MINNEAPOLIS (May 27, 2017) ā In the first ever matchup between the two sides, Orlando City SC (6-5-2, 20 points) fell, 1-0, to Minnesota United FC (4-7-2, 14 points) Saturday night at TCF Bank Stadium.
āAt the end of it all itās about making plays in the penalty box. Weāre getting there, weāre getting in a lot of good spaces, we just canāt quite seem to break through [and] score the goal that would have changed the game for us,ā Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said. āWe just move forward. Itās not a question of how, itās just will.ā
Kreis came out with a slightly adjusted starting XI, inserting PC at left back alongside Jonathan Spector, JosĆ© Aja and Scott Sutter. Antonio Nocerino, Luis Gil and Will Johnson, who wore the captainās armband, manned the midfield with MatĆas PĆ©rez GarcĆa. The forwards were Carlos Rivas and Cyle Larin. Goalkeeper Joe Bendik made his 47th consecutive start for the Lions.
Orlando City nearly broke through several times in the first half. In the seventh minute, Sutter played a nice combination with Rivas and PĆ©rez GarcĆa but curled his shot just wide of the far post. Then in the 38th minute, Rivas raced in all alone on Bobby Shuttleworth and chipped the ball over him but off the post.
The Lionsā 20 shots mark their highest single-game total of the season. City forced Shuttleworth into seven saves.
In the 56th minute, Christian Ramirez got in behind the City backline and eventually scored the gameās only goal.
The Lions face a short turnaround when they return to Orlando City Stadium on Wednesday, May 31, to host D.C. United. Kickoff is set for 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
7ā Scott Sutter combines nicely with Carlos Rivas and MatĆas PĆ©rez GarcĆa to find space for a left-footed shot that curls just wide of the far post.
9ā Sutterās long throw-in lands dangerously in the box for Larin and Bobby Shuttleworth makes a good point-blank save.
13ā Cyle Larin flicks the ball over his head to Rivas, who rips a shot high off the volley.
20ā Joe Bendik makes a strong save on a shot from the edge of the box from Christian Ramirez. Bendik easily dives to his right and traps it.
22ā Larin earns a free kick 23 yards from goal. MPG curls it over the wall to the far post but Shuttleworth dives across to parry it out.
27ā Larin is at the far post to clear a dangerous Minnesota free kick.
36ā Sutter slips a nice through ball up the right wing for Larin but it skips off the turf and out for a goal kick.
38ā Rivas finds himself in behind the Minnesota back line and in alone with Shuttleworth. The Colombian takes a nearly perfect flick past Shuttleworth but the ball bounces off the goalpost inches off the line and is eventually cleared.
45 (+1)ā After one minute of added time, the referee ends the first half. Orlando City 0, Minnesota United 0.
Second Half
47ā A lofted delivery bounces dangerously in the box for Ramirez but he cannot trouble Bendik.
48ā Rivas makes a perfect 30-yard pass to Larin, who dribbles past two defenders and tries to flick it over an onrushing Shuttleworth.
50ā Gil finds himself in space 25 yards out and fires a shot on goal, collected by Shuttleworth
54ā Minnesotaās backline clears Sutterās cross from the right. Antonio Nocerino volleys the rebound from the edge of the box but Cronin blocks.
56ā Ramirez gives the lead to Minnesota. Venegas flicked a ball over the defense that Ramirez controlled, beat Bendik and finished.
58ā Johnson shoots from just outside the box but Shuttleworth punches it wide.
71ā Rivas crosses a dangerous ball to the box but Minnesota clears.
72ā Giles Barnes enters the match in place of Luis Gil.
74ā Cristian Higuita enters the match in place of Antonio Nocerino.
90 (+3)ā After three minutes of added time, the referee ends the match. Orlando City 0, Minnesota United 1.
Scoring Summary:
MIN - Christian Ramirez (Johan Venegas, Ibson) 56ā
Misconduct Summary:
MIN - Johan Venegas (Yellow Card) 38ā
MIN - Sam Cronin (Yellow Card) 66ā
MIN - Ismaila Jome (Yellow Card) 76ā
MIN - Marc Burch (Yellow Card) 81ā
MIN - Miguel Ibarra (Yellow Card) 90+1ā
Lineups/Substitutions:
Minnesota United FC - GK Bobby Shuttleworth, D Jerome Thiesson, Brent Kallman, āø Francisco Calvo, Marc Burch, M Sam Cronin (Collen Warner 77ā), Ibson, Johan Venegas (Jermaine Taylor 86ā), Ismaila Jome (Collin Martin 79ā), Miguel Ibarra, F Christian Ramirez
Substitutes Not Used: GK John Alvbage, D Jermaine Taylor, Justin Davis, Kevin Venegas, Joseph Greenspan, M Collin Martin
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D PC, Jonathan Spector, JosĆ© Aja, Scott Sutter, M Antonio Nocerino (Cristian Higuita 74ā), āø Will Johnson, Luis Gil (Giles Barnes 72ā), MatĆas PĆ©rez GarcĆa, F Carlos Rivas, Cyle Larin
Substitutes Not Used: GK Josh Saunders, D Donny Toia, LĆ©o Pereira, M Servando Carrasco, F Hadji Barry
Details of the Game:
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
Date: May 27, 2017
Attendance: 18,896
Stats:
Possession:
MIN - 47.2 %
ORL - 52.8 %
Shots:
MIN - 5
ORL - 20
Saves:
MIN - 7
ORL - 1
Fouls:
MIN - 18
ORL - 14
Corners:
MIN - 5
ORL - 2