TORONTO (May 3, 2017) – In its third road match of the season, Orlando City SC (6-2-0, 18 points) fell, 2-1, to reigning Eastern Conference champion Toronto FC (4-1-4, 16 points) Wednesday at BMO Field. Kaká scored his second goal of 2017, Cyle Larin earned his first assist of the season and Carlos Rivas got on the scoresheet for the third time in as many games.
“The second half for me was much better, we looked like ourselves. The second half showed that we can compete with these guys and dictate a lot of what’s happening out here,” Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said. “The energy level has to be better. We cannot afford to give it anything less than our best. We continue to say, ‘When we do our best we’re good. If we don’t we’re not good enough.’ Hopefully the response will be extremely positive.”
Despite two first-half goals from Sebastian Giovinco – the first on an exceptional strike, the second following a scramble in the box – Orlando City fought through the match and largely dictated the play to Toronto. Orlando City quickly responded to Giovinco’s goal in the ninth minute and methodically worked the ball up the pitch into threatening areas.
After City fell down 2-0 in the 38th minute, Kaká played a short corner to Luis Gil, who made his first start as a Lion. Rivas then lofted the ball to the far post for Larin to head back across the goal. Kaká sprinted from the corner flag to blast a shot into the roof of the net on the last touch of the first half.
It was the highlight of a productive evening for Kaká, who scored his second goal of the season. The captain looked comfortable at the point of the diamond midfield playing combinations with Gil and Cristian Higuita and Rivas and Larin up top. Kaká finished with a goal and three shots and exited the match in the 65th minute for Matías Pérez García.
The Lions would’ve taken something from Toronto were it not for some excellent goalkeeping from Alex Bono. On two occasions, Larin got on the end of dangerous crosses in the box and tapped them behind Bono, but both times he scrambled back to grab it off the line.
Orlando City controlled over 60 percent of possession in the second half and finished with nearly 57 percent. City also completed 84 percent of its passes and outshot Toronto 9-6, including 7-3 in the second half. Midfielder Tony Rocha made his season debut. The loss snaps Orlando City’s four-game winning streak.
City faces another quick turnaround as it heads to Houston to take on the Dynamo on Saturday, May 6, at 8:30 p.m. ET. The Lions return to Orlando City Stadium on Saturday, May 13, to host Sporting Kansas City at 7 p.m. ET.
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MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:
First Half
5’ Cyle Larin heads away a Victor Vázquez corner service on the six-yard box.
7’ Carlos Rivas works the ball up the pitch to Donny Toia, who earns the Lions’ first corner kick.
8’ Scott Sutter makes a good 1-on-1 defensive play in the area and gets the ball up to Rivas, whose through ball goes past Larin.
9’ Sebastian Giovinco opens the scoring after collecting the ball and firing a shot through traffic into the bottom corner.
13’ Larin chests the ball to Kaká, who taps it up to Cristian Higuita and the Lions earn a corner.
19’ Jonathan Spector leaps in front of Jozy Altidore and heads away the danger. Spector then dives to block Marco Delgado’s cross out for a corner.
22’ Toia does good work on the touchline to get the ball to Kaká, who darts across the pitch and slips a pass for Sutter to drive into the box. Alex Bono catches Sutter’s ball right in front of Larin’s head.
24’ Joe Bendik races out to the top of his box and beats Altidore to the ball.
31’ After directing a lengthy spell of possession in the attacking third, Kaká works hard to regain the ball deep in City’s half.
33’ Rivas takes a touch past his defender and blasts a sharp-angle shot that nearly beats Bono to the near post.
38’ Bendik dives to block a Steven Beitashour cross on the six-yard box but Toronto taps it around the box and Giovinco makes it 2-0.
40’ Kaká makes a dangerous run into the box before Toronto clears but the Lions regain and continue attacking.
45 (+1)’ Toia earns a corner. Kaká plays it short to Luis Gil, who works it to Rivas. The Colombian lofts it to the back post for Larin, who heads it taps the box to Kaká, who rifles it into the top of the net. After one minute of added time, the referee ends the first half. Orlando City 1, Toronto FC 2.
