KISSIMMEE, Fla. (May 19, 2023) – Orlando City B (4-3-2, 15 points) overcame a two-goal deficit to battle to a 2-2 draw against Atlanta United 2 (3-4-2, 12 points) on Friday night at Osceola County Stadium.
The match saw forward Jack Lynn record a second half brace, scoring two goals off the bench to lead the Lions to split the points on the evening. The finishes served as Lynn’s third and fourth of the campaign, now sitting as the team leader in 2023. Both Moises Tablante and Cristian Medina earned an assist on the night, the first of the year for the former and the third for the latter to extend his team lead.
Following an Atlanta penalty kick that saw the visitors take a two-goal lead in the 51st minute, Lynn entered the match and found the back of the net with his first touch of the game just a minute later. The Five Stripes would be awarded another penalty in the 68th, but this time would miss from the mark, with the Lions finding the equalizer shortly thereafter.
Orlando City B would have the chance to take all three points from the match, with Jhon Solís hitting the crossbar in the 84th, followed by a strike from Wilfredo Rivera in second half stoppage time that was saved by Atlanta goalkeeper Sebastián Guerra. The Lions now turn their attention to Thursday, May 25, set to travel to DRV PNK Stadium to take on Inter Miami CF II.
Scoring Summary:
6’ Karim Tmimi (Nick Firmino) - ATL 1, ORL 0
The Five Stripes took the early lead with Nick Firmino winning the ball at midfield, driving behind the Lions defense before drawing pressure and laying a ball off for Karim Tmimi in the area, who was able to send his shot straight into the back of the net.
51’ Luke Brennan (PK) - ATL 2, ORL 0
The visitors doubled their advantage with Luke Brennan being taken down in the box to draw a penalty kick. Brennan then stepped up to the spot and sent Orlando City B goalkeeper Javier Otero the wrong way for the finish.
52’ Jack Lynn (Moises Tablante) - ATL 2, ORL 1
The Lions wasted no time cutting the visitors’ lead back to one, with Moises Tablante getting free down the left wing before threading a ball across the face of goal to a running Jack Lynn at the far post, who was able to slide onto the ball and send it into the back of the net.
68’ Jack Lynn (Cristian Medina) - ORL 2, ATL 2
Orlando City B leveled with Cristian Medina taking the ball up the pitch before finding Lynn to his right. The 2022 MLS SuperDraft selection took his space before finding Alex Freeman to his right at the edge of the area. Freeman then found Medina, who was able to lay off a ball to Lynn to fire home the first-time finish for the equalizer.
Match Notes:
- Jack Lynn scored his third and fourth goals of the season in the match, now the leading goal-scorer for the Lions this season.
- Cristian Medina registered his third assist of the campaign on the night.
- Moises Tablante tallied his first assist of the year on the Lynn goal.
- The Lions were forced into an early substitution, with Zakaria Taifi entering the game in the 10th minute for Abdi Salim.
- Head Coach Martín Perelman made one change to his starting lineup entering Friday’s match, with Favian Loyola earning the start.
