The 2017 Orlando City SC season was the club's seventh season of existence in Orlando, and third season in Major League Soccer, the top-flight league in the United States soccer league system. The team opened the season with a 1–0 win over New York City FC, at the newly completed Orlando City Stadium.
Background
On December 29, 2016, club president Phil Rawlins announced his reduced role in the organization, acting as a liaison for the clubs and their brand in league matters (such as the MLS Expansion Committee), and consulting on the board of directors. The day-to-day operational duties were handed over to CEO Alex Leitão. In recognition for his nine years of service, owner Flavio Augusto da Silva announced that Phil's position would become permanent, bestowing the title of life-president. One of his first actions, on January 4, 2017, was to dedicate the 49 rainbow-colored seats in Section 12 of the new stadium to permanently honor the victims and families of those affected by the Pulse tragedy on June 12, 2016.
Roster Last updated on August 10, 2017 NationalityNamePosition(s)Date of birth (age)Previous clubNotesGoalkeepers1Joe Bendik GK Toronto FC–28Josh Saunders GK New York City FC –36Earl Edwards Jr. GK UCLA Bruins–Defenders2Jonathan Spector CB Birmingham City–3Seb Hines CB Middlesbrough–4José Aja CB NacionalINT12Kevin Alston LB New England Revolution–21Scott Sutter RB BSC Young BoysINT22Conor Donovan CB NC State WolfpackGA25Donny Toia LB Montreal Impact–27Rafael Ramos RB S.L. Benfica Juniors U-19–29Tommy Redding CB FC AmericaHGP94PC LB Fort Lauderdale StrikersINT95Léo Pereira CB Athletico ParanaenseLoan in, INTMidfielders5Servando Carrasco DM Sporting Kansas City–6Richie Laryea AM Sigma FC–7Cristian Higuita CM Deportivo Cali–8Will Johnson (vice-captain) CM Toronto FC–10Kaká (captain) AM A.C. MilanINT, DP15Dillon Powers DM Colorado Rapids–16Tony Rocha CM Orlando City B–23Antonio Nocerino (vice-captain) DM A.C. MilanINTForwards9Cyle Larin CF Connecticut HuskiesGA11Carlos Rivas RW Deportivo CaliINT, DP13Hadji Barry CF UCF Knights–14Giles Barnes CF Vancouver Whitecaps FC–18Dom Dwyer CF Sporting KC–19Yoshimar Yotún LW Malmö FFINT, DP98Pierre da Silva LW Orlando City B–
Staff
ExecutiveCoaching staff
Competitions
Friendlies The Lions finish the preseason 2–2–2. Their first official match at the new stadium is a 3–1 friendly win against USL side St. Louis FC.
Major League Soccer
All times in regular season on Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−04:00) except where otherwise noted.
The MLS schedule was released on January 12. Orlando City played its first regular season match in their new stadium on March 5, against their expansion rivals NYCFC. New expansion teams for this year are Minnesota United FC, led by former coach Adrian Heath, and Atlanta United FC. The squad goes into the season riding a 2-game winning streak, besting the Union at Philadelphia, and D.C. United at Camping World Stadium last October.2016 Orlando city SC season/Results
The team announced two sellouts on February 21: the Home Opener vs. NYCFC on March 5, and the L.A. Galaxy on April 15.Orlandosentinel.com/sports/Lions opener is a sellout
Officials with the Atlanta Stadium group announced on April 18 that the retractable roof will not be completed in time for their planned opening match between Atlanta United FC and Orlando City SC on July 30, forcing moving the game to Bobby Dodd Stadium on July 29. The Lions visited Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 16, playing to a 3–3 draw, in front 70,425 fans. The game set an MLS attendance record, and registered as 4th-largest crowd in the world this season.
Results summary
Results
Standings Eastern Conference table
Overall table
U.S. Open Cup
Orlando City entered the tournament in the fourth round against Miami FC, who had beaten the Tampa Bay Rowdies 2–0 on May 31, 2017.
