KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Aug. 18, 2024) – Orlando City B (6-6-9, 31 points) scored two late first-half goals in a 3-2 win over New York City FC II (9-5-5, 34 points) on Sunday night at Osceola County Stadium. Since joining MLS NEXT Pro in 2022, the Lions have gone unbeaten against New York City with a record of 3-0-3.
New York took the early lead in the 23rd minute with a rebound goal after Orlando City B goalkeeper Carlos Mercado’s initial penalty kick save. However, the Lions would take the lead into the locker room with two goals just a minute apart courtesy of Yutaro Tsukada and Jhon Solís right before the end of the first half.
Forward Shak Mohammed scored his ninth goal of the season on the game winner in the 63rd minute. Tsukada picked up his fifth assist of the 2024 season setting up the Mohammed header.
The Lions will start a short two-game road trip on Friday, Aug. 23 when they visit Fifth Third Bank Stadium to take on Atlanta United 2. That match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET and can be seen on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Scoring Summary:
23’ Camil Azzam Ruiz – NYC 1, ORL 0
Midway through the first half, the visitors took advantage of a foul inside the OCB box. New York City midfielder Máximo Carrizo led an attack inside the Lions’ box before being taken down. Forward Camil Azzam Ruiz stepped up and took the ensuing penalty kick, but it was turned away from goalkeeper Carlos Mercado. Azzam Ruiz recovered the rebound and sent the follow-up shot into the back of the net to give the Pigeons a 1-0 lead.
45’ Yutaro Tsukada (Luca Petrasso) – ORL 1, NYC 1
The Lions found their equalizer just before the end of the first half. Defender Luca Petrasso gained control in the team’s defensive end and sent it forward to Yutaro Tsukada. After beating his defender near midfield, Tsukada dribbled through the defense and ripped a shot from outside the box that snuck past goalkeeper Will Meyer.
45+1’ Jhon Solís – ORL 2, NYC 1
Just a minute later, OCB notched another goal to take the lead into halftime. Colin Guske intercepted a NYC pass and passed it up to Jhon Solís, who turned and attempted a high-arching pass into the box. A New York defender attempted to clear the ball, but Solís gained control again from just inside the box and after dribbling through the defense, drilled a shot into the left side of the net to give the Lions their first lead of the night.
63’ Shak Mohammed (Yutaro Tsukada) – ORL 3, NYC 1
The young Lions added another goal to their lead just after the 60-minute mark in the match. After winning a corner, OCB played it short to Tsukada outside the New York box. Tsukada sent a high pass in front of the goal and Shak Mohammed finished the play off with a header.
85’ Ronald Arévalo (Nicholas Kapanadze) – ORL 3, NYC 2
New York City cut into the Lions’ lead with a late goal from Ronald Arévalo. The visitors built up an attack and Nicholas Kapanadze received a pass just out the OCB box and dropped a pass off to Arévalo who ripped a shot past goalkeeper Carlos Mercado to cut the lead to one.
Match Notes:
- Forward Yutaro Tsukada scored his fifth goal of the season with his equalizer in the 45th minute. It was his first goal since May 26 against Huntsville City FC.
- Defender Luca Petrasso picked up his second assist of the season on the Tsukada goal.
- Midfielder Jhon Solís recorded his fourth goal of the season and first since June 13 against Chattanooga FC.
- Forward Shak Mohammed scored his team-leading ninth goal of the 2024 season, tied for fifth-most in MLS NEXT Pro.
- Tsukada picked up his fifth assist of the season on the Mohammed finish, tying Alex Freeman for most on the Club.
- Coming in as a second-half substitute, defender Manuel Cocca made his first appearance for OCB since June 13 against Chattanooga FC.
- The Lions matched their second-highest goal total of the 2024 season with three goals, most since a 5-0 win over Huntsville City FC on May 26.
- OCB picked up its first ever home win against New York City FC II. The win also extended the Club's unbeaten streak over the Pigeons to six games.
- The Lions handed New York City’s its first road loss since its season opener, breaking a nine-game unbeaten streak.
- Head Coach Manuel Goldberg made two changes to his starting lineup from his side’s last match against Crown Legacy FC with Luca Petrasso and Favian Loyola returning to the starting XI.
