ORLANDO, Fla. (April 6, 2019) - Orlando City SC (2-2-2, 8 points) erased two separate deficits to earn a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Rapids (0-4-2, 2 points) on Saturday night at Orlando City Stadium.
The win was the first for the Lions at home this season. Nani registered a brace on the evening, responsible for both the first of the Lionsā account and the game-winner when he converted a penalty kick in the 89th minute. Tesho Akindele and Chris Mueller each added a goal on the night to round out the scoring for City.
Head Coach James OāConnor:
āI would say this is probably the proudest moment Iāve had since Iāve been here. Not just because of the way the players have come back, but you look at the supporters. Weāve got a rain delay, weāve got lightning and you look around and it feels like all of Orlando is in the stadium. Itās incredible. This is a very special football club and for us to be able to go and win a game like that, weāre obviously very, very pleased.ā
10ā Kei Kamara (Dillon Serna) - COL 1, ORL 0
The visitors get on the board first, with Serna lofting a ball into the box that took a favorable bounce for Kamara who got a foot on it to put the Rapids up early.
31ā Nani (JoĆ£o Moutinho) - ORL 1, COL 1
The Lions leveled the scoreline thanks to a cross from Moutinho from the left side that found the head of Nani on the far post, who smashed it home.
33ā Tesho Akindele (Dom Dwyer) - ORL 2, COL 1
City quickly took the lead just minutes after leveling. A shot from Dwyer was saved by Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard, but Akindele was there to bury the rebound to give the Lions the lead.
61ā NicolĆ”s Mezquida (Cole Bassett) - ORL 2, COL 2
The visitors evened the scoreline once more when a cross from Bassett finds the head of Mezquida for the finish.
71ā Cole Bassett (Benny Feilhaber) - COL 3, ORL 2
The Rapids regain the lead after Feilhaber sends Bassett in behind the Lionsā defense, who cuts the ball back to his left foot and fires it into the goal.
81ā Chris Mueller (Tesho Akindele, Nani) - ORL 3, COL 3
Just two minutes after entering the match, Mueller levels the home side once more. A flick in behind the Rapids defense from the head of Nani appeared to bounce off the heel of Akindele, finding Mueller who wasted no time and snuck the ball in between the legs of Howard for the finish.
89ā Nani (PK) - ORL 4, COL 3
After a handball in the box by the Rapids, Nani converts from the spot to regain the lead - and all three points - for the home side.
Match Notes:
- Play was halted for nearly an hour and a half after the halftime break due to inclement weather.
- Naniās brace on the evening served as his first goals scored in MLS.
The Lions remain unbeaten against the Rapids, now 4-0-1 in Club history against Saturdayās opposition. - Tesho Akindele registered his first assist as a Lion and his second goal of 2019 in his return to the lineup.
- Dom Dwyer recorded a goal contribution for the sixth-consecutive game, his personal best. No player in MLS has matched that streak in 2019.
- Naniās game-winning penalty in the 89th was the first attempted and converted by the Lions this season.
- The victory served as the first for the Lions this season at Orlando City Stadium.
Scoring Summary:
COL - Kei Kamara (Dillon Serna) 10ā
ORL - Nani (JoĆ£o Moutinho) 31ā
ORL - Tesho Akindele (Dom Dwyer) 33ā
COL - NicolĆ”s Mezquida (Cole Bassett) 61ā
COL - Cole Bassett (Benny Feilhaber) 71ā
ORL - Chris Mueller (Tesho Akindele, Nani) 81ā
ORL - Nani (PK) 89ā
Misconduct Summary:
COL - Kei Kamara (Yellow Card) 39ā
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC - GK Brian Rowe; D Robin Jansson, Lamine SanĆ©, Carlos Ascues (Uri Rosell 30ā); M JoĆ£o Moutinho, Sacha Kljestan, āø Nani (Kyle Smith 90+2ā), SebastiĆ”n MĆ©ndez (Chris Mueller 79ā), Ruan; F Tesho Akindele, Dom Dwyer
Substitutes Not Used: GK Adam Grinwis; D Kamal Miller; F Santiago PatiƱo, JosuƩ ColmƔn
Colorado Rapids - GK Tim Howard; D Dillon Serna (Axel Sjƶberg 46ā), Deklan Wynne, Kofi Opare, Keegan Rosenberry; M Kellyn Acosta, Jack Price, Cole Bassett, NicolĆ”s Mezquida (Andre Shinyashiki 83ā), Benny Feilhaber (Sam Nicholson 72ā); F Kei Kamara
Substitutes Not Used: GK Clint Irwin; D Sam Vines, Sebastian Anderson; M Nana Boateng
Details of the Game:
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Rain
Date: April 6, 2019
Attendance: 22,450
Stats:
Possession:
ORL - 49.9%
COL - 50.1%
Shots:
ORL - 16
COL - 10
Saves:
ORL - 3
COL - 4
Fouls:
ORL - 11
COL - 13
Corners:
ORL - 4
COL - 2
