Orlando City B vs. Lansing Ignite FC: Final Score 2-0 as Young Lions Drop Third Straight Game

Orlando City B (3-8-3, 12 points) traveled to Lansing, MI tonight to take on Lansing Ignite FC. It was a pretty dominant performance for the hosts, as they put away the Young Lions, 2-0.

OCB displayed a very similar lineup to last week’s with only two changes. Tanner Hummel got his first start of the season, replacing Leonardo Simas, who was suspended after receiving his fifth yellow card late in the loss to South Georgia Tormenta FC. Captain Rafael Santos was also missing for this game, replaced by Koby Osei-Wusu.

Lansing had the best of the opportunities in the first half and the first great chance of the game came in the 21st minute. Robinson Moshobane played a ball for Selso Saint-Duc, who was making a diagonal run into the box. Saint-Duc found his strike partner Alex Bruce in front of goal. A small, quick touch by Bruce put it over the line but the linesman raised his flag, signaling offside.

Just two minutes later, it once again appeared as though Lansing had taken the lead. A poor clearance allowed Grant Stoneman to find Marshall Hollingworth to the left of goal. The defender’s shot from distance was blocked by Hummel but fell to the feet of Xavier Gómez, whose third touch was toward goal. The ball rolled out of the reach of OCB goalkeeper Juliano Chade as it toed the goal line, but it went out of play for a goal kick.

The best chance of the first half for both teams came at the end of the half. In the 43rd minute, Thiago Souza found Osei-Wusu on the right sideline. The forward’s stepover allowed him to create some space and get a shot off between two defenders. The ball appeared to be headed for the far post but Stefan Cleveland made a diving, one-handed save to keep the game scoreless.

A minute into stoppage time, it looked like OCB had collapsed late in the first half again and conceded. Nick Moon played a low ball into the six-yard box, forcing Chade to go low to collect. However, the normally sure-handed goalkeeper fumbled the ball, allowing it to slip behind him. Bruce was able to get to it but Nathan Simeon got his foot in the way and deflected it out of play.

Lansing came out flying after the half and immediately put OCB on its back foot. In the 50th minute, Gómez found Moshobane at the corner of the six-yard box. Simeon knocked it away from behind but it traveled across the top of the six, out of the reach of Chade. Moon came flying in from outside the box and put it away, giving the home side the 1-0 lead.

Following the goal, Souza immediately found some energy, darting in and out of Lansing defenders. He quickly found Hummel inside the box, and the defender was able to shoot but the low, hard shot was just wide of Lansing’s far post.

Lansing doubled its lead in the 68th minute. Substitute Kyle Carr, an Orlando City Development Academy product, took a free kick from outside the box and played it toward the back post. Kevin Coiffic came onto it from the right wing and volleyed it with his right foot. Chade got a hand to it but it wasn’t enough as the ball nestled into the net for Lansing’s second goal of the night.

After the first goal, OCB came back strong, creating a couple of chances, but the second goal seemed to take the wind out of the sails of the Young Lions. Following that goal, they were unable to create anything dangerous on the other end as Lansing continued to produce chance after chance.

While the first half was quite even, the second half was all Lansing. In the end, OCB trailed Lansing in possession (54%-46%), shots (17-8), and shots on goal (6-3).

The loss continues OCB’s struggles as the Young Lions have now dropped three in a row. This losing streak comes after OCB had appeared to be headed in the right direction, having won three of four and gained points in four straight games.

OCB will look to get back on track Friday when the Young Lions return home to host Greenville Triumph SC.