Vancouver steals victory in Orlando as Lions play off hopes disappear
Jason Kreis was left wondering what more his team could do after seeing all hopes of securing a play off place disappear as Vancouver secured a cruel 2-1 smash and grab victory at Orlando City Stadium on Saturday night.
“The effort the guys are putting forward in the last five or six games now is second to none. The belief that they have, the willingness that they have to work to the bitter end is fantastic and I can’t be more thankful for that,” Lions head coach Jason Kreis said. “But for whatever reason it seems that it’s bad luck after bad luck after bad luck. To go through a game tonight where we gave them both goals and then weren’t able to finish one of the plethora of chances we had is difficult. Really, really mentally and emotionally difficult time for us.”
Kreis made changes to his front line as the Lions started the must win match with leading scorer Cyle Larin dropped to the bench to make way for a Dom Dwyer (pictured above) / Carlos Rivas partnership. It was Vancouver who opened the scoring though, as a 9th minute Nicolas Mezquida free kick delivery glanced off Tommy Redding’s head and into the net.
Orlando then wasted a chance to level things up as Rivas (pictured above) drew a free kick in the 11th minute and lined up to take the shot himself. For some reason Kreis persists in letting Rivas take free kicks in dangerous positions despite the fact the forward seems to be on a one man mission to destroy the hubble telescope such is the orbit he gives the ball. What’s startling is the fact that Rivas has never come close to threatening the goal from the numerous efforts he has had during the season to date and you really have to question the management of the team when you have a proven goalscorer from free kicks on the field in Kaká.
Naturally, Rivas blasted the ball high above the bar from this latest effort and if last week’s eclipse had been this week some wags would probably say it was just another Rivas free kick floating around in outer space covering the sun temporarily.
Orlando pressed forward and it was Kaká (pictured above) who looked the most dangerous as he went on several runs that lead to half chances that the team couldn’t take. A 15th minute run to the by-line saw Dom Dwyer get on the end of the cross but Whitecaps keeper Stefan Marinovic did well to block the effort from close range. Kaká again turned provider in the 21st minute as Yoshimar Yotún fired narrowly over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty box.
The home side then won a series of corners in the 32nd minute and from one of them the ball fell kindly to Redding who blasted the ball goalwards only for Jordan Harvey to get back brilliantly and block the ball with his chest.
Half Time: Orlando 0 Vancouver 1
Larin entered the match as a halftime substitution for Rivas but it was the visitors who extended their lead in the 53rd minute. Léo Pereira, who always seems to have at least one mistake in him a game, played a loose ball into midfield from the left touchline position and Vancouver pounced. Erik Hurtado seized the ball and charged into the Orlando half before releasing former Lion, Brek Shea, who raced into the area and calmly chipped the advancing Joe Bendik for the killer second goal.
Kreis then brought on midfielder Dillon Powers for his Orlando debut in the 57th minute in place of left back Donny Toia in an attacking move. Five minutes later Orlando managed to pull one back in the 62nd minute as Larin nodded home his 10th goal of the season from a Yotún cross to cut the deficit in half.
The Lions then turned up the heat as time and time again they lobbed balls into the box in the vain hope that Dwyer or Larin (pictured above) could get on the end of them. Vancouver were having none of it and stood resolute as defensive colossuses Kendall Waston and Aaron Maund dealt with everything thrown at them.
Orlando were crying out for some guile but it was Vancouver who nearly added a third in the 73rd minute as substitute Fredy Montero played a delightful back heel into the path of fellow substitute 16 year old Alphonso Davies. The youngster raced into the box and played a reverse pass across the face of goal for Montero, who had continued his run. Unfortunately for the men in white, Montero just failed to get on the end of it and Orlando escaped.
The miss nearly turned out to be extremely costly for Vancouver as a mad scramble in the visitors box five minutes later saw a Scott Sutter shot palmed away by Marinovic straight to Larin who couldn’t quite control it and knock it in.
Urged on by their supporters, the Lions continued to push forward but you sensed it wasn’t going to be their night as Giles Barnes smashed a thunderbolt against the bar in the 86th minute to complete the evening.
The stats will say that Orlando finished the game with 72.5% possession and 25 shots on goal to Vancouver’s seven but it’s the goals column that matters. There can be no questioning the commitment and effort of the Lions but they will know that they simply didn’t do enough to get behind the visitor’s back line and create more clear cut opportunities.
Full Time: Orlando 1 Vancouver 2
City now begins a four-game road trip on Saturday, Sept. 2, at the New England Revolution. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET. The Lions then visit D.C. United, Atlanta and Portland before returning to Orlando City Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 27, to host New England.
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC – GK Joe Bendik, D Donny Toia (Dillon Powers 57’), Léo Pereira, Tommy Redding, Scott Sutter, M Cristian Higuita (Antonio Nocerino 83’), Yoshimar Yotún, Giles Barnes, ⓒ Kaká, F Carlos Rivas (Cyle Larin 46’), Dom Dwyer
Substitutes Not Used: GK Earl Edwards, Jr., D José Aja, M Servando Carrasco, Tony Rocha
Vancouver Whitecaps FC – GK Stefan Marinovic, D Jordan Harvey, Aaron Maund, ⓒ Kendall Waston, Jakob Nerwinski, M Marcel de Jong, Russell Teibert, Brek Shea, Bernie Ibini-Isei (Yordy Reyna 75’), Nicolás Mezquida (Alphonso Davies 63’), F Erik Hurtado (Fredy Montero 66’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK David Ousted, M Mauro Rosales, Andrew Jacobson, Cristian Techera
Attendance: 24,406
More photos at www.FloridaLeisurePhotography.com
