Orlando City News Release -- www.orlandocitysoccer.com
Saturday, August 20, 2011
ORLANDO, Fla. – In one of the most exciting matches of its 2011 season, Orlando City defeated the Charleston Battery 3-1 in overtime in front of a raucous 7,609 fans at the Florida Citrus Bowl to advance to the American Division Final against the Richmond Kickers. The win is the club’s first playoff victory.
Dennis Chin and Ian Fuller combined to score what proved to be the winning goal in the first period of overtime. Fuller made a perfect pass to Chin, making it easy for the forward to put Orlando up 2-1 in the 100th minute.
Things went further south for the Battery just minutes after the goal, when Dane Kelly received his second yellow card of the game and was sent off in the 102nd minute for charging into Miguel Gallardo when the City goalkeeper tried to claim the ball at the edge of his penalty area. Charleston played the rest of the match with 10 men, which directly affected their offensive output. Orlando sealed with win with two minutes to play in the second overtime period as Jamie Watson passed to an unmarked Lewis Neal, who already had an assist on the night, and the Englishman knocked in the third goal.
“I looked at my players after regulation and said it can’t end this way,” Orlando City Head Coach said after the match. “We were the better team. We just needed the extra time to show it.”
Charleston’s defense, which finished third in USL PRO in goals allowed (25), had opened the game well. The Battery had a “break not bend” mentality, keeping Orlando’s attack off the scoresheet for much of the first half despite the nine shot attempts by City.
But in the 44th minute Orlando finally broke through as Neal delivered a pass outside the penalty area for forward Max Griffin, who was in the left corner of the box waiting to strike. Griffin rocketed in the first goal of the game, and his first in over six weeks.
“It was great to get all of the pressure off of my back,” said Griffin. “I think everything is starting to come together for the team. I’m just happy I scored.”
Charleston Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser gave his team a spark by subbing in three players at the beginning of the second half. One of those players, midfielder Stephen Armstrong, was a key part in tying the game just minutes after he came into the match.
In the 64th minute, Armstrong served in a corner straight to Battery forward Nicki Paterson, who was left unmarked, giving him a clear lane to head in Charleston’s equalizer.
The teams went back and forth for the rest of the second half, each realizing their season was just one goal away from ending. Charleston held off the Orlando attack despite a couple of late efforts by City to end regulation in a 1-1 tie. The Lions wouldn't be denied in the extra 30 minutes, though, as Chin and Neal's goal sent them through.
Orlando will face the Richmond Kickers next week in the American Division Final. The match will be played at the Florida Citrus Bowl next Saturday at 7:30 p.m. To secure your seat, call the Orlando City ticket office at 855-ORL-CITY (855-675-2489) or email tickets@orlandocitysoccer.com. Tickets start at just $12.