Orlando City B (7-6-10, 31 points) extended its unbeaten streak to nine games with a 3-0 victory over Ottawa Fury FC (7-8-6, 27 points) Wednesday at Orlando City Stadium. Hadji Barry scored two goals as Earl Edwards, Jr. made nine saves.
The three goals mark Orlando City B’s largest margin of victory since its inaugural season in 2016. The nine-game unbeaten streak also ties OCB’s own Club record set from June to August 2016. With nine games remaining, OCB is now tied for seventh-place with FC Cincinnati at 31 points and three points ahead of the defending champion New York Red Bulls II in ninth.
“Obviously really pleased. The biggest satisfaction for me is that the guys have been rewarded for all their hard work because their performance levels have been really good and they haven’t been rewarded with good results,” OCB head coach Anthony Pulis said. “To get a 3-0 victory is very satisfying.”
Defender Seb Hines started the scoring in the 34th minute when he got a head on Barry’s blocked shot. Jordan Schweitzer played his free kick through ball to Barry on the right side of the box before Barry turned and fired on target. The shot was blocked, but Hines’ magical touch was his first goal of the season and proved to be the eventual game-winner.
As Ottawa pressed for the equalizer, former Fury FC defender Timbó was called for a handball in the box. Edwards dove to his right and deflected Gerardo Bruna’s shot wide for his second penalty kick save of the season. Edwards’ nine saves mark his season high and earned him his ninth clean sheet of the season and his fourth in five games.
“That was the turning point in the game,” Pulis added. “Earl came up big and kept us in the game. Then we get the momentum, gives us a little bit more energy and then we go on and get another two goals.”
Six minutes later, Barry made it 2-0 with a thing of beauty. The 2016 MLS SuperDraft first-round pick collected a through ball from Lewis Neal, took a deft touch to get around his defender and into the box before slotting it into the bottom corner for his third goal in as many games.
Eleven minutes after that, Barry earned his first brace of the season. The Guinean striker collected the ball, danced around his defender and drilled a shot from 17 yards out into the back of the net. The goal was Barry’s team-leading seventh goal of the season.
In addition to Hines, Edwards and Barry, the match saw First Teamers Tony Rocha and Pierre Da Silva in the starting XI and First Team defender Conor Donovan in the 18-man lineup.
OCB faces a short turnaround as it heads to Charlotte to take on the Independence on Saturday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m. ET. The Lions then visit Louisville City FC next Saturday before returning to Orlando City Stadium to host Bethlehem Steel FC on Thursday, Aug. 31. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Tickets to all Orlando City B home matches can be purchased at orlandocityb.com/tickets or by calling 855-ORL-CITY.
