ORLANDO, Fla. (April 3, 2016) – Orlando City SC (2-0-2, 8 points) rose to the top of the Eastern Conference with eight points after a commanding 4-0 victory over the defending MLS Cup Champions, the Portland Timbers (1-2-1, 4 points), in front of an electric 31,114 fans on Sunday night. The Lions are currently one of two unbeaten teams across the league, and the only in the East.
The Lions imitated last year’s performance against the defending MLS Cup Champions last year, when they scored four goals in a dominant performance over the LA Galaxy at home on May 17.
“[We had] exceptional plays, great goals and big performances from a lot of players,” Orlando City Head Coach Adrian Heath said postgame. “As I said to the players after the game, if we believe in what we do and play with that same intensity, then certainly, in this place with our supporters behind us, we are a formidable force to deal with.”
Team captain Kaká made his 2016 season debut, after missing City’s first three matches due to injury, with two assists and one goal, taking the Lions to their second victory of the season after setting up City’s first two goals and scoring the third. The Brazilian helped open the scoring sheet in the 14th minute of play when he was awarded a free kick from 40-yards out. He sent a perfectly weighted ball in, allowing Seb Hines to surge above the Timber defense and head in the first goal of the match.
Nearly 20 minutes later, the Brazilian playmaker produced a clinical give-and-go with Brek Shea on the left side. After a quick one-two, Shea blasted the ball past Timbers’ goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey on the half volley--a laser into the upper 90 for his first Orlando City career goal.
Highlights: Orlando City Defeat the Timbers
Kaká was rewarded with a goal minutes into the second half, earning the score after winning the ball back for his team near midfield. The captain pick-pocketed the Timbers then sent the ball wide to Kevin Molino. Molino played the ball back in toward Adrian Winter on the right side, who used a deft touch back to Kaká and he was able to easily put the ball into the net.
The Club’s fourth and final goal came from the penalty spot with Molino netting his first professional goal after being dragged down in the box. From the spot, Molino sent a low shot to Kwarasey’s right, putting City up 4-0 in the 74th minute.
“For us to be where we are, top of the East, I’m delighted with that and hopefully that will give the guys some confidence to move on,” Heath added. “Hopefully [our fans] enjoyed the evening; They sounded like they did.”
Portland pulled a goal back in the 90th minute after the ball deflected off Jack McInerney’s back for the Timbers’ lone score.
Lions netminder Joe Bendik finished the match with three saves, including a couple from close-range and a 43rd-minute penalty kick stop on Fanendo Adi.
Orlando City will face Philadelphia Union at Talen Energy Stadium on Friday, April 8 at 7 p.m. The Lions return to the Orlando Citrus Bowl on April 17 to face the New England Revolution. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
First Half
13’ Orlando City is issued a free kick 40-yards out that is taken by captain Kaká. The midfielder sent in a perfectly placed ball that Seb Hines picked out of the air and headed past Adam Kwarasey to put the Lions up 1-0.
15’ Orlando is the first to be put in the books when Brek Shea is shown a yellow card 15 minutes in.
23’ Kaká has his first chance of the match after Cristian Higuita steals the ball in the middle and offered a pass across the box to the Brazilian. Kaká used just one touch, but was denied by Adam Kwarasey.
24’ After leaving the field moments earlier with an apparent injury, Cyle Larin officially exits the match and is replaced by Servando Carrasco.
32’ Brek Shea scores his first goal in purple for City with a highlight-reel goal in the 32nd minute. The defender collected the ball on the left side and worked a quick give-and-go with Kaká before blasting a laser shot into the upper 90--giving Kaká his second assist of the night with the goal.
38’ Portland’s Alvas Powell is issued a yellow card after a hard tackle near the sideline.
40’ Portland goes into the book again when Jack Barmby is shown a yellow card.
43’ Portland is awarded a penalty kick after Brek Shea is called for a handball in the box. Adi steps to the spot to take the kick for the Timbers, but City goalkeeper Joe Bendik makes a diving save to the right to secure the 2-0 lead heading into halftime.
