KISSIMMEE, Fla. (July 13, 2025) – Forward Justin Ellis netted his second consecutive brace to lead Orlando City B (7-7-3, 26 points) to a 3-1 victory over Carolina Core FC (3-7-7, 19 points) at Osceola County Stadium. The win evens the season series between the two sides and propels Orlando City B into second place in the Southeast Division.
Ellis opened the scoring in the first half and doubled the Lions’ lead in the 54th minute with a composed penalty kick. Carolina Core responded in the 75th minute through forward Joshua Rodríguez, but Orlando quickly restored their two-goal cushion. In the 84th minute, forward Thalles scored his first goal for the club, finishing a low-driven shot into the bottom left corner after a pinpoint through ball from defender Jackson Platts.
Goalkeeper Carlos Mercado was a standout performer, recording 11 saves on 12 shots, his second double-digit save performance of the season.
Up next, Orlando City B hits the road for a two-game trip, beginning with a matchup against New England Revolution II on Sunday, July 20. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, with the match streaming live on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Scoring Summary:
22’ Justin Ellis – ORL 1, CCFC 0
54’ Justin Ellis (Penalty Kick) – ORL 2, CCFC 0
75’ Joshua Rodriguez (Derek Cuevas) – ORL 2, CCFC 1
84’ Thalles (Jackson Platts) – ORL 3, CCFC 1
Match Notes:
- Justin Ellis recorded a brace for the second straight match, bringing his season tally to six goals in 2025.
- Thalles netted his first career goal for Orlando City B in the 84th minute.
- Jackson Platts earned his second career assist for OCB, setting up Thalles’ goal with a well-placed through ball.
- Nico Rodríguez, a forward from Orlando City SC, made his debut appearance for Orlando City B.
- Head Coach Manuel Goldberg made one change to the starting lineup from the previous match against Crown Legacy FC, inserting Nico Rodríguez into the midfield.
