MATTHEWS, N.C. (April 19, 2024) – Orlando City B (2-1-2, 9 points) defeated Crown Legacy FC (0-2-3, 5 points) for the first time in team history in a 2-0 victory Friday night at Sportsplex at Matthews. The OCB win also marked the first time in its history Crown Legacy has lost on its home pitch in the regular season.
Defender Alex Freeman’s first-half goal put Orlando up early in the match. The game-winning goal was Freeman’s first goal of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season. Wilfredo Rivera’s first assist of the season helped set up the Freeman goal.
Friday night was full of other firsts for the Lions. Forward Shak Mohammed joined Freeman with his first goal of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season and goalkeeper Javier Otero earned his first clean sheet of the year with six saves in the match.
The Lions will return for their first true home match on Sunday, April 28, when they welcome Toronto FC II to Osceola Heritage Park. That matchup will air on MLSNEXTPro.com with kick scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.
Scoring Summary:
35’ Alex Freeman (Wilfredo Rivera) - ORL 1, CLFC 0
With the second half winding down, the Lions got the opening goal from defender Alex Freeman. Midfielder Wilfredo Rivera got in behind the Crown Legacy defense off a Jhon Solís through ball and sent in a low cross to Freeman in the middle of the box. Freeman’s one-touch shot was drilled past goalkeeper Chituru Odunze to the top-left corner of the goal.
76’ Shak Mohammed (Yutaro Tsukada) - ORL 2, CLFC 0
The Lions extended their lead halfway through the second half on a Shak Mohammed header. Yutaro Tsukada stepped up for the team’s free kick from outside the Crown Legacy box. The cross sailed into the middle of the box and Shak Mohammed was able to head it in past the goalkeeper.
Match Notes:
- Alex Freeman scored his first goal of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season on a setup from Wilfredo Rivera, who also picked up his first assist of the season.
- Shak Mohammed also scored his first goal of the 2024 season late in the second half.
- With six saves, goalkeeper Javier Otero earned his first clean sheet of the season.
- With the win Friday night, Orlando got its first-ever win against Crown Legacy FC. The loss was also Crown Legacy’s first ever at home.
- Head Coach Manuel Goldberg made one change to his starting lineup from his side’s last match against Philadelphia Union II, with Manuel Cocca getting the start on the night.
