It seems as though Orlando City have been playing “must win” games since July, but on Sunday the Lions finally looked like a team which understood the urgency. With their playoff hopes on life support following the worst stretch of games in club history, Orlando City produced one of its best performances of the season, defeating Sporting Kansas City 3-1 at the Citrus Bowl.
Despite the absence of two key figures in the midfield (Kaka and Darwin Ceren), the Lions came out firing on all cylinders in front of 22,241 anxious home fans. Adrian Winter opened the scoreline early, netting a third minute header at the other end of an excellent Luke Boden free kick. It was the Swiss national’s first goal since his summer arrival, and it ended the team’s five game scoring drought. “I don’t know what he was doing there. He shouldn’t have been there,” Adrian Heath quipped later.
Sporting KC leveled the score in the 59th minute behind a fine goal by Krisztian Nemeth. Kansas City’s Hungarian midfielder weaved his way past several Orlando defenders before blasting his team-leading ninth goal of the season past an outstretched Tally Hall.
Photo Credit Orlando Soccer Daily
The game turned definitively after Adrian Heath went to his bench late in the second half, bringing on Brek Shea and Bryan Rochez. It was Shea’s first appearance since missing two months to injury and he didn’t waste any time making his mark.
In the 66th minute the U.S. international vaulted down the left flank with the ball at his feet then dropped an unselfish pass to the charging Rochez who put the Lions back on top. It was Rochez’s first MLS goal and Heath was quick to praise his young designated player’s resiliency. “It was a good night for Bryan because this has been a really difficult and frustrating first season for him. I’m really pleased for him.”
Just six minutes later Orlando City scored their prettiest goal of the night. Rafael Ramos deftly fed Rochez into a dangerous advanced position. Rochez fought hard to maintain possession before sending a pass into the mixer. Lewis Neal snared it and then anticipated Winter’s run on goal. Winter’s clinical finish sealed the victory along with three critical points toward the club’s playoff dream.
Even with the victory, securing the sixth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference remains an uphill battle. The Lions are tied on points with Montreal, but the Canadian club has the benefit of four games in hand.
But Adrian Heath remains positive about his squad’s chances:
“I think we’re capable of winning our last three home games. And I really believe that. Obviously [it’s] going to be in Montreal’s hands but, hey, they’ve got a lot of games to play in not many days. So we’ll see where we go but tonight gives us another chance and we’ve got closer to that red line.”
Photo courtesy Orlando City SC
