ORLANDO, Fla. (March 30, 2017) – In the first United Soccer League (USL) match at Orlando City Stadium, Orlando City B (0-0-2, 0 points) fell to Louisville City FC (1-1-0, 4 points) by a 3-1 final in front of 2,741 fans, an OCB home game record attendance. Ryley Kraft and Joe Gallardo made their professional debuts and Léo Pereira and Ben Polk made their OCB debuts.
“I thought we possessed the ball better than what we did at the Rowdies last weekend but it still needs to be better. We got the ball in some decent areas in midfield but that final pass or into the final third needed to be a little more clinical,” OCB Head Coach Anthony Pulis said. “In possession we want to be more positive. I thought there were too many occasions where our players were quite happy to play that safe backwards or square pass when really we want to be more positive.”
Midfielder Austin Martz showed his blistering pace throughout the match, tearing up and down the right wing until his departure from the match in the 81st minute. Martz, who joined OCB in the offseason from the Wilmington Hammerheads, curled in several dangerous crosses, including the one that bounced off Louisville defender Tarek Morad and into the net for the Lions’ first goal of the season.
“I think you’ve seen with Austin how dynamic he is. He obviously caught our eye last year when he was in Wilmington,” Pulis said. “Really, really quick. Presses well. He’s a threat for the opposition’s back line because of how dynamic he is."
That marker equalized the match and goalkeeper Earl Edwards, Jr., making his second consecutive start for the first time in his professional career, did outstanding work to keep the match level. The San Diego, Calif., native built off a strong diving save in the eighth minute with several point-blank saves. Edwards, Jr. made himself big to reject a shot from George Davis IV in the 34th minute. Edwards, Jr. finished with five saves and currently ranks second in the USL in saves with nine.
Kraft, the 18-year-old midfielder signed on March 8, made his professional debut and played a full 90 minutes in the holding midfield alongside veteran Lewis Neal and showed maturity beyond his years. Kraft was consistently in proper position to stop Louisville City’s attack and opened the play with several cross-field passes.
The Lions looked to draw even after Davis IV’s go-ahead goal and nearly found it several times. Working up the left wing, Pierre Da Silva served a beautiful cross into the box for Dikwa Albert, who made his second appearance, but the Cameroonian’s header was stopped by a diving Tim Dobrowolski. OCB forced Dobrowolski into three saves.
The match saw OCB play its first game at Orlando City Stadium. 2,741 purple clad supporters made their voices and drums heard and they cheered on OCB for the first time this season. The attendance is the most ever at an OCB home game. It also saw Pereira make his OCB debut. Pereira was the first player moved between Orlando City and Clube Atlético Paranaense since the two clubs announced a formal partnership.
OCB returns to action on Tuesday, April 4, against Toronto FC II. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Orlando City Stadium. The Lions face another quick turnaround when they host the Charlotte Independence on Saturday, April 8. Tickets can be purchased at www.OrlandoCitySC.com/OCB/tickets or by calling 855-ORL-CITY.
Scoring Summary:
LOU - Cameron Lancaster (George Davis IV) 11’
OCB - Tarek Morad (Own Goal) 42’
LOU - George Davis IV (Richard Ballard) 57’
LOU - Luke Spencer (Niall McCabe 64’)
Misconduct Summary:
OCB - Michael Cox (Yellow Card) 58’
OCB - Léo Pereira (Yellow Card) 90 (+3)’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City B - GK Earl Edwards, Jr., D Kevin Alston, Conor Donovan, Zach Carroll, Léo Pereira, M ⓒ Lewis Neal, Ryley Kraft, Austin Martz (Danny Deakin 81’), Pierre Da Silva, F Ben Polk (Dikwa Albert 46’), Michael Cox (Joe Gallardo 81’)
Substitutes: GK Jake Fenlason, D Zach Ellis-Hayden, Scott Thomsen, M Paul Clowes
Louisville City FC - GK Tim Dobrowolski, D Kyle Smith, Oscar Jimenez, Sean Totsch, Tarek Morad, M Brian Ownby (Guy Abend 70’), Richard Ballard (Niall McCabe 64’), George Davis IV, Speedy Williams, Paolo DelPiccolo, F Cameron Lancaster (Luke Spencer 29’)
Substitutes: GK Micah Bledsoe, D Sean Russell, Paco Craig
Details of the Game
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
March 30, 2017
Attendance: 2,741
Stats:
Possession:
OCB - 51%
LOU - 49%
Shots:
OCB - 10
LOU - 17
Saves:
OCB - 5
LOU - 3
Corners:
OCB - 4
LOU - 6
Fouls:
OCB - 10
LOU - 11
