COLUMBUS, Ohio (May 15, 2024) – Orlando City B (3-3-3, 13 points) dropped a back-and-forth match with Columbus Crew 2 (4-3-2, 15 points) via a 4-3 scoreline on Wednesday afternoon at Lower.com Field. After previously posting a 2-0-2 record away from home to start the season, the Lions dropped their first road game of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season.
OCB forward Wilfredo Rivera found his way back onto the scoresheet for the first time in three games on a sliding goal early in the first half that put the Lions ahead 1-0. It was Rivera’s third goal of the season, tied for second on the team. Shak Mohammed extended his streak of games with a goal to three in a row with his team-leading fourth finish of the season.
With contributions on both Orlando goals in the first half, defender Alex Freeman picked up his first two assists of the season. Freeman is fourth on the team in goal contributions with a goal and two assists.
The Lions will next return home after a near two-week break from play, set to host Huntsville City FC on Sunday, May 26 at Osceola County Stadium. That match will kick off at 6 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Scoring Summary:
13’ Wilfredo Rivera (Alex Freeman) – ORL 1, CLB 0
The Lions struck early with a sliding goal from forward Wilfredo Rivera. Orlando controlled the ball and quickly mounted an attack down the left side of the Crew defense. Favian Loyola and Alex Freeman exchanged passes before Freeman sent a cross to the middle of the box. Rivera came sliding in the middle of the box in front of the goal and was able to push in a shot past the Columbus goalkeeper for the early lead.
18’ Jayden Da (Adrián González) – ORL 1, CLB 1
Just five minutes later, the home side found its equalizer on a Jayden Da header. After an attempted clearance from the Lions, Columbus gathered control again in the OCB defensive zone. Adrián González received a pass outside the box and sent in a cross in front of the Lions’ goal where Da was able to get behind the defense and head a shot in past the goalkeeper at the far post.
27’ Chase Adams – CLB 2, ORL 1
Columbus Crew 2 took the lead just nine minutes after leveling the match. Orlando City B goalkeeper Carlos Mercado sent a would-be clearance directly to Columbus attacker Chase Adams who controlled it in the box and sent a second touch shot into the back of the net to give the Crew a 2-1 lead.
34’ Shak Mohammed (Alex Freeman) – ORL 2, CLB 2
Orlando City B struck back quickly to even the match up again at 2-2 on a Shak Mohammed finish. Loyola sent a long lead pass to Freeman, who got up to the ball behind the Crew defense. Freeman sent in another cross towards the top of the box, this time to Mohammed, who sent a one-timer into the back of the net for his fourth goal of the season.
51’ Ty Nero (Own Goal) – ORL 3, CLB 2
OCB took the lead again shortly into the second half on an own goal off Columbus Crew 2 defender Ty Nero. Lions’ midfielder Imanol Almaguer got deep into the Crew’s defensive box and sent a low cross from the endline that deflected off Nero into the back of the net.
74’ Imanol Almaguer (Own Goal) – ORL 3, CLB 3
Columbus once again pulled the match to a draw, benefiting from an own goal by OCB’s Almaguer. The Crew attacked deep behind the Lions’ defense when Tristan Brown sent in a low cross toward goal. Almaguer stepped in front of the pass and the ball was deflected and sent into the net to tie the match up at 3-3.
76’ Gibran Rayo (Jacob Greene) – CLB 4, ORL 3
The draw didn’t last long when second-half substitute Gibran Rayo came in and scored a long shot past Mercado. Jacob Greene controlled a long cross outside the box before setting up Rayo outside the box. Rayo took a couple dribbles before launching a shot that made its way through the OCB defense and past Mercado at the near post to give the Crew the game winner.
Match Notes:
- Forward Favian Loyola made his first start of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season for the Lions on Wednesday afternoon.
- Forward Shak Mohammed scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season on Orlando’s 34th-minute equalizer.
- Defender Alex Freeman picked up his first two assists of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season.
- Head Coach Manuel Goldberg made one change to his starting lineup from his side’s last match against New York Red Bulls II, with Favian Loyola getting the start on the afternoon.
