Orlando City had been down a man for 38 minutes. The backline had held strong, the midfield had kept possession, and Orlando City had kept the deficit at one. Suddenly, a D.C. United pass on a counter hit home, finding striker Darren Mattocks all alone at midfield with a free run on goal.
The nearest defender, newly acquired left back Mohomed El-Munir, was nearly 10 yards behind the speedy striker when he received the ball.
El-Munir had run all night. He might have covered every blade of grass on that field. But when Darren Mattocks got on that ball, El-Munir turned on the jets.
One half-length of the pitch later, El-Munir had made up that space, and with a deft touch of his right boot he had stripped Mattocks of the ball. He sat on the pitch for a moment with a look I could only describe as complete exhaustion, before Joe Bendik, grinning ear-to-ear, picked him up off the pitch.
The chase. ⚡ #FaceOfSpeedpic.twitter.com/aeAkPdViSy
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) March 6, 2018
It was a game-saving play — and one that could very well define the what this new-look team is about moving forward.
“I think all of the players left everything out there. All of them emptied their tanks,” said Jason Kreis. “Couldn’t be prouder. Mohamed, I think in particular, when you look at the play that he had to sprint 60, 70 yards to make a defensive stop on their striker, that for me was a game-changer.”
With all of the new faces in camp this offseason City certainly had a different look, but not all of that was cosmetic. We saw a drive, determination and competition that would be unmatched from previous years. It was clear that Jason Kreis’ and the front office’s vision for this team was a reality. A core group of leaders, high character individuals, and a crop of hungry young talent ready to compete.
So, if Mohomed El-Munir's run says anything about what this team can be…count me as excited.
