NEW YORK (May 29, 2016) - In its third match in eight days, Orlando City SC (3-3-7, 16 points) used a second-half comeback to earn a point against New York City FC (4-4-6, 18 points). Júlio Baptista’s first MLS goal and Kevin Molino’s stoppage time header secured a 2-2 draw and the Lions’ fourth point in two matches at Yankee Stadium.
“I’m obviously delighted. I thought we deserved it. I thought it was a really good team performance,” Lions head coach Adrian Heath said. “We knew that they were going to come out firing because of their result last week and they had a couple good looks in the first half but I thought the team worked really, really hard. I was pleased because it’s never easy. We’ve lost five players that would normally start for us and being in the third game in eight days. We’ve taken five points, so I’m delighted.”
New York City opened the scoring in the 42nd minute when Frederic Brillant headed in a RJ Allen chip pass to the far post. NYC added to their lead in the 66th minute when Andrea Pirlo lofted a ball in for David Villa, who found the back of the net.
Much like they did on Wednesday against Philadelphia, Heath’s adjustments immediately changed the tone of the match as the Lions broke through just 13 minutes after the first substitution. Molino made a clever spin move in the 72nd minute to find space to feed Baptista in the box. “The Beast” turned toward the inside and fired a shot inside the near post to draw City within one.
Orlando City again turned up the pressure in search of the equalizer. After denying a threatening NYC attack, Carlos Rivas sprinted up the left wing and drove a curling ball to Larin, who headed it back across the area. Molino flew through the air to head the ball off the bar and in on the last touch of the game, earning Molino his first Major League Soccer multi-point game.
The goal was the Lions’ fifth of the season scored in the 90th minute or later. Orlando City leads the league with 13 goals scored in the final 30 minutes.
Orlando City was short several key players, including Darwin Cerén, Cristian Higuita, Rafael Ramos, David Mateos and captain Kaká, who was called up to the Brazilian national team for next month’s Copa América Centenario.
Orlando City returns to the Camping World Stadium after the Copa America Centenario break on Saturday, June 18, to host the San Jose Earthquakes at 7:30 p.m. E.T.
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Match Highlights:
First Half
7’ The Lions work the ball up the right wing to Adrian Winter, who dribbles onto the edge of the box and floats a ball into the six-yard box for Cyle Larin. Larin gets a header that NYC goalkeeper Josh Saunders does well to keep outside the line.
15’ Tommy McNamara hits the post off a quick pass from Jason Hernandez from a corner kick.
22’ After a nice spell of possession, Kevin Alston feeds a good cross to the far post for Larin, which the Canadian nearly flicks on net.
23’ Brek Shea does well to block a dangerous cross from NYC’s RJ Allen. The Lions are able to clear from a goal kick.
28’ Jason Hernandez finds David Villa behind the backline, but Villa fires a left-footed shot harmlessly across the face of goal.
34’ Kevin Molino chips a great ball to Larin, who controls it masterfully with the outside of his foot and dribbles into the box. Larin’s initial shot is blocked and the ball bounces around dangerously before being cleared.
42’ NYC gets on the scoreboard after RJ Allen chips a ball to Frederic Brillant at the far post, who heads it into the back of the net.
45’ Larin shows a great bit of skill as he juggles his way into the box and behind the back line. Molino races to the ball and fires a shot just wide.
45 (+1)’ The referee indicates the end of the first half after one minute of added time. NYCFC leads 1-0, as the team’s split a total of two shots on goal.
Second Half
49’ Shea makes a good move to get free down the left wing. Shea feeds a ball into the area Molino but the Trinidadian is unable to handle the pass.
51’ The Lions continue their spell of possession at the start of the half and earn a free kick. Luke Boden lofts a ball into the box for Shea, who heads it back towards the middle for Larin before NYC clears.
53’ Shea throws a ball into the six-yard box, which bounces around dangerously before going out for a corner. Josh Saunders struggles to control but is able to dive on to it.
57’ Harrison Heath does well to shield the ball from Villa in the box after Andrea Pirlo finds McNamara behind the back line.
59’ Brek Shea whips a low cross into the box for Larin, but it is just out of his reach.
59’ Júlio Baptista enters the match for Winter. It is Baptista’s eighth appearance of the season and his fourth in as many games.
61’ Cyle Larin gets in behind NYCFC near midfield and races into the box. Saunders charges to cut down the angle and deflects the ball out for a corner kick.
64’ Joe Bendik makes an outstanding save from point-blank range off a corner kick, but the play is called off because of an NYC foul.
66’ David Villa gets a good ball from Pirlo and chips it over Joe Bendik for the 2-0 lead.
69’ NYC is awarded a penalty kick after Seb Hines is called for a handball in the box after he is tripped.
70’ Villa slips on the Yankee Stadium turf as he runs to take the penalty kick, launching the ball over the bar.
70‘ Speedy winger Carlos Rivas enters the game in place of left back Boden in an effort to push forward on the attack..
72’ Molino makes a clever spin to get free before feeding it to Baptista, who spins inside and finds the back of the net to draw the Lions within one. It is Baptista’s first MLS goal.
75’ Orlando City continues pressuring for the equalizer as Shea lofts a good ball in for a diving Larin inside the six-yard box, but is unable to get his head on it.
77’ Brek Shea rips a shot just wide of the post after a high ball finally came down in the box.
83’ Cyle Larin plays a good pass to Molino, who takes a touch before firing a left-footed shot from outside the box just over the bar.
90 (+4)’ Rivas launches a cross into Larin beyond the six-yard box. Larin smartly heads back across to Molino, who flies through the air and heads a ball off the bar and in on the last touch of the game.
90 (+4)’ After three minutes of added time, the referee ends the match in a 2-2 draw.
Scoring Summary:
NYC - Frederic Brillant (RJ Allen) 42’
NYC - David Villa (Andrea Pirlo) 66’
ORL - Júlio Baptista (Kevin Molino) 72’
ORL - Kevin Molino (Cyle Larin) 90 (+4)’
Misconduct Summary:
ORL - Servando Carrasco (Yellow Card) 8’
ORL - Harrison Heath (Yellow Card) 10’
ORL - Kevin Alston (Yellow Card) 62’
ORL - Brek Shea (Yellow Card) 90 (+3)’
NYC - David Villa (Yellow Card) 90 (+3)’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Luke Boden (Carlos Rivas 71’), Seb Hines, Tommy Redding, Kevin Alston, M Servando Carrasco, Harrison Heath, Brek Shea, Kevin Molino, Adrian Winter (Júlio Baptista 59’), F Cyle Larin
Unused Substitutes: GK Earl Edwards Jr., D Conor Donovan, Devron García, Antonio Nocerino, M Hadji Barry
New York City FC - GK Josh Saunders, D RJ Allen, Jason Hernandez, Frederic Brillant, Ethan White, M Andoni Iraola, Andrea Pirlo, Mix Diskerud (Steven Mendoza 85’), F Thomas McNamara (Frank Lampard 77’), David Villa, Khiry Shelton
Unused Substitutes: GK Eirik Johansen, D Diego Martínez, Jefferson Mena, M Mehdi Ballouchy, Kwadwo Poku
Details of the Game
Time: 4:30 p.m. E.T.
Weather: Clear
May 29, 2016
Attendance: 25,039
Stats:
Possession:
ORL - 42.4 %
NYC - 57.6 %
Shots:
ORL - 9
NYC - 15
Saves:
ORL - 1
NYC - 2
Fouls:
ORL - 19
NYC - 15
Corners:
ORL - 4
NYC - 6
