NEW YORK, N.Y. – March 18, 2016 – Orlando City SC (1-0-2, 5 points) managed to deliver a full team performance at historic Yankee Stadium to secure the first three points of the season with a 1-0 victory over New York City FC (1-1-1, 4 points) on Friday night.
The Lions pressured early in what would turn out to be a very physical encounter by the two sophomore MLS teams. Orlando’s pressure on NYC’s backline finally resulted in a goal after Rafael Ramos delivered a beautiful cross into the box. NYCFC goalkeeper Josh Saunders managed to get a hand on it, only to see it headed into the goal by a waiting Cyle Larin. Larin now has four career goals in Yankee Stadium, as well as three goals on the season, which places him tied for first in the league after three weeks.
New York were relentless in their attack, with the first real chance coming in the eighth minute when Mix Diskerud fired a howler of shot saved by Orlando goalkeeper Joe Bendik. Bendik would deliver a career performance on the night, preserving the clean sheet with six saves in total. The highlight of the night came in the 60th minute as Diskerud broke free for a one-on-one against Bendik, and the shot was parried away clear of danger.
The Lions continued to create chances in the first half, as Larin collided with Saunders in a 50/50 ball delivered into the penalty area by Adrian Winter. The ball fell to City, but Kevin Molino’s rebound was deflected over the line for a corner kick.
New York pushed forward in search of the equalizer before the end of the half but the Lions’ showed defensive discipline on outstanding play from Tommy Redding, Brek Shea, Seb Hines and Ramos. The back line flustered the New York attackers, effectively employing the offsides trap and holding striker David Villa to only one shot on the night.
The pace in the second half remained very high, with both teams eager to find the back of the net. In the 51st minute, Antonio Nocerino walk off the field grabbing his leg and was eventually replaced by Servando Carrasco. Four minutes later, Larin was subbed out for Pedro Ribeiro.
The match turned decidedly more physical as both teams were fighting for the chance to remain unbeaten through the third week of the 2016 MLS season.
Orlando almost secured the second goal of the night in the 62nd minute, advancing with a 3-2 advantage against NYCFC. Molino found himself at the mouth of the goal with an opportunity, but his shot was deflected over the net and out of harm’s way.
Despite the constant offensive onslaught by NYCFC, Orlando maintained its composure and, following four minutes of stoppage time, were able to savor victory for the first time at Yankee Stadium and the first time this season.
“I thought our midfield was a lot more combative than they have been in the last couple weeks and I thought we defended the box really well,” Head Coach Adrian Heath said reflecting on the match. “At times it was numbers - strength in numbers. If you look, three or four different people had really timely blocks. Our two center backs [Redding and Hines], I thought were terrific in defending the goal, Tommy Redding especially. A 19-year-old boy, he had to hang around with David Villa and his movement. I was pleased with some aspects but, I said to the players, we are better than that and we have to be better than that. We will get better.”
The Lions will have over two weeks without a match, returning to the Orlando Citrus Bowl on April 3 to host the Portland Timbers. Tickets to all City home matches are available at OrlandoCitySC.com or by calling 855-ORL-CITY.
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First Half
7’ - Cyle Larin continued his strong play in New York, putting his team up 1-0 on a header goal. After a cross by Rafael Ramos, Larin was waiting on the other end and easily put in his third goal of the season and sixth goal against NYCFC in the expansion clubs’ history.
8’ - Off the ensuing restart, Orlando City goalkeeper Joe Bendik came up with a brilliant save, diving low to his right to knock down a rocket shot from Mix Diskerud in the penalty area.
15’ - Larin and Ramos nearly connected for City’s second goal of the match in the 15th minute, with the right back again crossing in. The Canadian striker was able to get his head on the ball, but the effort bounced easily into the hands of Saunders.
17’ - Joe Bendik again kept Mix Diskerud off the board with a spectacular point-blank save eight yards out. After winning a corner kick, Pirlo sent a lofting ball to the far post, finding Diskerud unmarked in the box. The midfielder wasted no time on the volley, but Bendik stepped up to block the shot away with his body.
27’ - Ronald Matarrita unleashed a long shot after a corner kick is cleared by the Lions, finding a seam in the City defense, but his shot whistled just wide of the net.
32’ - Another City goal-scoring opportunity is created from the offensive threat of Cyle Larin, but the NYCFC defense manages to keep the ball out of the net. First, Brek Shea threaded a ball into the middle toward Larin, but Josh Saunders came well off his line to punch the ball away. That clear, however, fell to the feet of Kevin Molino who took an attempt with Saunders out of the net, but the NYCFC defense dropped to the goal line to block the shot away.
