Orlando City B is riding an eight-match unbeaten streak with a chance to make it nine on Wednesday night. Solid team performances and dogged defensive work have been the foundation for OCB’s unbeaten run -- but every team needs to score goals to win.
That’s where Pierre Da Silva and Hadji Barry enter the picture.
Da Silva and Barry connected on the goal which earned OCB a 1-0 victory this past weekend against the Richmond Kickers. In the first half, Da Silva found himself on the left flank where he slithered away from two Richmond defenders and crossed low toward the penalty spot. Barry collected the ball and his cushioned first touch set him up for a shot -- which he buried in the right hand corner of the net.
“I always look for Hadji [Barry],” Da Silva said in an interview. “For me, he’s one of the top forwards we have. He’s really quick and really good at finishing, so I always look for him and he finishes everything I give him.”
Da Silva was awarded the top spot in the USL 20 Under 20 list for 2017 -- which highlights the top young talent in League.
In an interview before his team’s training session, OCB head coach Anthony Pulis credited his team’s defensive commitment for the unbeaten streak. Pulis said defense starts with the forwards; Da Silva and Barry have shined offensively, but have also worked hard to press opposing defensive midfielders and back lines as the first line of defense.