Player statistics
Appearances
Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the + symbol where applicable.
! colspan=10 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|Goalkeepers
! colspan=10 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|Defenders
! colspan=10 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|Midfielders
! colspan=10 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|Forwards
|colspan="10"|Players who appeared for the club but left during the season:
Goalscorers
NameTotal19FW Cyle Larin12012210MF Kaká606311FW Carlos Rivas507418FW Dom Dwyer40414FW Giles Barnes31468MF Will Johnson20272DF Jonathan Spector1013DF Seb Hines1015MF Servando Carrasco10119FW Yoshimar Yotún10121DF Scott Sutter10123MF Antonio Nocerino10132MF Matías Pérez García101Total39140
Shutouts
NameTotal 1 1 Joe Bendik 7 0 7Total707
Disciplinary record
NameTotal 1GK Joe Bendik1000001002DF Jonathan Spector4100004103DF Seb Hines1010001014DF José Aja4100004105MF Servando Carrasco1100001106MF Richie Laryea2000002007MF Cristian Higuita9000009008MF Will Johnson6000006009FW Cyle Larin10000010010MF Kaká60100060111FW Carlos Rivas30000030016MF Tony Rocha10000010017MF Luis Gil10000010019FW Yoshimar Yotún20000020021DF Scott Sutter10000010023MF Antonio Nocerino20100020125DF Donny Toia40000040027DF Rafael Ramos00110010129DF Tommy Redding30000030032MF Matías Pérez García30000030094DF PC10110020195DF Léo Pereira400100500Total60353006335
Player movement Per Major League Soccer and club policies, terms of the deals do not get disclosed.
MLS SuperDraft picks Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. The 2017 draft was held on January 13, 2017. Orlando had one selection.
2017 Orlando City MLS SuperDraft Picks Round Selection Player Position College Status 3 64 Danny Deakin CF University of South Carolina Signed
Transfers in NameTransferred fromFee/notesDateRef.25 Donny Toia LB Montreal Impact Traded for 1st Round Pick in 2017 MLS SuperDraft December 23, 2016 Patrick McLain GK Chicago Fire Acquired in MLS Re-Entry Draft December 16, 2016 8 Will Johnson CM Toronto FC Free agent acquisition December 28, 2016 94 PC LB Fort Lauderdale Strikers Free agent acquisition January 4, 2017 98 Pierre da Silva LW Orlando City B Promoted to First Team from Orlando City B January 21, 2017 2 Jonathan Spector CB Birmingham City Undisclosed January 24, 2017 28 Josh Saunders GK New York City FC Traded for 4th-round selection in 2019 MLS SuperDraft January 27, 2017 14 Giles Barnes CF Vancouver Whitecaps FC Player Exchange February 25, 2017 21 Scott Sutter RB BSC Young Boys International Roster Slot acquisition March 3, 2017 30 Danny Deakin CF None Signed with Orlando City B April 19, 2017 95 Léo Pereira CB Orlando City B Occupying International Roster Slot Vacated by Matias Perez Garcia; Recalled to First Team June 28, 201718 Dom Dwyer CF Sporting KC Exchange for General, Targeted, and Future Allocation Money July 25, 201719 Yoshimar Yotún LW Malmö FF International Roster Slot acquisition; Targeted Allocation Money; Removed DP tag from Giles Barnes August 5, 201715 Dillon Powers DM Colorado Rapids Player Exchange for Luis Gil and Targeted Allocation Money August 10, 2017
Loans in NameLoaned fromNotesDateRef. March 3, 2017 Moussa Sane ST AS Dakar Sacre Soeur Assignment to Orlando City B; Loan expired April 6, 2017 Luis Gil AM Querétaro FC On Loan April 14, 2017 Léo Pereira CB Clube Atlético ParanaenseSeason-long Loan
