ORLANDO, Fla. (August 7, 2016) – Orlando City SC (5-6-11, 26 points) fell 3-1 to Seattle Sounders FC (7-12-3, 24 points) Sunday night at Camping World Stadium. Seb Hines opened the scoring for City in the seventh minute and midfielder Matías Pérez García made his Lions debut.
“Very disappointed with the result but I think some of it’s natural. From what I saw tonight, we saw a group that the energy looked a little bit low, but we’ve been asking a lot of them for two weeks,” Head Coach Jason Kreis said. “The adjustment is going to take some time from a physical standpoint. But it doesn’t mean we’re going to work less. Their bodies are going to adapt. From a tactical standpoint, we’re still working. It’s going to take some time.”
Orlando City jumped on the board early in the match when Kaká delivered a corner service to Hines in the box. The English defender drove a strong header off the ground and in for his third goal of the season and Kaká’s seventh assist.
The Sounders equalized and took the lead when U.S. national team captain Clint Dempsey scored in the 14th and 37th minute. Dempsey earned a hat trick in the 48th minute.
The Lions had strong opportunities and dominated possession in the second half, but couldn’t get another ball past Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei. City’s best opportunity came in the 71st minute when Júlio Baptista headed Kaká’s free kick off the bar. The ball ricocheted to Hines, who got another strong header on it, but Frei kept it outside the line. Seconds later, David Mateos’ header whizzed past the near post.
Pérez García entered the match in the 55th minute in place of Hadji Barry, who made his fourth consecutive start. Pérez García, who was acquired from San Jose on Wednesday, immediately sparked the Lions’ attack. The Argentinian displayed his skill and technical ability, combining with Kaká, Baptista and Larin on several occasions.
Midfielder Servando Carrasco, who played three seasons for Seattle, made his 100th MLS regular season appearance. Antonio Nocerino made his second consecutive start and continued to show how he’s adjusted to MLS. The Italian made strong recoveries throughout the night and opened up opportunities on the counter attack.
The Lions begin a two-game road trip on Sunday, Aug. 14, when they visit the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET. City visits the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, Aug. 20, before returning to Camping World Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 24, when it hosts Toronto FC for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff.
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
7’ Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei misplays a back pass, giving Orlando City its first corner of the match. Kaká whips in a ball to Seb Hines, who drills a header off the ground and in.
14’ Tyrone Mears drives a low ball into the middle of the box to Clint Dempsey who finishes for the equalizer.
16’ Goalkeeper Joe Bendik charges out of his box to clear the ball before Jordan Morris can get to it.
20’ Bendik makes a good save on a Dempsey flick after Jones crossed from the left wing.
33’ Antonio Nocerino is issued a yellow card.
35’ David Mateos slides in to make a great block on a Lodeiro shot from seven yards out.
37’ Morris and Dempsey get in behind the back line. Morris feeds Dempsey for the go-ahead goal.
38’ Cyle Larin gets on the end of a lofting Alston cross but the Canadian’s shot floats over the bar.
44’ Bendik makes a strong save on Morris after the rookie sprinted down the left wing and into the box before firing a right-footed shot.
45 (+1)’ Kaká frees Alston up the right wing before Alston drives a high cross into the box. Larin gets a head on it but is unable to direct it on goal.
45 (+1)’ The referee indicates the end of the first half after one minute of added time. Orlando City 1, Seattle Sounders 2.
Second Half:
48’ Morris and Dempsey connect again to make it 3-1 Seattle.
54’ Hadji Barry, who is making his fourth consecutive start, makes a clever move to get past his defender and sprint into the box from the right wing.
55’ Matías Pérez García makes his Orlando City debut, entering the game for Hadji Barry.
62’ Alston drives down the left wing and fires a cross in for Seb Hines, who shoots across the face of goal.
65’ Brek Shea gets in behind the Seattle back line but can’t catch up to the ball before it is scooped up by Frei.
67’ Júlio Baptista enters the match in place of Shea. It is Baptista’s 16th appearance this season.
71’ Baptista heads a Kaka free kick off the bar. The ball bounces to Hines, who heads it down but Frei somehow keeps it off the line. The Lions recover and work the ball around before firing another shot that skims the post on its way out of play.
73’ Baptista is dragged down by Osvaldo Alonso on the edge of the box. Osvaldo is issued a yellow card for the foul.
75’ Alston’s long throw-in is headed over the bar by Hines.
78’ Carlos Rivas enters the match in place of Nocerino.
90 (+4)’ After four minutes of added time, the referee ends the match. Orlando City 1, Seattle Sounders 3.
Scoring Summary:
ORL - Seb Hines (Kaká) 7’
SEA - Clint Dempsey (Tyrone Mears) 14’
SEA - Clint Dempsey (Jordan Morris) 37’
SEA - Clint Dempsey (Jordan Morris) 48’
Misconduct Summary:
ORL - Antonio Nocerino (Yellow Card) 33’
ORL - Seb Hines (Yellow Card) 58’
SEA - Cristian Roldan (Yellow Card) 64’
SEA - Osvaldo Alonso (Yellow Card) 73’
SEA - Nicolás Lodeiro (Yellow Card) 74’
SEA - Zach Scott (Yellow Card) 76’
ORL - David Mateos (Yellow Card) 84’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Luke Boden, David Mateos, Seb Hines, Kevin Alston, M Servando Carrasco, Antonio Nocerino (Carlos Rivas 78’), Brek Shea (Júlio Baptista 67’), Kaká, Hadji Barry (Matías Pérez García 55’), F Cyle Larin
Substitutes Not Used: GK Earl Edwards Jr., D Mikey Ambrose, José Aja, M Tony Rocha
Seattle Sounders FC - GK Stefan Frei, D Tyrone Mears, Brad Evans, Chad Marshall, Joevin Jones (Zach Scott 57’), M Osvaldo Alonso, Cristian Roldan, Andreas Ivanschitz (Álvaro Fernández 83’), Clint Dempsey (Nelson Valdez 59’), F Nicolás Lodeiro, Jordan Morris
Substitutes Not Used: GK Tyler Miller, M Erik Friberg, F Herculez Gomez, Oalex Anderson
Details of the Game:
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
August 7, 2016
Attendance: 28,247
Stats:
Possession:
ORL - 53.8 %
SEA - 46.2 %
Shots:
ORL - 13
SEA - 12
Saves:
ORL - 2
SEA - 2
Fouls:
ORL - 13
SEA - 16
Corners:
ORL - 4
SEA - 3
