KISSIMMEE, Fla. (June 13, 2024) – Orlando City B (4-4-5, 19 points) and Chattanooga FC (6-2-6, 28 points) played to a 2-2 draw at Osceola County Stadium on Thursday night, after both teams scored a goal in the final six minutes of regulation and stoppage time. Chattanooga would go one to steal the extra point by winning the end-of-regulation shootout 4-2.
In a back-and-forth contest early, Orlando City B was able to score first on Shak Mohammed’s team-leading sixth goal of the 2024 season. The score also moved Mohammed into a tie for sixth place on the MLS NEXT Pro leader board to this point in the season.
The final 10 minutes played between regulation and stoppage time saw both teams score a goal to send the game into an end-of regulation shootout. After Yeiler Valencia drew a foul inside the box, Jhon Solís punched in a penalty kick in the 89th minute for his third of the campaign. However, Chattanooga found yet another equalizer six minutes later when Duván Viáfara sent a shot into the back of the net.
Solís and Valencia would be the only Lions to score in the shootout following two big saves from Jean Antoine and Chattanooga came away with the extra point.
The Lions’ next match will be on the road at Belson Stadium to take on New York City FC II on Wednesday June 19. That match will kick off at 3 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Scoring Summary:
30’ Shak Mohammed (Imanol Almaguer) – ORL 1, CFC 0
The young Lions put pressure on Chattanooga throughout the first half and finally broke through on Shak Mohammed’s sixth goal of the season. After earning a corner kick, Imanol Almaguer sent the cross into the box and Mohammed was able to get his head to the ball and send it past the goalkeeper to give OCB the 1-0 lead.
56’ Mehdi Ouamri (Jesús Ibarra) – ORL 1, CFC 1
Early in the second half, the visitors pulled even with a breakaway goal. Jesús Ibarra took the ball into the Orlando defensive zone and dropped off a pass to Mehdi Ouamri in the middle of the field. Ouamri dribbled into the box through the Lions’ defense and drilled a shot past Javier Otero for the equalizer.
89’ Jhon Solís (Penalty Kick) – ORL 2, CFC 1
With the end of regulation coming, Orlando City B took the late lead on a Jhon Solís penalty kick. The Lions built a slow attack in the Chattanooga defensive third before Yeiler Valencia took control on the wing. Valencia put pressure on Chattanooga defender Jesse Williams before being taken down in the box and rewarded with a penalty kick. Solís stepped up for the ensuing kick and sent it past goalkeeper Jean Antoine.
90+5’ Duván Viáfara (Jude Arthur) – ORL 2, CFC 2
The Lions’ new lead did not last long, and Chattanooga pulled even in second-half stoppage time. After an initial free kick was saved and pushed off the post, Chattanooga FC regained possession and Jesús Ibarra sent a long cross into the box to Jude Arthur, whose header was directed to Duván Viáfara and knocked in the for the visitors’ second equalizer of the night.
Match Notes:
- Midfielder Shak Mohammed scored his team-leading sixth goal of the 2024 season. After Thursday night, Mohammed is tied for sixth in goals scored in MLS NEXT Pro.
- Midfielder Jhon Solís scored his third penalty kick goal of the season on the go-head goal in the 89th minute, serving as his fifth tally all-time for OCB
- Midfielder and captain Imanol Almaguer provided his first assist of the 2024 campaign, his fourth all-time.
- Head Coach Manuel Goldberg made no changes to his starting lineup from his side’s last match against Carolina Core FC.
