Scoring Summary:
ORL- Adama Mbengue (Luke Boden) 53’
ORL- Kevin Molino (unassisted) 93’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC- GK Miguel Gallardo, D Rob Valentino, Brad Rusin, Justin Clark, Luke Boden, M Anthony Pulis, Adama Mbengue (Austin da Luz 60’), Darwin Ceren, Brian Span, F Kevin Molino, Corey Hertzog (Dennis Chin 60’)
Dayton Dutch Lions- GK Matt Williams, Ross Freidman, Brock Granger, Matt Weit, DeSantos, M Eric Kissinger, Sebastian Thuriere, Matt Walker, Aaron Schoenfeld, F Eli Garner, Joe Broekhizen
Match Facts:
Time of Match: 3:00 p.m. EST
Weather: -- Rainy
Dayton, OH. – Orlando City SC (12-0-3, 39 points) set a new Club record for consecutive unbeaten matches on Sunday afternoon, after defeating the Dayton Dutch Lions 2-0 in Ohio. The victory over the Dutch Lions propels the Club record to 15 matches in a row without a loss, surpassing the original record of 14 games which was set during the 2012 campaign.
It took all of 53 minutes for the first goal of the match to arrive for the USL PRO league-leaders. Adama Mbengue, who was a constant headache for the Dayton defense in the first half, controlled a pass into the box from Boden nicely before firing the ball into the bottom corner past Williams.
Boden was also a constant threat down the left side and created the chance for Mbengue after cutting inside and calmly rolling the ball to the Senegalese winger for his second league goal of the season.
Six minutes later, Kevin Molino was able to provide what seemed to be the second goal of the match, after pouncing on Ceren’s powerful shot that was saved by Dayton ‘keeper Matt Williams, but the current USL PRO leading goal-scorer was ruled offside.
Moments later, F.C. Dallas loanee Brian Span, who has been in good form as of late, had a prime opportunity to find the back of the net but was unable to properly connect with Boden’s ball into the six yard box.
After a relatively quiet first half, Lions Goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo was forced to make two key saves just ten minutes later, parrying strong efforts from both Eli Garner and Matt Walker in the 67th minute as Dayton attempted to level the score-line.
City’s increasing momentum would be stalled momentarily, though, when the match was delayed for a half an hour in the 68th minute of play, due to thunder and lightning strikes nearby the stadium.
With play resuming one hour later, the match picked up where it previously left off, in Orlando’s end of the pitch, and Aaron Schoenfeld came close to nodding in a header from an in-swinging corner kick. Schoenfeld, who sits in second place behind Kevin Molino on the USL PRO scoring charts, was capably managed throughout the match by the City backline- which looked impenetrable all afternoon.
Throughout the final 20 minutes of the match, the Lions’ defense was forced to sustain Dayton’s late push for an equalizer. The back four, anchored by veteran center-halves Rob Valentino and Brad Rusin, was able to withhold the Dutch Lions’ pressure, allowing Orlando to maintain its clean sheet through 90 minutes and break the club record for consecutive unbeaten matches (15).
Molino provided the final dagger in the 93rd minute when the Club’s first MLS signing weaved through the box and slotted the ball away for his 10th goal of the season.
Orlando’s next match will take place at ESPN Wide World of Sports on Saturday, June 28 when the Lions take on second-place side, LA Galaxy II. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m. EST.