Second Half
45’ Cyle Larin receives a pass, turns the corner and sprints across the end line before drawing a foul.
47’ Carlos Rivas perfectly weights a pass behind the Toronto back line for Luis Gil, who crosses for Larin.
49’ Cristian Higuita slides to block a pass intended for Sebastian Giovinco on the edge of the area.
50’ Alex Bono is shown a yellow card after leaving his area and stopping Larin.
51’ Kaká’s backheel attempt on Servando Carrasco’s free kick goes just wide.
52’ Jozy Altidore is shown a yellow card for a reckless challenge on Jonathan Spector.
54’ Tommy Redding beats Altidore on a race for the ball and kicks the ball back over Altidore, turns around and clears it away. Redding makes another good play, fighting off Giovinco in the box and preventing a corner.
57’ Rivas forces a turnover with his work on the press and the Lions work it into the box but Toronto clears. Orlando City comes back with Scott Sutter whipping in a cross for Larin, who tries a bicycle kick.
59’ Rivas whips another ball into the box for Larin, whose flick gets past Bono but the goalkeeper recovers to save it off the line.
62’ The Lions work it around to Sutter, who lifts a ball for Kaká on the six-yard box but the Brazilian’s attempt is wide.
65’ Matías Pérez García enters the match in place of Kaká.
67’ MPG plays a free kick to Rivas, who runs up the left wing and crosses for Larin. Again, Larin’s touch gets past Bono but it’s cleared off the line.
72’ Rivas and MPG play a clever combination that earns City a corner. MPG drives an in-swinging ball that is cleared but Sutter does well to maintain possession. Rivas recollects and draws a foul.
75’ Giles Barnes enters the match in place of Servando Carrasco.
80’ Michael Bradley floats a ball into the box to Altidore. Spector and Bendik work together to keep it out and Sutter clears.
85’ Joe Bendik makes an easy catch on a long-range free kick from Giovinco.
87’ Tony Rocha enters the match in place of Cristian Higuita.
90’ Rivas drills a free kick from 40 yards out dangerously into the box but Toronto clears.
90 (+3)’ After three minutes of added time, the referee ends the match. Orlando City 1, Toronto FC 2.
Scoring Summary:
TOR - Sebastian Giovinco (Jozy Altidore) 9’
TOR - Sebastian Giovinco (Victor Vázquez) 38’
ORL - Kaká (Cyle Larin, Carlos Rivas) 45+1’
Misconduct Summary:
TOR - Alex Bono (Yellow Card) 50’
TOR - Jozy Altidore (Yellow Card) 52’
ORL - Jonathan Spector (Yellow Card) 74’
ORL - Cristian Higuita (Yellow Card) 85’
TOR - Michael Bradey (Yellow Card) 90+3’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Toronto FC - GK Alex Bono, D Eriq Zavaleta, Nick Hagglund, Justin Morrow, M Steven Beitashour, Marco Delgado, Michael Bradley, Victor Vázquez (Jonathan Osorio 65’), Raheem Edwards (Armando Cooper 79’), F Jozy Altidore (Tosaint Ricketts 83’), Sebastian Giovinco
Substitutes Not Used: GK Mark Pais, D Chris Mavinga, M Benoit Cheyrou, F Tsubasa Endoh
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Donny Toia, Jonathan Spector, Tommy Redding, Scott Sutter, M Servando Carrasco (Giles Barnes 75’), Cristian Higuita (Tony Rocha 87’), Luis Gil, Ⓒ Kaká (Matías Pérez García 65’), F Cyle Larin, Carlos Rivas
Substitutes Not Used: GK Josh Saunders, D PC, José Aja, Léo Pereira
Details of the Game:
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
Date: May 3, 2017
Attendance: 25,200
Stats:
Possession:
TOR - 43.3 %
ORL - 56.7 %
Shots:
TOR - 6
ORL - 9
Saves:
TOR - 2
ORL - 1
Fouls:
TOR - 16
ORL - 13
Corners:
TOR - 5
ORL - 3
