CHARLESTON, S.C. – June 17, 2015 – Orlando City SC faced former long-time USL foes Charleston Battery, and the friction from this heated rivalry was evident from the very start. The teams battled in a back and forth exchange, which included four penalty kicks and ended in a 4-4 draw, forcing 10 rounds of penalty kicks to decide which club advanced to the Round of 16 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Head Coach Adrian Heath started a diverse lineup that included youngsters Tyler Turner and Harrison Heath along with 2015 MLS SuperDraft selections Conor Donovan and Earl Edwards Jr. - who were making their first starts this season. Carlos Rivas led the scoring for the Lions, converting from the penalty spot for three goals on the evening. Lewis Neal also scored on a powerful header off a long cross from Tyler Turner in the 64th minute.
Both clubs have a history of exciting match-ups, especially in the U.S. Open Cup. In fact, when the Orlando City U23s and Battery met in 2014, the match went to 14 rounds of penalty kicks before the young Lions were able to advance.
“It was a difficult night for us - I knew it was going to be,” said head coach Adrian Heath. “You could tell as soon as we arrived at the stadium, Charleston were up for the game and if you’re not fully up for it, and we were a little bit below par I felt, then it becomes a proper game. In the end, obviously I’m delighted we got through. I feel for the Battery a little bit - I’ve got to be honest. I thought they put so much effort in it to come back from 4-2 down. I’ve been in the game a long time to know that in Cup competitions, the most important thing is to get it through. For our youngsters, it’s another bit of experience for them. I thought one or two of them showed well. At the end of the day we got through, and we live to fight another day.”
Full Match Replay: Penalty Shootout Goes 10 Rounds
First Half:
4’ Carlos Rivas provided the first chance of the game for City, firing a strong effort from the edge of the area.
9’ Rivas threatened once again early in the game, running in behind onto Heath’s clipped pass to force Odisnel Cooper into making a difficult save.
15’ Eric Avila’s curling corner found Seb Hines in the six for a prime chance. The defender’s head seemed destined for the back of the net, but Cooper did well to make another quality save.
21’ The Battery came close to breaking through when lethal striker Dane Kelly intercepted Heath’s back-pass. The Jamaican charged at the City defense, but Donovan and Hines handled the danger capably and forced him to hit his final effort over the target.
33’ With less 15 minutes remaining the first half, City began keeping the ball deeper in Charleston’s half, but the Battery defense were organized in their efforts to prevent the Lions from finding the back of the net.
45’ (+1) In the final minute of the half, Charleston created the best chance of the first 45 from a corner but Avila’s goal-line clearance kept things level going into the break.
Second Half:
58’ Charleston opened the second half on the offensive and moved ahead, as a result, when Justin Portillo found Jarad Van Schaik for a header from a corner.
64’ Orlando didn’t take long to equalize, scoring six minutes later when Pedro Ribeiro chested the ball down to Mwanga, who played it out wide for Turner. The youngster’s driven ball to the back post found Neal who nodded home the equalizer.
66’ However, the Battery’s leading scorer Dane Kelly scored just two minutes later after running on to a through ball that split the defense.
74’ While venturing on a meandering run in the box past several Battery defenders, Rafael Ramos was brought down in the box and the referee awarded a clear penalty.
75’ Rivas stepped up for the ensuing spot-kick and buried it into the bottom corner for his first goal of the season.
81’ The Colombian came close to scoring again six minutes later, but pulled his shot wide of the target. The chance was encouraging for the young striker whose intensity increased throughout the game.
90’ Ramos’ dangerous runs down the right side continued in the 90th minute when the right-back found Ribeiro for a close chance in the box, but the Brazilian’s header was saved by Cooper.
90 (+4) After four minutes of added time, the referee blew the final whistle - sending the match into extra time.
Extra Time:
94’ Four minutes into extra time, Rivas single-handedly created the fourth goal after blowing past his defender. Rivas’ lengthy run forced Cooper to bring him down in the box, resulting in City’s second penalty of the game.
