Scoring Summary:
FLO- Ryan Price (Juan Gonzales) 19
FLO- Miguel Benito (Juan Gonzales) 34
ORL- Romario Williams (Unassisted) 82
ORL- Romario Williams (Gorka Aperribay) 84
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City U23s- G Cody Uzcategui, D Noah Franke, Ian Svantesson, Alex Norris, Eirik Bjoernoe (Michael Millay 81), M Victor Souto (Dennis Zapata 46), Andrew Brody (John Nartowicz 75), Allan Sexius, F Lucas Diniz (Benji Michel 46), Gorka Aperribay, Tyler Blackwood (Romario Williams 46)
Floridians F.C.- G Jeremy Crumpton, D Michael Quinn (Timothy Merrigan 11), Christian Morales, Luis Caicedo, Brian James, M Juan Gonzales, Ryan Price, Miguel Benito (Ochando McKay 75), Marshall Shultz, F Daniel Marrugo, Brian Lima (Jeanty Marc 62)
Penalty Summary:
FLO- Brian James (Yellow Card) 52
Match Facts:
Time of Match: 7:00 p.m. EST
Weather: -- Clear
Sanford, Fla. – In the 2014 season finale of the Premier Development League the Orlando City U23s (2-7-5) came from behind to draw 2-2 against the Floridians F.C. (2-7-4) at the Seminole Soccer Complex on Friday evening behind two second half goals in the final minutes by Forward Romario Williams.
The Lions nearly scored three minutes into the game when Midfielder Andrew Brody slipped a ball through the visitors’ defense. Striker Gorka Aperribay collected the ball and made a run into the box with only ‘keeper Jeremy Crumpton to beat, but unfortunately the forward pulled his shot just wide.
After the crafty midfielder delivered another cross towards the directions of Forward Tyler Blackwood, but City’s misfortune would continue when the Englishman couldn’t latch onto the pass.
Defender Michael Quinn picked up an injury shortly thereafter, forcing the Floridians to use one of its five substitutions 11 minutes in with Timothy Merrigan entering the game for Quinn.
From there the game would shift into the Floridians favor with four consecutive opportunities from a corner. On the fourth corner kick, the visitors finally converted when Midfielder Juan Gonzalez delivered the ball quickly in which his teammate sent him a return ball, allowing the midfielder’s cross to get through a crowded penalty area and connect with Ryan James who headed it back Orlando’s Goalkeeper Cody Uzcategui.
On the ensuing possession the Lions immediately went on the attack, trying to keep the game as level as possible. Aperribay found Blackwood who was left all alone in the box, but former University of Tampa forward’s headed effort ricocheted off the crossbar.
In the 34th minute the Floridians would double its advantage when Gonzalez slipped a ball through City’s backline deceiving the unit with Daniel Marrugo in an offside position let the ball go to Midfielder Miguel Benito. The Floridian midfielder collected the ball with no opposing defender anywhere near him, Benito took a touch around Uzcategui and tapped it into the back of the net.
Head Coach Paul Shaw would make three changes at halftime by inserting Williams, Benji Michel, and Dennis Zapata into the game to try to provide a spark for the young Lions that saw the second-half substitutes become beneficial for the gaffer.
With under 10 minutes remaining Williams received the ball and took a couple of touches to get around and through the opposing backline that saw the Jamaican native’s final touch go into the back of the net to cut the Floridians’ lead to just one.
Two minutes later, Williams found himself in the right place at the right time. Aperribay chested the ball down before putting a ball across the face of goal to a waiting Williams as striker again slotted the ball past Crumpton for the second time to tie the game in thrilling fashion, but that would be the final goal of match to end of season for Shaw’s squad.
Orlando City had struggled during the last fives matches, but were finally able to snap its losing streak in the final game of the season at home to end the season on a high note. Williams led the team with seven goals at the end of the campaign.
