Orlando grabs a point in Seattle with last gasp equaliser
Fresh off the back of a late equalizer at home to Montreal Impact at the weekend Orlando City SC traveled to defending MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders FC Wednesday night and repeated the performance. This time they left it until the very last kick of the game as Scott Sutter nodded home his first goal as a Lion from a Kaká free kick.
“Tonight for me was probably one of our better games the entire season,” Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said. “I thought the way we moved the ball and the way we were getting it into the right spaces, our attacking movements looked great. Really pleased we got something out of this game tonight because I really felt we deserved it.”
Brazilian defender PC entered the match in the 85th minute and set up the game-tying free kick with a blistering run up the left wing. PC beat two defenders, combined with Luis Gil and then split two more defenders to earn a free kick 20 yards out. Kaká lined up and curled an in-swinging ball to Sutter (pictured above) who fell to his knees bravely amidst a sea of swinging boots to head it in and give the Lions a deserved share of the spoils. . It was Kaká’s third assist of the season.
“We knew it was the last run. Everyone went forward – even I went forward, which doesn’t happen too much,” said Sutter, a starting defender. “(Kaka) put in a good ball, I put my head to it, closed my eyes, and hoped that the ball went in.”
Earlier in the game Carlos Rivas (pictured above) had two good opportunities to score as he raced clear in the 5th minute only to have his effort saved by Sounders keeper Stefan Frei. Rivas has a chance to make amends in the 60h minute when he rifled Sutter’s cross straight at Stefan Frei.
Seattle took the lead after a misjudgement by Jonathan Spector who allowed Will Bruin to turn him and fire home in the 19th minute. Lions goalkeeper Joe Bendik was in excellent form, making five stops to keep City within striking distance as the home side pressed for a second goal.
The match saw Homegrown defender Tommy Redding (pictured above) return to the starting lineup for the first time since before the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he represented the United States.
Orlando City is now 2-0-1 all-time against defending MLS Cup champions. City defeated the 2014 champion LA Galaxy, 4-0, in 2015 and the Portland Timbers, 4-1, in 2016. The Lions’ 14 stoppage-time goals since 2015 are the most in the league in that span.
Orlando City reaches the season’s midway point in fourth place in the Eastern Conference and fifth in the Supporters’ Shield race.
City continues its three-game road trip on Saturday, June 24, when it visits the Chicago Fire. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET. The Lions then head to Real Salt Lake on June 30 before returning to Orlando City Stadium on July 5 to host Toronto FC.
Lineups/Substitutions:
Seattle Sounders FC – GK Stefan Frei, D Nouhou Tolo, Chad Marshall, Román Torres, Cristian Roldan, M Gustav Svensson, ⓒ Osvaldo Alonso, Jordan Morris (Henry Wingo 87’), Clint Dempsey (Tony Alfaro 90+1’), Nicolás Lodeiro, F Will Bruin (Joevin Jones 76’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Tyler Miller, D Brad Evans, M Aaron Kovar, Harry Shipp
Orlando City SC – GK Joe Bendik, D Donny Toia (PC 85’), Jonathan Spector, Tommy Redding, Scott Sutter, M ⓒ Kaká, Cristian Higuita, Antonio Nocerino, Matías Pérez García (Luis Gil, 64’), F Giles Barnes (Will Johnson 74’), Carlos Rivas
Substitutes Not Used: GK Josh Saunders, D José Aja, M Servando Carrasco, F Hadji Barry
Attendance: 42,333
More photos at FloridaLeisurePhotography.com
