Orlando City B (6-7-3, 23 points) vs Carolina Core FC (3-6-7, 19 points)
When: Sunday, July 13, 7 p.m. ET
Where: Osceola County Stadium, Kissimmee, Fla.
TV: Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Good Things Come in Twos
In last Sunday’s shootout victory over Crown Legacy FC, forward Justin Ellis delivered all the scoring for Orlando City B, recording the first brace of his professional career. Ellis opened the scoring in the 30th minute, slipping behind his defender to finish a short cross from midfielder Gustavo Caraballo right in front of goal. He later equalized from the penalty spot with a low-driven strike, leveling the match with just over 10 minutes remaining in regulation. So far in the 2025 season, Ellis has tallied five goals in 10 appearances. He also claimed the Golden Boot at the Generation adidas Cup, netting six goals to lead the Orlando City Academy U-18s to their first title in the tournament’s history.
Looking for Revenge
Sunday’s match will mark the second meeting of the season between Orlando City B and Carolina Core FC. The two sides last faced off exactly one month ago, on June 11 in High Point, North Carolina, where Core FC edged out a 1-0 win. Now back at Osceola County Stadium, OCB will aim to even the score in this Eastern Conference rivalry. A victory would mark the young Lions’ first-ever win in the all-time series against Carolina Core.
Guaranteed for Goalie Wars
Goalkeeper Carlos Mercado has been recognized for his standout shot-stopping abilities with an invitation to compete in MLS NEXT Pro’s Goalie Wars at the 2025 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge – becoming the first Orlando City B goalkeeper to earn the honor. Since joining OCB ahead of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season, Mercado has recorded 142 saves across 32 matches, along with five clean sheets. His most impressive performance came at the end of last month, when he notched a career-high 12 saves against Philadelphia Union II.
Going Back-to-Back
Orlando City midfielder and homegrown talent Gustavo Caraballo has notched assists in back-to-back matches – both to fellow Orlando City Academy products. Against Philadelphia Union II, Caraballo delivered a pinpoint corner to set up defender Jackson Platts’ first goal of the season. He followed that up with a short cross to forward Justin Ellis, who opened the scoring in last Sunday’s match against Crown Legacy FC. These two assists mark the first of Caraballo’s Orlando City B career.
