NEW YORK (April 23, 2017) – In its second road match of 2017, Orlando City SC (5-1-0, 15 points) picked up its fifth win in six games this season with a 2-1 victory over New York City FC (3-3-1, 10 points) Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. Cyle Larin scored his sixth goal and his second brace of the year while Scott Sutter earned his second assist in as many games. Donny Toia got on the scoresheet for his first time as a Lion on Larin’s game-winner.
The Lions picked up their second win over their 2015 expansion rivals after a clean sheet victory in the inaugural game at Orlando City Stadium on March 5. It was City’s third consecutive positive result and the second win in three games at Yankee Stadium. Orlando City now has five wins over NYCFC, its most against any team. The win also ended New York City’s 11-game home-unbeaten run, which dated back to 2016.
“Obviously really pleased with my team’s performance and their efforts. They continue to astound me with what they’re willing to put in and what they’re willing to give for this Club and for themselves,” Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said. “Really, really pleased with their efforts against a very good team and in a very difficult place to play. Couldn’t be happier at the moment.”
Larin started the scoring in the 31st minute after Rivas played a precise through ball to Scott Sutter on the right wing behind the NYCFC back line. Sutter drove a low ball across the box for Larin to tap inside the near post.
The Canadian striker scored again six minutes into the second half on a powerful header. After Toia made a clever move to find space on the left wing, Larin drove a header down and in with defender Rodney Wallace all over him. The goal gave Larin six goals and one assist in four games at Yankee Stadium and nine goals in seven games against the Pigeons.
New York City quickly turned up the pressure after Larin’s second goal and preserving three points required an excellent collective defensive effort. With the same back line from its 2-1 win over the LA Galaxy last Saturday, City held on to the lead despite over 60 percent of possession and 13 shots from NYC. Jonathan Spector was spectacular on the day, making countless clearances and anchoring a back line that included Tommy Redding, Toia and Sutter.
Goalkeeper Joe Bendik had a busy afternoon, his six saves tying his season-high set on March 5 against NYCFC. Bendik made a great save in the 68th minute, stopping Wallace’s close-range header that was going to the far post. Then in stoppage time, he stopped a blistering shot from David Villa from inside the six-yard box. The Lions have now allowed just five goals in six games this year.
“I think it’s about that collective willingness to do whatever it takes. When you see your strikers coming back and making defensive plays that they don’t necessarily want to make, when you see midfielders diving in front of things to stop things, when you see obviously Joe continues to make the biggest saves when we need it in the biggest moments,” Kreis continued. “It’s just a collective mindset and a collective effort.”
Both teams wore adidas Parlay jerseys, which are made from plastic recycled from the oceans. Orlando City and NYCFC were two of four clubs chosen to wear the jerseys in addition to Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy.
The Lions will look to make it five wins at Orlando City Stadium on Saturday, April 29, when they host the Colorado Rapids in another nationally televised match. Kickoff is set for 3:55 p.m. ET.
Tickets to all City home matches are available at OrlandoCitySC.com or by calling 855-ORL-CITY. Follow the latest Orlando City news and updates via Facebook, Twitter,Instagram and YouTube.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:
First Half
2’ Joe Bendik punches Alex Ring’s attempt from distance after Andrea Pirlo lofts a corner service to the top of the box. Carlos Rivas picks up Bendik’s punch and drives up the field, forcing Maxi Moralez to foul and take a yellow card.
10’ Rivas blasts a free kick from 35 yards out that whizzes past the top left corner.
16’ Larin wins the ball deep in the NYC box but his pass to Rivas is intercepted.
22’ Jonathan Spector makes an athletic play to head the ball away from David Villa. The Lions bounce the ball around a few times before Donny Toia heads it back to Bendik to settle.
23’ Larin’s header from Will Johnson’s corner service goes wide.
24’ Bendik dives to his left to catch Moralez’ diving header.
27’ Toia does excellent work 1-on-1 with Jack Harrison, forcing him from the box all the way to the corner flag and earning an Orlando City throw-in.
31’ Rivas makes a great pass to find Scott Sutter in behind. Sutter drives a low ball across the six-yard box for Larin to tap into the far post. Orlando City 1, New York City 0.
34’ Bendik makes his third save of the afternoon on a shot from distance from David Villa.
36’ Spector makes a diving block after Harrison found space on the right side of the box.
