HOUSTON (May 6, 2017) – Just three days after its last match, Orlando City SC (6-3-0, 18 points) fell, 4-0, to the Houston Dynamo (5-3-1, 16 points) Saturday at BBVA Compass Stadium to complete a two-game road trip.
“I think we went up against a buzzsaw tonight. Obviously we’re fatigued, we traveled, difficult circumstances and Houston has a lot of gifted attacking players and a lot of speed,” Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said. “We’ll go back to the drawing board, get the guys collected and recuperated and next week will be a big match for us.”
Kreis came out with a slightly altered starting XI that featured José Aja alongside Tommy Redding and full backs Scott Sutter and Donny Toia. Antonio Nocerino, Will Johnson, Luis Gil and Matías Pérez García manned the midfield with former Dynamo forward Giles Barnes next to Cyle Larin. Johnson wore the captain’s armband for the seventh time.
The match featured the first penalty kick of the season for or against the Lions. Mauro Manotas pulled the penalty kick wide of the left post in the 11th minute.
Kaká and Carlos Rivas entered the match in the 58th minute and increased the pressure on Houston. Kaká directed several creative combinations and Rivas served nice crosses for Larin.
After one goal from Alberth Elis in the first half, Manotas scored two goals six minutes apart in the second half and Romell Quioto finished the scoring in the 75th minute.
The Lions return to Orlando City Stadium on Saturday, May 13 to host Sporting Kansas City at 7 p.m. ET.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:
First Half
2’ Joe Bendik goes out to the top of his box to grab the ball while Tommy Redding fights off an attacker.
8’ José Aja clears the danger in his first game since April 1.
11’ Will Johnson trips Mauro Manotas in the box to concede Orlando City’s first penalty kick of the season.
12’ Manotas shoots his penalty kick wide of the left post.
17’ Alberth Elis races onto a long ball and slams into Bendik at the top of the box.
23’ Elis dribbles into the box and blasts a shot that sneaks inside the near post.
26’ Bendik makes an excellent save on an open header from Elis on the six-yard box.
29’ Antonio Nocerino finds Matías Pérez García, who works with Luis Gil to get the ball into the box to Johnson. Johnson slides it to Scott Sutter, whose cross is blocked.
34’ Johnson and Giles Barnes show good quality on the near touch line and nearly complete a sweet combination but Barnes’ through ball for Johnson gets away.
38’ Johnson finds Donny Toia up the left wing before Toia gets the ball to Barnes in the box to earn a corner.
45 (+3)’ After three minutes of added time, the referee ends the first half. Orlando City 0, Houston Dynamo 1.
Second Half
46’ Johnson serves a free kick into the box for Larin but Joe Willis punches away.
47’ The ball bounces out to the top of the box for Johnson, who powers a shot on frame but Willis makes the save.
50’ Barnes runs well to earn a corner kick. A dangerous service from MPG is punched away and the Lions regain and continue their spell of possession.
51’ A blast from Manotas from inside the box finds the back of the net.
54’ Gil lets a shot from distance fly but Willis makes the save.
56’ Larin lays the ball off for Barnes, who blasts a volley just wide of the post.
58’ Kaká enters the match in place of Antonio Nocerino. Carlos Rivas enters the match in place of Giles Barnes.
61’ MPG floats a perfect delivery into the box that bounces off a few heads and out of bounds for a goal kick.
64’ Bendik charges out to deny Romell Quioto in alone at the top of the box.
65’ Houston catches Orlando City on the break and Manotas makes it 3-0.
70’ Larin picks up the ball, turns the corner and fires a shot that produces a juicy rebound in front of goal but Houston clears.
71’ Cristian Higuita enters the match in place of Will Johnson. Kaká takes the captain’s armband.
72’ Kaká fires a left-footed cross through the box that Gil directs on frame.
75’ Houston makes it 4-0 on another counter attack.
80’ Bendik makes an outstanding save off the line.
83’ After another nice spell of possession, Kaká fires a shot that curls wide.
90 (+3)’ After three minutes of added time, the referee ends the match. Orlando City 0, Houston Dynamo 4.
Scoring Summary:
HOU - Alberth Elis (A.J. DeLaGarza) 23’
HOU - Mauro Manotas (Alex) 51’
HOU - Mauro Manotas (Romell Quioto, Alex) 65’
HOU - Romell Quioto (Mauro Manotas) 75’
Misconduct Summary:
HOU - Romell Quioto (Yellow Card) 45 (+3)’
HOU - A.J. DeLaGarza (Yellow Card) 60’
ORL - Donny Toia (Yellow Card) 79’
HOU - Adolfo Machado (Yellow Card) 84’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Houston Dynamo - GK Joe Willis, D DaMarcus Beasley, Leonardo, Adolfo Machado, A.J. DeLaGarza, M Eric Alexander (Ricardo Clark 9’), Juan Cabezas, Alex (Boniek García 73’), F Alberth Elis, Mauro Manotas, Romell Quioto (Vicente Sanchez 78’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Tyler Deric, D Jalil Anibaba, Kevin Garcia, M Andrew Wenger
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Donny Toia, José Aja, Tommy Redding, Scott Sutter, M Antonio Nocerino (Kaká 58’), Ⓒ Will Johnson (Cristian Higuita 71’), Luis Gil, Matías Pérez García, F Cyle Larin, Giles Barnes (Carlos Rivas 58’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Josh Saunders, D PC, Léo Pereira, M Servando Carrasco
Details of the Game:
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
Date: May 6, 2017
Attendance: 19,292
Stats:
Possession:
HOU - 42.8 %
ORL - 57.2 %
Shots:
HOU - 15
ORL - 9
Saves:
HOU - 4
ORL - 6
Fouls:
HOU - 18
ORL - 12
Corners:
HOU - 5
ORL - 4
