2013 Orlando City SC season

Orlando City
2013 season
President Phil Rawlins
Manager Adrian Heath
Stadium Fifth Third Bank Field
USL Pro 2nd
USL Pro Playoffs Champions
U.S. Open Cup QF
WDW Pro Soccer Classic 7th
Top goalscorer League:
Dom Dwyer (15)[1]
All:
Dom Dwyer (21)[2]
Highest home attendance 10,697
August 11 v. Seattle Res.
20,886
Sept. 7 v. Charlotte (Championship)
Lowest home attendance 6,187
June 9 v. Antigua
Average home league attendance 8,053
Home colors
Away colors
Third colors

The 2013 Orlando City Soccer Club season was the club's third season of existence in Orlando. Orlando finished second in the overall regular-season table. They were declared 2013 USL Pro Champions after beating Charlotte Eagles 7–4 in front of 20,886 fans at the Fifth Third Bank Field at the Citrus Bowl.

Background

The first set of returning players was announced on November 7, 2012, including Jamie Watson, Miguel Gallardo, Rob Valentino, Anthony Pulis, Mechack Jérôme and Adama Mbengue. Notably not on the player list was captain Ian Fuller, who was only listed in the press release as "assistant head coach". He has been a player/coach the previous two seasons.[3]

The biggest news regarding the fixture was the announcement of a home-and-away series of preseason friendlies with Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League. The teams will play on March 9 in Orlando, and March 30 in St. Petersburg. They could also potentially meet at the 2013 Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic.[4]

In supporter news, the two largest supporters groups—The Ruckus, and the Iron Lion Firm—announced on November 18, 2012, that they were beginning discussions regarding the unification of the team's supporters groups.[5]

Orlando City played a friendly against A.S. Roma of the Italian top-flight league Serie A on January 2, 2013. Roma was in town on a training visit to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Roma won the match, 5–0.[6]

As part of the alliance between Major League Soccer and the United Soccer Leagues, Orlando City agreed to become the USL Pro affiliate club of Sporting Kansas City. They were matched with Seattle Sounders, and will play home and away matches against their reserve squad in the 2013 season.[7] The first loans made by Sporting Kansas City to Orlando City under the arrangement were forward Dom Dwyer, midfielder Christian Duke, defender Yann Songo'o and goalkeeper Jon Kempin.[8][9]

On February 15, 2013, the team announced that Fifth Third Bank had purchased naming rights to the stadium for Orlando City matches. The Citrus Bowl will be called Fifth Third Bank Field at the Citrus Bowl during Orlando City matches.[10]

Competitions

Friendlies

The most important part of the preseason for Orlando City was a local derby with the 2012 North American Soccer League champion Tampa Bay Rowdies. It was the first meeting between minor-league professional soccer teams based in the Greater Orlando and Tampa Bay areas since 1990, when the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Orlando Lions played in the American Professional Soccer League.[11]

The derby, referred to as the I-4 Derby after the road that connects the cities, was won by Orlando City, who took 3–2 victories in both matches, on March 9 in Orlando and March 30 in St. Petersburg. Additionally, the Lions also beat the Rowdies, 2–0, when they met in the 7th place game of the 2013 Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic on February 23.

WDW Pro Soccer Classic

I-4 Derby

USL Pro

All times from this point on Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-04:00)

USL Pro Regular Season

Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
26 16 6 4 54 26  +28 54 12 0 2 36 13  +23 4 6 2 18 13  +5

Source: Match reports

Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526
GroundAAHHAHHHAAAHHHHAAHAAHHAHAH
ResultWLWWDWWWWDWWWWLDDWDDWLWWLW