39’ - New York City’s Tony Taylor is shown the match’s first yellow card after tripping Brek Shea on the left sideline.
45’ - The fourth official indicates a minimum of one minute of added time.
Second Half:
46’ - New York City FC kicks off and the second half begins at Yankee Stadium.
46’ - The home team makes its first substitution of the evening, bringing in Steven Mendoza for Khiry Shelton at the start of the second half.
50’ - After a throw in the final third, the Lions played a number of short passes, ultimately looking to find Cyle Larin on a run into the box but Josh Saunders and the NYC defense were able to clear the threat.
54’ - Servando Carrasco comes in to replace Antonio Nocerino, relieving the injured Italian midfielder.
55’ - The Lions make another change, bringing in Pedro Ribeiro for Cyle Larin who appeared to take a knock.
60’ - Joe Bendik continues to deny Mix Diskerud, this time on the host’s best scoring opportunity of the evening. On a give-and-go, Diskerud found himself carrying the ball alone into the box but Bendik came up with a big save, palming the ball away to his left.
62’ - Kevin Molino has an opportunity to put the Lions up 2-0, finding himself in front of any empty net. However, the midfielder took a touch too many and the NYCFC defense recovered to block the shot.
64’ - New York City turns to its bench again bringing on Mehdi Ballouchy for Federico Bravo.
69’ - Second-half substitution Pedro Ribeiro tries to setup Adrian Winter with a quick chip over the NYCFC backline, but Winter cannot strike the volley cleanly and the ball goes well wide.
70’ - Orlando’s Carlos Rivas makes his first appearance of 2016, coming in for Adrian Winter in the 70th minute.
73’ - New York City is able to get the ball past Joe Bendik off the foot of Steven Mendoza, but the near post preserves the one-goal lead for the Lions.
78’ - The home side makes its final adjustment of the evening, turning to Patrick Mullins who comes in for Thomas McNamara.
90’ - Orlando midfielder Cristian Higuita is shown a late yellow card after a challenge on Mehdi Ballouchy.
90’ - After a scoreless second half, four minutes of added time is indicated.
92+ - A second yellow card is given to Orlando, with Seb Hines put in the book after a sliding challenge just outside the penalty box.
93+ - Pirlo takes NYCFC’s free kick, just outside the 18-yard box on the left, and lays the ball into the middle for Ronald Matarrita. Matarrita is able to get a shot off, but he can’t keep the ball on frame and it sails high of the crossbar.
94+ - The final whistle blows and Orlando City SC picks up its first three points of the season, earning the 1-0 victory on the road behind Cyle Larin’s early goal.
Team |
1 |
2 |
Final |
|---|---|---|---|
New York City FC |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Orlando City SC |
1 |
0 |
1 |
Scoring Summary:
ORL - Cyle Larin (Rafael Ramos) 7’
Misconduct Summary:
NYC - Tony Taylor (Yellow Card) 39’
ORL - Cristian Higuita (Yellow Card) 90’
ORL - Seb Hines (Yellow Card) 93+
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Rafael Ramos, Tommy Redding, Seb Hines, Brek Shea, M Darwin Cerén, Cristian Higuita, Antonio Nocerino (Servando Carrasco 54’), Kevin Molino, Adrian Winter (Carlos Rivas 70’), F Cyle Larin (Pedro Ribeiro 55’)
Substitutes: GK Earl Edwards Jr, D Luke Boden, Aurélien Collin, M Servando Carrasco, Carlos Rivas, Pedro Ribeiro, F Hadji Barry
New York City FC - GK Josh Saunders, D Andoni Iraola, Jason Hernandez, Ronald Matarrita, M Mix Diskerud, Federico Bravo (Mehdi Ballouchy 64’), Andrea Pirlo, Thomas McNamara Patrick Mullins 78’), F Khiry Shelton (Steven Mendoza 46’), David Villa, Tony Taylor
Substitutes: GK Eirik Johansen, D Frederik Brillant, Diego Martinez, M Kwadwo Poku, Mehdi Ballouchy, F Steven Mendoza, Patrick Mullins
Details of the Game:
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear and cold
March 18, 2016
Attendance: 24,597
Match Stats:
Shots:
NYCFC - 16
ORL - 10
Saves:
NYCFC - 3
ORL - 6
Corners:
NYCFC - 12
ORL - 3
