Photo Courtesy of Orlando City, SC
by Chris Kimball
photos courtesy of Orlando City SC
Orlando City snapped out of their July doldrums in a dramatic way on Saturday night, taking down the visiting Columbus Crew 5-2 in front of a raucous Citrus Bowl crowd of 26,586.
The Lions entered Saturday’s match —their first of six league matches in August— on a three game losing skid, and having amassed just one meager point the previous month. During the week’s preparation Adrian Heath emphasized to his players they would need one of their best performances of the year if they were to right the ship.
For his part Orlando’s gaffer shook up the formation for a second straight game, sitting left winger Carlos Rivas and moving left back Luke Boden into the attacking midfield. Kaka slid to Boden’s right (replacing Eric Avila) for what amounted to an amorphous 4-1-2-2-1. In this formation Darwin Ceren and Cristian Higuta were given license to advance further up field leaving new arrival Servando Carrasco as the only true defensive midfielder. Canadian striker Cyle Larin assumed his usual position at the top.
But despite the changes —or maybe because of them— Orlando began the match apprehensively, falling behind in just the 5th minute after Federico Higuain deftly slipped behind Orlando’s defense to easily punch home the opening goal.
For a time it looked like the surging Crew were going to have their way with the 8th-ranked Lions until, in the 18th minute, Corey Ashe bolted down the left flank and sent a sizzling cross to the feet of Cyle Larin. Orlando’s rookie sensation deposited the ball from point blank range to level the score. From that moment the flood gates opened as City went on to score four more unanswered goals.
The Lion’s took the lead courtesy of Darwin Ceren who notched his second of the season behind a brilliant assist by Kaká. Larin produced a lovely left-footed finish off another Ashe delivery to open the second half. Aurelien Collin headed home his second goal of the year on a 77th minute set piece. And finally, Cristian Higuita produced his first MLS goal in the 84th minute to give the home club an astounding 5-1 advantage.
Photo courtesy of Orlando City, SC
The Crew were ultimately handed a second score in stoppage time when a back pass by Collin went horribly awry and finished in the back of the net. But all in all the mood after the match was understandably bright.
Corey Ashe, who finished with two assists, praised his teammates for not getting frustrated after falling behind early. “We made a mistake,” the defender said. “But credit to the team. We kept our heads high. Kept our foot on the gas, and just kept going forward.”
For Heath, the victory was first and foremost about ending a string of bad results as the team enters the home stretch of the season:
“To come away like we did, after conceding so early on, was an absolutely incredible performance by the boys. I think the players understood how important this game was. We spoke about stopping the bleeding. And I know what it’s like. Once it get’s to three [losses]it can go to four, can go to five, and go to six. I’m just pleased that we’ve stopped it.”
With his two goals on the night Cyle Larin tied the MLS record for goals by a rookie in a single season (11). The Canada native will have an opportunity to break the record in front of friends and family on Wednesday when Orlando City travels to BMO Field to face Toronto FC.
Most important will be for Orlando City to take some points home from the Great White North. Even with Saturday’s victory, the team’s July skid has dropped them below the playoff bar with several of the teams around them in the standings seemingly on an upward curve (i.e. Montreal, NYCFC).
“If you look at the table it’s getting closer by the week,” Heath said. “And every game against the Eastern Conference —which nearly every one is until the end of the season— is going to be huge. I think it’s going to come down to the wire. And this was a big win for us against what I think is one of the better teams in MLS.”
Photo courtesy Orlando City S.C.
