ORLANDO, Fla. (May 31, 2017) – Orlando City SC (7-5-2, 23 points) scored twice in the second half to top D.C. United (4-7-2, 14 points), 2-0, Wednesday at Orlando City Stadium. Cyle Larin scored his eighth of the season before Giles Barnes drove in his first goal as a Lion. It is City’s fourth clean sheet of the season and improves the Lions to 6-1-1 at home.
“Obviously really pleased to get the three points. Really, really pleased with the guys’ efforts and commitment level tonight,” Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said. “I think they [the players] got what they deserved, and I think they got the three points and they worked extremely hard for it.”
Giles Barnes, who came on for Luis Gil in the 59th minute, drew a foul on one of his many darting runs into the box in the 65th minute. Will Johnson curled the free kick to the far post for Larin, who, despite being completely wrapped by his defender, leaned into the cross and headed in his league-leading fifth game-winning goal of the season.
The Lions took a two-goal lead late in the match when Barnes received a pass in the middle of the pitch, took a touch and wired a shot off D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid’s hands and into the net.
City kept its fourth clean sheet of the season thanks in large part to heroic efforts from Jonathan Spector and Joe Bendik. In the 74th minute, after Lamar Neagle intercepted a back pass and took a touch around Bendik, Spector got in goal and somehow got in the way of the shot. The rebound flew straight up and gave Bendik an opportunity to recover before he soared through the air to swat away a sure tap-in and preserve the lead. Bendik finished with three saves.
The match was highlighted by solid performances from Carlos Rivas and Matías Pérez García. The two hustled around the pitch all night and created several opportunities. Pérez García enjoyed one of his better outings as a Lion and showed outstanding determination with and without the ball. Rivas was a force on the counter attack, offering an outlet to relieve pressure while making excellent decisions on the ball. Rivas’ performance garnered a standing ovation when he exited the match in the 83rd minute.
A thunderstorm delayed kickoff by 40 minutes.
Orlando City faces another quick turnaround ahead of its match against the Chicago Fire on Sunday, June 4. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Orlando City Stadium. The match will be nationally televised on Fox Sports 1.
Tickets to all City home matches are available at OrlandoCitySC.com or by calling 855-ORL-CITY. Follow the latest Orlando City news and updates via Facebook, Twitter,Instagram and YouTube.
First Half
1’ A steady rain falls as the match begins after a 45-minute lightning delay.
5’ Scott Sutter floats a lovely ball over the top for Luis Gil, who taps it back for Carlos Rivas. The Colombian and fires a shot that forces Bill Hamid into the save.
7’ Matías Pérez García collects a shot corner and fires a shot from distance that bounces wide.
20’ Donny Toia loses the ball at midfield but races back to regain possession.
21’ MPG chips the ball in for Rivas, whose subtle flick nearly finds Larin with space. Rivas gets another pass and fires a curling shot that gets a rise from the crowd.
25’ Jared Jeffrey rips a shot from nearly 30 yards that troubles Bendik momentarily but only enough for a soft rebound.
26’ Sutter drives a low cross in for Rivas and the Lions earn a corner. Toia’s header from outside the box gives Hamid pause.
33’ Jonathan Spector is well-positioned to get a foot in the way of a dangerous centering feed.
35’ Taylor Kemp is shown a yellow card for another harsh challenge on MPG. Donny Toia earns a yellow card.
39’ Larin lays it off for Gil to poke a shot from distance just over the bar.
40’ MPG takes a clever touch to find space on his left foot before firing a slow roller at Hamid.
45 (+1)’ Will Johnson combines with Gil to steal the ball before finding Larin with space up the left wing. The Canadian dribbles into the box before flicking a shot on frame.
45 (+2)’ After two minutes of added time, the referee ends the first half. Orlando City 0, D.C. United 0.
Second Half
46’ José Aja does well to get in front of a shot from the six-yard box.
56’ Julian Buescher skies his close-range attempt after a nice build-up by D.C.
59’ Giles Barnes enters the match in place of Luis Gil.
63’ Toia gets on the end of Barnes’ cross and blasts a first-time volley just over the bar.
66’ Johnson curls the free kick into a crowded six-yard box and finds the head of Larin, who had Steve Birnbaum all over him. Orlando City 1, D.C. United 0.
68’ Rivas races up the pitch and cuts a perfectly placed pass back for Larin at the top of the area but his shot is blocked.
71’ Rivas’ clever touch springs the attack and Barnes darts up the left wing. He slips it inside for Rivas, who drives the net and creates a rebound. MPG flies in but his attempt goes wide.
73’ Tony Rocha enters the match in place of Matias Perez Garcia after an excellent shift by the Argentine.
74’ Crisis averted. Aja’s errant back pass is intercepted and Lamar Neagle takes a touch past Bendik. Spector just gets in goal and somehow blocks the shot. The rebound goes straight up and Bendik flies in to keep a sure goal out to preserve the lead.
82’ The Lions put together a beautiful sequence of passes. From the left wing, Rivas passes to Barnes, who back-heels it first time to Higuita. Higuita one-touches it inside for Larin and gets it right back before slipping a through ball to Sutter but Hamid comes out to make the stop.
83’ Antonio Nocerino enters the match in place of Carlos Rivas. The Colombian exits to a standing ovation.
88’ Barnes blasts a shot that goes off Hamid’s hands and bounces into the net. Orlando City 2, D.C. United 0.
90 (+3)’ After three minutes of added time, the referee ends the match. Orlando City 2, D.C. United 0.
Scoring Summary:
ORL - Cyle Larin (Will Johnson) 66’
ORL - Giles Barnes 88’
Misconduct Summary:
DC - Taylor Kemp (Yellow Card) 35’
ORL - Donny Toia (Yellow Card) 35’
ORL - Joe Bendik (Yellow Card) 65’
DC - Lloyd Sam (Yellow Card) 66’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Donny Toia, Jonathan Spector, José Aja, Scott Sutter, M Matías Pérez García (Tony Rocha 73’), Ⓒ Will Johnson, Cristian Higuita, Luis Gil (Giles Barnes 59’), F Carlos Rivas (Antonio Nocerino 83’), Cyle Larin
Substitutes Not Used: GK Josh Saunders, D Léo Pereira, Rafael Ramos, M Servando Carrasco
D.C. United - GK Bill Hamid, D Taylor Kemp, Kofi Opare, Steve Birnbaum, Chris Odoi-Atsem, M Marcelo Sarvas, Jared Jeffrey, Luciano Acosta (Sebastien Le Toux 46’), Julian Buescher (Alhaji Kamara 76’), Lloyd Sam (Patrick Nyarko 69’), F Lamar Neagle
Substitutes Not Used: GK Travis Worra, D Chris Korb, Jalen Robinson, M Ian Harkes
Details of the Game:
Time: 8:18 p.m. ET
Weather: Rainy
Date: May 31, 2017
Attendance: 24,112
Stats:
Possession:
ORL - 57.2%
NYC - 42.8%
Shots:
ORL - 19
DC - 10
Saves:
ORL - 3
DC - 3
Fouls:
ORL - 13
DC - 7
Corners:
ORL - 5
DC - 5
