ORLANDO, Fla. (May 21, 2016) – Orlando City SC (3-3-5, 14 points) pushed forward to come back in front of 34,081 fans at Camping World Stadium with a Cyle Larin brace assisted by Captain Kaká that secured a 2-1 victory over the Montreal Impact (4-4-4, 16 points). The win stretched Orlando City’s home unbeaten streak to 12 games.
“Obviously delighted for everybody concerned. Really pleased for the players,” Lions head coach Adrian Heath said. “Delighted for our supporters, who I thought were incredible again tonight. The energy in the stadium really drove the players on. There were tired bodies out there, a lot of little knocks and it would have been easy for the group to have felt sorry for themselves going down a goal so early on. They kept going all night, and that’s what I said to them. Regardless of what happens, we have to keep going until the final whistle. Don’t give in. And they didn’t. They got their rewards.”
Montreal got on the board in the fourth minute when Lucas Ontivero worked the ball to Ignacio Piatti on the left side of the box. Piatti took a touch and ripped a shot that was deflected past City goalkeeper Joe Bendik. However, the Lions used the support of over 34,000 fans to turn the result around.
Orlando City held strong as Montreal continued pressing and fought back with a huge goal in the waning minutes of the half after Larin earned a free kick running onto a ball down the left wing. Kaká delivered a perfectly placed ball into the box for Larin, who flicked it cleverly inside the far post for the equalizer.
The Lions’ intensity kicked up a notch in the second half, continually threatening the Montreal goal. Their efforts finally paid off in the 87th minute with a gorgeous team effort. Cristian Higuita chipped a ball to Kaká on the edge of the box, who chested it to second-half substitute Júlio Baptista. The Brazilian flicked it back to Kaká over the back line and Kaká passed to Larin on the far post for the game winner. It was Larin’s team leading sixth goal of the season.
Colombian winger Carlos Rivas had a fantastic evening in his first start since April 17. The Designated Player made plays up the left side all evening and delivered several dangerous crosses into the box. Rivas finished with six shots.
SloMo: Cyle Larin's Game Winning Goal
Goalkeeper Joe Bendik had impressive back-to-back performances again tonight, making six saves to keep the match level. His best save came in the 78th minute minute when an Ambroise Oyongo shot was deflected on its way to net. Bendik stopped himself and parried the shot away with one hand, only to face a close-range shot from Johan Venegas just moments later.
This was the first of three matches in the span of eight days for the Lions. Orlando City returns to Camping World Stadium on Wednesday, May 25, to host the Philadelphia Union for a 7:30 p.m. E.T. kickoff before travelling to face New York City FC on Sunday, May 29.
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.
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First Half
4’ Lucas Ontivero works the ball down the middle of the pitch and passes to fellow Argentine Ignacio Piatti. Piatti works into the left side of the box, takes a touch and fires a shot that is deflected into the net.
16’ Orlando City earns a corner kick after Kaká delivers a clever backheel pass to Adrian Winter up the right wing. Kaká delivers the corner into the box, where it bounces around before being cleared away by Montreal.
25’ Carlos Rivas blasts a cross to Adrian Winter on the opposite wing. Winter corrals the ball and crosses back into Cyle Larin on the six-yard box. Larin is able to get a head on it but it goes out for a goal kick.
32’ Carlos Rivas launches a ball up to Cyle Larin, but Wandrille Lefèvre gets a head on it to direct it to goalkeeper Evan Bush.
34’ Kevin Alston enters the game in place of Portuguese defender Rafael Ramos. It is Alston’s second appearance of 2016.
38’ Joe Bendik makes a good save on Dominic Oduro inside the six-yard box.
40’ Tommy Redding is substituted on for center back Seb Hines. It is Redding’s eighth appearance of 2016.
41’ Brek Shea is given a yellow card.
43’ Kaká delivers a lethal free kick into Cyle Larin in the box, who flicks it to the far post for the equalizer and his fifth goal of the season. The Canadian earned the free kick moments earlier when he was dragged down running onto a ball on the left wing.
45’ Montreal goalkeeper Evan Bush earns a yellow card for time wasting.
45 (+1)’ Cyle Larin earns another free kick on the left wing. Kaká delivers a nearly identical ball into the box but Evan Bush punches it away.
45 (+2)’ The referee indicates the end of the first half after two minutes of stoppage time.
