also received an international slot [17]
December 8, 2014 United States Amobi Okugo DF United States Philadelphia Union Acquired with $100,000 Allocation Money and a 2016 Superdraft pick [18][19]
December 8, 2014 France Aurélien Collin DF United States Sporting Kansas City Acquired via allocation money and 2014 MLS Expansion Draft pick Jalil Anibaba [20][21]
December 10, 2014 Jamaica Donovan Ricketts GK United States Portland Timbers Expansion Draft
December 10, 2014 United States Tony Cascio MF United States Colorado Rapids Expansion Draft
December 10, 2014 Democratic Republic of the Congo Danny Mwanga FW United States Colorado Rapids Expansion Draft
December 10, 2014 Brazil Pedro Ribeiro MF United States Philadelphia Union Expansion Draft
December 10, 2014 England Lewis Neal MF United States D.C. United Expansion Draft
December 10, 2014 Costa Rica Jairo Arrieta FW United States Columbus Crew Expansion Draft
December 15, 2014 Honduras Bryan Róchez FW Honduras Real C.D. España Undisclosed fee, designated player [22]
December 18, 2014 United States Josh Ford GK United States Seattle Sounders MLS re-entry draft [23]
December 19, 2014 United States Brek Shea MF England Stoke City Undisclosed fee [24]
January 5, 2015 Brazil Gustavo DF Brazil Vila Nova Free agent [25]
January 15, 2015 Canada Cyle Larin FW United States University of Connecticut SuperDraft
January 15, 2015 United States Conor Donovan DF United States North Carolina State University SuperDraft
January 15, 2015 Jamaica Akeil Barrett FW United States University of Akron SuperDraft
January 26, 2015 Colombia Cristian Higuita MF Colombia Deportivo Cali
January 26, 2015 Colombia Carlos Rivas FW Colombia Deportivo Cali
July 14, 2015 United States Corey Ashe LB United States Houston Dynamo Acquired with allocation money and a second-round selection in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft [26]
July 20, 2015 United States Servando Carrasco MF United States Sporting Kansas City Traded for Amobi Okugo [27]
July 29, 2015 Switzerland Adrian Winter MF Switzerland FC Luzern [28]
July 29, 2015 Spain David Mateos DF Hungary Ferencvárosi TC [28]
August 6, 2015 United States Adam Bedell FW United States Columbus Crew SC Acquired with a second round pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft [29]

Out

Date Player Position To Fee/notes Source
January 14, 2015 Costa Rica Jairo Arrieta FW United States D.C. United For international slot [30]
February 12, 2015 Brazil Gustavo DF None Released from club [31]
February 12, 2015 Jamaica Akeil Barrett FW United States Jacksonville Armada Released from club [31]
July 20, 2015 United States Amobi Okugo MF United States Sporting Kansas City Traded for Servando Carrasco [27]
July 30, 2015 Jamaica Donovan Ricketts GK United States LA Galaxy Traded for a second round pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft [32]
July 31, 2015 Republic of Ireland Sean St Ledger DF United States Colorado Rapids Placed on waivers. "Serious breach of club policy" cited as a reason. [33][34]

Loan In

Position Player Loaned from Start End Source
FW Northern Ireland Martin Paterson England Huddersfield Town January 26, 2015 August 5, 2015 [35]
DF England Seb Hines England Middlesbrough February 24, 2015 August 2015 [36]

Loan Out

No. Position Player Loaned to Start End Source
MF Brazil Kaká Brazil São Paulo FC July 1, 2014 December 6, 2014 [15][37][38]
26 FW United States Sidney Rivera United States Louisville City FC May 8, 2015 July 23, 2015
42 GK United States Josh Ford United States Fort Lauderdale Strikers May 29, 2015 — [39]
23 MF United States Conor Donovan United States Pittsburgh Riverhounds July 25, 2015 July 31, 2015 [40]
26 FW United States Sidney Rivera United States Pittsburgh Riverhounds July 30, 2015 —
29 D United States Tommy Redding United States Wilmington Hammerheads FC July 30, 2015 August 7, 2015

Competitions

Home team is listed first, left to right.

Friendlies

Carolina Challenge Cup

Further information: 2015 Carolina Challenge Cup

It was announced on November 5, 2014, that Orlando City would participate in the 2015 Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston, South Carolina.[41]

Major League Soccer

Further information: 2015 MLS season
All times in regular season on Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-04:00)

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
34 12 8 14 46 56  −10 44 7 5 5 25 19  +6 5 3 9 21 37  −16

Source: Match reports

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
GroundHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHAHAAHHA
Result D W L D L W L L D L W D D W W L W D L L L W L D L L D L W W W W W L

Source: Match reports
Ground: A = Away; H = Home. Result: D = Draw; L = Loss; W = Win; P = Postponed.

