ORLANDO, Fla. (March 18, 2017) – In its second match of the season, Orlando City SC (2-0-0, 6 points) rode opportunistic attacking and stout defending to defeat the Philadelphia Union (0-1-2, 2 points) 2-1 Saturday in front of another sellout crowd at Orlando City Stadium. Cyle Larin notched a brace and Carlos Rivas earned his third assist of the season and made his 50th career MLS appearance.
“I really thought everyone’s effort was spectacular. I thought it was another really strong performance defensively, really from the entire group,” Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said. “But from the back four, when you look at each individual player and how many important plays they made, headers they made, tackles they won in the box, being in the right place at the right time I’d say all four of those guys had big, big nights for us. Credit to the guys, they took it on.”
The Lions got on the board in the 39th minute when Rivas, while fighting off two defenders, drove a low cross to Larin inside the six-yard box. The Canadian slammed home his second goal of the season.
City’s back line, unchanged from its clean sheet victory over New York City on Opening Day, held strong throughout the match. José Aja was physical yet disciplined against Union attackers CJ Sapong and Chris Pontius. He showed continued chemistry with fellow center back Jonathan Spector as they forced Philadelphia into three offsides.
Philadelphia broke through, though, in the 52nd minute when Alejandro Bedoya found CJ Sapong for a header from close range.
Pushed on by the 25,527 purple clad supporters in attendance, the Lions fought to maintain their perfect home record. Rivas showed outstanding drive and hustle, making countless runs onto long balls and dribbling at defenders up both wings. In the 73rd minute, the 22-year-old, making his fourth consecutive start dating to 2016, made a slick backheel pass to Matías Pérez García. The Argentine immediately freed Larin in behind and the 2016 MLS All-Star fired past Union goalkeeper Andre Blake for his sixth career multi-goal game.
“It’s really pleasing to see Cyle get a couple goals,” Kreis said. “His partner up there, he deserves a couple as well so I wouldn’t want to say anything about the forwards without saying how important Carlos Rivas was to the performance tonight as well.”
The Union pressed higher for the equalizer and came within inches late in the match. A Philadelphia shot from outside the box rang off the far post and ricocheted across the face of goal. Seconds later, goalkeeper Joe Bendik came up with a huge save when he leapt through the air and batted Bedoya’s header from point-blank range.
The match saw Orlando City Pro Academy product Pierre da Silva make his MLS debut. Da Silva came on for Rivas in the 89th minute. Da Silva became the first player in Club history to climb from the Pro Academy to Orlando City B, the Club’s United Soccer League (USL) affiliate, to the First Team when he was signed on Jan. 20.
MLS will go on an eight-day hiatus for FIFA International dates from March 20-28. City will face Columbus Crew SC on Saturday, April 1, at 4 p.m. ET in an UniMás national TV broadcast. The Lions return to Orlando City Stadium on Sunday, April 9, when they host the New York Red Bulls.
Tickets to all City home matches are available at OrlandoCitySC.com or by calling 855-ORL-CITY. Follow the latest Orlando City news and updates via Facebook, Twitter,Instagram and YouTube.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:
First Half
3’ Matías Pérez García sprints onto a loose ball on the right wing and earns a corner. The Argentine curls an in-swinging ball that goalkeeper Andre Blake catches high in the air.
7’ After Cyle Larin was fouled 35 yards from goal, Pérez García drives a dangerous ball to the far post but Philadelphia clears.
9’ Carlos Rivas lifts a gorgeous ball 30 yards across the pitch over the Union back line to Larin in the box. The Canadian takes a touch but can’t flick it over an oncoming Blake.
11’ Jonathan Spector does well to intercept a pass in front of his own box before darting through space to lead the charge. Spector slides a through ball for Rivas but the Colombian can’t catch up to it.
15’ Spector blocks Chris Pontius’ centering pass and Will Johnson does well to collect the ball in the box and prevent a corner kick.
18’ Rivas draws a free kick on the right wing 25 yards from the near post. Pérez García floats a ball to Larin but his header is blocked and cleared.
