Above a sea of screaming supporters bathed in purple, waving flags and beating drums, three golden worlds, both in color and significance, shine down over the raucous crowd at Camping World Stadium. It’s a call to arms, a rallying cry to supporters.
“Man the wall.”
On Saturday night, scores of fans filed into the stadium formerly known as the Orlando Citrus Bowl to see their team take on the Montréal Impact. 34,081 was the final crowd count.
The match didn’t start well, however, with Montréal’s Ignacio Piatti scored in the 4th minute and delivered an early dagger to Orlando City. Keeper Joe Bendik acknowledged the crowd’s role when a team gets down early like that.
“It’s a huge role, it’s a big push for us when we are down early in the game and they stick behind us the entire time.”
The unwavering enthusiasm of the supporter section rippled through every section, row, and seat. Just before the end of the first half, the crowd’s perseverance was rewarded. A free kick from Kaká brushed the top of Cyle Larin’s head and redirected into the goal for the equalizer. The crowd erupted in celebration and purple and gold confetti rained down onto the pitch.
But the score was still even. As the clock crept closer and closer to the 90-minute mark, the players began to feel the pain from playing such a tough match; even professional athletes get tired. The crowd, however, remained as vocal as ever. Larin admitted he fed off the crowd Saturday night.
“Toward the 80th minute, the 75th minute, you get tired and… it’s hard to keep going and I think the crowd is a big part of it. They are there from zero to the 90th minute and for me it helps me a lot. I know I get tired but I keep going for my team and I keep going just for the fans.”
Larin used the energy of the crowd, which radiated onto the field, to score the game-winner in the 87th minute that sealed a win for the Lions. Confetti littered the field once again and fans reveled in the night’s victory.
The supporters are undeniably a part of the team, and Saturday night’s win only proved to highlight their role in each and every Orlando City game. And on Wednesday night, the Lions will take on the East-leading Philadelphia Union. This isn’t just another mid-week match. If City wins, they’ll move up to second place in the Eastern Conference.
Players will look to the fans to ignite the fire within them and push the team to yet another victory at home.