Updated to match(es) played on August 17, 2013. Source: Match reports
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Results
Standings
Pos Team Pld W T L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Richmond Kickers (C) 26 15 10 1 51 24 +27 55 Commissioner's Cup, Playoffs
2 Orlando City (A) 26 16 6 4 54 26 +28 54 Playoffs
3 Charleston Battery (A) 26 13 6 7 48 29 +19 45
4 Harrisburg City Islanders (A) 26 14 2 10 55 39 +16 44
5 Charlotte Eagles (A) 26 10 11 5 44 39 +5 41
6 Los Angeles Blues (A) 26 11 7 8 52 37 +15 40
7 Pittsburgh Riverhounds (A) 26 10 8 8 36 33 +3 38
8 Dayton Dutch Lions (A) 26 10 7 9 43 46 −3 37
9 Wilmington Hammerheads 26 11 4 11 35 39 −4 36[lower-alpha 1]
10 VSI Tampa Bay 26 9 5 12 41 39 +2 32
11 Rochester Rhinos 26 6 10 10 25 39 −14 28
12 Phoenix FC 26 5 7 14 28 41 −13 22
13 Antigua Barracuda 26 0 0 26 11 91 −80 0
Source: USL Pro official standings
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(A) Advances to USL Pro Playoffs; (C) Commissioner's Cup (best regular season record).
Notes:
  1. ↑ Wilmington were deducted one point for fielding an ineligible player on July 21 against Pittsburgh. [12]

USL Pro Playoffs

U.S. Open Cup

Qualification for the U.S. Open Cup began in November 2012 in the fifth tier. The format will be similar to the 2012 tournament, but with the two lowest-ranked USL Pro teams and two expansion USL Pro teams starting in the first round, and the remaining USL Pro teams (including Orlando City and NASL teams entering in the second round. On June 12, Orlando City reached the Quarterfinals, the farthest round ever reached in team history and the farthest USL Pro team in 2013, guaranteeing a $15,000 prize.

Club

Roster

Players which have been announced as re-signed with Orlando or for which Orlando exercised an option to retain.[13][14]

No. Position Player Nation
1 Goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo  Mexico
3 Midfielder Jonathan Mendoza  United States
4 Midfielder Ian Fuller (captain)  United States
5 Defender Kieron Bernard (Retired as of May 30[15])  Jamaica
6 Midfielder Anthony Pulis  Wales
7 Midfielder Bryan Burke  United States
8 Defender Erik Ustruck  United States
10 Midfielder Adama Mbengue  Senegal
12 Midfielder Christian Duke  United States
13 Defender Justin Clark  United States
14 Midfielder Luke Boden  England
15 Forward Dennis Chin  United States
16 Midfielder Freddie Braun  United States
17 Midfielder James O'Connor  Ireland
18 Midfielder Kevin Molino  Trinidad and Tobago
20 Midfielder Jean Alexandre  Haiti
21 Goalkeeper Jon Kempin  United States
22 Defender Rob Valentino  United States
23 Forward Long Tan  China
24 Defender Brian Fekete  United States
25 Defender Oumar Diakhite  Senegal
28 Forward C. J. Sapong  United States
29 Defender Kevin Ellis  United States
30 Goalkeeper Sean Kelley  United States
77 Forward Jamie Watson  United States

Squad information

No.Nat.PlayerBirthdayPrevious club2013 USL Pro appearances2013 USL Pro goals
Goalkeepers
1MexicoMiguel GallardoOctober 24, 1984United States Austin Lightning*15–
21United StatesJon KempinApril 8, 1993United States Sporting Kansas City†9–
30United StatesSean KelleyApril 18, 1988United States Northern Virginia Royals*5–
Defenders
2CameroonYann Songo'oNovember 19, 1991United States Sporting Kansas City†122
5JamaicaKieron Bernard‡August 2, 1985United States Austin Aztex U23*00
5BrazilRenan Boufleur‡January 4, 1990United States Phoenix FC132
7United StatesBryan BurkeJanuary 3, 1989United States Los Angeles Blues*161
8United StatesErik UstruckJanuary 4, 1985United States FC Tampa Bay121
13United StatesJustin ClarkOctober 17, 1988United States Rollins College6–
14EnglandLuke BodenNovember 26, 1988England Sheffield Wednesday F.C.24–
22United StatesRob ValentinoDecember 21, 1985United States Tampa Bay Rowdies245
24United StatesBrian FeketeApril 26, 1991United States GPS Portland Phoenix7–
25SenegalOumar DiakhiteDecember 9, 1993United States Orlando City U-231–
29United StatesKevin EllisJune 30, 1991United States Sporting Kansas City†4–
Midfielders
3United StatesJonathan MendozaJanuary 26, 1990United States Orlando City U-2317–
4United StatesIan FullerAugust 31, 1979United States Charleston Battery*8–
6WalesAnthony PulisJuly 21, 1984England Aldershot Town F.C.171
10SenegalAdama MbengueDecember 1, 1993United States Orlando City U-2314–
12United StatesChristian DukeJune 5, 1991United States Sporting Kansas City†201
16United StatesFreddie BraunMay 13, 1988United States Portland Timbers202
17Republic of IrelandJames O'ConnorSeptember 1, 1979England Sheffield Wednesday F.C.19–
18Trinidad and TobagoKevin MolinoJune 17, 1990Trinidad and Tobago Ma Pau SC162
20HaitiJean AlexandreAugust 24, 1986United States San Jose Earthquakes102
Forwards
9EnglandDom DwyerJuly 30, 1990United States Sporting Kansas City†1315
15United StatesDennis ChinJune 4, 1987United States Central Florida Kraze254
23ChinaLong TanApril 1, 1988United States D.C. United232
28United StatesC. J. SapongDecember 27, 1988United States Sporting Kansas City†51
77United StatesJamie WatsonApril 10, 1986United States Wilmington Hammerheads*2010

