Orlando City B Plays Columbus Crew 2 to a 2-2 Draw

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Aug. 20, 2022) - Orlando City B (6-10-4, 24 points) played to a 2-2 draw against the Columbus Crew 2 (13-3-4, 44 points), but fell in the penalty shootout on Saturday night at Osceola Heritage Park. This was the fourth penalty-kick shootout for the Club.

The Lions were able to find the back of the net twice in the first half courtesy of Moises Tablante and a Neicer Acosta penalty kick. Tablante got onto the scoresheet first after he was able to get on the end of a cross that came from Acosta. The goal served as his fifth of the year which is second-most for the Lions so far this season.

Acosta scored his third goal of the year after stepping up to the penalty spot and firing it into the net. The PK was given after Tablante was dragged down in front of the net and unable to finish off a chance. With his helper on the Tablante finish, Acosta recorded a goal and an assist in the same match for the first time this season.

The match saw the Lions go down to 10 men for the final five minutes of the game after forward Ethan Subuchan was given a red card in the 85th minute. Orlando then had to finish off stoppage time with nine men after Moises Tablante was given his second yellow card of the match in the 90th minute. 

Orlando City B Head Coach Martín Perelman:
“We had a great effort, a big one. We were close to a win, but unfortunately we couldn’t. We missed some goals. I don’t want to speak about the referee. Second half, everyone saw what happened on the field and then they scored and penalties are penalties. We are happy because we are playing with really, really young players and they are growing. They are growing and competing with senior players. We are proud of our players. 

Scoring Recap:
7’ Isaiah Parente (Penalty Kick) - CLB 1, OCB 0
The visitors took the early lead after Mohamed Farsi was brought down in the box and the referee allowed a penalty. Isaiah Parente stepped up to the spot and sent the Lions goalkeeper the wrong way to take the early advantage.

19’ Moises Tablante (Neicer Acosta) - OCB 1, CLB 1
The Lions leveled the match when Neicer Acosta was given the ball out wide on the right flank and sent a pin-point pass into the box to find a sprinting Moises Tablante who snuck it past the oncoming Crew goalkeeper and into the back of the net. 

25’ Neicer Acosta (Penalty Kick) - OCB 2, CLB 1
City scored again a few minutes later when Alex Freeman sent the ball into Tablante who found himself in front of a wide open net, but was brought down from behind leading to the penalty being awarded. Neicer Acosta took to the spot and shot a rocket of a ball which the goalkeeper was able to get a hand on, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the ball from crossing the goal line. 

76’ Marco Micaletto - CLB 2, OCB 2
After a plethora of chances for the Crew, they were finally able to find the back of the net thanks to a brilliant solo effort from Marco Micaletto. Micaletto drove through the box and past multiple Lions defenders before smashing his shot into the roof of the net. 

Match Notes:

• Moises Tablante scored his fifth goal of the season, which is second-most for the Club during the 2022 campaign.
• Tablante’s goal was the first goal he has scored since July 10 when he scored against Inter Miami CF II.
• Neicer Acosta recorded his first penalty kick goal and his third goal of the season while also picking up his third assist of the 2022 campaign on the Tablante goal.
• Acosta became the third Lion this season to record a goal and an assist in the same match joining Jack Lynn and Moises Tablante.  
• Two of Acosta’s three assists on the year have come in the last three games. 
• Goalkeeper Javier Otero made five saves on the night extending his saves total to 87, which leads all of MLS NEXT Pro.
• The match saw midfielder Tyler Prebenda make his professional debut.
• The Lions current three game unbeaten streak is the longest streak they have had so far this season. 
• The shootout counted at the 40th shootout across all of MLS NEXT Pro so far this season.
• Head Coach Martín Perelman made nine changes to his starting lineup from last Wednesday’s match that saw nine Orlando City First Team players start in the 5-2 victory.

Next Match: Orlando City B close out their three-game homestand as they take on FC Cincinnati 2 on Monday, August 29 at Osceola Heritage Park. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET.