HARRISON, N.J. (July 13, 2016) – In the first match of a three-game road trip, Orlando City SC (4-5-9, 21 points) fell 2-0 to the New York Red Bulls (8-9-3, 27 points) Wednesday evening at Red Bull Arena.
“We knew what to expect. We had a plan coming into it and I think the plan, in a lot of ways, worked. When we go back and look at it, it’s the fine margins that are costing us,” Interim Head Coach Bobby Murphy said. “I think [the players] competed hard enough and had some good moments. [We] were in the game.”
In the teams’ third meeting of the season, Orlando City started out strong, creating several opportunities in the attacking third. Captain Brek Shea, who started at left wing, and midfielder Kevin Molino combined for several threatening opportunities on the Red Bulls’ back line during the first half.
Despite the team’s overall defensive effort - including a fearless play from Seb Hines, who blocked slid into Mike Grella’s open shot and blocked it with his face in the 31st minute - New York was able to open the scoring. Alex Muyl delivered a corner service into the box in the 37th minute that bounced around before Connor Lade drove a left-footed ball inside the far post.
Commanded by goalkeeper Joe Bendik, City’s back line continued to hustle. The Marietta, Ga., native, who entered the match fourth in MLS with 60 saves, made several big saves to keep the Lions in the game. His best stop came in the 55th minute when he dove to deflect a powerful free kick strike from Bradley Wright-Phillips.
The Red Bulls made it 2-0 in the 59th minute when Felipe drove a free kick around the Lions’ wall and into the back of the net.
The Lions aimed to find another late equalizer, as Murphy introduced attackers Cyle Larin and Júlio Baptista in the second half. Larin was close to reducing the deficit in the team’s best chance of the night, as he received a clever through ball from Molino behind the Red Bulls’ backline but his shot was stopped by goalkeeper Luis Robles in the 76th minute.
The game featured Antonio Nocerino’s first start since May 15, as well as Carlos Rivas’ first start since May 25. Harrison Heath, who made his second consecutive start, had to leave the game during halftime after suffering a knock to the knee. The Englishman will be further evaluated by team doctors in Orlando tomorrow.
The Lions continue the road trip when they head to Vancouver to take on the Whitecaps on Saturday, July 16, for a 10 p.m. ET kickoff. City finishes the road trip when it visits Columbus on Saturday, July 23. They return to Camping World Stadium on Sunday, July 31, when they host the New England Revolution. Kickoff is set for 7:30 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
2’ Brek Shea does well to win a loose ball and earns a free kick 25 yards from the goal.
6’ Joe Bendik makes an incredible save off an open shot from Chris Duvall 10 yards from goal.
12’ Kevin Molino makes a good run to spark the Lions’ attack, working the ball to Shea and then across the pitch to Carlos Rivas.
17’ Shea makes a clever pass to Rivas, who takes a touch and sprints into the box before being dragged down by former Lion Aurélien Collin.
28’ Orlando City continues displaying strong defensive posture, building on their clean sheet earned last match, as the Lions weather the early Red Bull attack.
35’ Harrison Heath does well to sprint the ball out of his own box after a New York free kick near the corner flag.
37’ Connor Lade opens the scoring when he flies in and drives a loose ball in the box into the back of the net.
45 (+1)’ Rivas picks up a loose ball and makes a slick pass to Molino, who drives the box and lofts a ball to Shea, who chests it down and fires a left-footed shot that is blocked.
45 (+2)’ Alex Muyl is shown a yellow card for diving in the box.
45 (+3)’ After three minutes of added time, the referee indicates the end of the first half. Orlando City 0, New York Red Bulls 1.
Second Half:
55’ Joe Bendik makes a great diving save off a Bradley Wright-Phillips free kick strike from 24 yards out.
59’ Felipe drives a right-footed free kick into the far post for the goal.
60’ Orlando City leading scorer Cyle Larin enters the match in place of Carlos Rivas.
61’ Darwin Cerén rips a shot from 30 yards out that gives goalkeeper Luis Robles a hard time.
62’ Kevin Alston drives a dangerous ball into the box for Cyle Larin, but Robles is able to make the catch.
66’ Júlio Baptista and Molino play a clever combination but Baptista is unable to free himself for a shot.
67’ Bendik makes a good catch on a header from Collin just six yards from goal.
68’ Bendik comes up big again, charging out to make a point-blank save off Gonzalo Veron.
73’ Luke Boden drives a ball to Shea, who heads it back across to Cyle Larin on the six-yard box, but the Canadian’s header goes just wide.
76’ Molino finds Larin in alone on Robles, but Robles charges out to cut down the angle and makes the save.
80’ Boden launches a ball up the left wing to Molino, who races it down and crosses to Larin, but he is unable to get a touch and put it on frame.
83’ Molino slips a good ball into Baptista, who drives the box and fires a shot on target.
86’ Shea drives into the box and rips a left-footed shot that is blocked on its way to goal.
90 (+4)’ After four minutes of added time, the referee ends the match. Orlando City 0, New York 2.
Scoring Summary:
NY - Connor Lade (Bradley Wright-Phillips) 37’
NY - Felipe 59’
Misconduct Summary:
NY - Alex Muyl (Yellow Card) 45 (+2)’
ORL - David Mateos (Yellow Card) 49’
ORL - Brek Shea (Yellow Card) 52’
ORL - Cristian Higuita (Yellow Card) 68’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Luke Boden, David Mateos, Seb Hines, Kevin Alston, M Harrison Heath (Darwin Cerén 46’), Cristian Higuita, Brek Shea, Kevin Molino, Antonio Nocerino (Júlio Baptista 65’), F Carlos Rivas (Cyle Larin 60’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Earl Edwards Jr., D Conor Donovan, M Servando Carrasco, F Hadji Barry
New York Red Bulls - GK Luis Robles, D Connor Lade, Aurélien Collin, Ronald Zubar, Chris Duvall, M Dax McCarty (Damien Perrinelle 87’), Sean Davis, Mike Grella, Felipe, Alex Muyl (Shaun Wright-Phillips 76’), F Bradley Wright-Phillips (Gonzalo Veron 64’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Kyle Reynish, D Justin Bilyeu, M Sal Zizz, Sacha Kljestan
Details of the Game
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Cloudy
July 13, 2016
Attendance: 19,121
Stats:
Possession:
ORL - 43.8 %
NY - 56.2 %
Shots:
ORL - 7
NY - 12
Saves:
ORL - 4
NY - 3
Fouls:
ORL - 23
NY - 15
Corners:
ORL - 1
NY - 5
