USL PRO Game Report
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Orlando City SC extended its USL PRO unbeaten streak to 14 matches at ESPN Wide World of Sports on Wednesday night with a 4-1 win against the Orange County Blues, tying the club’s all-time record for consecutive matches without a loss. After conceding late in the first half, City scored four unanswered goals to move nine points clear of LA Galaxy II at the top of the table and send 4,206 fans home happy.
Orlando City improved to 11-0-3 while Orange County fell to 5-8-0, good for seventh in the USL PRO table.
“In the first half, we gave the ball away far too much in the midfield, and we needed to pick up our quality of play,” said Assistant Coach Ian Fuller after the match. “But the guys performed well in the second half, particularly in midfield and the final third.”
Orlando City and Orange County both had a slow start to the match in the first 10 minutes as the two sides attempted to adjust to the wet conditions due to the torrential downpour that took place prior to kickoff.
In the 11th minute, Adama Mbengue nearly opened up the scoring with a low driven effort across the box that skipped just past the far post. Only one minute later, Mbengue was once again involved when Kevin Molino connected with the Senegalese midfielder for a one-two inside the area, before blasting a powerful left-footed effort toward the near post. Fortunately for the Blues, Molino, who has been in clinical form so far this season, uncharacteristically missed the frame.
In the 13th minute, Molino weaved through the Orange County defense inside the box and laid the ball off for Corey Hertzog, but the striker’s effort was deflected away by the Orange County defense. Moments later, in the 25th minute, Molino created space for himself and blasted a powerful effort from the edge of the area, forcing Goalkeeper Josh Ford to make a nervous save.
However, despite Orlando controlling the run of play, the Blues managed to provide the first goal of the match in the 39th minute after capitalizing on the counter. After a City corner kick, Ford did well to quickly throw the ball to Sean Okoli at the half line. With only two City players in the defensive third, the powerful striker ventured on a 40-yard run before rolling the ball into space for Midfielder Jiovanni Santana, who placed his final effort past Gallardo to give the California-based side the 1-0 lead.
Orlando didn't spend much time trailing as striker Corey Hertzog leveled the score in first-half stoppage time. Hertzog was able to force his way to the near post and get on the end of a driven cross from Darwin Ceren before re-directing it into the back of the net.
Adrian Heath’s half-time rally seemed to provide the spark needed for Lions, as Orlando scored within the first four minutes of the second half when Bryan Burke played a well-placed ball to Austin da Luz, who was unmarked in the box. Da Luz’s header went directly between the goalkeeper’s legs, giving City a well-deserved 2-1 advantage.
As the half progressed, City continued to put Ford under pressure and fire away at the Blues’ goal, resulting in two additional goals toward the end of the second 45. The two final goals of the match were provided by Brad Rusin, marking his first league goals in purple and white. In the 78th minute, Mbengue found Rusin on the back post from a corner, and the imposing defender placed a comfortable header back across the goal.
Less than 10 minutes later Rusin found himself in a fortuitous position when Tyler Turner’s header from a corner found him for an easy tap-in from less than two yards away in the 87th minute.
City’s efficient attacking play slightly overshadowed the increased intensity on the defensive end, as Miguel Gallardo faced zero shots in the second half.