Orlando City B vs. OKC Energy FC: Final Score 3-1 as Young Lions Fall in Preseason Friendly

Orlando City B fell 3-1 to OKC Energy FC in the reserve club’s second preseason friendly of the 2017 campaign. The game took place over at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL, and was part of Major League Soccer’s Video Assistant Referee testing. The VAR came into play multiple times.

OCB players — except the goalkeepers — wore kits without numbers, so the Lions’ full lineup was unknown for the entirety of the match. The Energy’s Twitter account announced its starting XI.

Orlando’s woes started late in the first half, with a Coady Andrews goal from a corner kick, ending the stalemate in the 33rd minute and making it 1-0 to the bad guys.

Six minutes later, in minute 39, an OCB player’s handball was called as penalty. The center referee, who had called the foul, stopped the match and jogged over to the sideline to review the handball. VAR technology, used for on-field reviews, helped the center referee decide whether or not the Lion’s hand arm was in an unnatural position. The referee watched the replay and reversed the penalty call.

OCB fell apart early on in the second half. The 53rd minute brought on a goal scored by OKC’s Alejandro Covarrubias.

Three minutes later, OCB allowed another goal to be scored from a corner kick. this time the Energy’s Sam Fink heading the ball into the net, making it 3-0 in minute 56.

A few minutes later Orlando City Homegrown goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar was subbed off for Jake Fenlason.

A penalty was called against OCB without the need for VAR evaluation. A Wojciech Wojcik shot bounced off the bar and saved OCB from conceding another goal in the 82nd minute.

In the 90th minute the referee awarded the Lions a penalty kick for an OKC foul in the box. Cox slotted his spot kick into the bottom left corner and added a consolation goal to the scoreline, giving the young Lions their first goal of the 2017 preseason.

The young Lions also played a 30-minute scrimmage against the United States U-17 residency team at IMG Academy, with Orlando City B taking a 2-0 win in the shortened contest. Joe Gallardo scored a goal and added an assist on a goal by Elvis, a trialist from Orlando City’s Brazilian partner club Clube Atlético Paranaense.

OCB is back in preseason action on Saturday at 1 p.m. against San Antonio FC at Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne, FL.