45’ A minimum of three minutes of additional time is signaled.
Second Half:
46’ Aurélien Collin makes his first appearance of 2016, entering the match at the halftime break for Tommy Redding.
47’ After assisting on the first two goals, Kaká gets on the board just two minutes into the second half. The captain won the ball back from his team near midfield, and was eventually sent wide to Kevin Molino. Molino then returned the ball to the middle of the box toward Adrian Winter who used a nifty touch to drop the ball back to Kaká for an easy finish past Portland goalkeeper Kwarawey.
58’ The Timbers make two changes, bringing in Jack McInerney and Darren Mattocks for Fanendo Adi and Dairon Asprilla.
66’ Joe Bendik comes up with another big save for City, punching away a point-blank shot from Diego Valeri from 10-yards out.
68’ Bendik heeds the call again after Portland’s Valeri again puts a test on net, this time from a set piece from distance. The Timber midfielder powered a shot that looked to duck under the crossbar but Bendik was able to parry the ball away and out of play.
70’ Orlando City’s goalkeeper, Joe Bendik, is issued a yellow card in the 70th minute for time wasting.
74’ Portland is issued another yellow card with Jermaine Taylor
76’ After a flurry in the box, Kevin Molino is dragged down by Diego Chara and is awarded a penalty kick. Team captain Kaká handed the ball to Molino to take the set piece and the Trinidad and Tobago native did not waste the opportunity, scoring his first professional goal with a low, hard shot to Kwarasey’s right.
80’ Kaká’s night come to a close as the Lions make their final change, bringing in Carlos Rivas with 10 minutes remaining.
81’ Portland makes its final substitution with Ned Grabavoy coming in for Lucas Melano.
90’ The Timbers break Bendik’s bid for a shutout with an unconventional goal late. After a scramble in the box, Diego Valeri sends a desperation attempt toward the net that deflects off of Jack McInerney and into the net.
93’ The whistle blows and the Lions earn their first win at the Orlando Citrus Bowl this year, defeating Portland 4-1.
Scoring Summary
Teams |
1 |
2 |
Final |
|---|---|---|---|
Orlando City SC |
2 |
2 |
4 |
Portland Timbers |
0 |
1 |
1 |
Scoring Summary:
ORL - Seb Hines (Kaká) 13’
ORL - Brek Shea (Kaká) 32’
ORL - Kaká (Adrian Winter) 47’
ORL - Kevin Molino (PK) 76’
POR - Jack McInerney (Diego Valeri) 90’
Misconduct Summary:
ORL - Brek Shea (Yellow Card) 15’
POR - Alvas Powell (Yellow Card) 38’
POR - Jack Barmby (Yellow Card) 40’
ORL - Joe Bendik (Yellow Card) 70’
POR - Jermaine Taylor (Yellow Card) 74’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik , D Rafael Ramos, Tommy Redding (Aurélien Collin 46’), Seb Hines, Brek Shea, M Cristian Higuita, Darwin Cerén, F Kevin Molino, Kaká (Carlos Rivas 80’), Adrian Winter, Cyle Larin (Servando Carrasco 24’)
Substitutes: GK Earl Edwards, Jr., M Kevin Alston, F Hadji Barry
Portland: GK Adam Kwarasey, D Alvas Powell, Nat Borchers, Jermaine Taylor, Jack Barmby, M Diego Chara, Darlington Nagbe, Diego Valeri, Dairon Asprilla (Darren Mattocks 58’), F Fanendo Adi (Jack McInerney 58’), Lucas Melano (Ned Grabavoy 81’)
Substitutes: GK Jake Gleeson, D Taylor Peay, Zarek Valentin, M Jack Jewsbury
Details of the Game
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
April 3, 2016
Attendance: 31,114
Stats:
Shots:
ORL - 13
CHI - 10
Saves:
ORL - 1
CHI - 4
Corners:
ORL - 6
CHI - 2
