It’s crunch time for the players of Orlando City. With just one match left before the start of the offseason, players are taking advantage of their moment to prove themselves to their coach. On Sunday, Carlos Rivas took advantage of that shot and came through for his team in a big way.
Rivas earned the start for Orlando City on Sunday, his seventh for Orlando City this season. In the first half, Rivas helped create some chances but couldn’t find the back of the net. Fourteen minutes into the second half, Rivas had a breakaway and put one away for Orlando City, giving them a 1-0 lead.
“I thought it was a very good afternoon for me,” Rivas said. “I’ve been working very hard for the opportunity and once I got it, I was able to deliver.”
For the Philadelphia Union, this performance was an opportunity for them to clinch a playoff spot before the final week of play. They came out strong, but Orlando City took control of the game early on.
“They came out with the same conviction as us but we were able to perform better in the game,” Rivas said. “We were able to capitalize on our opportunities and that was the difference in the end.”
Rivas wasn’t the only new face in the Orlando City starting lineup on Sunday. Rafael Ramos and Cristian Higuita, who are both coming back from injury, also started Sunday’s match, as well as young defender Mikey Ambrose. Overall, Head Coach Jason Kreis was impressed with their performances.
“It was good,” Kreis said after the match. “Really positive performances from everyone that did their part today, from the starters to those who came off the bench to make contributions. I think that they are making their case about where they want to be next year.”
