Orlando City Picks Up Three Points with Clean Sheet in Utah

SANDY, Utah  (June 30, 2017) – In the last match of a three-game road trip, Orlando City SC (8-6-5, 29 points) rode Will Johnson’s second goal of the season and a solid overall defensive performance to a 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake (5-12-2, 17 points) Friday night at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Lions picked up their sixth clean sheet of the season.  

“Obviously the most important thing for us tonight was the three points. To walk away from a three-game road trip with four points, we have to feel very good about that,” Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said. “The soccer wasn’t great but at the moment the result was much more important than the soccer.”

The Lions opened the scoring in the 17th minute with their seventh set-piece goal of the season. Kaká curled a free kick from the near touch line to the far post for José Aja, whose header rang off the bar and straight down. Jonathan Spector dove to try and tap it in but Johnson was there to slam home the eventual game-winner against his former team of five seasons.

Orlando City held on from there despite conceding over 60 percent possession. Bendik made just two saves, both on shots from distance, but came up huge when Luis Silva got in alone behind the back line. Bendik’s sixth clean sheet earned him his first career win over RSL. He was the beneficiary of some timely blocks and interventions from his back line, including several from Aja, who made his first start since June 17.

“I thought [Aja] was excellent. Really well-played game by him,” Kreis said. “He was in the right spot all the time for us to make critical defensive plays. Never got caught on the ball. He was superb.”

In addition to Johnson, the match saw Kreis return to his former club. Kreis played parts of three seasons at RSL before coaching the club to its first MLS Cup title in 2009. Kreis’ No. 9 was the first number retired in MLS. Donny Toia and Luis Gil also returned to face their former team, Toia playing the entire match and Gil entering as a substitute.

Richie Laryea made his second consecutive appearance and the second of his MLS career when he came on in the 88th minute for Cristian Higuita. Servando Carrasco made his first appearance since June 4, as did Cyle Larin, who started the match and finished with two shots.

Orlando City improves to 5-2-4 all-time on Friday night, including 4-1-0 on the road. Bendik’s six clean sheets are the most by an individual Lions goalkeeper in MLS.

The Lions return to Orlando City Stadium on Wednesday, July 5 to host Toronto FC. 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

9’ Cyle Larin runs onto an errant header and fires a shot just wide of the far post.

17’ Kaká curls a free kick into the box for José Aja at the far post. Aja’s header rings off the crossbar and straight down, Jonathan Spector dives but his header misses and Will Johnson runs in and slams it home. Orlando City 1, Real Salt Lake 0.  

30’ The Lions build the play nicely and Giles Barnes plays it through for Scott Sutter but it rolls out of play.

35’ Barnes collects a long ball on the endline, drives the box and drills a shot at Rimando. Aja stops RSL’s counter with a blocked shot in the box.

37’ Joao Plata’s shot from 17 yards is easily collected by Joe Bendik for his first save. Orlando City counters as Larin drives the box and lays off for HIguita. The Colombian passes to Kaká, who flicks it over his defender but not foul is called.

41’ Aja slides to intercept a pass inside City’s six-yard box and the Lions clear the danger.

42’ Higuita runs on and intercept a pass and the Lions work it up to Johnson. After some play down the touch line, Johnson curls the cross too far for Larin.

45’ Jefferson Savarino blasts a shot from 30 yards that bounces off Bendik and out for a corner. Plata swings it to the top of the box, RSL plays around and Bendik collects.

45+1’ After one minute of added time, the referee ends the first half. Orlando City 1, Real Salt Lake 0.

Second Half

46’ Servando Carrasco enters the match in place of Antonio Nocerino.

47’ Larin wins the battle against two defenders as he races into the box and earns a corner. Johnson passes short for Kaká, who plays it right back and Johnson directs it on frame.

53’ Carrasco leaps into the way of Plata’s corner delivery and knocks it out of bounds.

63’ Bendik charges out to stop Luis Silva in alone near the penalty spot.

67’ Bendik dives to his near post to stop Brooks Lennon’s header from close range but the assistant referee’s flag goes up.

72’ Luis Gil enters the match in place of Kaká. Will Johnson takes the captain’s armband.

73’ Donny Toia clears the danger from the six-yard box.

84’ Bendik leaps to make the catch following Kyle Beckerman’s header at the far post.

86’ Sutter’s curling feed for Larin is flicked out for a corner. Gil plays the corner shot for Higuita, who keeps it there.

88’ Richie Laryea enters the match in place of Cristian Higuita.

90+2’ Larin wins the ball near the corner flag and feeds it in for Laryea in the box. Laryea finds space before challenging Nick Rimando at the near post, forcing a corner.

90+3’ Barnes takes the short corner and drills it into the box for Larin but it is caught up in traffic.

90+4’ After three minutes of added time, the referee ends the match. Orlando City 1, Real Salt Lake 0.

Scoring Summary:
ORL - Will Johnson 17’

Misconduct Summary:
RSL - Sunday Stephen (Yellow Card) 65’
ORL - Kaká (Yellow Card) 68’
ORL - José Aja (Yellow Card) 71’
ORL - Cristian Higuita (Yellow Card) 87’
RSL - Kyle Beckerman (Yellow Card) 88’

Lineups/Substitutions:

Real Salt Lake - GK Nick Rimando, D Danilo Acosta, David Horst, Justen Glad, Chris Wingert (Yura Movsisyan 68’), M Kyle Beckerman, Sunday Stephen (Sebastián Saucedo 83’), Joao Plata, Jefferson Savarino, Brooks Lennon, F Luis Silva (Albert Rusnák 77’)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Matt Van Oekel, D Tony Beltran, Aaron Maund, M Luke Mulholland

Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Donny Toia, Jonathan Spector, José Aja, Scott Sutter, M ⓒ Kaká (Luis Gil 72’), Antonio Nocerino (Servando Carrasco 46’), Cristian Higuita (Richie Laryea 88’), Will Johnson, F Cyle Larin, Giles Barnes

Substitutes Not Used: GK Josh Saunders, D Tommy Redding, Rafael Ramos, F Hadji Barry

Details of the Game:
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
Date: June 30, 2017
Attendance: 19,218

Stats:

Possession:
RSL - 61 %
ORL - 39 %

Shots:
RSL - 11
ORL - 7

Saves:
RSL - 3
ORL - 2

Fouls:
RSL - 15
ORL - 14

Corners:
RSL - 4
ORL - 4