ORLANDO, Fla. (August 28, 2016) – In its third match in nine days, Orlando City SC (6-7-13, 31 points) earned three massive points with a 2-1 win against second-place New York City FC (11-9-8, 41 points) Sunday at a stormy Camping World Stadium. Kaká earned his first multi-goal game in Major League Soccer (MLS) as the Lions took their seventh point of the season from 2015 expansion rival NYCFC.
“For me the most important thing tonight was the performance. I’m seeing continued improvement in the performance, continued improvement in how we’re defending and it’s pleasing,” Head Coach Jason Kreis said. “Credit to the guys, they had a positive reaction to that adversity [from the beginning of the second half] and we end up winning. I’m really pleased for the players.”
Luke Boden, David Mateos, José Aja and Tommy Redding filled the back line, as Antonio Nocerino and Servando Carrasco manned the holding midfield behind a potent attack of Kevin Molino and Matías Pérez García with MLS All-Stars Kaká and Cyle Larin. Kevin Alston, Brek Shea and Tony Rocha--who made his fourth MLS appearance--came on in the second half.
Kaká opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with a classic display of world-class skill. After working the ball up the right wing with Pérez García, the Brazilian superstar turned the corner on his defender and sprinted at NYCFC goalkeeper Josh Saunders on the post. Kaká’s first shot went through Saunders’ legs, but stopped just short of the line before he followed it up and tapped it in.
Orlando City continued applying pressure through the rest of the half as Larin, Kaká and Molino all had strong looks on goal. NYC would equalize early in the second half though, when Steven Mendoza fired home a close-range rebound after Joe Bendik made a strong save on another short-distance shot from Frank Lampard.
The Lions, urged on by 27,482 supporters that stuck around through heavy rain, pressed on for another go-ahead goal. Pérez García, who made his third start in purple, played a slick backheel pass to Kaká on the edge of the box. The captain took a touch to get open for a shot, forcing an NYCFC defender to trip him up. Kaká buried the penalty kick, sending Saunders the wrong way to win the game for City.
It took a special defensive effort from the Lions’ back line to stop the Eastern Conference’s third highest scoring team. Bendik made three saves, including on a strong shot from Lampard in the 81st minute that Bendik got his fingertips on to keep out of the goal. Aja also made several important clearances and Mateos continued his steady improvement under Kreis.
Orlando City SC recognized Orlando Pride in the Club’s National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) forward Christina Burkenroad at halftime for her work with the #RethinkHomelessnessYouth, part of the Orlando City Foundation and founding partner Orlando Health’s efforts to end youth homelessness in Orlando. Orlando Health will donate $1 (up to $20,000) for each post tagged with #RethinkHomelessnessYouth for tonight’s game.
The Lions go on a two-game road trip beginning Wednesday, Sept. 7, at Montreal with a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff before going to Los Angeles on Sept. 11 to take on the Galaxy. Orlando City returns to Camping World Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 17, when it hosts Columbus Crew SC at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Tickets to all City home matches are available at OrlandoCitySC.com or by calling 855-ORL-CITY. Follow the latest Orlando City news and updates via Facebook, Twitter,Instagram and YouTube.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:
First Half
9’ Luke Boden serves a ball across the box to Cyle Larin, who settles and restarts the attack.
16’ Matías Pérez García rifles a ball through the area but it goes just past Larin and New York City clears.
19’ Larin opens the play for Kevin Molino on the counterattack. Molino works the ball to Matías Pérez García on the left wing. The Argentinian passes to Kaká, who lofts it across the box and just inches away from Molino.
21’ Joe Bendik lays two strong punches on NYC crosses, sending the second one up to Larin to start the counter.
27’ Kaká delivers an in-swinging free kick from the left wing that NYC goalkeeper Josh Saunders can’t lay a hand on but it goes just wide.
32’ Pérez García works the ball to Kaká, who makes a move around his defender, turns the corner and drives to the goal. The Brazilian fires a shot at Saunders, continues his home and knocks in the rebound.
43’ Pérez García makes a slick move to find space on the right wing before chipping the ball to Larin. The young Canadian gets a head on it but can’t direct it on goal.
45’ Luke Boden earns a corner kick. Kaká delivers the ball into the danger area but Saunders punches away.
45 (+1)’ Kevin Molino fires a sharp-angle shot but Saunders is able to make the save.
45 (+1)’ After one minute of added time, the referee indicates the end of the first half. Orlando City 1, New York City 0.
Second Half:
48’ Joe Bendik dives to his right to stop a New York City attack.
52’ Servando Carrasco makes an outstanding challenge, hooking his leg in front of the attacker to stop the advance in the box. Carrasco then frees Larin up the right wing.
53’ Tommy McNamara curls a shot that Bendik does well to parry out of play.
54’ Pérez García curls a long ball into the box for Larin and Kevin Molino. Both get in behind the back line onside but Molino’s touch goes just wide of the post.
55’ Bendik makes a great save on a shot from Frank Lampard but can’t stop Steven Mendoza’s rebound.
56’ Kevin Alston enters the game in place of Tommy Redding.
58’ José Aja makes a spectacular bicycle kick clearance after the ball was chipped over him.
62’ Pérez García makes a clever backheel pass to free Kaká up for a shot in the box. Kaká is tripped and the referee awards a penalty kick.
63’ Kaká sends Saunders the wrong way and puts Orlando City in the lead with his second goal of the game.
70’ NYC’s Ronald Matarrita makes an incredible diving save after Kevin Molino got the ball from Luke Boden alone in the box and beat an oncoming Saunders.
74’ Brek Shea enters the match in place of Kaká.
81’ Bendik makes another great save on Lampard.
90’ After keeping NYC outside the box despite heavy pressure, the Lions force a goal kick.
90 (+2)’ Aja heads NYC’s corner kick safely out of the area.
90 (+5)’ After five minutes of added time, the referee ends the match. Orlando City 2, New York City FC 1.
Scoring Summary:
ORL - Kaká 32’
NYC - Steven Mendoza 55’
ORL - Kaká (PK) 63’
Misconduct Summary:
NYC - Maxime Chanot (Yellow Card) 54’
NYC - Tommy McNamara (Yellow Card) 59’
ORL - Antonio Nocerino (Yellow Card) 80’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Luke Boden, David Mateos, José Aja, Tommy Redding (Kevin Alston 56’), M Antonio Nocerino, Servando Carrasco, Kevin Molino, Matías Pérez García (Tony Rocha 68’), F Kaká (Brek Shea 74’), Cyle Larin
Substitutes Not Used: GK Earl Edwards Jr., D, Mikey Ambrose, F Carlos Rivas, Júlio Baptista
New York City FC - GK Josh Saunders, D Ronald Matarrita, Jefferson Mena, Jason Hernandez (Khiry Shelton 76’), Maxime Chanot, M Andrea Pirlo (Tony Taylor 82’), Andoni Iraola, Frank Lampard, F Steven Mendoza, Tommy McNamara (Jack Harrison 72’), David Villa
Substitutes Not Used: GK Eirik Johansen, D RJ Allen, M Mikey Lopez, Federico Bravo
Details of the Game:
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Weather: Rainy
August 28, 2016
Attendance: 27,482
Stats:
Possession:
ORL - 49.6 %
NYC - 50.4 %
Shots:
ORL - 10
NYC - 11
Saves:
ORL - 3
NYC - 1
Fouls:
ORL - 16
NYC - 11
Corners:
ORL - 4
NYC - 8
