It was a difficult preseason for Orlando City midfielder Cristian Higuita. He came into training camp low on fitness and had loads of new competition for spots in the lineup. It took a few months, but Higuita has now emerged a key contributor to this 2018 Lions squad.
Higuita made his first appearance of the year out of a necessity. RJ Allen came down with an injury in the first half against Philadelphia and Higuita was thrown into action, taking Will Johnson’s place in the midfield so that the veteran could move to right back.
It’s a classic and overused sports saying. You always need to be ready for your opportunity. Well, Higuita was ready that night and helped Orlando earn their first clean sheet of the season.
“Cristian Higuita is the perfect example,” said Kreis about the rise in competition at training. “He’s been really, really training well and training hard now for the past several weeks and has put himself in a position where he’s ready for his opportunity and his opportunity came and he reached out and took it with both hands. That’s when it means something going forward”
Kreis rewarded Higuita for his performance, giving him the start the following week against San Jose.
Has something changed in Higuita this season? Will Johnson thinks so.
“He seems different to me this year,” Johnson said. “He seems more focused, more engaged, more ready, a little more mature. I think sometimes we forget how young he is and inexperienced. We continue to support him and help him grow because we know what he’s capable of.”
For Higuita, that maturity has developed from learning and growing alongside the team’s veteran leaders.
“Thanks to them because with their help I’ve matured a lot from day to day,” said Higuita. “They’ve helped me improve as a player. I feel I can play more and I want to help them.”
Higuita and Orlando City will hope to continue their momentum this Sunday afternoon in Colorado.
