TORONTO – August 5, 2015 – In its second match in five days, Orlando City SC (7-10-6, 27 points) fell to Toronto FC (9-8-4, 31 points) 4-1 at BMO Field on Wednesday night.
Despite missing Kaka for the second time this season, along with several additional players out due to injury, Orlando City managed to open the game on the strong foot by creating a number of threatening chances early on.
In the third minute of play, 20-year-old rookie Cyle Larin escaped for a one-on-one opportunity after receiving Corey Ashe’s ball over the top. However, Toronto goalkeeper Joe Bendik produced a crucial diving save to prevent the Canadian from scoring and breaking the rookie goal-scoring record.
Shortly afterward, Sebastian Giovinco tallied the first of his three goals on the night, after forcing a penalty in the 12th minute. City responded five minutes later when strong build up play from Cristian Higuita and Darwin Ceren created space for Luke Boden to curl an effort into the back of the net from the edge of the area, leveling the scoreline and marking Boden’s first career MLS goal.
However, the second half featured three additional goals for the Reds, beginning with a free-kick from Giovinco that rattled off the post and into the back of the net in the 56th minute of play. Collen Warner’s header and Giovinco’s finish on a counter-attack in the final ten minutes of the match secured the 4-1 victory for the home side.
“I thought we started quite bright. Cyle had a couple of early opportunities, and I thought we started okay,” said head coach Adrian Heath. “But as I said to the players at halftime, I thought we were fortunate to still be in the game with the way that we played. I was disappointed with the response in the second half. We have to get better, and the players who we’re bringing in can’t come quickly enough.”
First Half:
3’ Cyle Larin opened the game with a golden opportunity to break the rookie single-season scoring record and put his team ahead 1-0. While running on to a clipped ball from Corey Ashe, Larin broke free for a one-on-one chance against Joe Bendik, but the goalkeeper made a diving save to force a corner.
12’ The Lions would get caught on the counter when Sebastian Giovinco found space on the left-hand-side, driving into Orlando’s box before being brought down by defender Aurelien Collin. The Italian playmaker slotted away the ensuing penalty, recording his 14th goal of the season.
17’ However, Orlando would respond just five minutes later. Beginning with crafty combination play between Higuita and Ceren, the ball found its way to Boden who curled it past Bendik into the back of the net for his first career goal in MLS.
19’ Marky Delgado came close to giving the home side the lead shortly afterward, with well-struck effort that just missed the far post.
30’ With 15 minutes remaining in the half, the Lions continued to win the possession battle (55-45) as both teams remained level 1-1.
41’ Moments before the halftime whistle, Tally Hall was called upon to make a crucial save when Giovinco was slipped in behind, producing a big-time save to keep things level.
45 (+1) At the end of the first half, both teams went into the break even 1-1.
Second Half:
56’ Giovinco found the back of the net early in the second half to give Toronto the lead. After earning a dangerous free-kick in the middle of the park, just outside the Lions’ area, Giovinco fired a lethal effort that rattled off the post on its way into the goal to record his 15th goal of the season.
61’ In response, Heath made his first two changes of the night, bringing on Lewis Neal and Pedro Ribeiro for Corey Ashe and Eric Avila.
75’ In the middle of the second half, Toronto became reluctant to commit heavy numbers forward as the Reds aimed to sit back and preserve their one-goal advantage.
81’ Matters became worse for the Lions with eight minutes remaining when Collen Warner’s header from a short corner snuck into the back of the net.
88’ Giovinco secured a hat-trick on a late counter-attack, cutting to his left-foot before firing into the bottom corner. The goal moved the midfielder into first place in MLS for goals scored (16), passing Columbus Crew SC’s Kei Kamara.
90 (3)’ The referee blew the final whistle, resulting in a 3-1 victory in Toronto’s favor.
Scoring Summary:
TOR: Sebastian Giovinco (Penalty Kick) 12’
ORL: Luke Boden (Cristian Higuita) 17’
TOR: Sebastian Giovinco (Unassisted) 57’
TOR: Collen Warner (Jonathan Osorio) 81’
TOR: Sebastian Giovinco (Benoit Cheyrou) 88’
Misconduct Summary:
ORL: Seb Hines (Yellow Card) 7’
ORL: Darwin Ceren (Yellow Card) 55’
TOR: Benoit Cheyrou (Yellow Card) 75’
ORL: Servando Carrasco (Yellow Card) 75’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC - GK Tally Hall, D Corey Ashe (Lewis Neal 61’), Aurelien Collin, Seb Hines, Tyler Turner, M Darwin Cerén, Cristian Higuita, Luke Boden, Servando Carrasco, Eric Avila (Pedro Ribeiro 61’), F Cyle Larin
Toronto FC - GK Joe Bendik, D Justin Morrow, Ahmed Kantari, Damien Perquis (Eriq Zavaleta 82’), Jackson Goncalves, M Benoit Cheyrou, Jonathan Osorio, Collen Warner (Daniel Lovitz 87’), Marky Delgado, F Sebastian Giovinco, Robbie Findley (Jay Chapman 71’)
Match Facts:
Time of Match: 8:00 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
August 5, 2015
Attendance: 26,648
Stats:
Shots:
ORL: 5
TOR: 21
Corners:
ORL: 4
TOR: 3
Offside:
ORL: 2
TOR: 2
Fouls:
ORL: 17
TOR: 18
Saves:
ORL: 5
TOR: 2
The Lions will return to the Orlando Citrus Bowl on a Saturday, August 8, for a match-up against the Philadelphia Union. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
