Following its first win of the 2017 United Soccer League (USL) season, Orlando City B (1-0-2, 3 points) hosts the Charlotte Independence (0-0-1, 0 points) to close out its three-game homestand on Saturday, April 8. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Orlando City Stadium.
Tickets to OCB’s match can be purchased here or by calling 855-ORL-CITY. The match will be streamed online at www.OrlandoCitySC.com/LIVE.
“They’re a good side, I like the way they play. They had a really impressive last year and we’ve watched some tape on them from the preseason and obviously the first game at Charleston last weekend,” OCB Head Coach Anthony Pulis said. “They’ve got some good players. They’re really well organized and have got good shape. Going to be a really difficult task for us.”
Saturday marks the fourth all-time meeting between the two teams, with the Lions unbeaten in two matches at Titan Soccer Complex last season. After being down at the half on May 28, 2016, Pierre Da Silva opened OCB’s scoring account with a powerful left-footed strike into the bottom corner. The midfielder’s impressive night continued in the 70th minute when his whipping free kick found centerback Craig Nitti’s head to capture a 2-1 victory. Then on July 2, 2016, the Lions bounced back from a one-goal deficit when forward Michael Cox fired home a Zach Hayden cross into the top corner to earn a 1-1 draw.
OCB is coming off of a massive 3-1 win at Orlando City Stadium against Toronto FC II on Tuesday night. The Lions dominated from the opening kickoff and were rewarded in the 16th minute when former Independence midfielder Paul Clowes beat goalkeeper Angelo Cavalluzzo to Zach Carroll’s cross for his first professional goal. Richie Laryea then dribbled to the top of the box and laid it off for Da Silva, who made a delicate pass across the box for Hadji Barry to finish. The second half brought more explosive attacks from OCB’s final third and in the 51st minute the Lions secured the win when Da Silva shrugged off a Toronto defender before passing back to captain Lewis Neal to bury into the roof of the net.
The Lions were led by a strong defensive performance from Léo Pereira and Carroll paired together with First Team players Kevin Alston and PC at the outside back positions. Goalkeeper Earl Edwards, Jr. made his presence felt once again as he commanded his box the entire second half.
Charlotte is coming off of a 2-0 loss against Charleston Battery. Forward Romario Williams scored in the 70th minute, and defender Forrest Lasso finished off Charlotte with a header seven minutes later. The Independence are led by returning starters Enzo Martinez and Jorge Herrera. The two combined for 16 goals and 10 assists in 2016.
OCB hits the road for a three-game road trip on Friday, April 14, against New York Red Bulls II. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET. OCB then visits the Harrisburg City Islanders and Bethlehem Steel FC on April 18 and 23, respectively, before returning to Orlando City Stadium on April 27 to face Saint Louis FC.