Transfers out NameTransferred toFee/notesDateRef.14 Luke Boden LB Tampa Bay Rowdies Option declined November 23, 2016 2 Tyler Turner RB LA Galaxy II Option declined November 23, 2016 15 Pedro Ribeiro CM Harrisburg City Islanders Option declined November 23, 2016 19 Júlio Baptista CF CFR Cluj Option declined November 23, 2016 8 Harrison Heath CM Atlanta United FC Traded for 4th-round selection in 2019 MLS SuperDraft December 16, 2016 45 Mikey Ambrose LB Atlanta United FC Selected No. 7 overall in 2016 Expansion Draft December 13, 2016 18 Kevin Molino RW Minnesota United FC Exchange for General Allocation Money January 26, 2017 Patrick McLain GK Minnesota United FC Exchange for Targeted Allocation Money January 26, 2017 20 Brek Shea LW Vancouver Whitecaps FC Player Exchange February 25, 2017 30 Danny Deakin CF Orlando City B Waived off of Roster; option to sign with OCB April 14, 2017 32 Matías Pérez García AM Tigre Waived off of Roster; International Roster Slot Open June 28, 2017 17 Luis Gil AM Colorado Rapids Player Exchange with Targeted Allocation Money August 10, 2017
Loans out Because of the inclusion of Orlando City B to the new stadium for home games, player movement between the two squads became possible for both teams. Some members who had MLS contracts had the "Right of Recall" option, applicable at any time to the first-team roster.
NameLoaned toNotesDateRef. March 10, 2017 Devron García DM Real C.D. España Season Long Loan, expired 11/8/17 March 24, 2017 Earl Edwards Jr. GK Orlando City B Richie Laryea AM Conor Donovan CB Expired 11/8/17 Kevin Alston RB Expired 11/8/17 Pierre da Silva LW Tommy Redding CB PC LB Hadji Barry CF Expired 11/8/17 April 7, 2017 Moussa Sane ST Transfer Process Completed April 26, 2017 Rafael Ramos RB OCB Returns Home to Face Saint Louis FC Josh SaundersGKExpired 11/8/17 Seb HinesCBExpired 11/8/17
Notable events
Orlando Health was the jersey sponsor for the seventh consecutive season. New primary home kits were unveiled at the Fan Forum on Friday, February 17.orlandocitysc.com/post/2017/02/17/orlando-city-cominghome-new-kits
On April 22, it was announced that Orlando City, alongside 3 other MLS clubs, would wear a special kit in commemoration of the Earth Day. The kit, made entirely with recycled plastic from the Maldives at the Indian Ocean, was made by Adidas in conjunction with the Parley for the Oceans foundation, in order to address marine plastic pollution in the world. Orlando used this kit in an away game against New York City FC on April 23.
On May 8, the USSF announced that Orlando City Stadium would join other MLS clubs in hosting FIFA World Cup Qualifiers for the 2018 tournament. The venue hosted the October 8 home match between the United States against Panama. It was the first national team fixture in Orlando since a friendly against Sweden in 1998.OrlandoSentinel.com/sports/Orlando-set-to-host-qualifier
The fourth round draw of the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, announced on May 18, had the Lions hosting the winner of Miami FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Orlando City Stadium the second week of June (see above).
Starting Goalkeeper Joe Bendik posted back-to-back years of 100+ saves before the team's largest win of the season, a 6–1 victory over the New England Revolution on September 27 at Orlando City Stadium.
With the New York Red Bulls win on October 7, the Lions were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs for the 3rd straight year.
Captain and first Designated Player Kaká declined a one-year extension on his contract in October 2017. He played his final match, assisting on Dom Dwyer's goal, and was subbed off in the 65th minute of a friendly fundraiser against the Puerto Rico national team on November 4.
On November 7, Orlando City Stadium was among 5 venues announced to host matches for the 2018 Florida Cup. It hosted the tournament's opening games on January 10–11, 2018.
References