ORLANDO, Fla. (October 12, 2017) – In its final match of the regular season, Orlando City B (10-10-12, 42 points) fell 2-0 to the Tampa Bay Rowdies (14-7-11, 53 points) on Thursday evening at Orlando City Stadium. The loss eliminates OCB from playoff contention.
“The work that the players have put in on a daily basis has been absolutely phenomenal. The attitude they showed in training, in games, the way they are around the facility, the way they are on the road,” OCB head coach Anthony Pulis said. “It’s very difficult for me to put into words how proud I am to have led them for the last two years. It’s been an incredible journey and something I’m very proud of.”
OCB’s second United Soccer League campaign included numerous accomplishments for the organization. Clube Atlético Paranaense loanee Léo Pereira earned a call-up to the First Team with his strong play and has made nine Major League Soccer appearances. Jordan Schweitzer earned his first call-up to the Canada senior national team earlier this month. Pierre Da Silva became the first player to climb from the Development Academy to OCB to the First Team. In all, 15 First Teamers and two Development Academy players saw minutes with OCB in 2017.
Hadji Barry, City's 2016 MLS SuperDraft first-round pick, finishes the season as OCB’s leading scorer with 10 goals, a six-goal improvement from his rookie season in 2016. Da Silva finishes the season as OCB’s leader with seven assists.
In addition to Barry and Da Silva, First Team players Kevin Alston and Tony Rocha were in the Lions starting XI. First Team goalkeeper Earl Edwards, Jr. and defender Conor Donovan were also on the 18-man lineup.
The Lions started the match strong with an aggressive attack in the 11th minute with a low cross ball from Rocha to Barry inside the box. Barry aimed for the back of the net but inside found the hands of goalkeeper Matt Pickens. Cox delivered a lovely cross in the 17th minute to Schweitzer, who returned from his first call-up to the Canadian senior national team, but his right-footed shot went wide.
The Rowdies took the lead in the 74th minute with Marcel Schafer’s corner delivery to Georgi Hristov, who ultimately headed it in.
With the Lions pressing all the way up the pitch in search of the equalizer, Tampa Bay doubled its lead in stoppage time when Sebastian Guenzatti was in on a breakaway and slotted it around Jake Fenlason.
Tickets to all Orlando City B home matches can be purchased at orlandocityb.com/tickets or by calling 855-ORL-CITY.
Scoring Summary:
TB - Georgi Hristov (Schäfer) 74’
TB - Sebastian Guenzatti 90+3’
Misconduct Summary:
TB - Martin Vingaard (Yellow Card) 38’
TB - Zachary Portillos (Yellow Card) 51’
OCB - Pierre Da Silva (Yellow Card) 76’
TB - Hunter Gorskie (Yellow Card) 80’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City B - GK Jake Fenlason, Jr., D Zach Ellis-Hayden, Zach Carroll, Kevin Alston (Ben Polk 78’), Timbó, M ⓒ Lewis Neal, Pierre Da Silva, Jordan Schweitzer (Austin Martz 55’), Tony Rocha, F Hadji Barry (Danny Deakin 66’), Michael Cox
Substitutes: GK Earl Edwards, Jr., D Conor Donovan, M Paul Clowes, F Joe Gallardo
Tampa Bay Rowdies - GK Matt Pickens, D Neill Collins, Zachary Portillos, Hunter Gorskie, Darnell King, M Marcel Schäfer, Martin Vingaard, ⓒ Joe Cole (Justin Chavez 83’), Walter Restrepo (Darwin Jones 72’) , F Georgi Hristov, Sebastian Guenzatti (Tamika Mkandawire 90+3)
Substitutes: GK Akira Fitzgerald, D Kyle Porter, M Alex Morell, Darwin Jones, F Martin Paterson
Details of the Game:
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
Date: Oct. 12, 2017
Attendance: 1,185
Stats:
Possession:
OCB - 46.4%
TB - 53.6 %
Shots:
OCB - 7
TB - 14
Saves:
OCB - 1
TB - 2
Corners:
OCB - 3
TB - 4
Fouls:
OCB - 15
TB - 11
