Orlando City News Release -- www.orlandocitysoccer.com
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
FRISCO, Texas – Orlando City looked to have forced overtime, but Milton Rodriguez’s late goal in the game’s closing seconds gave Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas a 3-2 win over the Lions and passage into the quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday night at Pizza Hut Park. Rodriguez’s goal came less than 90 seconds after Yordany Alvarez tied the game up for Orlando with his own late-game heroics.
As the game entered second-half stoppage time, Orlando City threw everything it had at Dallas. Attack after attack was beaten back, but each successive try came closer than the previous. Twice Dallas keeper Kevin Hartman was forced to make diving saves to keep his side in front, once on a Yordany Alvarez volley that seemed destined for the net. Alvarez got a second chance not 30 seconds later and he did not miss. Capitalizing on a Milton Rodriguez mistake, Alvarez volleyed home a rocket that seemed set to send the game into overtime.
But Dallas refused to lay down and accept an additional 30 minutes of play. They too brought every available player forward. The Lions defense seemed to hold, but gave up a corner kick. Jackson’s quick, short corner resulted in 21 players crowding the box. Rodriguez rose above the crowd, unmarked, on Jackson’s second service to put Dallas ahead with just seconds to spare. City mounted one final attack, a corner that saw the ball bounce in the Dallas box, but Dallas' defense was able to clear, leading to the final whistle.
The opening ten minutes saw very tentative play from both sides. As the two sides pieced together their roles, the game began to open up. FC Dallas controlled the pace of the match early, with the Lions looking for opportunities to counter-attack. The opportunity finally came in the 23rd minute.
Midfielder Lewis Neal found space and launched a long, looping ball into the penalty area. Kevin Molino got on the end of the pass near the far post. Rather than direct a headed shot, Molino popped a header across the goal to Max Griffin, who coolly finished to give the Lions the lead.
Dallas immediately went on the offensive, but the City defense held firm. Ricardo Villar nearly leveled the match with a shot from inside the 18-yard box, but City keeper Miguel Gallardo was just able to push the ball out for a corner. When FCD midfielders Brek Shea and Jackson swapped sides, though, things changed. Villar’s long, rainbow pass in the 38th minute found the speedy Jackson behind the Lions defense, giving the Brazilian a one-on-one chance with Gallardo. Jackson fired low and to the far post for the equalizer.
After regrouping at halftime, the Lions looked to wrest back control of the game. During a Dallas attack, a failed clearance led to Erik Ustruck being called for a foul just outside the 18-yard box. Villar stepped up and appeared to lob his service. He struck the ball flatly, but gave it just enough power to turn the pass into a shot that found both the upper corner and a 2-1 lead.
The remainder of the second half played out as a defensive struggle. Orlando City started suffering the effects of playing two matches since Friday in Antigua. The sweltering heat in Frisco only made matters worse. The Lions received sparks from Jamie Watson and Dennis Chin off the bench, Chin hitting the post shortly after his introduction, but as the clock wound down, it looked as if Orlando City’s time in the Open Cup was over. Then came stoppage time, and the heroics first by Alvarez and then by Rodriguez that sent Dallas through.
With Open Cup play behind them, the Lions can now focus solely on USL PRO play. City gets very little rest off this match as they head to Pittsburgh on Friday for a rematch against the Riverhounds. A Sunday trip to Rochester follows before the Lions return to the Citrus Bowl on July 8th to square off against the Dayton Dutch Lions. For tickets and information, call 855-ORL-CITY or visit www.orlandocitysoccer.com today.