ORLANDO, Fla. (April 15, 2017) – Mere seconds separated Orlando City SC (4-1-0, 12 points) from losing its perfect home record, but Cyle Larin’s stoppage-time volley secured three points and a 2-1 win over the LA Galaxy (2-4-0, 6 points) Saturday at Orlando City Stadium. Will Johnson scored his first goal as a Lion and his second assist of the season. Scott Sutter earned his first assist in purple. Orlando City becomes the first team in Major League Soccer (MLS) history to open a new stadium with four consecutive victories.
“Really, really good, lot of positive things and then some negative stuff that we need continue to improve on. I think we’re still a team that’s still figuring out how to manage a match. We need to do better with that,” Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said. “I don’t know if I want to be too focused on results, saying that the winning is the identity, because it’s not. I wouldn’t say that the winning is part of the identity for me. The identity is the willingness to do whatever it takes.”
LA got off to a strong start with a healthy spell of possession, but the Lions responded nicely with several opportunities. In the sixth minute, Rivas cracked a shot that bounced off one post, across the face of goal and off the other post before popping to Giles Barnes in the six-yard box. Barnes’ shot was somehow cleared off the line.
Just three minutes later, after LA had cleared yet another threatening chance from the box, Sutter recovered the ball at midfield and lofted it back into the box for Johnson, who took a touch and fired a shot inside the far post.
The Lions held possession for much of the remainder of the first half and Rivas put on a show. The Colombian striker made run after run at the Galaxy back line and his passes were things of beauty. Rivas, who is known for his blistering shots, fired a shot in the 18th minute from nearly 30 yards out that rang off the far corner of the post and bounced across the the face of goal. The Designated Player created another great opportunity in the 58th minute when he beat two defenders, raced up the left wing and curled a ball in for Larin, prompting The Wall to rise in a chant of “Rivas! Rivas! Rivas!”
For a moment it appeared as though the Galaxy would ruin the fun on a warm, sunny afternoon when Romain Alessandrini fired a shot off the post and in in the 83rd minute. But, as Kreis said after the Lions’ win on April 9, “We won’t be broken at home.”
In stoppage time, 2016 MLS SuperDraft first-round pick and former University of Central Florida striker Hadji Barry earned a corner in the shadow of The Wall. Johnson stepped up and served it to Larin, who swung a volley into the roof of the net. His fourth goal of the season sent the fourth consecutive sellout crowd at Orlando City Stadium into a victorious delirium. It was the second consecutive game-winning goal on a set-piece.
“I think, for me, there are tactical moments and things that you want to have happen to your team as you go through a season,” Kreis continued. “One of them is to allow a goal late and see what the reaction is like, so I’m really, really pleased because if you went back and looked at it immediately after we were scored on we had a goal chance against them. That shows to me a really positive reaction and a belief within the team.”
The Lions topped LA for the second time in the City Beautiful, the first time coming on an unforgettable Sunday afternoon when they topped the Galaxy 4-0 to earn their first home win in MLS on May 17, 2015.
Orlando City heads to the Bronx to take on New York City FC on Sunday, April 23, at 1:30 p.m. ET. The match will be nationally televised on FS1. The Lions return to Orlando City Stadium on Saturday, April 29, when they host the Colorado Rapids in another nationally televised contest.
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
1’ Donny Toia dives to make the block on Giovani Dos Santos’ shot from the edge of the area.
6’ Carlos Rivas curls a gorgeous ball that bounces off both posts. Giles Barnes pounces on the rebound but it is somehow cleared off the line and out for a corner.
9’ Scott Sutter launches the ball back into the box for Will Johnson, who rips a volley inside the far post.
15’ Rivas whips in a ball from the left wing to Cyle Larin that Jelle Van Damme deflects out for a corner.
18’ Rivas drills an absolute rocket from 27 yards out that rings off the corner of the post and bounces across the goalline, somehow staying out.
32’ Spector dribbles through the midfield and passes a through ball to Larin but he is offside.
38’ Toia does well to cover Romain Alessandrini as the ball whipped to the far post. Joe Bendik takes the goal kick.
45 (+2)’ After two minutes of added time, the referee ends the first half. Orlando City 1, LA Galaxy 0.
Second Half
46’ Carlos Rivas gets the second ahlf off to a quick start as he races down the ball in the corner before making a hard pass to Giles Barnes in the corner of the box. Barnes’ header troubled Clement Diop but he makes the save.
52’ Jelle Van Damme is shown a yellow card for a reckless challenge on Cyle Larin. Rivas drives the free kick to Larin two yards from goal but Van Damme clears it out for a corner.
58’ Bendik makes a great punch to clear the danger. Rivas makes a slick move up the left wing before blasting the ball across to Larin. The crowd chants “Rivas, Rivas!”
67’ Rivas slips in a perfectly weighted ball into the box for Barnes but Diop races out to block the shot.
72’ Luis Gil enters the match in place of Cristian Higuita.
75’ Servando Carrasco enters the match in place of Carlos Rivas. The crowd roars in approval for Rivas’ effort on the night.
77’ Bendik makes an outstanding save off a Dos Santos free kick, leaping up to parry it up off the post. Spector clears the rebound off the line, his second such clearance in as many games.
83’ Alessandrini fires a shot off the post and in.
84’ Servando Carrasco slips a great ball in for Scott Sutter, who serves it up for Luis Gil. Gil’s header is saved by Diop.
88’ Sutter’s throw-in goes into the box and pops out to Johnson, who directs a volley on frame.
89’ Hadji Barry enters the match in place of Giles Barnes. LA substitutes Jack McBean in for Gyasi Zardes.
90 (+1)’ Will Johnson serves a corner kick to Cyle Larin who blasts a highlight-reel volley into the roof of the net.
90 (+3)’ Bendik charges out to stop Alessandrini inside the box.
90 (+4)’ Tommy Redding comes up with a great sliding block to clear the danger.
90 (+4)’ After four minutes of added time, the referee ends the match. Orlando City 2, LA Galaxy 1.
Scoring Summary:
ORL - Will Johnson (Scott Sutter) 9’
LA - Romain Alessandrini (Jermaine Jones) 83’
ORL - Cyle Larin (Will Johnson) 90+1’
Misconduct Summary:
LA - Jelle Van Damme (Yellow Card) 52’
LA - João Pedro (Yellow Card) 64’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Donny Toia, Jonathan Spector, Tommy Redding, Scott Sutter, M Antonio Nocerino, Cristian Higuita (Luis Gil 72’), Giles Barnes (Hadji Barry 90’), Will Johnson, Ⓒ Will Johnson, F Carlos Rivas (Servando Carrasco 75’), Cyle Larin
Substitutes Not Used: GK Josh Saunders, D PC, Léo Pereira, M Tony Rocha
LA Galaxy - GK Clement Diop, D Nathan Smith, Daniel Steres, Ⓒ Jelle Van Damme, Ashley Cole, M Romain Alessandrini, Jermaine Jones, João Pedro, Emmanuel Boateng (Bradford Jamieson 68’), F Giovani Dos Santos, Gyasi Zardes (Jack McBean 90’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Brian Rowe, D Dave Romney, M Baggio Husidic, Rafael Garcia, Raul Mendiola
Details of the Game:
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
Date: April 15, 2017
Attendance: 25,527
Stats:
Possession:
ORL - 49.1 %
LA - 50.9 %
Shots:
ORL - 12
LA - 18
Saves:
ORL - 5
LA - 5
Fouls:
ORL - 9
LA - 11
Corners:
ORL - 6
LA - 5
