FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (April 30, 2016) – In a thrilling second half finish, Orlando City SC (2-2-4, 10 points) displayed impressive tenacity to come back in typical Orlando City fashion in the waning moments of the match to salvage a point against the New England Revolution (1-2-7, 10 points) following Carlos Rivas’ 90th-minute equalizer.
“I always thought we looked dangerous during the night, certainly on the counterattack. I thought there was some really good control of possession in the first half and obviously we made the changes later on and have a go at it,” Lions head coach Adrian Heath said. “Fortunately Carlos gets the goal but I thought Júlio Baptista gave us a lift as well when he came on. Overall, would I have accepted a point before the game? You bet I would. I think this is one of the most difficult places in MLS to come and play so for us to go away with a point after the last two or three weeks, I’m delighted.”
In the second 2-2 draw between these two teams in 2016, and their third in four MLS encounters, the Lions’ persistent efforts, highlighted by Kevin Molino’s third goal of the season, a late heroic finish from second-half substitute Rivas - his first in MLS - and timely, impressive saves by goalkeeper Joe Bendik allowed City to come back from two one-goal deficits and secure a point on the road.
New England got on the board just eight minutes in when Uruguayan Diego Fagundez dribbled into the box from the right wing, worked a give-and-go with Lee Nguyen 10 yards from goal and fired a high shot over Bendik.
Orlando City built up several threatening attacks, particularly up the right side with Rafael Ramos and Adrian Winter, and finally broke through in the 30th minute on a play started by Winter. The Swiss midfielder, who looked lively all evening, was pressed against the sideline when he flicked the ball around Donald Smith and chased it down before crossing to Cyle Larin in the box. The ball floated over Larin but found Molino, whose left-footed shot beat New England goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth.
After New England regained the lead in the 71st minute on Juan Agudelo’s finish, Heath inserted attacking threats Rivas and Baptista aiming to secure a point in one of MLS’ toughest grounds to play in - successfully accomplishing it in the 90th minute of the game.
The Lions found the equalizer when Baptista lobbed a ball ahead to Larin, who dribbled into the box and held off his defender before firing a low cross into Colombian Designated Player Rivas for the tying goal.
Rivas’ goal triggered a frantic finish to the game. Both teams threatened to steal the three points in the five minutes of stoppage time, but Bendik’s outstanding efforts just minute before the final whistle, saving a Kelyn Rowe shot just yards from goal, and Agudelo’s header off the crossbar, sealed the 2-2 draw at Gillette Stadium.
Orlando City returns to action against the New York Red Bulls at Camping World Stadium, previously known as the Orlando Citrus Bowl, on Friday, May 6. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. E.T. For tickets, visit www.OrlandoCitySC.com or call 855-ORL-CITY.
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SUMMARY:
First Half:
7’ Diego Fagundez dribbles in from the right wing, works the ball off Lee Nguyen and fires a high shot past Joe Bendik.
9’ Portuguese defender Rafael Ramos crosses from the right wing to Antonio Nocerino inside the six-yard box. Nocerino’s shot goes just wide.
14’ David Mateos, in his first start of 2016, finds Canadian National Team striker Cyle Larin in the box, who passes to Adrian Winter near the penalty spot but Winter is unable to get a shot off.
21’ New England attacks through the middle and Diego Fagundez’s cross is deflected and bounces around, eventually landing at Lee Nguyen’s feet 10 yards from goal. Nguyen’s shot is blocked by Darwin Cerén and cleared away.
24’ Rafael Ramos and Cristian Higuita combine near the box and Ramos crosses the ball near the endline, almost finding Cyle Larin near the six-yard box.
30’ Adrian Winter shows a good bit of skill to get free down the right wing and crosses the ball to Cyle Larin in the box. The ball bounces free to Kevin Molino, who fires a shot past Bobby Shuttleworth from 10 yards out. The Trinidadian scored his third goal in his eighth appearance in 2016.
44’ Diego Fagundez fires a shot on the volley from 20 yards out that is blocked by Seb Hines.
