Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja
Opening Statement
“Obviously, a very disappointing result. It was a great opportunity for us to escalate in the standings and continue with what we have had in last few games. But today was not a good day for us. We started the game sharp, had a few options to score but after that, I thought we didn't have a good game. We were low in the energy. I thought we didn't have the intensity that has characterized this group all the time, and obviously we need to move on. The second half was heartless. I didn't see us with that willingness that we all have. I take the responsibility for us, of course, the preparation of the group and the reactions after these two weeks. Today we didn't look [like us] the majority of the time. So, disappointed, we're going to review but we have to move on and continue what is coming.”
On if there were any concerns going into the match
“No, not at all. Really, we were very optimistic today. We had an intrasquad over the weekend and it’s difficult to simulate the game, but the metrics and numbers and everything told us that we could continue with that momentum that we had. But today, I didn't see that energy, and definitely with the players after the game, we discussed it, and their energy wasn’t there. It's a big responsibility for us as coaches and as players. But you’re right, today was a very disappointing performance.”
On inability to record a shot when being up a man for 35 minutes
“We had time enough to equalize the game, especially when they [Sporting Kansas City] end up playing with 10 players. But you're right, we didn't have that resolution, that eagerness. In the last 20 meters, we were moving the ball, but we didn't find spaces to hurt them. It looks like we could have played longer without succeeding in the last part of the field.”
Orlando City SC Forward Facundo Torres
Opening Statement
“We've got a lot of negative thoughts right now. We leave today's game with a sour taste in our mouths. The team thinks that that wasn't us out there tonight, that's not the team that we are, that's not the way that we like to play. We're a team that has a lot of ambition and a lot of goals and drive together, and we just didn't show that out there tonight. And so, yeah, obviously, leaving this one with some bad feelings.”
On the team’s frustration at not finishing their early opportunities
“That’s how we wanted to approach the beginning of the game right in those first 10 minutes, we were really playing the way that we wanted to play. And then obviously, to have those chances and to not have it go our way hurt us a little bit, and kind of lowered our spirits a little bit to see those chances not go our way. Then as that was happening to us, they [Sporting Kansas City] were getting into the game more and picking their heads up more, and they started to win by playing their game.”
On difficulty to come back into a game when down at halftime
“I think in the beginning of the year, it really, really hurt us a lot, in a way that we were having trouble getting back into those games if we didn't score the first goal and if we didn't have the draw going into halftime or the lead going into halftime. But I think, throughout the year, we started to get better at that. We started to really strike first. But tonight was just another one of those games where, you know, once they took that first goal, it kind of got into our heads a little bit, and we had difficulty coming back from that.”
