Lions seek to have improved chemistry

KISSIMMEE — As Orlando City prepares for its second home game of the season, the team is looking to improve on its chemistry between strikers and midfielders.

The Lions’ first two games saw similar strengths and weaknesses — the team shut down counterattacks and possessed fluidly through the middle of the field but failed to convert that possession into scoring opportunities in the attacking third.

To striker Tesho Akindele, the breakdown in creating chances comes from a slight lack of connection between the midfielders and the strikers. This disconnect was visible.

Sometimes, strikers made a run into open space where midfielders weren’t prepared to send a pass. At other times, a midfielder fed a through ball where a striker wasn’t prepared to run.

“We just didn’t create enough chances, enough dangerous opportunities,” Akindele said. “That’s probably something we’re going to work on this week is just kind of finding that connection. We just kind of need to get our timing down.”

Akindele said the new formation Orlando City used at Colorado that featured three new starters created an added difficulty, as players worked to click with teammates who they hadn’t played game minutes with before.

It was a small change, but in the early stages of the season, these shifts can lead to a disconnect between players who don’t quite understand one another’s rhythm yet. With more game minutes together, Akindele said these partnerships will strengthen.

Although his team has struggled to score during its opening pair of games, coach Oscar Pareja said his players have the correct vision for the team’s play. Creating a cohesiveness across this field, he says, will allow that vision to become reality on the pitch.

“The idea of the game is there,” Pareja said. “The players understood the idea since the first day, and they’re doing a great job from that point. I know the results will come but they’re doing a great job, especially in that part of the field where they are linking together.”

Dwyer takes next step in recovery

After suffering a lower body injury during preseason, striker Dom Dwyer has not participated in any training with Orlando City for the last four weeks. On Tuesday, he took his first step toward returning to contact training with the team by joining the Lions on the field in Kissimmee.

Although Dwyer watched film and entered training with his teammates, his actual workout was completely separate. On Wednesday, the striker didn’t even participate in casual games of 5v2 during warm-ups, although he stood close by to tease his teammates and pass in a new ball occasionally.

Dwyer kicked a ball against the wall of the training facility to warm up for a few minutes, then worked in isolation with a trainer, using resistance bands to continue the gradual work of rebuilding lower body flexibility and strength.

Pareja said Dwyer’s expectations for returning to contact will continue to be touch-and-go as he progresses.