* = Denotes players who were retained after the move of the Austin Aztex FC organization to form Orlando City S.C.
† = Denotes players on loan through USL Pro-MLS Reserve League alliance
‡ = Retired as of May 30[15]

Transfers

In

    Out

    Loan In

    Loan Out

      Media

      For the 2013 season, all matches will stream live on the USL Nation website using the stadium feed. Occasional matches will appear on Bright House Sports Network, with USL Nation using that feed when available. Some home matches can be heard on the radio as well, either 740 the Game or 102.5/107.7-HD2 WLOQ.

      See also

      References

      1. ↑ League count is only USL Pro regular season and postseason
      2. ↑ Season count includes USL Pro regular season and postseason, I-4 Derby, Pro Soccer Classic, U.S. Open Cup, and summer friendlies.
      3. ↑ http://www.orlandocitysoccer.com/news/teamnews/?article_id=1141
      4. ↑ http://www.orlandocitysoccer.com/news/teamnews/?article_id=1142
      5. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=449546425103651&set=a.131919370199693.21937.124891880902442&type=1&relevant_count=1
      6. ↑ http://www.orlandocitysoccer.com/news/teamnews/?article_id=1167
      7. ↑ http://www.orlandocitysoccer.com/news/?article_id=1176
      8. 1 2 3 4 5 http://www.orlandocitysoccer.com/news/?article_id=1238
      9. 1 2 3 4 5 http://www.sportingkc.com/news/2013/03/sporting-kc-agrees-loan-four-players-usl-pro-affiliate-orlando-city-sc
      10. ↑ http://www.orlandocitysoccer.com/news/?article_id=1193
      11. ↑ http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1990/1990asl.htm
      12. ↑ "Hammerheads Have Point Deducted". www.uslsoccer.com. July 26, 2013. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
      13. ↑ Watson, Chin and Gallardo, among others, returning for 2013 (November 7, 2012).
      14. ↑ Pro Roster on OrlandoCitySoccer.com.
      15. 1 2 "Kieron Bernard Retires". Orlando City. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
      16. ↑ Wayne Rooney's brother John joins Barnsley (25 October 2012). BBC Sports.
      17. ↑ Barnsley move for Wayne Rooney's brother John on hold (17 October 2012). BBC Sports.
      18. ↑ "SPORTING KC SIGNS ORLANDO DEFENDER JEROME MECHACK". Retrieved 18 May 2013.
      19. ↑ http://www.orlandocitysoccer.com/news/pronews/?article_id=1448
      20. ↑ http://www.orlandocitysoccer.com/news/pronews/?article_id=1442
      21. ↑ Austin, Kurt. "Sporting Kansas City loans forward Dom Dwyer to Orlando City SC for USL PRO Championship". Sportingkc.com. Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
      22. ↑ http://www.orlandocitysoccer.com/news/pronews/?article_id=1440
      23. 1 2 http://www.orlandocitysoccer.com/news/pronews/?article_id=1473
      24. ↑ http://www.orlandocitysoccer.com/news/pronews/?article_id=1478
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