SEATTLE (May 15, 2019) - Orlando City SC (3-6-3, 12 points) fell 2-1 to the Seattle Sounders (7-1-4, 25 points) on Wednesday night at CenturyLink Field. Chris Mueller scored the lone goal of the night for the Lions in the 75th minute, his third of the season.
With three matches over a week span, Head Coach James O’Connor debuted a completely different starting XI from Sunday’s match in Atlanta. The contest saw the MLS debut for goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh and the first professional start for Homegrown forward Benji Michel.
Head Coach James O’Connor:
“Obviously bitterly disappointed not to get anything from the game. I think, as we said, we feel as if we had a decent amount of possession. We caused them some problems, but I think overall the killer instinct and final piece we just need. Great little bit of magic from Chris [Mueller], great goal. One [chance] before, perhaps if we can get something from it. The fight that the players showed, again, I thought it’s really rough for them because I feel as if we deserve a little bit more than we’re getting at the moment. I think the second goal we looked a little bit lax, but overall I thought the effort and the commitment that the guys showed was really good.”
Scoring Recap:
19’ - Raúl Rudiáz (Brad Smith, Harry Shipp) - SEA 1, ORL 0
The home side got on the board first after Shipp and Smith combined for a give-and-go, and Smith sent a ball across the face of goal from the left side. The pass from Smith found the foot of Raúl Rudiáz, who put it away from right outside the net.
68’ - Handwalla Bwana (Nicolás Lodeiro) - SEA 2, ORL 0
After a giveaway by the City defense, Lodeiro whipped in a ball from the left side of the pitch, finding the foot of Bwana in the box who tapped it past Ranjitsingh to double the lead for the Sounders. The goal was taken to video review for a handball on Lodeiro but was ultimately upheld for the home side.
75’ - Chris Mueller (Dillon Powers) - SEA 2, ORL 1
City got one back off the foot on Chris Mueller, who picked up the ball past midfield. The forward dribbled into space and around a Seattle defender before hitting a low, driven strike with his left foot into the right corner of the net. The assist marked the first point for Dillon Powers since joining the Lions in 2017.
Match Notes
- Head Coach James O’Connor’s starting XI on Wednesday night featured 11 different players than his starting lineup in Atlanta on Sunday.
- Goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh made his MLS debut on the evening with a start in goal. Ranjitsingh signed with Orlando City from Louisville City FC in the offseason.
- Midfielder Benji Michel recorded his first professional start on Wednesday night. Prior to the match, the Homegrown talent appeared in one match for the Lions on March 31 against D.C. United, which served as his MLS debut.
Midfielder Dillon Powers registered his first minutes of the 2019 season and tallied his first start since 2017. Powers appeared in three matches for City in 2018 and six in 2017. - With an assist on Mueller’s goal, Powers recorded his first point while in purple. The 2013 MLS Rookie of the Year entered Wednesday’s match with 26 assists, all coming as a member of the Colorado Rapids.
- Josué Colmán recorded his first start and sixth appearance of 2019 for the Lions. In his first season as a Lion in 2018, Colmán appeared in 24 games, 10 of which featured him in the starting lineup. He recorded one goal and five assists for Orlando last season.
Next Match:
Orlando City returns home to face 2019 expansion side FC Cincinnati on Sunday for its third of three matches in a span of eight days. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET at Orlando City Stadium.
Scoring Summary:
SEA - Raúl Rudiáz (Brad Smith, Harry Shipp) 19’
SEA - Handwana Bwana (Nicolás Lodeiro) 68’
ORL - Chris Mueller (Dillon Powers) 75’
Misconduct Summary:
ORL - Dom Dwyer (Yellow Card) 79’
ORL - Uri Rosell (Yellow Card) 89’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC - GK Greg Ranjitsingh; D Danilo Acosta (João Moutinho 85’), Shane O’Neill, Lamine Sané, Kyle Smith; M Uri Rosell, Sacha Kljestan ©, Dillon Powers; F Josué Colmán (Chris Mueller 68’), Santiago Patiño (Dom Dwyer 63’), Benji Michel
Substitutes Not Used: GK Adam Grinwis; D Kamal Miller; M Cristian Higuita, Sebastián Méndez
Seattle Sounders - GK Stefan Frei; D Brad Smith (Alex Roldan 86’), Kim Kee-hee, Román Torres, Kelvin Leerdam; M Cristian Roldan, Jordy Delem, Harry Shipp (Nouhou Tolo 67’), Nicolás Lodeiro, Jordan Morris (Handwalla Bwana 53’); F Raúl Rudiáz
Substitutes Not Used: GK Bryan Meredith; D Jonathan Campbell, Saad Abdul-Salaam; F Will Bruin
Details of the Game:
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Rain
Date: May 15, 2019
Attendance: 37,722
Stats:
Possession:
ORL - 49.3%
SEA - 50.7%
Shots:
ORL - 10
SEA - 14
Saves:
ORL - 1
SEA - 0
Fouls:
ORL - 4
SEA - 11
Corners:
ORL - 3
SEA - 5
