ORLANDO, Fla. (April 9, 2017) – Orlando City SC (3-1-0, 9 points) continued its excellent home form with another clean sheet victory, this time over the New York Red Bulls (2-3-1, 7 points). Servando Carrasco and Will Johnson both found the scoresheet for the first time in purple, Carrasco with the game-winning goal and Johnson with the assist. Midfielder Luis Gil made his Lions debut after joining the team on April 6.
“In all three of the home matches I thought a lot of the same things after the match. So many positive statements to make about effort level, intensity level, commitment of the players to defend,” Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said. “Real, real signs of togetherness and just a fortitude that says, ‘We won’t be broken at home.’”
Kreis’ squad came out with a new back line for the first time this season as Scott Sutter made his first start after debuting last Saturday. Johnson moved into the right midfield and Cristian Higuita made his first start of the season.
It only took Carrasco 17 minutes to find the back of the net after coming on in the 17th minute. Johnson earned a corner when he headed Sutter’s cross back towards the goal and the Canadian international served a lovely curler to Carrasco in the six-yard box. The California native drilled it down and in with his head and celebrated with his teammates and the 25,527 fans in attendance.
City continued the pressure from there, as Cyle Larin and Carlos Rivas both had several great looks at goal. In the second half, Rivas made a nice combination play with compatriot Higuita but couldn’t settle a bouncing ball. Later, goalkeeper Joe Bendik sprung the counterattack with a great throw to Rivas, who drilled the ball from the corner flag to the far post but Larin’s attempt went inches wide.
With The Wall at their backs, the Lions kept the Red Bulls’ potent attack at bay as they grew desperate for the equalizer. Center back Jonathan Spector’s heroic block on the six-yard box in the 78th minute was one of several outstanding defensive plays.
“I would say [Spector] is critical. We’ve played four matches now and I think he’s been outstanding in all four,” Kreis continued. “He’s a very consistent performer that’s leading the back line and that is exactly what we went into the offseason looking for. I think we got that one right.”
Spector’s heroism was matched by the fearlessness of Tommy Redding, who made his first start of the season, and wing backs Sutter and Donny Toia. Carrasco, who Kreis called “the fittest player on the team,” Higuita, Johnson and MPG all made significant defensive contributions, and Rivas and Larin answered the bell when called upon.
The Lions return home next Saturday, April 15, when they host the LA Galaxy. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET at Orlando City Stadium. The match, in front of an already sold out crowd, will be nationally televised on FOX.
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.
First Half
5’ The Lions earn the first corner of the match after Scott Sutter catches up to Cyle Larin’s pass out wide.
8’ Joe Bendik gets off to a quick start with a save on Bradley Wright-Phillips from eight yards out. Bendik dove to his right to parry it away with both hands.
10’ Antonio Nocerino springs the counterattack up the left wing to Cyle Larin. Larin splits the defense with a pass to Carlos Rivas, whose shot from 23 yards out is blocked.
12’ Wright-Phillips gets on the end of a long ball and chips the shot. Bendik makes the save but the rebound goes off Wright-Phillips and towards the goal, but Jonathan Spector came to the rescue and cleared it off the line.
14’ After winning possession in the attacking third, Matías Pérez García plays a nice through ball to Rivas, who dribbles into the box and fires a shot that troubles Luis Robles but the New York goalkeeper recovers the rebound.
17’ Servando Carrasco enters the match in place of Antonio Nocerino.
22’ A nice spell of possession ends in Scott Sutter’s shot from 19 yards out skimming the top of the goal.
24’ MPG runs at the box and passes off to Rivas, who passes it back to MPG. The Argentine takes a touch and fires a left-footed shot that barely misses the near post.
33’ After another nice spell of possession, Johnson gets on the end of Sutter’s lofting cross and earns a corner. Johnson curls an in-swinging ball that Carrasco heads down and in.
43’ Sutter drills another shot from distance that barely misses the post.
45 (+1)’ After one minute of added time, the referee ends the first half. Orlando City 1, New York Red Bulls 0.
Second Half
51’ Bendik saves the day again, coming out to stop Derrick Etienne when he was in alone. Bendik then launches the ball up to Rivas. The Colombian sprints up the pitch and drills a ball across for Larin, whose attempt goes just wide.
56’ Cristian Higuita’s effort from the edge of the box grazes the top of the bar as it goes out for a corner.
67’ Larin finds himself in alone with nothing but space ahead of him. He dashes into the box and fires a right footed shot that Robles barely knocks away for a corner.
69’ Giles Barnes enters the match in place of Higuita.
76’ Barnes is drawn down on the edge of the box by Aurélien Collin. Collin is issued a yellow card.
78’ Spector makes a great diving block on a shot from Fredrik Gulbrandsen on the edge of the six-yard box.
84’ Luis Gil enters the match in place of MPG. It is Gil’s Orlando City debut.
86’ Bendik takes an excellent swat at a sneaky shot from Wright-Phillips.
90 (+3)’ The referee ends the match. Orlando City 1, New York Red Bulls 0.
Scoring Summary:
ORL - Servando Carrasco (Will Johnson) 34’
Misconduct Summary:
ORL - Cristian Higuita (Yellow Card) 61’
NY - Aurélien Collin (Yellow Card) 76’
ORL - Luis Gil (Yellow Card) 86’
ORL - Donny Toia (Yellow Card) 90+4’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Donny Toia, Jonathan Spector, Tommy Redding, Scott Sutter, M Antonio Nocerino (Servando Carrasco 17’), Cristian Higuita (Giles Barnes 69’), Matías Pérez García (Luis Gil 84’), Ⓒ Will Johnson, F Carlos Rivas, Cyle Larin
Substitutes Not Used: GK Josh Saunders, D Kevin Alston, PC, F Hadji Barry
New York Red Bulls - GK Luis Robles, D Sal Zizzo, Aurélien Collin, Aaron Long, Kemar Lawrence, M Felipe, Tyler Adams (Fredrik Gulbrandsen 75’), Daniel Royer, Sacha Kljestan, F Derrick Etienne (Alex Muyl 70’), Bradley Wright-Phillips
Substitutes Not Used: GK Ryan Meara, D Damien Perrinelle, Michael Amir Murillo, M Sean Davis
Details of the Game:
Time: 4 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
Date: April 9, 2017
Attendance: 25,527
Stats:
Possession:
ORL - 38.9 %
NY - 61.1 %
Shots:
ORL - 12
NY - 12
Saves:
ORL - 3
NY - 2
Fouls:
ORL - 24
NY - 14
Corners:
ORL - 4
NY - 8
