Match report: Tablante scores, but Orlando City B falls on road to Crown Legacy FC

MATTHEWS, N.C. (May 5, 2023) – Orlando City B (4-2-1, 14 points) dropped a 3-2 decision to Crown Legacy FC on Friday night at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex. The Lions scored multiple goals in the match for the sixth time in the Club’s first seven games to start the season. 

City’s Moises Tablante found the back of the net in the first half scoring an absolute beauty of a goal from a very tight angle. Tablante has now scored in back-to-back matches after finding the game-winning goal in second-half stoppage time of the Club’s most previous match against Toronto FC II. Tablante joins five other teammates to score multiple goals for the Lions so far this season.

Scoring Summary:

2’ Iuri Tavares (Nikola Petkovic) – CLT 1, ORL 0
Crown Legacy opened the scoring early in the match with Nikola Petkovic lofting a cross into the box which found Iuri Tavares, who was able to rise up and head the ball into the back of the net.

39’ Moises Tablante (Jhon Solís) – ORL 1, CLT 1
The Lions leveled with Moises Tablante getting on the counterattack after receiving the ball from Jhon Solís and sprinting down the left flank. Tablante got into the box, took the defender on and fired the ball into the roof of the net from near the endline.

45+2’ Jack Neely (Own Goal) – ORL 2, CLT 1
The Lions took the lead right before the halftime whistle after they earned a free kick from just outside the box. City’s Cristian Medina sent in a gorgeous ball which pinged around and bounced off a couple different players before eventually going off of Crown Legacy’s Jack Neely and crossing the goal line.

71’ Thiago (Philip Mayaka) – CLT 2, ORL 2
The home side leveled the match with Thiago receiving the ball from Philip Mayaka at the top of the box and firing a shot at goal which took a deflection and did enough to guide the ball into the net.

73’ Iuri Tavares (Nicholas Scardina) – CLT 3, ORL 2
Crown Legacy quickly took the lead with Tavares receiving the ball at the back post from Nicholas Scardina, taking a touch off his thigh and firing a shot from right in front of the net into the goal.

Match Notes:

• Moises Tablante recorded his second goal of the season with the first-half finish.
• Jhon Solís tallied his first assist of the year as well as his first goal contribution for the Club in the 2023 campaign.
• The Lions have now scored multiple goals in six of their seven matches to start the season.

Next Match: The Lions will travel to Columbus, Ohio, to take on Columbus Crew 2 on Sunday, May 14 at Historic Crew Stadium. Kickoff for the match is set for 2 p.m. ET.