Team 1 2 Final
Orlando City 2 2 4
Harrisburg City Islanders 1 1 2
Scoring Summary:
OC - Jamie Watson (unassisted) 6
HAR - Garret Pettis (Brian Ombiji) 10
OC - Jamie Watson (unassisted) 31
OC - Erik Ustruck (unassisted) 62
OC - Dennis Chin (unassisted) 75
HAR - Own goal (Wes Allen) 82
Misconduct Summary:
HAR - Yann Ekra (Caution; Unsporting behavior) 22
HAR - Brian Ombiji (Caution; Unsporting behavior) 45+
HAR - Stephan Basso (Caution; Unsporting behavior) 49
OC - Kyle Davies (Caution; Unsporting behavior) 49
OC - Erik Ustruck (Caution; Unsporting behavior) 90+
Lineups:
Orlando City – Sean Kelley, Jerome Mechack (Justin Clark 46), Wes Allen, Kyle Davies (Rob Valentino 78), Erik Ustruck, Adama Mbengue, George Davis IV, Charlie Campbell, Jamie Watson (Ian Fuller 84), John Rooney, Dennis Chin (Rodrigo Lopez 78)
Harrisburg City Islanders – Nick Noble, Tom Mellor (Drew Yates 64), Jason Pelletier, Garret Pettis (Luckymore Mkosana 64), Brian Ombiji (Jimmy McLaughlin 46), Andrew Marshall, Tom Brandt, J.T. Noone, Yann Ekra, Greg Jordan, Stephen Basso
Harrisburg, Pa. - Orlando City Soccer Club set new club records for wins (16) and points in a season (53) as the Lions defeated the Harrisburg City Islanders 4-2 at the Skyline Sports Complex in Harrisburg. The win marks the fourth time in the last six league games that Orlando City have scored four goals in a match.
The scoring started early for both sides. Orlando City got things started when Jamie Watson struck in the 6th minute. Watson fired a shot inside the 18, but it went right at Harrisburg Goalkeeper Nick Noble. The former Chicago Fire man spilled the shot right back to Watson, who finished into the open net.
Harrisburg responded quickly with attacks of their own. In the 10th minute, J.T. Noone’s long ball found Brian Ombiji at the back post. Ombiji fired a header across the goal to a wide-open Garret Pettis, who headed the ball past a stunned Sean Kelley. With just 10 minutes gone and the match knotted at 1-1, both teams took the opportunity to settle and refocus.
As the half wore on, City pushed closer and closer to a second goal. Dennis Chin, the league’s leading goal-scorer, found plenty of room to attack on the left wing. In the 31st minute, Chin drove past his defenders and into the 18-yard box. His near-post strike forced Noble into a leaping punch. Noble’s clearance didn’t go far, as it found Jamie Watson at the back post for a snap header and a 2-1 Lions lead.
Orlando City continued to push, playing every bit like the team that has already locked up the regular season title. In the 39th minute, Watson freed Chin, but the Oviedo native’s near-post effort could only strike the woodwork before being cleared off the line. Both sides ended the half without any further fireworks.
The resumption of play saw both squads continue to push for more goals, but it was Orlando City that was able to convert their chances first. Dennis Chin broke away on a counterattack and fired a shot at Noble in the 62nd minute, only to have it parried away. For the third time in the evening, a Lion was there to put back the rebound. This time it was Erik Ustruck, who notched his first goal of the season.
A little over 10 minutes later, Chin broke free again, but finished his own this time with a deft chip over Noble. The goal was Chin’s league-leading 11th, and his third in the last two league games.
Harrisburg made it interesting on a stunning display of skill by Jimmy McLaughlin, on loan from the Philadelphia Union in MLS. After causing two Lions to slip on the wet turf, McLaughlin fired toward the far post. The strike deflected off Wes Allen’s back, leaving Sean Kelley to only watch as it dropped into the net.
City has a short rest as they now travel to Rochester for the penultimate game of the regular season on Friday. The Lions and Rhinos have met once this season, a 4-0 victory by Orlando at the Citrus Bowl. The match will be shown on USLNation.com beginning at 7:35 p.m. For more information, visit www.orlandocitysoccer.com today.
