SEATTLE (June 21, 2017) – Orlando City SC (7-5-5, 26 points) trailed until the waning seconds Wednesday night against the defending MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders FC (5-7-5, 20 points), but Scott Sutter’s first goal as a Lion equalized on the last touch of the game, 1-1.
“Tonight for me was probably one of our better games the entire season,” Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said. “I thought the way we moved the ball and the way we were getting it into the right spaces, our attacking movements looked great. Really pleased we got something out of this game tonight because I really felt we deserved it.”
Brazilian defender PC entered the match in the 85th minute and set up the game-tying free kick with a blistering run up the left wing. PC beat two Sounders, combined with Luis Gil and then split two more defenders to earn a free kick 20 yards out. Kaká lined up and curled an in-swinging ball to Sutter who was on his knees in the box waiting to head it in. It was Kaká’s third assist of the season.
The goal was a deserved one as the Lions matched Seattle’s six shots on target. Carlos Rivas had a golden opportunity in the 60th minute when he slammed Sutter’s cross right at Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei. City threatened again when second-half substitute Will Johnson blasted a shot from distance that Frei dove to stop.
Lions goalkeeper Joe Bendik was in excellent form, making five stops to keep City within striking distance following Will Bruin’s goal in the 19th minute. Two of them came in a 10-second span when Bendik charged out to block Dempsey’s attempt, then scrambled to block Osvaldo Alonso from getting to it and blocking his turnaround attempt.
The match saw Homegrown defender Tommy Redding return to the starting lineup for the first time since before the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he represented the United States.
Orlando City is now 2-0-1 all-time against defending MLS Cup champions. City defeated the 2014 champion LA Galaxy, 4-0, in 2015 and the Portland Timbers, 4-1, in 2016. The Lions’ 14 stoppage-time goals since 2015 are the most in the league in that span.
Orlando City reaches the season’s midway point in fourth place in the Eastern Conference and fifth in the Supporters’ Shield race.
City continues its three-game road trip on Saturday, June 24, when it visits the Chicago Fire. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET. The Lions then head to Real Salt Lake on June 30 before returning to Orlando City Stadium on July 5 to host Toronto FC.
