Cyle Larin is like the neighborhood mail man, he always delivers.
Larin, the MLS record holder for most goals by a player under the age of 22, has scored six of Orlando City’s eight goals this season, a league leading 75% of his team’s production, and has had two multiple goal matches. He ranks second in the MLS Golden Boot race behind the Houston Dynamo’s Erik Torres, who has seven goals.
“I just got to keep scoring,” Larin said. “We have to keep playing well and I have to keep scoring for my team. And if I do we’ll win the game.”
The six-foot-two, 190-pound striker scored two goals and carried the scoring load against New York City FC this past Sunday. Larin demonstrated his strength on his second goal when he pushed off a defender to connect on a header.
“I think you have to give him a lot of credit because he was at the right place at the right time, and the way he finished was really good,” said New York City FC’s Head Coach Patrick Vieira. “I’m not surprised at all because we knew if he had the chance and he was in the box he would finish.”
Larin has completed an incredible 40 percent of his chances at the goal this season, scoring six goals on 15 shots. He is on pace to have his highest goal percentage as a professional. Larin scored 17 goals on 64 shots as a rookie and netted 14 last season on 73 attempts.
Orlando City Head Coach Jason Kreis alluded to Larin’s goals as an end result of his training this past offseason.
“It’s been Larin’s willingness to work in the offseason, to work harder in the training sessions than he did last year,” Kreis said. “I think that work has translated into his success in the matches.”
