ORLANDO – September 13, 2015 – Orlando City SC (8-13-8, 32 points) midfielder Adrian Winter scored his first two goals in purple to lead the Lions in a 3-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City (11-8-8, 41 points) before 22,241 fans at the Orlando Citrus Bowl tonight.
Recording the fastest goal in Club history - Major League Soccer (MLS) or USL - Winter headed home a cross from Luke Boden to give the Lion’s a 1-0 lead in the 3rd minute. He added an insurance goal in the 72nd minute on an assist from Lewis Neal.
Sporting attempted to change the pace of the game when Krisztian Nemeth equalized midway through the second half, but substitutions early in the second 45 from head coach Adrian Heath inspired a two-goal second half from City.
City midfielder Brek Shea returned to the pitch to a rousing fan response, entering the game in the 61st minute for Carlos Rivas. Shea’s first touches on the ball resulted in a beautiful assist to Honduran international Bryan Rochez, who also opened his scoring account for the Lions with his first career MLS goal, which served as the game winner.
“I think we deserved it [the win]. I thought we started really well. We didn’t allow them to settle,” said Heath. “I am really pleased for the players and delighted for our supporters, who have been incredible. We’ve given them something to cheer tonight. I think it has been a really good night for everybody. All the teams around us are all vying for that last place. We are all going to be in Montreal’s hands, but they have a lot of games to play in not many days. We will see where we go. Tonight gave us another chance and we got close to that red line.”
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First Half:
3’ Orlando City opened the game in ideal fashion when Adrian Winter nodded home Luke Boden’s set-piece, marking the fastest goal in Club history. The finish was also Winter’s first as a Lion.
5’ City came close to doubling its lead two minutes later when Lewis Neal followed up on Cyle Larin’s chance, but Sporting goalkeeper Jon Kempin did just enough to push it wide for a corner.
17’ Dom Dwyer produced Sporting’s first real threatening chance of the game when he got on the end of Graham Zusi’s corner, but his header went just over the crossbar.
22’ Good build-up play from City led to another prime opportunity when Rivas was released in behind by Winter for a clear-chance on goal. The Colombian attempted a first-time effort though and pulled it wide of the near-post.
32’ With the first half winding down, Orlando City controlled a slight edge in possession (51-49).
45 (+1)’ Winter’s goal was the difference at the half, as the Lions ventured into the locker-room up 1-0 after the first 45.
Second Half:
50’ Larin came close to breaking the single-season scoring record for a rookie when Neal played him in behind, but his final effort was high of the target.
55’ Neal had another golden opportunity when Rafael Ramos pulled the ball back to him inside the area, but his close-range attempt was parried by Kempin, who made a dive full-stretch to push it wide.
59’ However, a giveaway inside the Lions’ half would change the pace of the game when Krisztian Nemeth ran at the defense and blasted his strike into the far corner.
61’ After bringing on Bryan Rochez early in the second half for Larin, Heath made his second change of the night - replacing Rivas with Brek Shea who was making his first appearance after being injured since late June.
65’ Both substitutes made an immediate impact on the game when Shea was released down the left-hand-side and drove forward into the box, before pulling it back to Rochez who calmly tucked it past Kempin and into the back of the net.
72’ City’s excellent team play continued midway through the second half when a clever one-two between Neal and Winter led to the Swiss international’s second goal of the game.
80’ Jordi Quintilla fired a long-range effort to try and pull Sporting back into the game but just missed the target.
88’ In the final two minutes of the game, Dwyer was sent off for a challenge on City center-back David Mateos.
90 (+2) The referee signaled for full-time, resulting in an impressive 3-1 win for the Lions.
Scoring Summary:
ORL: Adrian Winter (Luke Boden) 3’
SKC: Krisztian Nemeth (Unassisted) 59’
ORL: Bryan Rochez (Brek Shea) 65’
ORL: Adrian Winter (Lewis Neal) 72’
Misconduct Summary:
SKC: Matt Besler (Yellow Card) 83’
ORL: Brek Shea (Yellow Card) 83’
SKC: Dom Dwyer (Red Card) 88’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC - GK Tally Hall, D Rafael Ramos, David Mateos, Aurelien Collin, Luke Boden, M Cristian Higuita, Servando Carrasco, Adrian Winter (Eric Avila 73’), Carlos Rivas (Brek Shea 61’), Lewis Neal, F Cyle Larin (Bryan Rochez 57’)
Unused Subs: GK Earl Edwards Jr., D Tommy Redding, Seb Hines, F Danny Mwanga
Sporting Kansas City - GK Jon Kempin, D Saad Abdul-Salaam, Matt Besler, Kevin Ellis, Seth Sinovic, M Benny Feilhaber (Jordi Quintilla 73’), Soni Mustivar, Krisztian Nemeth, Jacob Peterson, Graham Zusi, F Dom Dwyer
Unused Subs: GK Mitchell, D Jalil Anibaba, Bernardo Anor, Jordi Quintilla, M Amadou Dia, M Mikey Lopez, F Marcel de Jong
Match Facts:
Time of Match: 7:00 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
September 13, 2015
Attendance: 22,241
Stats:
Shots:
ORL: 8
SKC: 9
Corners:
ORL: 3
SKC: 5
Offside:
ORL: 2
SKC: 4
Fouls:
ORL: 13
SKC: 11
Saves:
ORL: 2
SKC: 1
Orlando City’s next match will take place against the Chicago Fire on Saturday, September 19, at Toyota Park. Kick-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET.
The Lions will return to the Orlando Citrus Bowl on Saturday, October 3, to host the Montreal Impact. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
