2015 Season in Review: Counting Down the Top Goals of Orlando City’s Inaugural MLS Season

During Orlando City’s inaugural MLS season, there were some remarkable goals scored by the Lions. Cyle Larin set the MLS rookie goal-scoring record with 17, and team captain Kaká netted nine of his own.

Presented to you now, in no particular order, are The Mane Land’s selections for Orlando City SC’s Top 10 goals of the year.

10. Cyle Larin Ties Rookie Goal-Scoring Record vs. Columbus Crew

August was a particularly trying time for Orlando, with the Lions going 1-3-2. Five of the club’s seven goals for the month were scored in this game, and the one making our list features a fantastic team goal with Larin providing the finish. Servando Carrasco plays a long pass to Corey Ashe, who puts just enough touch on a cross to reach Larin in the Columbus area. Larin, whose defender was off his mark, then buried a low, left-footed finish that ended in the far corner of the net.

9. Aurélien Collin Heads Home the Equalizer Against New England

It’s the 89th minute. Orlando City had been down 2-0 until the 75-minute mark and was smelling blood in search of a way to salvage a point. Kaká’s free kick into the box was initially headed away until Luke Boden was able to keep the ball in play and swing in a cross, which was met by Collin’s big, beautiful, bald head before pinging off the bottom of the bar and into the goal.

8. Larin Nets a Hat Trick at Yankee Stadium (Three-way Tie)

Larin recorded the first hat trick of his MLS career with a scintillating showing against NYCFC in July. The Lions went home with a 5-3 loss, but it was not due to a lack of effort from the young striker. Hopefully we get to see more trebles from him in 2016.

7. Carlos Rivas Scores Off a Free Kick vs. West Bromwich Albion

At the 1:20 mark in the video above, we see Estrela taken down outside of the box around the 49th minute, and a free kick is awarded to Orlando City. The score was level at 1-1, and Orlando was looking for an advantage in this friendly against the English Premier League side. Rivas lined up to take the kick and the end result was a lovely goal that found its way over the wall and into the top corner of the net to give Orlando City the advantage. It would ultimately prove to be the winner over the Baggies.

6. Kaká makes a silky smooth run in Montreal

Let’s start from the beginning with this goal. Moments before this, Kaká had just set up a Pedro Ribeiro score to cut Montreal’s 2-0 lead in half. Moments later, Ribeiro beautifully intercepted the ball and was able to make a run into the box while being pressured by two defenders, before laying it off for Kaká and, just like that, the score was drawn level at 2-2.

5. Seb Hines Beats Montreal

Enter October. Orlando City is fighting for its playoff life and the score is drawn level (albeit controversially, on a Dominic Oduro goal that should have been disallowed). In the 79th minute, after a corner was initially cleared from the box, Boden again collected the ball on the left and sent the ball back into the area, where it was pinballed around by Montreal Impact defenders before meeting Hines, who struck a volley towards goal where it promptly met the right side of the net for the match winner.

4. Brace yourself, Winter is coming.

See what I did there? Where to begin with this beauty? Adrian Winter collects the ball from Bryan Róchez just outside the box and then lays the ball off for Lewis Neal, who manages to actually complete a pass back to Winter for the finish from about 10 yards out after evading a trio of defenders. Just a beautiful goal from top to bottom to top off a great run of play from the trio.

3. Eric Avila's Header Puts Lions Ahead of Defending Champions

Want to make a statement? Score big and score early against the league champs. As we saw down the stretch of the season, when Orlando City finished on a 5-1 run, this team has the ability to play with anyone else in the league. A beautiful buildup of play in the 12th minute saw clinical passing from Kaká, who initially dished it to Avila, who gave it back to the Orlando captain to feed Rafael Ramos. Rafa then sends a cross to the far post to Brek Shea before Shea feeds Avila a pass for him to head home. A beautiful team goal that was nominated for Week 11’s MLS Goal of the Week.

2. Welcome to the League, Cyle Larin

April was not a kind month for Orlando, but it did kick off Cyle Larin’s record-setting season. His goal vs. Portland is another example of the potential that lies within this team when it comes to facing off against clubs that made the playoffs. The play builds up from Kaká bringing the ball forward to Kevin Molino, making a darting run down the right side and delivering a cross into the box for Cyle to chest home. One day, we may look back at this goal to see where a great career began.

1. Kaká's Extra Time Free Kick in Front of 62,500 Sets Off Historic First Season

First game of your first MLS season. Down to 10 men at home. Time for Kaká to do Kaká things. Some last-minute heroics came on a Kaká free kick that took a deflection off Jeb Brovsky to stutter Josh Saunders just enough to keep him off balance and unable to collect the ball as it bounced into the net. It wasn’t the prettiest goal, but its significance was great as a packed Citrus bowl erupted and a point was salvaged for the club in its inaugural MLS game.

So there we have it. What is your favorite goal of the season? Did we miss any that stand out to you? Vote in the poll and comment below as we look forward to covering all of Orlando City's goals in the upcoming 2016 season.

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