Photo Credit: Orlando City SC
Orlando City SC 1- D.C. United 1
If first impressions are as important in soccer as they are in every other job then Orlando City SC forward Stefano Pinho certainly may won his new bosses over. The former NASL Golden Boot winner helped his new employers erase a one goal deficit while being down a man in their 1-1 draw against D.C. United in their 2018 Major League Soccer regular season opener.
D.C. took the advantage in the first after midfielder Yamil Asad’s looping free kick found the back of the net in the 31st minute. Asad was also making his debut with United after spending last season with Atlanta United FC.
Pinho’s goal in the 93rd minute would deny D.C. three points on the road. The 27 year old Brazilian who spent last season with North American Soccer League side Miami FC would finish a clever 1-2 combination from Yashimir Yotun and Jonathan Spector to send the Orlando supporters home happy. Yotun directly engaged the United center-backs then cooly slotted a pass out to Spector. The former United States Men’s National Team defender used the inside of his right foot to find a surging Pinho all alone inside of D.C.’s eighteen yard box for the equalizer.
While Orlando was the more dangerous side in the match, using their speed from Yotun and winger Chris Mueller to cause havoc along D.C.’s backline a series of events in the first half nearly put the game out of reach. In the 18th minute Orlando midfielder Will Johnson would be called for a handball inside the Lions penalty box after further review using Video Assisted Refereeing. The call might not have gone their way but the kick certainly did as United forward Darren Mattocks penalty attempt was well within the reach of Joe Bendik. Bendik’s finger-tip save would hit off the left post and the cross bar but would not hit the back of the net, keeping the match level.
Orlando would not be so lucky on D.C.’s next set piece. After drawing the foul in Orlando’s defensive third Asad would hit a high swerving free kick into the box. While no United could connect with it neither could Bendik, giving D.C. the 1-0 advantage. It was United’s first goal off of a free kick since .
Things would go from bad to worse for Orlando as midfielder PC would be sent off for a violent challenge on Asad in the 39th minute. Tempers were flaring throughout the match for both sides with six cards and 39 fouls being called. The heavily pro-Orlando crowd of 25, 527 at Camping World Stadium were also quite hot on the evening, voicing their displeasure over the delays with calls via VAR.
Although things looked grim entering the second half Orlando continued to pressure the D.C. defense. With Mueller and Yotun using their speed to force D.C.’s defense out of their bunker it left space for forward Justin Meram and Pinho to capitalize. Meram nearly had the equalizer in the 53rd minute after Mueller’s cross into the box found him all alone against United goalkeeper David Ousted. Meram looked primed for a shot on target but Ousted intercepted the cross with a fingertip save, eventually coming with the ball and ending the opportunity.
Yotun would have his own chance at playing hero hitting a low effort on target that would be cleared by United center-back Frederic Brilliant. Mueller would snag the rebound and followed up with a shot of his own. But he too would be denied by Brilliant, who was playing his first match with the club after moving from New York City FC in the offseason.
But Orlando’s persistence would pay off in injury time when Pinho would give the club their first point on the season. The Lions will hope that run of good fortune will continue next week as they host Minnesota United FC (March 10, 7:30 PM EST, MLS Live).
As for D.C. the result at the end marred what was a good showing from many of their new players. Asad, Ousted, and Brilliant as well as Ulises Segura and Junior Moreno all contributed extensively in the match and gave the club a tempo and a pace that has not been seen by the club for quite some time. The club’s road trip will continue next Sunday when they travel to Atlanta to take on their fellow United (March 11, 3pm EST, ESPN).
MATCH SUMMARY
D.C. United- David Ousted, Oniel Fisher, Steve Birnbaum, Frederic Brilliant, Nick De Leon, Junior Moreno, Yamil Asad (Chris Durkin 73′), Ulises Segura, Zoltan Stieber (Ian Harkes 60′), Paul Arriola, and Darren Mattocks (Patrick Mullins 85′).
Goal-Asad (32′)
Yellow Cards-Birnbaum (45+1′), Mattocks (45+6′), and De Leon (47′)
Orlando City SC- Joe Bendik, Scott Sutter (RJ Allen 81′), Jonathan Spector, Amro Tarek, Mohammed El-Munir, Cameron Lindley (Richie Laryea 66′), Will Johnson, PC, Yoshimar Yotun, Justin Meram, and Chris Mueller (Stefano Pinho 57′).
Goal- Pinho (90+3′)
Yellow Cards- Lindley (31′) and Yotun (81′)
Red Card- PC (39′)
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Assistant Referee: Corey Rockwell
Assistant Referee: Peter Balciunas
Fourth Official: Marcos de Oliveira
Video Assistant Referee: Geoff Gamble
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Orlando City SC
DC United
