In the second match of a three-game homestand, Orlando City B (5-6-6, 21 points) drew the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (5-7-5, 20 points) 0-0 to pick up its fifth clean sheet of the season Saturday night at Orlando City Stadium.
“I thought we played some really good football. We moved the ball well through the lines, created numerous chances, our defensive organization was really good when you consider we had one day with that group of players to work with them,” OCB Head Coach Anthony Pulis said. “Two points dropped rather than a point gained. Having said that, the chance they had at the end, they probably could’ve nicked it.”
The starting lineup featured seven First Team players. Goalkeeper Earl Edwards, Jr. made his 15th start of the season and had First Team defenders Rafael Ramos, Seb Hines and Léo Pereira along with Timbó. Tony Rocha saw his first minutes with OCB since May 27 with Austin Martz, Paul Clowes and captain Lewis Neal. Hadji Barry and Richie Laryea, fresh off his first three career MLS appearances, started up top. First Team defender Conor Donovan was in the 18-man roster.
The Lions held strong possession of the ball throughout the match. Ramos blasted a sharp-angle shot in the 27th minute to force Pittsburgh goalkeeper Keasel Broome into the save.
Working with Laryea and Martz, Barry was a force in the attacking third. The Guinean forward had several strong looks at goal, including a header that glanced off the far post in the 49th minute. Barry finished with two shots and completed 92 percent of his passes.
Pittsburgh’s first chance of the night came in the second half. In the 63rd minute, Edwards made a huge save, sending Romeo Parkes’ shot for a corner. The Riverhounds nearly stole three points when Kevin Kerr shot the ball straight toward Edwards but the ball hit off the crossbar and landed over the net. Edwards finished with two saves.
Orlando City B finishes the season series with four points from two games against the Riverhounds following the Lions’ June 3 win in Pittsburgh.
The match was delayed 30 minutes due to inclement weather.
OCB finishes the three-game homestand when it hosts I-4 Derby rival Tampa Bay Rowdies on Thursday, July 13. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Orlando City Stadium.
Tickets to all Orlando City B home matches can be purchased at orlandocityb.com/tickets or by calling 855-ORL-CITY.
