Orlando City SC 3-1 Minnesota United
ORLANDO, FL–Much like the NWSL Challenge Cup Final featured a team who had never made that league’s playoffs before in the Houston Dash, the MLS is Back Tournament will also feature a team who had never made the MLS Playoffs in their previous five years in the league. Orlando City entered this competition having won just 11 of their last 61 league matches. Now, they are one win away from winning the Tournament and a place in the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League after defeating Minnesota United, 3-1. The start of the match was delayed for over an hour due to lightning in the vicinity.
Despite Minnesota being the early aggressor, it would be the Lions who would go on top in the 36th minute. Robin Jansson sent a long ball towards Nani who outfought Hassani Dotson and then slotted past Tyler Miller to put the Lions ahead. Six minutes later, Nani would strike again with one of the goals of the tournament as he curled a ball from outside the box to double Orlando’s lead.
Minnesota outshot Orlando, 17-7, but only three shots were on target for the Loons. The one that did go in came in the 83rd minute though substitute Mason Toye after receiving a pass from Kevin Molino. The Loons pushed numbers forward for an equalizer, but it would be to no avail and in the sixth minute of stoppage time, Benji Michel would get in behind and put matters away to send Orlando to a date with the Portland Timbers in Tuesday night’s Final.
“We’re very happy to be in the Final,” said Lions head coach Oscar Pareja. “It has been a great tournament and a great opportunity for our players to represent the franchise and the club, and I think they have done a good job and deserved to be in the Final. Tonight against a very good team, it was really hard to beat Minnesota. The best part is that we respect the way we played and we respect our ways and forms and we end up getting the result under our concepts and principles and that’s what makes us very proud.”
Orlando City SC now take on the Portland Timbers in the Final. Kickoff is at 8:30pm ET on ESPN.