95’ For his second penalty of the game, Rivas comfortably blasted it in the top corner, sending Cooper the wrong way.
105’ While pushing for an equalizer, the Battery left themselves exposed, allowing Ribeiro to run through one-on-one. Cooper came charging off his line once again and brought the Brazilian down. Rivas scored his third penalty of the match, despite Cooper guessing the right way.
105’ Nevertheless, Justin Portillo responded for the Battery - scoring a superb effort from 30 yards away.
106’ Dane Kelly continued to Battery’s spell on great chances, hitting a shot that was on its way to the top corner, but Edwards dove to make a finger-tip save to push it wide.
114’ With six minutes remaining, the referee called a handball on Amobi Okugo who was pushed to the ground during a corner kick.
115’ Portillo converted the ensuing penalty-kick, bringing the match level.
120’ Referee blew the final whistle, sending the match to penalties.
Penalty-Kicks:
CHS: Justin Portillo (Goal)
ORL: Carlos Rivas (Miss)
CHS: Emmanuel Adjetey (Goal)
ORL: Pedro Ribeiro (Goal)
CHS: Dante Marini (Miss)
ORL: Lewis Neal (Miss)
CHS: Zach Prince (Miss)
ORL: Sean St. Ledger (Goal)
CHS: Jarad Van Schaik (Goal)
ORL: Amobi Okugo (Goal)
CHS: Maikel Chang (Goal)
ORL: Rafael Ramos (Goal)
CHS: Heviel Cordoves (Goal)
ORL: Harrison Heath (Goal)
CHS: Dane Kelly (Goal)
ORL: Luke Boden (Goal)
CHS: Shawn Ferguson (Goal)
ORL: Seb Hines (Goal)
CHS: Taylor Mueller (Miss)
ORL: Danny Mwanga (Goal)
Scoring Summary:
CHS: Jarad Van Schaik (Justin Portillo) 58’
ORL: Lewis Neal (Tyler Turner) 64’
CHS: Dane Kelly (Maikel Chang) 66’
ORL: Carlos Rivas (Penalty Kick) 75’
ORL: Carlos Rivas (Penalty Kick) 95’
ORL: Carlos Rivas (Penalty Kick) 105’
CHS: Justin Portillo (Unassisted) 105’
CHS: Justin Portillo (Penalty-Kick) 115’
Misconduct Summary:
CHS: Navion Boyd (Yellow Card) 63’
ORL: Harrison Heath (Yellow Card) 69’
ORL: Earl Edwards Jr. (Yellow Card) 115’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC – GK Earl Edwards Jr., D Seb Hines, Tyler Turner (Rafael Ramos 64’), Conor Donovan (Sean St. Ledger 102’), Luke Boden, M Lewis Neal, Harrison Heath, Eric Avila (Pedro Ribeiro 58’), Amobi Okugo, Danny Mwanga, F Carlos Rivas
Charleston Battery – GK Odisnel Cooper, D Emmanuel Adjetey, D Taylor Mueller, Shawn Ferguson, M Obrian Woodbine (Dante Marini 102’), Maikel Chang, Justin Portillo, Jarad Van Schaik, F Navion Boyd, Ricardo Garbanzo (Heviel Cordoves 86’), Dane Kelly
Match Facts:
Time of Match: 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
June 17, 2015
Attendance: 3,459
Stats:
Shots:
ORL: 7
CHS: 17
Corners:
ORL: 1
CHS: 10
Offside:
ORL:
CHS:
Fouls:
ORL: 7
CHS:8
Saves:
ORL: 6
CHS: 4
Orlando City will return to league play on Saturday, June 20, when the Lions take on the Montreal Impact at Saputo Stadium. The Lions next home match will be against the Colorado Rapids on June 24th at Orlando Citrus Bowl. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
