Orlando City News Release -- www.orlandocitysoccer.com
Saturday, March 31, 2012
TAMPA, Fla. -- Orlando City closed out the preseason in spectacular fashion, defeating the University of South Florida Bulls 5-0 at Corbett Soccer Stadium on the USF campus. City received highlight reel goals from Adama Mbengue and Kevin Molino in the win.
Mbengue got the Lions on the board first, scoring his second goal in as many matches. The Senegalese midfielder had a deflection fall to him. Rather than take a touch, he allowed the ball to pop up below rocketing a shot to the far post and past a diving USF keeper.
Rob Valentino notched his first goal of the preseason five minutes later, heading in a John Rooney corner kick. Rooney wasn’t done creating goals. Just before the halftime whistle, he sprang Kevin Molino with a through ball into space. Molino rounded the keeper only to be met by three USF defenders. The Trinidadian worked his way into space before popping his shot over the defensive wall and into the net. City headed into the break with a 3-0 lead.
Rooney and the Lions started the second half hot. A spectacular passing sequence of flick-ons and single touches ended with Rooney sending Luke Boden into a one-on-one with the USF keeper. Boden’s point-blank blast had City up 4-0 with just a minute passed on the second half clock. Boden added an assist minutes later, crossing to Dennis Chin for City’s fifth goal on the night.
The rest of the match was an opportunity for trialists, reserve players, and players returning from injury to make their final impressions on Head Coach Adrian Heath. One such player was Matt Luzunaris, seeing his first action after sports hernia surgery. Luzunaris had a short stint as he was sent off after just seven minutes for an altercation during a corner kick. In strange turn of events, the referee allowed him to be subbed off instead, and was replaced by Rooney, the very player Luzunaris had replaced.
The Lions now shift their focus to the USL PRO Regular Season and their defense of the league title. First up for Orlando is a road trip to Charlotte to visit the Eagles next Saturday. City and Charlotte clashed twice in 2011, with City taking the first in North Carolina before a scoreless draw at the Citrus Bowl. The following week, Orlando City opens the home campaign on April 15 against Wilmington. For more information, visit www.orlandocitysoccer.com.