Team 1 2 Final
Orlando City 3 3 6
Florida Gulf Coast 0 0 0
Scoring Summary:
ORL- Freddie Braun (Kevin Molino) 15’
ORL- Jamie Watson (Penalty) 17’
ORL-Freddie Braun (unassisted) 37’
ORL-Dom Dywer (unassisted) 64’
ORL-Jonathan Mendoza (Bryan Burke) 67’
ORL-Nico Russo (unassisted) 69’
Lineup:
Orlando City- Miguel Gallardo, Bryan Burke, Freddie Braun, Yann Songo’o, Rob Valentino, Adama Mbengue, Kevin Molino, Jame Watson, James O’Connor, Jean Alexandre, Dom Dwyer
Match Facts:
Time of Match: 2 p.m.
Weather: Clear
Photo Credit: Mark Sims
SANFORD, Fla.— Orlando City SC continued the 2013 collegiate friendly series Saturday afternoon at the Seminole Soccer Complex in Sanford, Fla., with a 6-0 win over the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles. The match saw all four of Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City’s loanees earn time for the Lions, their first action with the team since the announcement of the players coming to Orlando City was made on Thursday morning.
“There’s always things to improve on and work after,” said Orlando City Head Coach Adrian Heath. “But overall I was pleased by the group effort.“
Orlando got on the board first, with consistent pressure early on from the Lions paying off 15 minutes into the first half. Midfielder Kevin Molino led the Florida Gulf Coast defense to the right side of the box, leaving former Portland Timber Freddie Braun open to convert the strike- giving Orlando the 1-0 lead early on.
Only two minutes later, Sporting KC loanee and Forward Dom Dwyer made a run on the right side of the pitch only to be taken down in the box by an Eagle defender. Jamie Watson confidently converted the penalty attempt, putting the Lions up 2-0. The scoring kept coming in the first half, with Braun converting his second of the match after slicing through the FGCU backline and rounding the keeper to easily convert the third goal of the afternoon.
Two Sporting Kansas City loanees started the game for the Lions, including Forward Dom Dywer and Defender Yann Songo’o. Christian Duke also saw time in the first half after Midfielder James O’Connor was sent off with a FGCU midfielder in the 44th minute due to a scrum at midfield. Goalkeeper Jon Kempin started the second half in relief of starter Miguel Gallardo, making it so all four loanees from Sporting played at the same time in the second half.
Head Coach Adrian Heath commented on the play on his four new players along with his thoughts on the squad moving forward.
“I think they all are going to contribute this year for us,” said Heath. “We have 22 players now who I think are capable of starting and playing at a high level. Competition for places on the starting XI will continue all the way through the regular season.“
Dwyer became the first to score from the four Sporting players, with the forward’s low-roller deflecting in the net after the attempt went off the FGCU’s goalkeeper’s hands to start off the second half. Orlando kept up the scoring, with Midfielder Jonathan Mendoza and trialist Nico Russo converting to give the Lions a 5-0 and 6-0 lead, respectively.
Orlando continues the 2013 collegiate friendly schedule this Thursday, March 21, against Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla. The match will be held at Barker Family Stadium at Cahill-Sandspur Field with the game kicking off at 7 p.m. The last time the Lions played at Barker Family, the squad faced legendary club A.S. Roma in an early-January friendly. For more information, visit Orlandocitysoccer.com.
