WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 24, 2016) – In the first match of a two-game road trip, Orlando City SC (7-10-13, 34 points) dropped a 4-1 decision to D.C. United (8-9-13, 37 points) Saturday at RFK Stadium. Júlio Baptista scored his fourth goal of the season and Cristian Higuita made his return from injury.
“I thought [the first half] was very solid. We had one defensive lapse that leads to the goal and I thought we’d be in a good place in the second half,” Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said. “We need to up the tempo, up our concentration, up our focus, up our effort level to make sure we’re not giving up goals. It’s about the details. We’ve been living on the edge and have been on the wrong side of that.”
The Lions back line held strong in the early going as goalkeeper Joe Bendik put out another solid performance. Despite controlling nearly 60 percent of possession in the opening frame, D.C. opened the scoring in the 34th minute when Patrick Mullins tapped in Taylor Kemp’s feed from the left wing.
The match featured Higuita’s return to the squad for the first time since Aug. 14 when the Colombian suffered a hamstring injury in City’s 2-2 draw at Chicago. The 22-year-old, who was included in Major League Soccer’s 24 Under 24 list this week, came on for Servando Carrasco in the 64th minute along with Baptista as part of a double switch that quickly paid off for the Lions.
Just six minutes after coming on, Baptista drew a foul on the edge of the area when he made a dashing run for a Matías Pérez García through ball. The Brazilian lined up for the free kick and fired a shot that flew over the wall, down off the bar and up into the roof of the net.
The match also saw young defender Mikey Ambrose make his second career MLS start. Ambrose, who was signed from Orlando City B on Aug. 4, started the match at left back. Tony Rocha, who was signed from OCB the same day as Ambrose, entered the match in the 73rd minute in place of Cyle Larin.
Orlando City had several opportunities to close the gap with United. In the 58th minute, captain Kaka flicked a ball for Molino in the middle of the box, but the Trinidadian’s shot rang off the bar. Then in the 79th minute, Pérez García found José Aja at the far post on a free kick but the Uruguayan header went just over the bar.
City finishes the road trip on Wednesday, Sept. 28, when they visit Toronto FC. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The Lions return to Camping World Stadium to host the Montreal Impact on Sunday, Oct. 2, for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
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
7’ Kevin Molino intercepts a pass in the attacking half. The Lions work the ball into play before Antonio Nocerino fires a shot at Bill Hamid.
9’ Mikey Ambrose, making his second career start, clears away a dangerous D.C. centering feed.
11’ Rob Vincent takes a shot from distance that Joe Bendik dives to his left to parry away.
13’ Ambrose works the ball to Kaká, who lofts a curling ball to Cyle Larin in the box but the Canadian is unable to connect.
19’ Cyle Larin runs onto a Molino through ball and earns a corner.
23’ D.C.’s Julian Büscher enters the match in place of Marcelo Sarvas.
27’ Matías Pérez García lifts an out-swinging corner kick to José Aja. Hamid flies through the air to deny Aja’s header to the top corner.
30’ Molino drives hard on the counterattack and is fouled just feet from the 18-yard box.
34’ Patrick Mullins taps home a cross from Taylor Kemp for the opening goal.
45’ Bendik does well to dive into traffic and onto a D.C. centering header in the box.
45 (+3)’ After three minutes of added time, the referee indicates the end of the first half. Orlando City 0, D.C. United 1.
Second Half:
49’ Bendik makes an incredible leaping save on a first-time volley from Bobby Boswell.
51’ Lloyd Sam heads home Kemp’s service for the 2-0 lead.
53’ Mullins receives a pass from Patrick Nyarko and makes it 3-0 D.C.
55’ Pérez García earns a corner kick. The Argentinian serves another corner service to Kaka, it bounces around and out to Servando Carrasco, who fires a first-time volley over the bar.
58’ Kaká dribbles into the box and flicks it back for Molino, whose shot goes off the bar.
59’ Julian Büscher is shown a yellow card for tackling Cyle Larin from behind.
61’ Aja rips a shot from distance that goes wide.
64’ Júlio Baptista enters the match in place of Kaká and Cristian Higuita enters the match in place of Carrasco.
66’ Nocerino is given a straight red card. Orlando City is reduced to 10 men.
71’ Baptista earns a free kick just inches outside the 18-yard box.
72’ Baptista fires a rocket of a free kick past the wall, straight down off the bar and into the roof of the net.
79’ Pérez García finds Aja on a long free kick but the Uruguayan’s header goes just over the bar.
84’ Baptista is dragged down in the box as he dives for Higuita’s centering feed but the referee rules play-on.
90’ Lamar Neagle and Julian Büscher make it 4-1.
90 (+3)’ After three minutes of added time, the referee ends the match. Orlando City 1, D.C. United 4.
Scoring Summary:
DC - Patrick Mullins (Taylor Kemp) 34’
DC - Lloyd Sam (Taylor Kemp) 51’
DC - Patrick Mullins (Patrick Nyarko) 53’
ORL - Júlio Baptista 72’
DC - Julian Büscher (Lamar Neagle) 90’
Misconduct Summary:
DC - Luciano Acosta (Yellow Card) 25’
DC - Julian Büscher (Yellow Card) 59’
ORL - Antonio Nocerino (Red Card) 66’
ORL - Kevin Alston (Yellow Card) 67’
DC - Rob Vincent (Yellow Card) 72’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Mikey Ambrose, José Aja, David Mateos, Kevin Alston, M Servando Carrasco (Cristian Higuita 64’), Antonio Nocerino, Matías Pérez García, Kevin Molino, Kaká (Júlio Baptista 64’), F Cyle Larin (Tony Rocha 73’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Earl Edwards Jr., D Seb Hines, Luke Boden, M Brek Shea
D.C. United - GK Bill Hamid, D Nick DeLeon, Bobby Boswell, Steve Birnbaum, Taylor Kemp, M Lloyd Sam (Luke Mishu 82’), Luciano Acosta, Marcelo Sarvas (Julian Büscher 23’), Rob Vincent, Patrick Nyarko (Lamar Neagle 77’), F Patrick Mullins
Substitutes Not Used: GK Travis Worra, D Salen Robinson, F Kennedy Igboananike, Alvaro Saborio
Details of the Game:
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Weather: Cloudy
September 24, 2016
Attendance: 25,842
Stats:
Possession:
ORL - 55.2 %
DC - 44.8 %
Shots:
ORL - 11
DC - 11
Saves:
ORL - 3
DC - 2
Fouls:
ORL - 15
DC - 22
Corners:
ORL - 6
DC - 5