Results

Standings

Eastern Conference table
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 New York Red Bulls 34 18 10 6 62 43 +19 60 Conference Semifinals & 2016–17 CONCACAF Champions League
2 Columbus Crew 34 15 11 8 58 53 +5 53 Conference Semifinals
3 Montreal Impact 34 15 13 6 48 44 +4 51 Knockout round
4 D.C. United 34 15 13 6 43 45 −2 51
5 New England Revolution 34 14 12 8 48 47 +1 50
6 Toronto FC 34 15 15 4 58 58 0 49
7 Orlando City SC 34 12 14 8 46 56 −10 44
8 New York City FC 34 10 17 7 49 58 −9 37
9 Philadelphia Union 34 10 17 7 42 55 −13 37
10 Chicago Fire 34 8 20 6 43 58 −15 30
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) disciplinary points; 6) away goals scored; 7) away goal differential; 8) home goals scored; 9) home goal differential; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots
Overall table
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification[lower-alpha 1]
12 Toronto FC 34 15 15 4 58 58 0 49
13 San Jose Earthquakes 34 13 13 8 41 39 +2 47
14 Orlando City SC 34 12 14 8 46 56 −10 44
15 Houston Dynamo 34 11 14 9 42 49 −7 42
16 Real Salt Lake 34 11 15 8 38 48 −10 41
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) disciplinary points; 6) away goals scored; 7) away goal differential; 8) home goals scored; 9) home goal differential; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots
Notes:
  1. ↑

U.S. Open Cup

Orlando City entered the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with the rest of Major League Soccer in the fourth round.[42]

Media

Any matches that are not featured in the MLS national television package on either ESPN2, Fox Sports 1 or UniMás will air locally on WOFL FOX 35 or WRBW My65.[43] The commentary team will be Jeff Radcliffe on play-by-play and Kevin Hartman on color commentary, with Holly Bristow as sideline reporter. In addition, most matches not on the MLS national television package will be simulcast on Fox Sports Florida or Sun Sports to fans outside the Orlando market. Some matches will be placed on tape delay to accommodate Tampa Bay Rays and Florida Marlins baseball games.[44]

On the radio, matches will air on WTKS-FM "Real Radio 104.1" in English,[45] with Tom Traxler and Adam Schick providing the call. When City is on a nationally-televised match, Jeff Radcliffe will call the match on WTKS with Tom Traxler. Matches will also air on WONQ "La Grande 1030" in Spanish. The Spanish play-by-play announcer is Sergio Ruiz Torres, with color commentary by Israel Heredia. The Spanish radio feed will be used as the SAP Spanish feed on Fox Sports Florida and Sun Sports.[46]

