Orlando City B misses a chance against Carolina Core FC | OneFootball

Orlando City B has run into some roadblocks. But the squad still stands in the top six of the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference.

The Carolina Core FC put up a roadblock that Orlando City B couldn’t get past. They lost 1-0 in North Carolina. The loss came despite a late second-half chance to equalize.

Core defender Jathan Juarez got the only score in the 44th minute with an assist from fellow defender Ibrahim Covi.

Both teams kept up a fierce defense throughout the match. Orlando goalkeeper Carlos Mercado saved four of the five shots on target. But late in the game, they created a chance against Core netminder Alex Sutton.

That was when Orlando midfielder Jhon Solis sent a free kick toward the bottom left corner of the Core net. Sutton had to dive, but he saved the shot in the 79th minute.

Solis signed his 2025 contract with Orlando City B along with fellow midfielder Gustavo Caraballo and defender Zakaria Taifi.

In this match, Orlando City B was looking for dramatic execution as they’d enjoyed in previous matches from the likes of midfielder Justin Hylton. He only joined the squad from the Academy on June 1. In his first two career appearances, he recorded two game-winning assists, both in stoppage time.

His first assist came three minutes after hitting the pitch as a late substitute against Chattanooga FC. He set up midfielder Noah Levis for the game-winner.

Next, he did one better by setting up not only a game-winner but a come-from-behind victory. That went to Dyson Clapier in stoppage time.

But the drama didn’t come this match, despite the excellent chance in the 79th minute.

City B didn’t gain points with the 1-0 loss to the Carolina Core FC. But they did get midfielder Diego Pareja for his first start of the 2025 season. And they gave midfielder Dylan Judelson some time as he returned from the Canadian U17 team.

So get ready for some more dramatic finishes from Orlando City B.