USL PRO Game Report
Saturday, March 29, 2014
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Orlando City and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds played to a 1-1 draw at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on Saturday night. Orlando defender Luke Boden provided the equalizer in the 58th minute to answer Jose Angulo's opener for the Riverhounds as City drew its second consecutive match in the early stages of their final USL PRO campaign.
“I have a lot of confidence in this group, despite the result,” said Orlando coach Adrian Heath. “We scored a lot of goals in the past three years and I guarantee that we’ll score more goals this year.”
In their first home game at ESPN WWOS, Orlando began in typical fashion, controlling the pace of the game in the early stages. The Lions entertained large amounts of possession in midfield and the final third, but were also equally impressive in defense, allowing Pittsburgh very little time on the ball.
City’s cohesive high-pressure defending forced the Riverhounds to employ route one tactics and knock the ball long, rather than allowing them any threatening build-up play through the middle of the park.
On the other hand, Orlando’s midfielders were in complete control in the first 45, leading to several quality opportunities for the hosts. Orlando’s first MLS signee, Kevin Molino, provided the first chance for the Lions when he curled a dangerous effort that went just past the post.
Following Molino’s effort, Corey Hertzog also added two close chances that kept visiting goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap on his toes. Both fullbacks, Boden and Tyler Turner, also got involved in the attack and provided multiple crosses to the near-post for Hertzog from deep inside Pittsburgh’s half.
Luckily for Gilstrap, the Riverhounds’ defense did well to make several last minute clearances and prevent Hertzog from earning his first goal in purple and white.
On the other end, Pittsburgh’s few chances came primarily from set pieces as Orlando’s organized defending made it difficult for them to gain a real grip on the match. The visiting’s side’s best chance of the half came when Angulo almost nodded home a chance in the 27th minute, but saw it skip off the crossbar.
Orlando center backs Rob Valentino and Brad Rusin managed Angulo quite capably in the first period, but the poaching striker, who scored a league-high 15 goals last season, was able to break through in the second half. In the 48th minute, Angulo was able to steal possession from Valentino and he then skipped past Gallardo and finished to put the visitors up 1-0.
Nevertheless, City would continue to have the better of the run of play and would fight back to level the score-line. After progressing their way down the pitch, Orlando earned a corner in the 58th minute, which led to a cracking finish from Boden. Gilstrap was able to punch away Molino’s initial cross, but the former Sheffield Wednesday defender was left all alone inside the area and controlled the ball well before volleying a powerful strike into the top-corner.
Adding to Pittsburgh’s woes, Gilstrap was also injured during the set-piece and reserve goalkeeper Greg Blum was brought in for relief, giving City more of a reason to fire away at the target. In light of the Lions’ equalizer, Pittsburgh began to show a bit of attacking life but Orlando regained their first-half form and re-took control of the game.
In the 83rd minute, Dennis Chin came close to providing the second goal for City, but his header went just wide of the post. With time ticking away, the Lions’ chances of gaining three points were beginning to look slim until the fourth official announced seven minutes of stoppage time.
As Pittsburgh bunkered in, Orlando continued pushing forward with multiple attacking players but key saves by Blum maintained a 1-1 score through 90 minutes. The draw against Pittsburgh marks the second consecutive match in which the Lions have conceded first before battling back to earn a point.
Orlando City will continue their home stretch, when they take on the Rochester Rhinos at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 5, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The Riverhounds remain on the road, as they visit the Richmond Kickers at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, April5 at City Stadium.