Orlando City News Release -- www.orlandocitysoccer.com
Saturday, June 22, 2013
ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando City fell to Brazil's Fluminense FC 4-3 on Saturday night in front of 11,127 fans at Fifth Third Bank Field at the Florida Citrus Bowl, an international friendly club record for attendance. The mark was previously set back in July of 2011 against the English Premier League’s Newcastle United with 10,889.
“It was great for some of our younger players to play against them (Fluminense),” said Orlando City Head Coach Adrian Heath. “On the whole, I’m pleased with the evening.”
Saturday’s opponent, Fluminense FC, competes in Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A, the top level of Brazilian soccer. This year they are also one of the sides representing Brazil in the prestigious Copa Libertadores, making a great mid-season opponent for the Lions.
Orlando got on the scoreboard first, with USL PRO-leading scorer Dom Dwyer slotting his own give-and-go past Fluminense FC Ricardo Berna to give Orlando the 1-0 lead in the 19th minute. Dwyer played a ball past a Fluminense defender, sprinted past the backline and found space to convert a low roller to give Orlando a one-goal advantage.
Fluminense equalized in the final minutes of the first half, with a well-placed cross by Carlinhos finding Gum inside the 18-yard box, who whipped in a header to tie the match at 1-1 in the 40th minute. The Brazilian champs added a second goal at the beginning of the second half, with Ryner slotting in a score after Rafael found him in stride in the 47th minute. The striker put Orlando City goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo out of position, finding the back of the net for the 2-1 lead.
Two more goals were added by the Brazilian champs in the second half, including individual strikes from outside the penalty area by Rafael and Samuel to put Fluminense up 4-1.
Orlando didn’t go into the night quietly, with two quick goals by the Lions arriving in the 78th and 80th minutes to cut Fluminense's lead down to one. Midfielder Adama Mbengue was involved with both goals as he slotted home a finish after Jonathan Mendoza found the Senegal native in space, and then provided the whipped cross just two minutes later that eventually found the head of Jean Alexandre for the Lions' third. Despite the late comeback from Orlando, Fluminense held strong and came out on top with the 4-3 win.
The Lions now turn their attention toward Wednesday night’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal in Bridgeview, Ill., against Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Chicago Fire. Kickoff for the game is set for 8:30 p.m. EST. The Lions advanced past MLS affiliate Sporting Kansas City 1-0 in the last round of Open Cup play, with an early score by Long Tan giving Orlando the lead and win. The win marked the club’s first-ever win against Sporting KC and advancement to the quarterfinal round of the Open Cup. If the Lions advance past Chicago, Orlando will host the semifinals on Wednesday, August 7, at Fifth Third Bank Field at the Florida Citrus Bowl.