20’ From well inside his own half, José Aja bombs the ball up field so high that Oguchi Onyewu can’t head it away from danger, instead directing it backwards and off his own crossbar. Larin and Rivas try to capitalize on the mayhem but the Union clear.
22’ Pérez García floats a ball to Antonio Nocerino streaking to the near post. Blake comes out to stop Nocerino’s first-time shot.
35’ Spector fearlessly blocks a shot from CJ Sapong with his face from point-blank range.
39’ Rivas fights off two defenders before rifling a cross to Cyle Larin, who just needed to make contact to slam the ball home from one yard out.
45’ Aja follows Sapong across to the left side of the field to stop him from receiving a throw-in that would have put him in alone.
45 (+1)’ Pérez García sprints up the left wing, blocks an attempted clearance, gets up and continues sprinting onto the loose ball.
45 (+3)’ After three minutes of added time, the referee ends the first half. Orlando City 1, Philadelphia Union 0.
Second Half
52’ Philadelphia gets on the board with CJ Sapong’s header after Alejandro Bedoya got a touch on it.
60’ Servando Carrasco lifts a clever header for Rivas, who does well to control and get back on his feet before crossing to Pérez García and earning a corner.
68’ After several hard runs up the wing, Rivas makes a clever backheel pass while fighting off a defender to find Pérez García with space.
69’ Rivas connects with Giles Barnes to earn a corner kick. Will Johnson delivers an in-swinging ball that Blake catches in traffic.
71’ Cristian Higuita enters the match in place of Servando Carrasco.
73’ Pérez García slips a ball in behind for Cyle Larin, who races onto it and slots it past Blake for his third goal of the season.
76’ Aja clears the danger from the box and sets up the counter attack. Pérez García, Rivas and Larin sprint up the pitch and Pérez García passes to Larin, but his shot goes over the bar.
81’ Hadji Barry enters the match in place of Pérez García.
89’ After an exceptional performance, Carlos Rivas leaves the match. Pierre Da Silva takes his place, marking his MLS debut.
90 (+3)’ Joe Bendik makes an absolutely spectacular save to preserve the lead. Bendik leaps in the air and swats away Bedoya’s header from point-blank range.
90 (+4)’ After four minutes of added time, the referee ends the match. Orlando City 2, Philadelphia Union 1.
Scoring Summary:
ORL - Cyle Larin (Carlos Rivas, Jonathan Spector) 39’
PHI - CJ Sapong 52’
ORL - Cyle Larin (Matías Pérez García) 73’
Misconduct Summary:
ORL - Carlos Rivas (Yellow Card) 25’
PHI - Oguchi Onyewu (Yellow Card) 28’
ORL - Matías Pérez García (Yellow Card) 80’
PHI - Haris Medunjanin (Yellow Card) 80’
ORL - Jonathan Spector (Yellow Card) 82’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Donny Toia, Jonathan Spector, José Aja, Ⓒ Will Johnson, M Antonio Nocerino, Servando Carrasco (Cristian Higuita 71’), Giles Barnes, Matías Pérez García (Hadji Barry 81’), F Carlos Rivas (Pierre Da Silva 89’), Cyle Larin
Substitutes Not Used: GK Josh Saunders, D Tommy Redding, PC, M Richie Laryea
Philadelphia Union - GK Andre Blake, D Fabinho, Richie Marquez, Oguchi Onyewu, Keegan Rosenberry, M Haris Medunjanin, Derrick Jones (Roland Alberg 77’), Ⓒ Alejandro Bedoya, Chris Pontius (Fafa Picault 86’), Fabian Herbers (Ilsinho 61’), F CJ Sapong
Substitutes Not Used: GK John McCarthy, D Raymon Gaddis, Jack Elliott, M Warren Creavalle
Details of the Game:
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
Date: March 18, 2017
Attendance: 25,527
Stats:
Possession:
ORL - 51.5 %
PHI - 48.5 %
Shots:
ORL - 10
PHI - 13
Saves:
ORL - 1
PHI - 3
Fouls:
ORL - 13
PHI - 12
Corners:
ORL - 5
PHI - 7
