Photo courtesy of Orlando City SC
The goal which handed Orlando City a 1-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo, the first MLS win in the franchise’s history, was about as ugly as you can imagine. In the 74th minute Orlando’s substitute striker Pedro Ribeiro recovered a heavy touch from Houston goalkeeper Tyler Deric just feet from the goal. The ball popped into the air and together the two big men stumbled toward the ball in chase.
With Deric desperately pulling at Ribeiro from behind and wrapping an arm around his opponent’s head, Orlando’s strong striker somehow leaped and seemingly placed the ball into the back of the goal with a limp header, even as he and the goalkeeper tumbled headlong into the netting. Further inspection revealed that Deric’s hand, which was nearly covering Ribeiro’s face, had in fact pushed the ball across the line without Orlando’s player so much as touching it. An own goal for the ages.
It may not have been one for the highlight reel but, in truth, the goal would not have occurred had Pedro Ribeiro’s not had the presence of mind to pressure Deric at that moment, forcing him into a poor touch. In fact, the striker’s instinctive wherewithal exemplifies the way Orlando City played for most of the night. You would have been hard pressed to know Orlando City were the away team in the match, so active were they in both phases of the game. They were generally the more positive side, displaying crisp passing, some stout defending, and a high-energy counter-attack.
The score at half should have been 1-0 in favor of Orlando but for a spectacular save by Houston’s ‘keeper in the 41st minute. Kaka launched a hard, curving free kick toward the left post. Tyler Deric at full stretch managed to parry the ball aside with the slightest of touches to preserve the 0-0 draw going into the break.
The second half continued much as the first, with Orlando City controlling the pace behind creative play through the midfield resulting in a multitude of half-chances and easy saves. Houston, to their credit, deployed an effective high press on Orlando which kept the Lions out of sync for stretches. But a tweaked defensive line featuring Rafael Ramos, Sean St. Ledger, Seb Hines and Brek Shea looked in control most of the night. What they lacked in strength and size in the center —the usual, larger-bodied center back Aurelien Collin was serving a red card suspension— they more than made up for in speed and guile. In particular, young Portuguese right back Rafael Ramos stood out with his incessant pestering and bright overlapping play.
It was only after the awkward play which opened the score sheet in the 74th minute that the Dynamo finally came to life and applied real pressure to Orlando’s tiring defense. The final ten minutes saw Houston pushing numbers forward and caused Orlando goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts to break a sweat for the first time.
In the end it was too little too late for the home squad. Orlando City held off the late charging Dynamo to walk off BBVA Compass Stadium with an attractive 1-0 victory gained through an otherwise unsightly goal. But most of all they return home to face the Vancouver Whitecaps next Saturday with an excellent four points to open their inaugural campaign.
Photo: Courtesy Orlando City SC