Second Half:
47’ After a nice combination between Kaká and Cristian Higuita, Carlos Rivas delivers a cross from the left wing into Cyle Larin, who makes an acrobatic attempt on goal, but the ball goes just wide.
51’ Carlos Rivas rips a shot from 25 yards that is blocked out for a corner kick. On the ensuing kick, Kaká finds Brek Shea on the far post but Shea is unable to find the back of the net.
54’ Joe Bendik makes a nice save on Dominic Oduro shot from distance.
55’ Kaká finds Cyle Larin in behind the Montreal backline near midfield. Larin takes a touch past goalkeeper Evan Bush outside the box, and a right-footed flick grazes the far post.
57’ Carlos Rivas dribbles into the box and takes a shot that is blocked out to Kaká. The Brazilian takes a shot that is saved by Evan Bush. After another attempt by Adrian Winter, Montreal is able to clear.
59’ Kevin Alston delivers a ball up to Kaká with space in the middle of the pitch and Kaká darts into the box. Kaká is dragged down in the box but no penalty is called.
61’ Kaká flicks the ball up to Larin on the right wing. The Lions work the ball back across the outside of the box to Carlos Rivas, who rips a left-footed shot at Evan Bush.
69’ Carlos Rivas earns a corner kick. Kaká delivers it into the box, where it bounces around and cleared away for another corner.
70’ Carlos Rivas delivers a left-footed corner to the near post, requiring a save from Evan Bush.
71’ Joe Bendik makes a great save as Dominic Oduro gets in behind the Lions back line. Bendik came out to cut down the angle as he makes the save.
73’ 19-year-old Tommy Redding makes a perfectly timed tackle in the box on Ignacio Piatti as he dribbled in.
75’ After a typical hard-working performance, Adrian Winter is subbed off in favor of Júlio Baptista. It is Baptista’s sixth appearance in 2016.
75’ Carlos Rivas works the ball up the left wing and delivers a nice cross into Cyle Larin on the six-yard box. Larin directs the header right at Evan Bush.
77’ Ignacio Piatti dribbles from the left side of the box to his right, trying to find room for a right-footed shot. He is unable to get his shot off and the Lions clear.
78’ Joe Bendik makes his best save of the evening as an Ambroise Oyongo shot was deflected on its way to net. Bendik makes another nice save off Johan Venegas from inside the box just moments later.
87’ Cristian Higuita works the ball to Kaká. Kaká chested it to fellow Brazilian Júlio Baptista, who flicks it back into Kaká in the box. Kaká’s passes across to Larin for his second goal of the game.
90 (+2)’ The referee ends the match after two minutes of stoppage time.
Scoring Summary:
MTL - Ignacio Piatti (Lucas Ontivero) 4’
ORL - Cyle Larin (Kaká) 43’
ORL - Cyle Larin (Kaká) 87’
Misconduct Summary:
ORL - Adrian Winter (Yellow Card) 13’
ORL - Brek Shea (Yellow Card) 41’
MTL - Evan Bush (Yellow Card) 45 (+1)’
ORL - Carlos Rivas (Yellow Card) 45 (+2)’
ORL - Cristian Higuita (Yellow Card) 53’
ORL - Kevin Alston (Yellow Card) 66’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Rafael Ramos (Kevin Alston 34’), David Mateos, Seb Hines (Tommy Redding 40’), Brek Shea, M Cristian Higuita, Servando Carrasco, Carlos Rivas, Kaká, Adrian Winter (Júlio Baptista 75’), F Cyle Larin
Substitutes: GK Earl Edwards Jr., D Kevin Alston, Luke Boden, M Antonio Nocerino, Kevin Molino
Montreal Impact - GK Evan Bush, D Ambroise Oyongo, Laurent Ciman, Wandrille Lefèvre, Hassoun Camara (Maxim Tissot 86’), M Kyle Bekker, Marco Donadel, Ignacio Piatti, Johan Venegas (Michael Salazar 79’), Lucas Ontivero (Harry Shipp 66’), F Dominic Oduro
Substitutes: GK Maxime Crépeau, D Kyle Fisher, M Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé, Patrice Bernier
Details of the Game
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
May 21, 2016
Attendance: 34,081
Stats:
Possession:
ORL - 49.9%
MTL - 50.1%
Fouls:
ORL - 20
MTL - 9
Shots:
ORL - 15
MTL - 15
Saves:
ORL - 6
MTL - 3
Corners:
ORL - 4
MTL - 4
