Orlando City News Release -- www.orlandocitysoccer.com
Thursday, February 24, 2011
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- It was an even match, but Orlando City fell 1-0 to Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas in the first round of the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
“Overall I’m quite pleased with the way we played,” said Orlando Head Coach Adrian Heath. “We gave the ball away too much, and paid the price.”
The early portion of the match went back and forth. Dallas controlled the first five minutes of play, but Orlando rebounded quickly and gained control of the match for the next five. The parry and thrust continued until a Dallas corner in the 30th minute.
2010 MLS MVP David Ferreira floated a perfect service to the back post, finding Brek Shea skying above City keeper Miguel Gallardo’s outstretched arms and the Lions defense. Shea dropped the ball into the six-yard box, and let the chaos do its work. Milton Rodriguez found the ball in the scrum and poked it past a stunned Gallardo who had no chance for a save.
City responded immediately, but the vaunted FC Dallas defense was too much for the Lions to overcome. Every attack showed promise until it entered the attacking third.
The Lions, though, almost found an equalizer just before halftime, in a moment reminiscent of their opening preseason game against the Philadelphia Union. After Jamie Watson was fouled just outside the penalty area to the right of the goal, Lewis Neal stepped up to take the shot and struck a near-exact replica of his goal from Saturday night, only for FC Dallas keeper Kevin Hartman to make a diving save, putting the ball just wide.
Near the hour-mark, Dallas began to control the match flow. Orlando continued to press hard for the equalizer, putting them in prime position for counter-attacks by the speedy Dallas wingers. The City defense bent, but never broke again, thanks in part to the inspired play of new signing Demar Stewart.
Stewart showed every bit of his international pedigree that included stops in England and China with an impressive effort. Twice he saved shots as the last man when reserve keeper Sean Kelley was caught off his line. The Jamaican international was the clear “Man of the Match” for Orlando.
Despite their best efforts, the Lions were never able to equalize. The 1-0 loss puts Orlando at 1-1-0 for the preseason with five matches left. Orlando City will face Toronto FC in the third place match on Saturday at 6 p.m.