CHESTER, Penn. (October 16, 2016) – In its final road game of 2016, Orlando City SC (8-11-14, 38 points) earned a 2-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union (11-13-9, 42 points) on Sundayafternoon at Talen Energy Stadium. Carlos Rivas and Júlio Baptista scored as the Lions earned their fifth clean sheet of the season.
“I’m obviously very pleased. Pleased with the guys’ effort, pleased that we got the shutout, pleased with the three points. I told the guys before the game that I feel like every time they’ve committed to defending we’ve gotten a good result,” Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said. “We’ll get our attacking chances, we’ll score our goals, it’s just a question of whether we’re 100 percent committed to defend. When we are, we get results.”
After a couple strong outings, Rivas made his third consecutive appearance and his seventh start of the season. The Colombian played alongside All-Star striker Cyle Larin up top and was a force all day. Rivas had several promising looks at goal and capitalized in the 59th minute when he drove the ball past two defenders and into the Union box. The 22-year-old flicked the ball past goalkeeper Andre Blake for the eventual game-winner.
Baptista, the Lions’ Brazilian supersub, found himself in a similar position in stoppage time. After entering the match in the 72nd minute in place of Larin, the forward drove the net and rifled a shot through Blake and into the back of the net. It was Baptista’s fifth goal of the season.
The match featured yet another incredible performance from goalkeeper Joe Bendik. After a quiet first half, Bendik was called upon to make five big saves in the second frame. The Marietta, Ga., native stopped former Lion CJ Sapong’s header in the 66th minute and again dove across the face of the goal one minute later to make an astonishing point-blank save on Chris Pontius’ header. Bendik has played every minute for Orlando City this season.
The match also saw right back Rafael Ramos make his return to the starting XI after suffering a hamstring injury against Montreal on May 21. The Portuguese defender was a force up the right wing and showed good chemistry with Matías Pérez García. Ramos took a sharp-angle shot in the 82nd minute that curled towards the near post, forcing Blake to concede a corner after a flying save.
With the win, Orlando City has now defeated every team in the Eastern Conference in MLS play since joining the league last season.
The Lions return to Camping World Stadium for the season finale when they host D.C. United on Saturday, Oct. 23. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET.
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.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:
First Half
4’ Kaká slips the ball back to Mikey Ambrose, who launches a dangerous cross into the box.
11’ Carlos Rivas gets in behind the back line, takes a touch into the box and fires it through the six-yard box.
18’ Seb Hines does well to slide and clear a Fabian Herbers centering pass out for a corner.
21’ Rafael Ramos’ cross is deflected and nearly finds the inside of the far post but goes out for a corner.
28’ Rivas steals the ball and drives towards the box before laying off to Kaká on the left. Kaká splits two defenders and earns a corner kick.
30’ Cyle Larin controls a ball with his chest and leaves it for Kaká, who sprints up the left wing and into the box.
38’ Richie Marquez is shown a yellow card after a harsh challenge on Matías Pérez García.
40’ Kaká serves an out-swinging free kick into the box but it narrowly misses the head of Cyle Larin.
41’ Ramos delivers a promising cross into the box but it is intercepted by Marquez.
43’ Kaká dribbles into the box and crosses to Larin in the six-yard box. The ball pinballs off Ken Tribbett, off the far post and into the hands of Andre Blake on the goalline.
45 (+1)’ Pérez García intercepts a pass and works it to Kaká, who dribbles into the box and crosses to Pérez García at the penalty spot. The Argentinian’s first-time shot is blocked in front of goal.
45 (+1)’ After one minute of added time, the referee ends the first half. Orlando City 0, Philadelphia Union 0.
Second Half:
56’ José Aja is shown a yellow card for a dangerous challenge.
59’ Carlos Rivas steals the ball at midfield and sprints upfield. The Colombian flicks the ball past Blake and it is deflected in for the 1-0 lead.
64’ Rivas makes a clever back-heel flick but regains the ball before lifting it for Kaká on the right wing. Kaká dribbles into the box and earns a corner.
65’ Kaká’s corner service finds Cyle Larin but Blake is able to cover and make the save.
66’ Joe Bendik makes a save on a CJ Sapong header from eight yards out.
67’ Bendik makes an incredible save on a Chris Pontius header from point-blank range.
72’ Júlio Baptista enters the match in place of Cyle Larin.
77’ Bendik stops a sharp-angle shot from Ilsinho.
79’ Pérez García runs into the box alone, stops and sends his defender flying before lofting a curling ball into the far corner but Blake is able to fly through the air for the save.
81’ Kevin Molino enters the match in place of Carlos Rivas.
82’ Rafael Ramos drives a sharp-angle shot from near the sideline that curls its way to goal, forcing Blake to make a diving save.
82’ Pérez García finds Aja on his corner delivery. The Uruguayan defender drives his header just over the bar.
84’ Bendik makes a steady save on a curling free kick from Barnetta.
85’ Kevin Molino starts the break and works it to Kaká, who finds Pérez García on the right wing. Pérez García tries to cross it but it is blocked.
87’ Servando Carrasco enters the match in place of Pérez García.
90 (+5)’ Júlio Baptista finds himself in alone, dribbles into the box and rifles it past Blake for the 2-0 lead.
90 (+7)’ After seven minutes of added time, the referee ends the match. Orlando City 2, Philadelphia Union 0.
<strong>Teams</strong> |
<strong>1</strong> |
<strong>2</strong> |
<strong>F</strong> |
<p>Orlando City SC</p> |
<p>0</p> |
<p align="center">2</p> |
<p>2</p> |
<p>Philadelphia Union</p> |
<p>0</p> |
<p align="center">0</p> |
<p>0</p> |
Scoring Summary:
ORL - Carlos Rivas 59’
ORL - Júlio Baptista 90 (+5)’
Misconduct Summary:
PHI - Richie Marquez (Yellow Card) 38’
PHI - Fabian Herbers (Yellow Card) 44’
ORL - José Aja (Yellow Card) 57’
PHI - Tranquillo Barnetta (Yellow Card) 67’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Mikey Ambrose, José Aja, Seb Hines, Rafael Ramos, M Cristian Higuita, Antonio Nocerino, Kaká, Matías Pérez García (Servando Carrasco 87’), F Carlos Rivas (Kevin Molino 81’), Cyle Larin (Júlio Baptista 72’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Earl Edwards Jr., D Tommy Redding, Kevin Alston, F Hadji Barry
Philadelphia Union - GK Andre Blake, D Fabinho, Richie Marquez, Ken Tribbett, Keegan Rosenberry, M Brian Carroll (Roland Alberg 71’), Alejandro Bedoya, Tranquillo Barnetta, Fabian Herbers (Charlie Davies 81’), Chris Pontius (Ilsinho 68’), F CJ Sapong
Substitutes Not Used: GK John McCarthy, D Raymond Gaddis, M Warren Creavalle, Maurice Edu
Details of the Game:
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Weather: Sunny
Date: October 16, 2016
Attendance: 18,007
Stats:
Possession:
ORL - 43.4 %
PHI - 56.6 %
Shots:
ORL - 12
PHI - 10
Saves:
ORL - 5
PHI - 2
Fouls:
ORL - 9
PHI - 14
Corners:
ORL - 5
PHI - 9
