2021 Orlando City Player Grades: Goalkeepers

TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA - 2021/07/17: Pedro Gallese (1) in action during the MLS game between between Toronto FC and Orlando City SC at BMO Field. (Final score; Toronto FC 1-1 Orlando City SC). (Photo by Angel Marchini/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA - 2021/07/17: Pedro Gallese (1) in action during the MLS game between between Toronto FC and Orlando City SC at BMO Field. (Final score; Toronto FC 1-1 Orlando City SC). (Photo by Angel Marchini/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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GK Brandon Austin

The Tottenham Hotspur loanee was the original number two goalkeeper for Orlando City before he was recalled by the London-based side at the end of July. Austin was an interesting prospect with some pedigree, coming from an elite Premier League club, but he wasn’t overly impressive in his five starts.

Austin had three wins and two losses as a starter, with one clean sheet, giving him the same clean sheet and point total as Stajduhar. He conceded eight goals, making eight saves at 50%. His post-shot expected coal difference was a pretty dismal -3.2, meaning he allowed three more goals than average based on the shots he faced. Austin also completed just 69% of his passes and under 40% of his long balls.

I don’t want to make wholistic judgements based just on stats, but it’s hard not to be a touch disappointed by Austin’s performances. He was very much a backup goalkeeper in his handful of months in Orlando, and he frankly wasn’t as good as Stajduhar in that role. Not awful, but not the strongest season for Austin in his brief Orlando City career.

Grade: C