45 (+1)’ David Mateos launches a ball up to Larin on the edge of the box, whose turn-around volley goes just wide in the waning seconds of the half.
Second Half:
53’ Kelyn Rowe picks up a loose ball in the attacking third and fires a shot from just outside the box, which was easily saved by Joe Bendik.
56’ Lee Nguyen lobs a ball up to Kelyn Rowe in the box, who is immediately covered by Seb Hines, forcing the shot high for a goal kick.
60’ Antonio Nocerino delivers a free kick from 30 yards out, which finds Cyle Larin’s head inside the six-yard box but floats harmlessly over the bar.
61’ Je-Vaughn Watson fires a low cross from the right wing to Kelyn Rowe, whose shot sails over the goal.
63’ Orlando City goal scorer Kevin Molino is subbed off for Servando Carrasco. It is Carrasco’s seventh appearance in 2016.
71’ Lee Nguyen passes down low to Kelyn Rowe, who crosses to Juan Agudelo, who was substituted on just two minutes earlier. Agudelo slides to flick the ball past Joe Bendik with one touch.
76’ Antonio Nocerino delivers a free kick from 35 yards out. The ball finds Brek Shea on the six-yard box but his header goes just wide.
80’ Following New England’s substitution of Diago Kobayashi for Lee Nguyen, Orlando City inserts Júlio Baptista for Antonio Nocerino and Carlos Rivas for Darwin Cerén.
86’ Júlio Baptista flicks a clever thru-ball to Carlos Rivas in the box, who nearly gets on the end of it.
88’ Adrian Winter crosses into Júlio Baptista, whose header is blocked away as Orlando City continues to push for the equalizer.
90’ Júlio Baptista feeds Cyle Larin, who fights off defenders and dribbles through the box, eventually finding a streaking Carlos Rivas for his first-career MLS goal in his sixth appearance in 2016.
90 (+1)’ Joe Bendik makes an incredible point-blank save, his second of the game, off a Donald Smith shot after Kelyn Rowe headed a cross.
90 (+4)’ Juan Agudelo hits the crossbar with a header off a cross as New England threatens following Orlando City’s equalizer.
Scoring Summary:
NE - Diego Fagundez (Lee Nguyen) 7’
ORL - Kevin Molino (Adrian Winter) 30’
NE - Juan Agudelo (Kelyn Rowe) 71’
ORL - Carlos Rivas (Cyle Larin) 90’
Misconduct Summary:
ORL - Darwin Cerén (Yellow Card) 24’
NE - Diego Fagundez (Yellow Card) 78’
ORL - Carlos Rivas (Yellow Card) 87’
ORL - Rafael Ramos (Yellow) 90 (+4)’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Rafael Ramos, David Mateos, Seb Hines, Brek Shea, M Darwin Cerén (Carlos Rivas 81’), Cristian Higuita, Adrian Winter, Antonio Nocerino (Júlio Baptista 81’), Kevin Molino (Servando Carrasco 63’), F Cyle Larin
Substitutes: GK Earl Edwards Jr., D Tommy Redding, Kevin Alston, F Hadji Barry
New England Revolution - GK Bobby Shuttleworth, D Jose Goncalves, Andrew Farrell, Je-Vaughn Watson (London Woodberry 75’), Donald Smith, M Scott Caldwell, Gershon Koffie, Diego Fagundez, Lee Nguyen (Diago Kobayashi 80’), Kelyn Rowe, F Femi Hollinger-Janzen (Juan Agudelo 70’)
Substitutes: GK Brad Knighton, D Sambinha, M Zachary Herivaux, F Michael Gamble
Details of the Game
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Cool
April 30, 2016
Attendance: 25,203
Stats:
Possession:
ORL - 51.6%
NE - 48.4%
Fouls:
ORL - 18
NE - 11
Shots:
ORL - 11
NE - 11
Saves:
ORL - 2
NE - 0
Corners:
ORL - 4
NE - 3
