TORONTO (September 28, 2016) – In the second match of a two-game road trip, Orlando City SC (7-10-14, 35 points) earned its fourth clean sheet of the season in a 0-0 draw against Toronto FC (13-8-10, 49 points). Goalkeeper Joe Bendik made four saves against his former team.
“Generally I’m pleased. The performance I thought was really good. Obviously we asked for a massive defensive commitment from the players and they gave us that tonight. When they do that, we get shutouts and we put ourselves in a position to win games,” Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said. “We had a fair amount of chances. On a different night maybe we walk out with all three points, but I’m pleased with the performance.”
The Lions displayed the strong defensive form emphasized by Kreis during a short week of training. Center backs José Aja and David Mateos had good chemistry throughout the match and kept Toronto’s potent attack, which featured Tosaint Ricketts and U.S. national team striker Jozy Altidore, at bay. Left back Luke Boden and right back Kevin Alston, who made his 20th start of the season, were also instrumental to help the team record the shutout.
Bendik, who entered the match third in the league with 105 saves, put out another outstanding performance. The former Toronto goalkeeper made a point-blank save on Ricketts in the 31st minute and quickly followed it up with another strong save on Altidore. He continued the form that has earned him MLS Save of the Week honors 11 times.
Orlando City started the match with Colombian striker Carlos Rivas next to Cyle Larin up top with Kaká, Kevin Molino and Brek Shea in the attacking midfield. Rivas pressed hard on Toronto’s back line and earned several balls back before the Reds could clear. Rivas was subbed off for countryman Cristian Higuita in the 40th minute due to a formation change for City.
The Lions turned up the pressure in the second half after Ricketts received his second yellow card, subbing on Argentinian attacking midfielder Matías Pérez García in the 75th minute. Pérez García combined well with Kaká and Molino and created several chances. Then in the 86th minute, Kreis turned to Brazilian supersub Júlio Baptista. “The Beast,” who leads MLS with three goals off the bench, quickly sparked the attack and nearly put City ahead.
Orlando City face a short turnaround as they return to Camping World Stadium to host the Montreal Impact on Sunday, Oct. 2, for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff. The match will be nationally televised on ESPN.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:
First Half
11’ Brek Shea controls a pass from Kaká and with his right foot delivers a hard cross into the box for Cyle Larin. Alex Bono dives to the far post to make the save.
14’ Servando Carrasco charges into the attacking third to keep the attack alive and passes to Carlos Rivas. The young Colombian makes a clever back-heel pass to Carrasco, who fires a shot at Bono.
16’ Kaká makes a sly move to get around his defender before making a dashing run into the box and crossing to Larin.
18’ Luke Boden passes to Kevin Molino on top of the box. Molino takes one touch to Kaká on the left wing and the Brazilian drills a shot on the volley just over the bar.
25’ Joe Bendik punches a Michael Bradley free kick out of the danger zone.
31’ Bendik makes a spectacular save on Tosaint Ricketts in alone. Bendik then makes another strong save on a shot from Jozy Altidore.
38’ Rivas springs the counter attack up the left wing. Kaká passes to Shea, who takes a touch past a diving defender, dribbles into the box and lays off for Molino. The Trinidadian is tripped up but the referee rules play-on.
40’ Cristian Higuita enters the match in place of Carlos Rivas.
42’ Larin takes a nice touch with his shoulder to chip it past two defenders and earns a corner. Higuita flies into Toronto’s corner clearance and fires a shot over the bar.
45’ After zero minutes of added time, the referee indicates the end of the half. Orlando City 0, Toronto FC 0.
Second Half:
48’ Bendik charges out to challenge Altidore’s touch on Bradley’s lofting through ball. Kevin Alston and José Aja do well to cover Jonathan Osorio in the middle.
53’ Bendik makes an easy save on a shot from Armando Cooper.
55’ Carrasco keeps the pressure on and earns a free kick near the box. Molino serves up the free kick but Bono punches it out. Kaká earns a free kick near the edge of the area.
57’ Kaká drives a free kick from 19 yards out that bounces off the wall and out for a corner.
65’ Bendik makes a great save to his left on a first-touch shot from Marco Delgado.
67’ Molino receives a pass from Kaká and drives into the box, takes a touch past his defender but is unable to catch up to it before Bono swallows it up.
70’ Ricketts is shown a second yellow card for an attempted bicycle kick that hit Aja in the face.
73’ Kaká and Molino combine to spring Kaká alone in the box. The Brazilian’s shot is saved by Bono.
74’ Molino earns a free kick on the edge of the box. Matías Pérez García enters the match for Shea; Daniel Lovitz enters the match for Delgado.
80’ Kaká lofts a ball into a streaking Larin and earns a corner.
83’ Kaká makes a good run into the box and works it off Larin and Molino but the Lions are unable to get a shot off in traffic.
86’ Supersub Júlio Baptista enters the match in place of Molino.
90 (+3)’ After three minutes of added time, the referee ends the match. Orlando City 0, Toronto FC 0.
Scoring Summary:
None.
Misconduct Summary:
ORL - Brek Shea (Yellow Card) 45’
TOR - Tosaint Ricketts (Yellow Card) 56’
ORL - Cristian Higuita (Yellow Card) 62’
TOR - Tosaint Ricketts (Yellow Card) 70’
TOR - Tosaint Ricketts (Red Card) 70’
TOR - Steven Beitashour (Yellow Card) 74’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Luke Boden, José Aja, David Mateos, Kevin Alston, M Servando Carrasco, Brek Shea (Matías Pérez García 75’), Kevin Molino (Júlio Baptista 86’), Kaká, F Cyle Larin, Carlos Rivas (Cristian Higuita 40’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Earl Edwards Jr., D Tommy Redding, Seb Hines, M Tony Rocha, Seb Hines
Toronto FC - GK Alex Bono, D Steven Beitashour, Nick Hagglund, Drew Moor, Justin Morrow, M Michael Bradley, Marco Delgado (Daniel Lovitz 75’), Armando Cooper (Will Johnson 78’), Jonathan Osorio (Benoit Cheyrou 86’), F Jozy Altidore, Tosaint Ricketts
Substitutes Not Used: GK Clint Irwin, D Eriq Zavaleta, M F Jordan Hamilton, Mo Babouli
Details of the Game:
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Cloudy
September 28, 2016
Attendance: 23,805
Stats:
Possession:
ORL - 53.4 %
TOR - 46.6 %
Shots:
ORL - 8
TOR - 15
Saves:
ORL - 4
TOR - 3
Fouls:
ORL - 14
TOR - 15
Corners:
ORL - 8
TOR - 7
