ORLANDO, Fla. (May 6, 2016) – After trailing behind in the first half, Orlando City SC (2-2-5, 11 points) salvaged a point at home against the New York Red Bulls (3-6-1, 10 points) with Kevin Molino’s team lead-tying fourth goal of the season. Canadian forward Cyle Larin earned his third career assist on the play.
“I was pleased with the performance. I thought it would’ve been a travesty if we hadn’t have taken something out of the game. Can’t really remember Joe [Bendik] having a save to make, so it was a big improvement. On any different night I think we could’ve gone on and won the game,” Lions head coach Adrian Heath said. “Pleased with the performance, pleased with the effort and I think it gives us something to build on.”
Red Bulls’ Bradley Wright-Phillips started the scoring in the 19th minute when he corralled Sacha Kljestan’s through ball on the right side of the box and slotted his shot past Orlando’s goalkeeper into the left side of the net.
The Lions were able to tie the game in the 67th minute on a play started by Darwin Cerén. The Salvadoran launched a ball up to Larin on the right wing, who fought off two defenders as he dribbled into the box. The 2015 MLS Rookie of the Year was able to slip the ball to Molino in front of goal, who threw himself to beat Luis Robles to the ball for the tap-in equalizer. The goal was Molino’s third in four games, tying Larin for the team lead with four. Larin also earned his third career assist and second in consecutive games after feeding Carlos Rivas for the 90th-minute equalizing goal on April 30.
Orlando continued threatening in the second half, forcing Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch to substitute Wright-Phillips for defender Chris Duvall in the 74th minute. The Lions’ efforts were thwarted, though, when Colombian midfielder Cristian Higuita - who this week was named to his country’s preliminary 40-man roster ahead of next month’s Copa América Centenario - was given a straight red card in the 85th minute.
Despite losing a man, the Lions continued pressuring and almost found the go-ahead goal twice. First in the 88th minute, Seb Hines got his head on Kaká’s corner service, sending the ball just wide of the post. Then in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Bendik lobbed a ball from near midfield into Brek Shea in the box. The ball was reminiscent of Servando Carrasco game-tying assist in the season opener, but Shea’s effort was deflected out for a corner.
The game marked the return of former Lion Aurélien Collin, who started in his first match with New York after being traded on April 29. The French defender was a stalwart for Orlando in 2015, starting 27 games and registering two goals and an assist. Collin earned a yellow card in the 18th minute.
Next, Orlando City heads to Children’s Mercy Park for the first time since joining Major League Soccer in 2015 to take on Sporting Kansas City on Sunday, May 15. The Club returns to the Camping World Stadium, formerly known as the Orlando Citrus Bowl, on Saturday, May 21, when it hosts the Montreal Impact at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Play by Play:
First Half
3’ Right back Rafael Ramos works a ball to Kevin Molino in the middle of the pitch, who chips a clever through ball to Cyle Larin. Larin gets in behind the New York back line, but his one-touch flick goes over the bar.
5’ Bradley Wright-Phillips makes a good run up the left wing and cuts into the middle of the box, but his cross rolls harmlessly through the area.
15’ Kaká makes a dashing run down the pitch and passes to Larin on the left side of the box. Larin centers it back to Kaká, but his shot couldn’t find its way through traffic.
18’ Aurélien Collin earns a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Kevin Molino.
19’ Sacha Kljestan feeds a good ball behind the Lions back line into the right side of the box to Bradley Wright-Phillips. The Englishman takes a right-footed shot, slotting it into the left side of the net.
32’ Kevin Molino plays it down to Brek Shea on the left wing, who feeds a dangerous cross in for Cyle Larin but Ronald Zubar dives in to deflect it away.
38’ Kaká gets a pass from Cristian Higuita and rips a shot from 25 yards. Goalkeeper Luis Robles makes the save and the rebound goes straight to Cyle Larin just yards from goal but Robles is able to make an incredible diving save.