Orlando City does not black out matches not on the MLS national television package on MLS Live, enabling local fans to watch matches live via live stream.[47]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "News". Orlando City Soccer Club.
  2. ↑ "Orlando City take top picks in 2015 Expansion Draft, MLS SuperDraft; NYCFC atop Allocation Ranking". MLSsoccer.com.
  3. ↑ "Orlando City's delirious stadium groundbreaking event takes club "another step closer to the dream"". MLSsoccer.com.
  4. ↑ Orlando Sentinel (May 29, 2015). "Orlando City to privately finance soccer stadium, pay back city". OrlandoSentinel.com.
  5. ↑ Orlando Sentinel (March 2, 2015). "Orlando City sells out Citrus Bowl for Major League Soccer debut". OrlandoSentinel.com.
  6. ↑ "2,000 Standing Room Only Tickets Released for Opening Day". Orlando City Soccer Club.
  7. ↑ "Anthony DiLorenzo on Twitter". Twitter.
  8. ↑ "Orlando City SC Receives Seventh Pick in MLS Dispersal Draft". Orlando City Soccer Club.
  9. ↑ "Goalkeeper Dan Kennedy selected first as MLS holds Chivas USA Dispersal Draft". MLSsoccer.com.
  10. ↑ "Orlando City SC Extends Head Coach Adrian Heath’s Contract Through 2017". Orlando City Soccer Club.
  11. ↑ Orlando Sentinel (January 7, 2015). "Orlando City nixes plans for Brazil preseason tour". OrlandoSentinel.com.
  12. ↑ Orlando Sentinel (August 26, 2014). "Orlando City Soccer and Seminole County agree to swap – Orlando Sentinel". OrlandoSentinel.com.
  13. ↑ "Orlando City & NYCFC Battle To 1–1 Draw In Front Of 62K". Orlando City Soccer Club.
  14. ↑ "Players". Orlando City Soccer Club. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
  15. 1 2 Oshan, Jeremiah (2014-06-30). "Kaka signs with MLS club Orlando City". sbnation.com. SB Nation.
  16. ↑ Graham Parker. "Brazilian star Kaká confirms move to MLS newcomers Orlando City". the Guardian.
  17. ↑ "Sources: Orlando City acquire goalkeeper Tally Hall in trade with Houston Dynamo". MLSsoccer.com.
  18. ↑ "Report: Union's Amobi Okugo to sign with Orlando City SC". Philly.com.
  19. ↑ Orlando Sentinel (December 7, 2014). "Report: Orlando City agrees to trade with Philadelphia Union for Amobi Okugo". OrlandoSentinel.com.
  20. ↑ Orlando Sentinel (December 8, 2014). "Orlando City trades for Aurelien Collin, Amobi Okugo". OrlandoSentinel.com.
  21. ↑ "Orlando City Executes Strategic Moves Following Expansion Draft". Orlando City Soccer Club.
  22. ↑ "Orlando City Signs Bryan Róchez as MLS Designated Player". Orlando City Soccer Club.
  23. ↑ Orlando Sentinel (December 18, 2014). "Orlando City selects goalkeeper Josh Ford in MLS re-entry draft". OrlandoSentinel.com.
  24. ↑ http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/12/19/watch-orlando-city-sc-make-major-announcement-friday-1-pm-et
  25. ↑ "Orlando City SC Signs Brazilian Defender Gustavo". Orlando City Soccer Club.
  26. ↑ "Orlando City SC acquire backline depth in trade for experienced Houston Dynamo left back Corey Ashe". MLSsoccer.com.
  27. 1 2 "Orlando City Trades Amobi Okugo for Servando Carrasco". Orlando City Soccer Club.
  28. 1 2 "Orlando City Acquires Adrian Winter and David Mateos". Orlando City Soccer Club.
  29. ↑ Gavin Ewbank. "Orlando City Acquires Adam Bedell From Columbus Crew For SuperDraft Pick". The Mane Land.
  30. ↑ "D.C. United acquires Jairo Arrieta". D.C. United.
  31. 1 2 "Orlando City waives Gustavo, Akeil Barrett". Orlando Sentinel.
  32. ↑ "Orlando City Trades Donovan Ricketts to LA Galaxy for 2016 Second Round SuperDraft Pick". Orlando City Soccer Club.
  33. ↑ "Orlando City SC waive defender Sean St. Ledger for "serious breach of club policy"". MLSsoccer.com.
  34. ↑ "Rapids acquire Irish international Sean St. Ledger". Colorado Rapids.
  35. ↑ Orlando Sentinel (August 5, 2015). "Orlando City and forward Martin Paterson agree to terminate contract". OrlandoSentinel.com.
  36. ↑ "Orlando City Acquires Defender Seb Hines on Loan with Option to Extend". Orlando City Soccer Club.
  37. ↑ "BBC Sport – Kaka: Brazilian to join Orlando City via Sao Paulo after AC Milan exit". BBC Sport.
  38. ↑ "Kaka loan spell at Sao Paulo officially comes to an end – Next stop? Orlando City". MLSsoccer.com.
  39. ↑ "Orlando City goalkeeper Josh Ford to join Ft. Lauderdale Strikers on loan". O-Town's 11.
  40. ↑ Orlando Sentinel (July 27, 2015). "Orlando City rookie Conor Donovan loaned to Pittsburgh Riverhounds". OrlandoSentinel.com.
  41. ↑ "Carolina Challenge Cup 2015 preseason tournament to feature New York City FC, Orlando City SC". MLSsoccer.com.
  42. ↑ "102nd Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Unveils Format, Record Number of Teams". ussoccer.com.
  43. ↑ "Orlando City Announces FOX 35 as Local Broadcast Partner". Orlando City Soccer Club.
  44. ↑ Orlando Sentinel (March 16, 2015). "Fox Sports to air select Orlando City matches this season". OrlandoSentinel.com.
  45. ↑ Michael Citro. "Orlando City Announces All Games Will Air on 104.1 FM". The Mane Land.
  46. ↑ "Orlando City Games to be aired in Spanish through La Grande 1030 AM". Orlando City Soccer Club.
  47. ↑ "MLS LIVE blackout policies". MLSsoccer.com.
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