After a hot start, Orlando City experienced their first set back of the young season on Saturday as they dropped a 0-2 result on the road in Columbus. While most teams in the Eastern Conference have played four or five matches, this was just the Lion’s third — a challenge that head coach Jason Kreis was well aware of.
“I thought we lacked a little bit of sharpness in the final third,” Kreis observed after the match. “Which is difficult, it’s our third game of the season. It’s not too surprising to say that we weren’t deadly and real sharp in the attacking third of the field. That’s pretty typical, so I’m not surprised by it.
Despite the loss, Kreis saw things his team can build on going into the weekend.
“A lot of positives from my point of view. Thought we created the right amount of chances. I thought we got into their half pretty well, into some really good spots.”
Throughout his tenure with Orlando City, Kreis has preached resilience. When Jose Aja exited the game due to injury in first half, Tommy Redding took the pitch and impressed his manager.
“Tommy is a player that I feel has been really positives through preseason and positive with the U-20’s. He is a player that deserves chances and now will get an opportunity to show us what he is like going forward.”
It’s moments like this, turning a negative into a positive, that will see the Lions above the red line at the end of the season. This weekend when the New York Red Bulls come to town, the whole team will have a chance to show that resilience.
“We go home this week with a fantastic opportunity to show a really positive reaction to our first negative of the season.”
Orlando City will host the New York Red Bulls on Sunday, April 9 at 4:00 p.m. ET.