45 (+3)’ Cyle Larin appears to draw a penalty after being dragged down in the box while going up for a header, but after conferring with his assistant, referee Ted Unkel reverses the call to offsides.
Second Half:
50’ Sal Zizzo makes a clever run through two defenders and earns a free kick on the left edge of the box. Sacha Kljestan’s service bounces high and is safely caught by goalkeeper Joe Bendik.
56’ Kaká takes a free kick from 30 yards out that is chipped back into the box by Cristian Higuita. Kaká grabs the rebound and fires a left-footed shot that is deflected just wide for a corner kick.
58’ After Ronald Zubar is given a yellow card, Kaká’s service from the corner finds Seb Hines, but his header is cleared away.
61’ Lloyd Sam earns a yellow card after interfering with Joe Bendik’s attempted throw.
62’ Rafael Ramos hurls a cross into Cyle Larin in the box, but Larin is called for a handball before getting a shot off.
67’ Darwin Cerén launches a ball up to Cyle Larin on the right wing. Larin dribbles into the box and passes to a streaking Kevin Molino for the easy tap-in, tying Larin for the team lead with his fourth goal of the season. It is Larin’s second assist in two games.
73’ Gonzalo Verón catches up to a ball on the end line and feeds Sacha Kljestan in front of goal, whose acrobatic volley goes over the bar.
77’ Sacha Kljestan sneaks into the box and feeds a wide open Felipe but his shot is blocked on the goal line by Rafael Ramos and rolls out of play.
81’ Kaka serves a free kick 35 yards from goal into the box for Cyle Larin, whose header bounces just wide of the post.
85’ Cristian Higuita earns a straight red card for a tackle on New York’s Sacha Kljestan.
88’ Kaká’s corner kick finds Seb Hines in the box but his header goes just wide of the post.
90 (+4)’ Joe Bendik launches a free kick into Brek Shea into the box and it goes out for a corner. After the ensuing kick, the ball bounces around dangerously but is eventually cleared way.
Scoring Summary:
NY - Bradley Wright-Phillips (Sacha Kljestan) 19’
ORL - Kevin Molino (Cyle Larin) 67’
Misconduct Summary:
NY - Aurélien Collin (Yellow Card) 18’
ORL - Rafael Ramos (Yellow Card) 24’
ORL - Kaká (Yellow Card) 25’
NY - Ronald Zubar (Yellow Card) 58’
ORL - David Mateos (Yellow Card) 59’
NY - Lloyd Sam (Yellow Card) 61’
ORL - Brek Shea (Yellow Card) 65’
ORL - Cristian Higuita (Red Card) 85’
NY - Kemar Lawrence (Yellow Card) 87’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Rafael Ramos, David Mateos, Seb Hines, Brek Shea, M Darwin Cerén, Cristian Higuita, Antonio Nocerino, Kaká, Kevin Molino (Servando Carrasco 88’), F Cyle Larin
Substitutes: GK Earl Edwards Jr., D Tommy Redding, Kevin Alston, M Adrian Winter, F Júlio Baptista
New York Red Bulls - GK Luis Robles, D Sal Zizzo (Alex Muyl 89’), Aurélien Collin, Kemar Lawrence, Ronald Zubar, M Felipe, Dax McCarty, Lloyd Sam (Gonzalo Verón 64’), Sacha Kljestan, F Mike Grella, Bradley Wright-Phillips (Chris Duvall 74’)
Substitutes: GK Kyle Reynish, D Connor Lade, M Sean Davis, F Anatole Bertrand Abang
Details of the Game
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
May 6, 2016
Attendance: 31,264
Stats:
Possession:
ORL - 50.5%
NY - 49.5%
Fouls:
ORL - 16
NY - 18
Shots:
ORL - 12
NY - 5
Saves:
ORL - 1
NY - 3
Corners:
ORL - 7
NY - 0
