Orlando City Stock Watch: Kevin Molino Scores for the Third Time in Four Games

With three of the last four results ending in draws, I’m running out of ways to talk about not getting three points. Orlando City has shown flashes of being good, but the results haven’t been quite good enough. Hopefully we see the team continue to jell as they heal up and get familiar with each other.

The most recent draw featured the New York Red Bulls at home, with a 1-1 score being the final. How did the Stock Watch see your favorite Lion’s performance?

Rising

Darwin Cerén – Receiving just 22% of last week’s poll for this week’s expected riser, Cerén played relatively well in a match where rising stock is not easy to find. Instrumental in kick-starting the counter attack, the El Salvador captain completed 13 of 14 long passes en route to a team high 87% overall completion rate.

While he wasn't as active defending the point of attack, his positioning all night was helpful in fortifying the defense against the Red Bulls counter. Nevertheless, his three tackles, two interceptions and two clearances show that he was aggressive when the ball was near.

Kevin Molino – Know what I love? The recent trend of Lions following the play until its very end, and scoring goals as a result. Carlos Rivas gave us a great example last week, and this is The Original’s second consecutive goal scored with him at the back post as the developing play apexes.

Molino's reactions, quickness, composure and positioning are all on full display in this sequence, as he pops up in the box just in time for Kid Fantastic to see him. Once Larin does his best to get Molino service, the Trinidadian adjusts to the ricocheted ball beautifully and equalizes for Orlando City.

Falling

Brek Shea – A mixed outing for Brek in this one, as his passing seemed consistently just a bit off. Did well getting forward, but completing just 20% of his crosses means a lot of that work forward wound up for naught. Defensively Shea was aggressive attacking the ball — he led the team with four tackles — but wound up earning a yellow in what was a very difficult day.

Kaká – After looking great in scoring a goal against the New England Revolution, the captain appeared to be a bit off from that form in this one. His passing rate of 81.8% was strong, but his 20% success rate on crosses raises the same problem it does with Brek — an immediate end to an attack. Not an awful game by any stretch, but earning a yellow and scoring nothing following his last performance sees his stock take a dip.

Polling Closed