38’ Will Johnson’s cross lands dangerously at the feet of Larin but the bounce forces Sean Johnson into a diving save.
45’ Andrea Pirlo is shown a yellow card after a reckless challenge on Giles Barnes.
45 (+1)’ After one minute of added time, the referee ends the first half. Orlando City 1, New York City FC 0.
Second Half
49’ Bendik leaps forward to catch the ball and stop Moralez in the box.
51’ Toia floats a gorgeous ball to Larin in the box and, despite Rodney Wallace being all over him, the Canadian does not err, driving a powerful header down and in for his second goal of the game.
55’ The Lions work the ball into the box as Rivas makes a slick move to get inside but the play results in a goal kick.
62’ Spector and Sutter combine to clear the danger as NYC pushes to cut their deficit. Spector makes another block on a Thomas McNamara shot from the edge of the area.
63’ Rivas works the ball into the corner of the field, cuts inside and feeds a ball to Barnes in the box but it is cleared. Toia takes a crack at the rebound from 25 yards out but pulls it wide.
64’ Luis Gil enters the match in place of Cristian Higuita.
68’ Bendik makes his best save of the afternoon, quickly diving to his left to stop a header from Wallace at the near post.
70’ Rivas blasts another free kick from distance that takes a deflection to earn a corner. The corner is cleared but Rivas runs back up the left wing to earn another.
74’ David Villa swings Moralez’ free kick into the net. Orlando City 2, New York City 1.
76’ Bendik makes an unbelievable one-handed save but the play is ruled offside.
79’ Bendik flies behind him to paw Moralez’ floating ball off the line.
83’ Servando Carrasco enters the match in place of Giles Barnes.
85’ Nocerino plays a free kick to Larin in the box. Larin takes a touch and fires a shot that forces Johnson into conceding a corner.
88’ Bendik makes a strong punch to clear a dangerous in-swinging corner kick to the touch line.
90 (+3)’ Matías Pérez García enters the match in place of Carlos Rivas.
90 (+4)’ Bendik keeps the ball out of his net by tipping it behind as it fell from the sky. Bendik makes another incredible save off the line on a blast from point-blank range from Villa.
90 (+6)’ After six minutes of added time, the referee ends the match. Orlando City 2, New York City 1.
Scoring Summary:
ORL - Cyle Larin (Scott Sutter, Carlos Rivas) 31’
ORL - Cyle Larin (Donny Toia) 51’
NYC - David Villa (Maxi Moralez) 74’
Misconduct Summary:
NYC - Maximiliano Moralez (Yellow Card) 2’
NYC - Andrea Pirlo (Yellow Card) 45’
NYC - David Villa (Yellow Card) 54’
ORL - Cristian Higuita (Yellow Card) 57’
NYC - Ethan White (Yellow Card) 59’
ORL - Tommy Redding (Yellow Card) 72’
ORL - Antonio Nocerino (Yellow Card) 82’
ORL - Cyle Larin (Yellow Card) 90+3’
Lineups/Substitutions:
New York City FC - GK Sean Johnson, D Rodney Wallace, Alexander Callens, Maxime Chanot, Ethan White (Miguel Camargo 87’), M Maximiliano Moralez, Andrea Pirlo (Yangel Herrera 56’), Alexander Ring, F Thomas McNamara (John Stertzer 73’), Ⓒ David Villa, Jack Harrison
Substitutes Not Used: GK Eirik Johansen, D Ben Sweat, Frederic Brillant, F Jonathan Lewis
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Donny Toia, Jonathan Spector, Tommy Redding, Scott Sutter, M Antonio Nocerino, Cristian Higuita (Luis Gil 64’), Ⓒ Will Johnson, Giles Barnes (Servando Carrasco 83’), F Carlos Rivas (Matías Pérez García 90+3’), Cyle Larin
Substitutes Not Used: GK Josh Saunders, D PC, Léo Pereira, F Hadji Barry
Details of the Game:
Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
Date: April 23, 2017
Attendance: 22,470
Stats:
Possession:
NYC 62.6 %
ORL - 37.4 %
Shots:
NYC - 13
ORL - 9
Saves:
NYC - 1
ORL - 6
Fouls:
NYC - 21
ORL - 14
Corners:
NYC - 12
ORL - 3
