Photo Credit: Orlando City SC
In their short history in the league Orlando City Soccer Club has struggled at home against the New York Red Bulls, but on Sunday they broke tradition.
With a desire to make their new home (Orlando City Stadium), a fortress while leaving the sour taste of the Citrus Bowl games in the past, OCSC took to the pitch to face a struggling Red Bull side.
Although New York enjoyed more possession throughout the match, they could not capitalize on their opportunities thanks to a congested Orlando midfield. Lining up in a narrow 4-4-2 diamond formation, Orlando was firmly able to minimize RBNY’s impact in the middle of the park due in part to the gaping hole left in the middle of the 4-2-2-2 formation. Orlando midfielders Matias Perez Garcia and Will Johnson were largely responsible for redirecting the Orlando traffic in springing counter attacks against New York.
Orlando’s pacey pair of forwards were a key of concern for New York early in the first half even if it seemed as if striker Carlos Rivas had been missing his shooting boots on Sunday, sending many a shot above the cross bar. Cyle Larin, for all his merit and incisive runs, could not find the back of New York’s net despite troubling central defenders Aaron Long and Aurelien Collin on numerous occasions.
Midfielder Antonio Nocerino would be taken off early in the first half with a left calf strain, being replaced by Servando Carrasco. In a bizarre turn of fate, the injury would prove to make the difference for Orlando. Late in the first half, Orlando would notch the game’s only goal through the head of the substitute Carrasco.
New York defender Collin would clear midfielder Will Johnson’s cross to concede an OCSC corner. Johnson’s corner found the head of Carrasco who, in a crowded box, got above RBNY midfielder Tyler Adams to give Orlando the lead.
At the very end of the first half, RBNY striker Bradley Wright-Phillips thought he had his break away play. The forward pounced on an opportune ball and scored, only to be flagged for offsides.
.@OrlandoCitySC beats @newyorkredbulls 1-0, GWG by Servando Carrasco (34′). pic.twitter.com/YB4rJfv3hx
— Lee DeJarlais (@Lee_WLKY) April 9, 2017
New York would come out at the start of the second half with all guns blazing. Forward Derrick Etienne, played on in between OCSC’s center backs by a BWP ball, was set one-on-one against opposing goalkeeper Joe Bendik. If it weren’t for a heavy touch, Etienne could have very well slipped the ball past Bendik who came off his line to deny New York.
Orlando responded immediately with pressure of their own. A return ball, played from midfielder Crisitian Higuita, nearly found the head of Larin inside of New York’s box. Later in the second half, Larin would again strike fear into Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles.
A long ball played out of Orlando’s back line found Larin who, thanks to New York’s high line, left both fullback Sal Zizzo and Long in the dust. Robles’ heroics ensured Orlando were kept at a one goal advantage.
Time and again through set pieces, large target Collin would fail to tuck away headers. Play-maker Sacha Kljestan’s balls couldn’t have been more perfect, yet the French defender failed to tuck them away.
The Red Bulls are without a win in their last four games having lost three consecutive road fixtures, outscored by their opposition 8-2. An attack which touts one of the best forwards as well as play-makers in the league has seemingly lost its sting. New York fans are used to early season rust costing them valuable points, but these performances are showing worrisome signs for a team that looks at times, content with accepting defeat.
Where’s the fight and energy manager Jesse Marsch extols?
New York returns to action on Saturday, April 15th to play D.C. United. Perhaps the Red Bulls can begin to turn their fortunes around at home in-front of the energetic South Ward.
Scoring Summary:
34′ Orlando: Servando Carrasco, assisted by Will Johnson
Disciplinary Summary:
61′ Orlando: Cristian Higuita, yellow
76′ RBNY: Aurelien Collin, yellow
86′ Orlando: Luis Gil, yellow
90′ Orlando: Donny Toia, yellow
Starting Lineups:
Orlando: Bendik, Toia, Spector, Redding, Sutter, Nocerino (17′ Carrasco), Johnson, Higuita (69′ Barnes), Perez Garcia (84′ Gil), Rivas, Larin
RBNY: Robles, Lawrence, Long, Collin, Zizzo, Adams (75′ Gulbrandsen), Felipe, Kljestan, Royer, Wright-Phillips, Etienne (70′ Muyl)
Orlando City
