Kevin Molino Hat-Trick Seals Lions’ Win over Eagles

Filed under: Orlando City Soccer |

Kevin Molino - Orlando City Soccer vs. Charlotte Eagles, Orlando, Florida - 21 May 2014 (Photographer: Nigel Worrall)

A stunning hat-trick from Kevin Molino (pictured above) helped Orlando City SC (8-0-3, 27 points) beat the Charlotte Eagles 3-1 earlier tonight at ESPN Wide World of Sports but in truth, the Lions should have won by a far bigger margin.

Adrian Heath - Orlando City Soccer Head Coach (right) and Mark Steffens - Charlotte Eagles Head Coach, Orlando, Florida - 21 May 2014 (Photographer: Nigel Worrall)

“Some of our attacking play was outstanding tonight,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath (pictured above right) after the 3-1 win. “But I’m a little bit concerned because I thought that we gave a few too many chances to the opposition.”

Tonight’s match marked the first meeting between both sides since the thrilling 2013 USL PRO Championship match last September that saw the Lions defeat the Eagles 7-4 in front of a record crowd and an expectant crowd came expecting more goals.

Kevin Molino scores for Orlando City Soccer vs. Charlotte Eagles, Orlando, Florida - 21 May 2014 (Photographer: Nigel Worrall)

Undefeated Orlando started the game well and looked extremely dangerous as they sought an early goal to calm the nerves. It duly came in the 11th minute as City forced a third consecutive corner kick that saw the ball bounce around the box before being cleared out to Orlando defender Bryan Burke, who fired in a powerful shot that forced Eagles ‘keeper Brock Duckworth to parry the ball into Kevin Molino’s path. The Trinidadian international made no mistake as he finished from 10 yards away for his sixth goal of the season, now putting him in first place for goals scored in USL PRO.

Kevin Molino scores for Orlando City Soccer vs. Charlotte Eagles, Orlando, Florida - 21 May 2014 (Photographer: Nigel Worrall)

Since arriving in Orlando, Molino has been playing arguably the best football of his career and he would add a second goal for Orlando in the 31st minute. The club’s first MLS signing pounced on a poor clearance from the Eagles inside the box and smacked home his seventh goal of the 2014 campaign.

“Kevin has always been an incredible footballer since he’s come to Orlando,” added Heath “But we’ve been pushing for him to take that next step and he’s managed to do that this year.”

Half Time : 2-0

The second half started in a similar fashion to the first half as Orlando went for the kill. City’s attacking midfielders and full-backs were continuously finding space and it seemed a third goal was sure to come. The excellent Adama Mbengue (pictured below), in particular, was turning in a stunning performance as he drove the City midfield on and he created chance after chance that the Lions couldn’t quite  convert.  Corey Hertzog went closest to netting his first league goal for City in the 61st minute as he received the ball from Mbengue with just the keeper to beat. Unfortunately his effort went just wide of the target.

Adama Mbengue - Orlando City Soccer vs. Charlotte Eagles, Orlando, Florida - 21 May 2014 (Photographer: Nigel Worrall)

“I thought that Adama was fantastic tonight,” Heath continued. “If Kevin hadn’t scored three goals, he would’ve had my vote for Man of the Match.” 

It was hard to disagree with that, but nevertheless, Molino grabbed his first-ever hat-trick for Orlando City in the 77th minute.  It came from a mistake by Charlotte as Mikey Lopez, who had just come on for Mbengue, charged on the counter and with pretty much his first touch, played a precise ball to Molino who gracefully glided the ball home on the back post.

Kevin Molino - Orlando City Soccer vs. Charlotte Eagles, Orlando, Florida - 21 May 2014 (Photographer: Nigel Worrall)

Orlando then seemed to relax a little too much as Charlotte secured a consolation goal in the 80th minute as substitute Guiseppe Gentile was able to capitalize on a mistake made by Tommy Redding. The 17 year-old center-half had played extremely well until that point and hopefully he’ll learn that Coach Heath has high standards.

Orlando City now extends its unbeaten streak in league play to 11 consecutive games. The Lions’ record for most games in a row without a loss occurred in 2012 when the team went 14 games straight without losing.

City’s next match will take place on Friday, May 23, in a friendly game against AS Roma of the Italian Serie A at ESPN Wide World of Sports. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m. EST.

The Lions will then take on the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup on May 28 at Seminole Soccer Complex before returning back to league play for a match against the Charleston Battery at ESPN Wide World of Sports on 31st May.

More photos at www.FloridaLeisurePhotography.com

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